Bluetooth and WiFi are different standards for wireless communication.
Bluetooth technology is useful when transferring information between two or more devices that are near each other when speed is not an issue, such as telephones, printers, modems and headsets. It is best suited to low-bandwidth applications like transferring sound data with telephones (i.e. with a Bluetooth headset) or byte data with hand-held computers (transferring files) or keyboard and mice.
Wi-Fi is better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better wireless security (if configured properly) than Bluetooth.
Comparison chart
 | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz | 2.4, 3.6, 5 GHz |
| Cost | Low | High |
| Bandwidth | Low ( 800 Kbps ) | High (11 Mbps ) |
| Specifications authority | Bluetooth SIG | IEEE, WECA |
| Security | It is less secure | Security issues are already being debated. |
| Year of development | 1994 | 1991 |
| Primary Devices | Mobile phones, mouse, keyboards, office and industrial automation devices. Activity trackers, such as Fitbit and Jawbone. | Notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, TV, Latest mobiles. |
| Hardware requirement | Bluetooth adaptor on all the devices connecting with each other | Wireless adaptors on all the devices of the network, a wireless router and/or wireless access points |
| Range | 5-30 meters | With 802.11b/g the typical range is 32 meters indoors and 95 meters (300 ft) outdoors. 802.11n has greater range. 2.5GHz Wi-Fi communication has greater range than 5GHz. Antennas can also increase range. |
| Power Consumption | Low | High |
| Ease of Use | Fairly simple to use. Can be used to connect upto seven devices at a time. It is easy to switch between devices or find and connect to any device. | It is more complex and requires configuration of hardware and software. |
| Latency | 200ms | 150ms - Average Latency. (It depends on the speed of connection) |
| Bit-rate | 2.1Mbps | 600 Mbps |
Video Explaining the Differences
References
About the Author
Nick Jasuja has over 15 years of technology industry experience, including at Amazon in Seattle. He is an expert at building websites, developing software programs in PHP and JavaScript, maintaining MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, and running Linux servers for serving high-traffic websites. He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering.
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