nRF Toolbox vs Particle IoT
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
Particle IoT
Configure and manage your hardware devices and cloud deployments. Easily set up new devices, monitor their status, and access detailed diagnostics. The app provides a centralized control panel for managing your entire device fleet.
- Device setup and configuration
- Real-time device diagnostics
- Online/offline device status tracking
- Device renaming and notes
- Device OS version viewing
- Device list filtering and sorting
- Tinker mode for hardware interaction
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The Particle mobile app is a tool to configure and manage your Particle hardware and cloud deployments. Set up a new device, check device diagnostics, and keep track of which devices are on- and offline with a few taps of the screen. Control Panel — rename devices, set notes, or even unclaim, all from a single section of the mobile app. Device Info Screen — view device ID, serial number, Device OS version; plus, you can ping, shout rainbows (signal mode), rename, and edit device notes. Device list filtering — sort and filter your fleet based on your needs right from the main screen of the app. UI refresh — improved information density and readability, plus multiple UI element tweaks across the app. Tinker improvements — review of pin layout, UX refresh, and updates to ensure consistent design across the mobile app experience.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Particle IoT at 3.4 against nRF Toolbox's 2.6. Particle IoT also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 22%) and ratings volume (25 vs 8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Particle IoT holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of nRF Toolbox's written reviews are positive against 39% of Particle IoT's.
nRF Toolbox ships an update every 5 weeks, Particle IoT monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Toolbox | Particle IoT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (8 ratings) | 3.4 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | 39.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 86 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | Particle Industries Inc. |
Customer experience
nRF Toolbox
Particle IoT
In-app purchases
nRF Toolbox
No in-app purchases
Particle IoT
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Toolbox free?
Is Particle IoT free?
Which has better reviews, nRF Toolbox or Particle IoT?
Do nRF Toolbox or Particle IoT have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Toolbox or Particle IoT?
Other comparisons
