Comparison

Universal BLE vs Kinsman SSH

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Universal BLE

Features
Read full description

Universal BLE is an open-source developer tool for exploring and testing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. It empowers developers, engineers, and hobbyists to discover, connect, and debug BLE devices with a consistent cross-platform experience. Key Features Device Discovery Real-time scanning — Discover nearby BLE devices with live results; scanning continues when you open a device's detail screen Flexible filters — Filter by service UUIDs, name prefix, or manufacturer data (comma- or newline-separated) Saved filter presets — Save, rename, and reuse filter combinations; filters persist across app sessions Search — Search devices by name or by company name (resolved from manufacturer data via Bluetooth company identifiers) Sort options — Sort the device list by RSSI, last seen, or name Company identification — Show company name from manufacturer data using the Bluetooth SIG company identifier list RSSI and advertisements — View signal strength (RSSI), last advertisement (name, RSSI, timestamp), and a list of received ads that flashes on new advertisements System devices — On supported platforms, view and connect to devices already connected at the system level (with optional service filter) Connection Management Connect and disconnect — Connect to and disconnect from BLE peripherals with one tap Auto-reconnect — Optional auto-connect for reconnection when a device becomes available again Connection state — Real-time connection state updates Multiple connections — Support for multiple simultaneous device connections Service & Characteristic Exploration GATT discovery — Discover all services and characteristics on connected devices with detailed, human-readable formatting Favorite services — Mark services as favorites; they appear first in the list (system services last) Property filters — Filter characteristics by property (read, write, notify, indicate, etc.) with visual filter chips Navigation — Previous/next buttons to move between characteristics without collapsing the list Copy services — Copy the full discovered GATT layout (e.g. for documentation or debugging) from the Services panel header Data Operations Read — Read characteristic values on demand Write — Write data to characteristics (with or without response) Subscribe — Subscribe to notifications/indications per characteristic or "subscribe to all" for notifiable characteristics Live updates — Incoming values are shown in the logs with timestamps; clear or copy the full log Pairing & Security Pair and unpair — Initiate pairing and unpair devices when supported Pairing state — Monitor pairing state changes in real time Advanced & Developer Options MTU — Request a larger MTU (e.g. 247) for better throughput where supported Command queue — Choose queue type in the drawer: Global (single queue), Per Device, or None (parallel) Configurable timeout — Set operation timeout (e.g. 10 seconds) for all BLE operations Logs — Operation log with copy-all and per-entry clear; comprehensive error handling with detailed codes UUID formats — Accepts common UUID string formats (e.g. with or without hyphens) UI & Cross-Platform Responsive layout — Adapts to mobile, tablet, and desktop (e.g. breakpoints at 600px and 1000px) Bluetooth status — Bluetooth availability icon with tooltip (tap on mobile to see state) Permissions — Guided permission flow where required (e.g. location for BLE on Android); re-checks on app resume Cross-platform — Built with the universal_ble plugin for consistent behavior across supported platforms Perfect For Developers building BLE-enabled applications Engineers testing and debugging BLE devices Hobbyists exploring IoT and smart device capabilities Students learning about Bluetooth Low Energy technology QA teams validating BLE device functionality

About

Kinsman SSH

Connect to your servers securely using password or private key authentication. Offers features like saving multiple connections, importing keys, and a clean terminal interface. Includes remote control capabilities for Mac terminals and a data bridge feature.

Highlights
  • Save multiple SSH connections
  • Password and private key authentication
  • Import keys via Files, AirDrop, QR code
  • Full interactive terminal
  • Secure credential storage
  • Universal Clipboard support
  • Mac terminal remote control
Features
Read full description

Kinsman SSH is a focused, no-nonsense SSH client for iPhone and iPad. Connect to your servers securely with password or private key authentication. Features: - Save multiple SSH host connections - Password and private key authentication - Import keys via Files, AirDrop, QR code scan, or directly from your Mac over local WiFi - Full interactive terminal with command input - Secure credential storage in Keychain - Universal Clipboard support — copy on Mac, paste in app - Copy terminal output with one tap - Clean, dark terminal interface - Works on iPhone and iPad 5 free connection slots included. Purchase more as needed. Remote Control Pair with Kinsman Terminal on your Mac by scanning a QR code, then drive a terminal tab from your phone — switch and search tabs, send one command to several at once, take a screenshot of the Mac's terminal, and reuse recent commands. Data Bridge Use your iPhone's cellular connection from your Mac when the Wi-Fi you are both on has no working internet. Protected by a PIN, with a live traffic log, block and allow rules, and an optional data cap. Runs only while the app is open. VNC Screen Sharing is available as an in-app purchase.

Screenshots

Universal BLE4 screens
Kinsman SSH4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Universal BLE at none against Kinsman SSH's 2. Universal BLE also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Kinsman SSH's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Kinsman SSH sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Universal BLE asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal BLE ships an update every 2 months, Kinsman SSH fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Universal BLE versus Kinsman SSH: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal BLEKinsman SSH
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNavideck Labs OUJames Kinsman

In-app purchases

None

Universal BLE

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Kinsman SSH

One-time2
  • 5 Connection Slots$1.99
  • 10 Connection Slots$2.99

Questions

Is Universal BLE free?
Universal BLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kinsman SSH free?
Kinsman SSH is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Universal BLE or Kinsman SSH have ads?
Neither Universal BLE nor Kinsman SSH shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal BLE or Kinsman SSH?
Universal BLE ships an update every 2 months, and Kinsman SSH fortnightly. Most recently, Universal BLE was updated on October 8, 2026 and Kinsman SSH on October 10, 2026.

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