Comparison

Blue Switch vs BleControlsPi

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

Head to head
About

Blue Switch

Control 2, 4, or 8 channel Bluetooth BLE relay modules from your iPhone or iPad. Assign custom names to modules and individual relays for easy identification and management. Enhance security by changing the default password.

Highlights
  • Control 2, 4, or 8 channel relay modules
  • Bluetooth BLE connectivity
  • Assign custom module aliases
  • Assign custom relay aliases
  • Change default password for security
  • Connect to multiple modules
Features
Read full description

This app allows you to control a 2, 4 or 8 Channel Relay Module Bluetooth BLE with your iPhone or iPad. To use this app, you need one of these three modules: "2 Channel Relay Module Bluetooth BLE" "4 Channel Relay Module Bluetooth BLE" "8 Channel Relay Module Bluetooth BLE" These modules can be ordered at many online shops. Please use a search engine to find a shop. This app can be connected with any number of modules. By entering an alias, the modules are marked clearly and can easily be assigned to a use area. Name the modules for example "Relay 1", "Relay 2", "Electronic lab project" or "Ambient Light". An alias can also be entered for each relay. The default password for these modules is usually "12345678". For more security, the app also allows you to change the password. The password must be eight digits long.

About

BleControlsPi

Features
Read full description

The BLEControlsPi App allows to create various iOS controls such as Button,Toggle, Sliders, Steppers, Pickers (color, date, options) to Control a Raspberry Pi. Manipulating these controls sends their value to the Raspberry Pi (or linux device) in real time over Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE). You can also define Display controls such as Gauges and Text Displays, to create a Dashboard, where the Raspberry Pi sends info to the iPhone/iPad also in real time over Bluetooth. You can create, edit, size, and positions the controls in the app without being connected to a Raspberry Pi. However, before you can connect to, and control the Raspberry Pi you must instal the Python code (see below). IMPORTANT: You must install the free companion Python Software on the Raspberry Pi - where you define your own handlers (callback) functions that take actions on the Raspberry Pi, or fetch data on the Raspberry Pi to send to the iPhone/iPad. The code is provided with an automated installer for the Raspberry Pi. See https://github.com/bluepieapps/blecontrolspi-python and the README. The app provides 2 free controls. These can be created , deleted and re-created as often as you wish, allowing you to test any configuration, or run a simple control scheme. If you need more controls, you can use In-App Purchases to buy Control Packs (in quantity 1,3,5 or 9) for a small fee. This is not a subscription. Once you own the pack - it is yours to use. Packs allow the creation of any controls offered in the app, and any such controls can be edited, deleted and re-created at will. You can install the app on multiple iPhones/iPads that all use the same Apple ID. Controls Packs, and Controls you define on one device are synchronized to the other devices on app restart. Add a new control on your iPhone, and it will show up on your iPad. delete a controls from your iPad, and it will be deleted from your iPhone. See a video of the app at: https://youtu.be/8y3t2luLw3k See the documentation at: https://bluepieapps.com/Control-Pi-over-bluetooth/ - There is docs on how the controls, working which type of controls are available. - There is also an explanation of how you create handlers in the Python Code on the Raspberry Pi to have the RPi react to the controls you have defined.

Screenshots

Blue Switch4 screens
BleControlsPi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: BleControlsPi at none against Blue Switch's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Blue Switch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and BleControlsPi sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Blue Switch versus BleControlsPi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlue SwitchBleControlsPi
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (43 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings43 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVitalij SchaeferNormand Frenette

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Blue Switch

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$17.99
4 purchases

BleControlsPi

One-time4
  • Controls Pack 1$0.99
  • Controls Pack 3$2.69
  • Controls Pack 5$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Controls Pack 9$6.99

Questions

Is Blue Switch free?
Blue Switch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BleControlsPi free?
BleControlsPi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Blue Switch or BleControlsPi have ads?
Blue Switch shows ads; BleControlsPi does not.

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