Bluetooth Browser

A native browser for compatible Web Bluetooth apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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Inspiration

I use a medical device whose Bluetooth Low Energy companion is a web app, with no app for it in Apple's App Store. Reaching a device I already own meant using a specialized browser, and the options I tried fell short of the experience I expect on my Apple devices. Years ago I found the Web Bluetooth specifications and built a proof of concept. Shipaton 2026 gave me the reason to dust it off and finish it. I also noticed that “Bluetooth Browser” was available as a name: a plain description of what someone with my problem might search for.

What I built

Bluetooth Browser is a native browser for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that lets compatible Web Bluetooth sites request and connect to nearby BLE devices. I wanted it to feel like a browser I would use even when I wasn't connecting a device: tabs, bookmarks, search, local HTML apps, iCloud sync for bookmarks, tabs, and settings, and Handoff for web pages. The core browsing and Bluetooth features are free.

It can help people who depend on specialized web companions, as well as students and makers experimenting with sensors, ESP32 boards, robotics, and motor projects. The particular website and device still need to be compatible; no browser can promise to work with every BLE product.

How I built it

The app combines a SwiftUI browser shell and WKWebView with a JavaScript Web Bluetooth compatibility layer backed by CoreBluetooth. A native device chooser and site-scoped permission flow keep a Bluetooth request tied to the page that made it. I expanded the proof of concept into an iPhone, iPad, and Mac app with the everyday details of a browser: tab lifecycles, bookmarks, local files, iCloud sync, and controls suited to each platform.

The hardest part was making the Bluetooth bridge behave like part of a dependable browser. Navigation, multiple tabs, permissions, and connection lifetimes all matter once a person relies on it beyond a one-page demo. Early users reported gaps in their own use cases, and their feedback helped me improve compatibility and reliability after launch.

Sustainability

RevenueCat powers optional Browser Patron and Browser Coffee tips. Patron adds custom tint choices and hides in-app promotions; tips do not unlock features. Neither is required for Web Bluetooth. Revenue was never why I chose this project. I joined Shipaton for the challenge, the fun, and the chance to make this niche tool better for people like me. Bluetooth Browser launched on September 15, 2026.

Why I am entering these awards

RevenueCat Peace Prize. Bluetooth Browser makes compatible Web Bluetooth tools available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The core connection and browsing features are free. I hope this gives students and makers an approachable way to experiment with sensors, ESP32 boards, robotics, and motors.

#BuildInPublic Award. I explored a descriptive App Store name and a pre-order launch, and shared development progress as I built the browser. Public questions helped me explain concrete use cases and improve the everyday browsing experience. I documented Mac browser progress and the use cases people asked about.

Early search evidence

An Astro keyword-tracking snapshot for the US iPhone App Store, checked on September 26, 2026, placed Bluetooth Browser at #1 for “bleweb,” #2 for “bluefy,” #4 for “webble,” and #5 for “pybricks.” Bluefy, an established Web BLE browser in this niche, has about 1.3K ratings on the US App Store. These are point-in-time keyword positions and rankings can change.

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