# nRF Toolbox vs Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs

The clearest difference is rating: Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs at 3.1 against nRF Toolbox's 2.6. Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). nRF Toolbox's advantage is review sentiment (22% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 22% of nRF Toolbox's written reviews are positive against 0% of Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

nRF Toolbox ships an update every 5 weeks, Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | nRF Toolbox | Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-toolbox/id820906058/reviews) | **[3.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluetooth-mesh-by-silicon-labs/id1411352948/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **22.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nordic Semiconductor ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/497679114) | [Silicon Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/555074469) |

## What reviewers say

### nRF Toolbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-toolbox/id820906058)

This utility app connects to various Bluetooth Low Energy accessories. It demonstrates multiple BLE profiles, including health and fitness sensors, allowing users to monitor data from devices like heart rate monitors and glucose monitors.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, Demonstrates BLE profiles, Heart Rate Monitor support, Glucose Monitor support, Cycling Speed and Cadence, Running Speed and Cadence

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluetooth-mesh-by-silicon-labs/id1411352948)

This app enables Bluetooth mesh networking on iOS devices. It allows users to provision and configure Bluetooth mesh devices, manage network nodes, and control devices implementing light and lightness models.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth mesh networking implementation, Device provisioning, Node configuration, Publish and subscribe settings, Node grouping, Light and lightness model control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is nRF Toolbox free?

nRF Toolbox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs free?

Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, nRF Toolbox or Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs?

Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs is rated higher. nRF Toolbox averages 2.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs averages 3.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do nRF Toolbox or Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs have ads?

Neither nRF Toolbox nor Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, nRF Toolbox or Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs?

nRF Toolbox ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs every 2 months. Most recently, nRF Toolbox was updated on October 24, 2026 and Bluetooth mesh by Silicon Labs on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*