Comparison

BT/BLE Scanner vs Bleacon

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

Head to head
About

BT/BLE Scanner

Features
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Bluetooth Scanner turns your iPhone into a Bluetooth Low Energy explorer. Scan the environment, save the devices you care about, and inspect everything they broadcast โ€” right down to the raw advertisement data. No cloud, no account, no internet connection needed: everything happens locally, straight from your device's Bluetooth hardware. FEATURES โ€ข Live scan of nearby Bluetooth LE devices, sorted by signal strength โ€ข Save devices to your list and give them your own nicknames โ€ข Swipe to remove a saved device at any time โ€ข Full detail view per device: signal strength (RSSI), TX power, MTU, connectable state, service UUIDs, manufacturer data, and more โ€ข Automatic background refresh keeps saved devices' signal strength and data up to date while you're on the Home screen โ€ข On-demand decoding of common BLE beacon formats โ€” iBeacon, Eddystone, and Apple Continuity โ€” shown as readable fields instead of raw hex โ€ข Export your saved device list as a JSON file via the share sheet โ€ข Scan preferences: auto-stop timer, hide unnamed devices, minimum signal strength filter โ€” all remembered between launches โ€ข Dark mode by default, with a light mode toggle โ€” your choice is remembered too โ€ข Fully offline operation, no tracking, no analytics PRIVACY Bluetooth Scanner does not collect, transmit, or store any data outside your device. Scanned and saved devices exist only for your current session; only your display preferences (theme and scan filters) are remembered locally on your device.

About

Bleacon

Features
Read full description

Unlock the full potential of Bluetooth Low Energy with Bleacon, the essential toolkit for developers, engineers, and power users. Whether you are debugging a new hardware product, testing mobile app connectivity, or searching for a lost peripheral, Bleacon provides a clean, native experience designed for maximum efficiency. Key Features - Advanced BLE Scanning: Effortlessly discover nearby Bluetooth LE devices. View detailed lists of both named and unknown peripherals, check connectability, and explore available services at a glance. - Comprehensive Debugging: Connect to any device to read, write, and subscribe to characteristics. Inspect primary services and monitor real-time data flow to streamline your development process. - Peripheral Simulation (Advertise): Turn your iPhone into a BLE peripheral. Advertise custom services and notify values to test how your other apps or devices handle incoming data. - Distance & RSSI Radar: Use the intuitive visual signal tracker to locate devices. Bleacon uses real-time RSSI signal strength to estimate distance, helping you find lost tags or calibrate hardware placement. Built for the Community Bleacon is a passion project built by a solo developer with a focus on transparency and utility. - No Ads: Stay focused on your work without intrusive interruptions. - No Tracking: Your data and scan results are your own. We respect your privacy. - Always Free: Professional-grade tools accessible to every developer. - Simplify your BLE workflow today with Bleacon.

Screenshots

BT/BLE Scanner4 screens
Bleacon3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BT/BLE Scanner at none against Bleacon's 5. BT/BLE Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Bleacon sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. BT/BLE Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
BT/BLE Scanner versus Bleacon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBT/BLE ScannerBleacon
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Daily
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad โ€” better
Requires iOS16.4 โ€” better26.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size31 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai SteuernagelSergio Sette

In-app purchases

None

BT/BLE Scanner

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Bleacon

One-time5
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Coffee Tip$1.99
  • Generous Tip$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Sponsor Tip$9.99
  • Champion Tip$19.99

Questions

Is BT/BLE Scanner free?
BT/BLE Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bleacon free?
Bleacon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BT/BLE Scanner or Bleacon have ads?
Neither BT/BLE Scanner nor Bleacon shows ads.

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