nRF Toolbox vs SmartLoop Firmware Utility
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
nRF Toolbox
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.
- Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity
- Demonstrates BLE profiles
- Heart Rate Monitor support
- Glucose Monitor support
- Cycling Speed and Cadence
- Running Speed and Cadence
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nRF Toolbox works with a wide range of Bluetooth Low Energy accessories. It contains applications demonstrating BLE profiles: Cycling Speed and Cadence, Running Speed and Cadence, Heart Rate Monitor, Blood Pressure Monitor, Health Thermometer, Glucose Monitor, Continuous Glucose Monitor, Monitoring & Diagnostic and more. The source code of this application is available on GitHub: https://github.com/nordicsemi/iOS-nRF-Toolbox
SmartLoop Firmware Utility
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SmartLoop Firmware Utility is used to scan your regions in any SmartLoop Control system to identify if there are any Firmware updates available. This simple process will keep your system running with the most current firmware, patching any bugs and implementing security improvements.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: nRF Toolbox at every 5 weeks against SmartLoop Firmware Utility's every 5 months. SmartLoop Firmware Utility's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
nRF Toolbox ships an update every 5 weeks, SmartLoop Firmware Utility every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Toolbox | SmartLoop Firmware Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | Keystone Technologies, LLC |
In-app purchases
nRF Toolbox
No in-app purchases
SmartLoop Firmware Utility
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Toolbox free?
Is SmartLoop Firmware Utility free?
Do nRF Toolbox or SmartLoop Firmware Utility have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Toolbox or SmartLoop Firmware Utility?
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