Comparison

Universal BLE vs HelloBlue

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

HelloBlue

This tool streamlines Bluetooth Low Energy device debugging. It allows users to scan, inspect GATT services, exchange data in real-time, and automate testing sequences. Capture and export logs for detailed analysis.

Highlights
  • Scan and identify BLE devices
  • Inspect GATT services and characteristics
  • Read and monitor characteristic values live
  • Send and receive messages in real-time
  • Automate repetitive testing sequences
  • Capture and export logs
Features
Read full description

HelloBlue turns your iPhone or iPad into a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) debugging tool. Scan nearby devices, connect in a tap, explore every service and characteristic, send data, and watch the traffic live, all in one clean app. Built for firmware engineers, IoT developers, testers, and hardware makers who need to inspect and talk to BLE devices quickly. KEY FEATURES - Scan and connect Discover nearby BLE devices with live signal strength (RSSI). Search by name or UUID, sort by name or signal, rename devices, and reconnect to recent devices automatically. - Services and characteristics Browse every GATT service and characteristic. Read values as hex and text, write data, and subscribe to notifications. Give services and characteristics names that make sense to you. - Send data your way Send in Hex, String, or JSON. Save frequently used commands as quick texts and resend them with one tap. - Live operation logs Watch reads, writes, notifications, and errors stream in real time from any screen. Filter entries and turn auto-scroll on or off. - Session history Every session and automation run is saved. Review past logs, rename them, export them to share with your team, or delete what you no longer need. - Automation workflows Chain connect, write, delay, and loop steps into reusable flows. Set message intervals and repeat counts, and choose whether each step stops or continues on failure. - Location history HelloBlue records where a device was each time it connects, making it easier to find again. - iPhone and iPad Works on both, with layouts designed for each screen. Bluetooth must be turned on, and HelloBlue needs Bluetooth permission to scan and connect. Location history requires location permission. Some features depend on the services and characteristics your device provides. HELLOBLUE PRO Start for free: scan, connect one device at a time, browse services, read values, and try writing, quick texts, log export, and automation with a limited number of uses. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited simultaneous connections, unlimited writes, quick send with saved commands, unlimited log export, and automation workflows. Pro plans and pricing: - Weekly: $0.99 - Monthly: $1.99 - Yearly: $9.99 - Lifetime (one-time purchase): $29.99 Prices are shown in US dollars. Actual charges may vary depending on your region and local currency. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account when the purchase is confirmed. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple Account settings after purchase. The lifetime purchase is a one-time payment and does not renew. Privacy Policy: https://emma-app.top/#/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Contact: developer_emma@163.com

Screenshots

Universal BLE4 screens
HelloBlue4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Universal BLE at none against HelloBlue's 4. Universal BLE also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). HelloBlue's advantage is update cadence (weekly 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. HelloBlue sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Universal BLE asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal BLE ships an update every 2 months, HelloBlue weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Universal BLE versus HelloBlue: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal BLEHelloBlue
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNavideck Labs OU英 陈

In-app purchases

None

Universal BLE

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

HelloBlue

Subscriptions3
  • Week Subscription$0.997 Days
  • Month Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Year Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$29.99

Questions

Is Universal BLE free?
Universal BLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HelloBlue free?
HelloBlue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Universal BLE or HelloBlue have ads?
Neither Universal BLE nor HelloBlue shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal BLE or HelloBlue?
Universal BLE ships an update every 2 months, and HelloBlue weekly. Most recently, Universal BLE was updated on October 8, 2026 and HelloBlue on October 17, 2026.

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