Comparison

nRF Beacons vs RLBeacon Tool

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

Head to head
About

nRF Beacons

This utility app demonstrates the capabilities of a Bluetooth beacon kit. It enables users to configure beacon settings and define actions triggered by proximity events. Supported actions include displaying content, opening web links, and playing alarms.

Highlights
  • Configure beacon UUID, Major, and Minor
  • Set calibrated RSSI
  • Define actions for proximity events
  • Trigger web browser opening
  • Play alarm sounds
  • Monitor multiple beacons simultaneously
Read full description

The nRF Beacon application has been designed to demonstrate all the features of the nRF8122 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit. It allows you to register actions that will be triggered when a specified event occurs and it also allows you to modify the content of a beacon including the beacon’s UUID, Major, Minor and calibrated RSSI. Currently the app supports the following actions: •Show an object (Mona Lisa painting) •Open a web browser •Play an alarm The app supports the following four events: •User enters the Beacon’s range. •User exits the Beacon’s range. •User is near to the Beacon. •User is at the Beacon. Note: •Supported on IOS 7.0 or later and iPhone 4S or later. •Supports simultaneous monitoring of multiple beacons. •Compatible with nRF51822 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit. •You may find more information about nRF51822 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit on our website: http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-R-low-energy/nRF51822-Bluetooth-Smart-Beacon-Kit . •The source code of the app nRF Beacon is available on http://www.nordicsemi.com and can be downloaded if you have purchased the nRF51822 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit.
 Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

RLBeacon Tool

Features
Read full description

This is an APP for Beacon data reading and parameter modification By setting filtering conditions, the target device can be searched faster. Click on the device list to see Beacon's detailed parameters: Major, Minor, temperature, humidity, triaxial acceleration, signal strength, battery power, etc. Click on the link to modify Beacon's default parameters.

Screenshots

nRF Beacons4 screens
RLBeacon Tool3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: RLBeacon Tool at every 2 months against nRF Beacons's every 4 months. nRF Beacons's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

nRF Beacons ships an update every 4 months, RLBeacon Tool every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
nRF Beacons versus RLBeacon Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternRF BeaconsRLBeacon Tool
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB14 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperNordic Semiconductor ASAShenzhen Radioland Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

nRF Beacons

No in-app purchases

None

RLBeacon Tool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is nRF Beacons free?
nRF Beacons is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RLBeacon Tool free?
RLBeacon Tool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do nRF Beacons or RLBeacon Tool have ads?
Neither nRF Beacons nor RLBeacon Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nRF Beacons or RLBeacon Tool?
nRF Beacons ships an update every 4 months, and RLBeacon Tool every 2 months. Most recently, nRF Beacons was updated on October 9, 2026 and RLBeacon Tool on September 26, 2026.

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