React Native Bluetooth
Three libraries bring Bluetooth Low Energy to React Native. SimpleBLE adds the peripheral role, shares one library with your Node.js and desktop tools, and comes with support from the team that builds it.
Roles, reach beyond the phone, and licensing decide which library fits a commercial React Native app. This is where each one stands.
| Library | Platforms | Peripheral role | Beyond React Native | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleBLEsimplernble | iOS, Android | Yes | Node.js, Python, C++, Rust, and more | Source-available (BUSL 1.1); one commercial license per company |
| react-native-ble-plxreact-native-ble-plx | iOS, Android | No | React Native only | Open source |
| react-native-ble-managerreact-native-ble-manager | iOS, Android | No | React Native only | Apache 2.0 |
SimpleBLE is a Bluetooth Low Energy library for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Its React Native package, SimpleRnBLE, scans and connects as a central and hosts GATT services as a peripheral, with promises, events, and TypeScript types. It runs on the New Architecture and in Expo development builds, and Bluetooth calls never block the JavaScript thread. The same library runs in Node.js and Electron, so your app, desktop tools, and test scripts share one Bluetooth foundation.
react-native-ble-plx, maintained by dotintent, is a central-role library for iOS and Android with an Expo config plugin. Its README lists peripheral support, bonding, and beacons among the features it does not cover. Characteristic values are Base64 strings, which SimpleBLE replaces with Uint8Arrays.
react-native-ble-manager, from innoveit, is a central-role library for iOS and Android. To advertise or host GATT services from the phone, SimpleBLE covers the peripheral role with the same API it uses as a central.
SimpleRnBLE works with promises and events. Install simplernble and react-native-nitro-modules, and this is the code for each step.
import { Adapter } from 'simplernble';
const [adapter] = await Adapter.getAdapters();
adapter.on('scanFound', peripheral => {
console.log(peripheral.identifier(), peripheral.address());
});
await adapter.scanFor(5000);Scan and connect, or advertise and serve GATT. One API on iOS and Android.
Every Bluetooth call is async. Scans and reads never block the JavaScript thread.
Runs in Expo development builds, with prebuild or EAS Build.
Typed calls, events, and errors. Plain Uint8Arrays, no Base64.
Your app, Node.js services, and Python test scripts share the same Bluetooth library.
Commercial customers work directly with the team that builds SimpleBLE.
Evaluation needs no license. For commercial use, one agreement covers your whole company, with no per-seat, per-device, or royalty fees.
SimpleBLE. SimpleRnBLE hosts GATT services and advertises on iOS and Android. react-native-ble-plx and react-native-ble-manager work in the central role.
SimpleBLE. SimpleRnBLE hosts GATT services and advertises on iOS and Android. react-native-ble-plx and react-native-ble-manager work in the central role.
Yes, in development builds. SimpleRnBLE contains native code, so it runs in builds created with npx expo prebuild or EAS Build rather than in Expo Go.
Yes, in development builds. SimpleRnBLE contains native code, so it runs in builds created with npx expo prebuild or EAS Build rather than in Expo Go.
Yes. SimpleRnBLE is a Nitro module for the New Architecture, with calls that go straight from JavaScript to SimpleBLE.
Yes. SimpleRnBLE is a Nitro module for the New Architecture, with calls that go straight from JavaScript to SimpleBLE.
Install simplernble and react-native-nitro-modules, then move scanning, connections, and GATT calls one flow at a time. Both libraries are promise-based. SimpleBLE takes full 128-bit UUID strings and reads and writes Uint8Arrays, so there is no Base64 to encode or decode.
Install simplernble and react-native-nitro-modules, then move scanning, connections, and GATT calls one flow at a time. Both libraries are promise-based. SimpleBLE takes full 128-bit UUID strings and reads and writes Uint8Arrays, so there is no Base64 to encode or decode.
Yes. SimpleBLE runs in Node.js and Electron on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and in C++, Python, C#, Rust, and other languages, so test scripts and internal tools share one Bluetooth library with your app.
Yes. SimpleBLE runs in Node.js and Electron on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and in C++, Python, C#, Rust, and other languages, so test scripts and internal tools share one Bluetooth library with your app.
SimpleBLE is source-available under the Business Source License 1.1 and free for non-commercial use. Evaluation needs no license. Commercial use needs a license, and one agreement covers your whole company, with no per-seat, per-device, or royalty fees.
SimpleBLE is source-available under the Business Source License 1.1 and free for non-commercial use. Evaluation needs no license. Commercial use needs a license, and one agreement covers your whole company, with no per-seat, per-device, or royalty fees.