Beaconator vs BeaconWave
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Beaconator
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Beaconator is an all-in-one iBeacon broadcaster and detector for developers, testers, and educators. Whether you're building an indoor navigation app, testing proximity interactions, validating hardware, or learning about Bluetooth beacons, Beaconator makes iBeacon development simple. Configure a custom UUID, Major, and Minor, then instantly turn your iPhone into an iBeacon transmitter. On another device, detect nearby beacons, monitor signal strength, verify your configuration, and troubleshoot deployments without additional hardware. Features ⢠Broadcast fully configurable iBeacon signals ⢠Detect nearby iBeacons in real time ⢠Adjustable UUID, Major, and Minor values ⢠Generate random UUIDs for testing ⢠Share beacon configurations with QR codes ⢠Scan QR codes to configure another device instantly ⢠View beacon proximity, RSSI, and estimated distance ⢠Clean SwiftUI interface optimized for quick testing Perfect for ⢠iOS developers ⢠Bluetooth LE developers ⢠Indoor positioning projects ⢠Museum and exhibit installations ⢠Retail and proximity marketing prototypes ⢠Classroom demonstrations ⢠QA and field testing ⢠Hardware validation Typical Workflow 1. Configure a beacon on one device. 2. Display a QR code containing the beacon UUID. 3. Scan the QR code with a second device. 4. Begin ranging immediately to verify the broadcast. No typing. No extra hardware. No complicated setup. Beaconator was created by a developer who needed a simple way to test iBeacon-enabled applications in real-world environments. It has helped validate countless Bluetooth beacon deployments and continues to evolve with modern iOS and SwiftUI. All of the code is open-source and available at https://github.com/jeffreality/beaconator . Whether you're shipping a production app or experimenting with Core Location and Bluetooth LE, Beaconator gives you the tools you need to test quickly and confidently.
BeaconWave
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The complete Bluetooth toolkit for developers and engineers. BeaconWave lets you manage, scan, and broadcast Bluetooth beacons ā all from one app. Whether you're testing a beacon installation or building an indoor positioning system, everything you need is right here. MANAGE YOUR BEACONS Register beacons with UUID, Major, and Minor values. Your entire beacon inventory, organized and always at hand. SCAN FOR iBEACONS Add scan target UUIDs ā preset or custom ā and detect iBeacon signals in range. Know exactly which beacons are broadcasting nearby. DISCOVER BLE DEVICES Switch to BLE mode to scan for any Bluetooth device around you. Signal strength in dBm and proximity labels, updated in real time. BROADCAST YOUR OWN Turn your iPhone into an iBeacon. Configure UUID, Major, Minor, and TX Power to simulate any beacon ā no extra hardware needed. Add a name and memo to track your test setups. Perfect for: ⢠Retail beacon deployment and testing ⢠Indoor navigation development ⢠IoT and smart space prototyping ⢠Bluetooth education and exploration
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BeaconWave at 15.0 against Beaconator's 17.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Beaconator | BeaconWave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | ā |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | 15.0 ā better |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | pushplay.net | Hironori Tsumuraya |
In-app purchases
Beaconator
No in-app purchases
BeaconWave
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Beaconator free?
Is BeaconWave free?
Do Beaconator or BeaconWave have ads?
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