Boardstrom, VictronConnect and VRM compared
These three do different jobs and work side by side. Boardstrom is an independent app; VictronConnect and VRM are Victron's own.
| Boardstrom | VictronConnect | VRM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made for | An always-on view of the whole system at a glance | Setting up and updating Victron devices | Watching and managing a system from anywhere |
| Needs a GX device | No. Optional, over WiFi. | No | Yes (or a GlobalLink) |
| Needs internet | No | No, over Bluetooth | Yes |
| Needs an account | No | No, over Bluetooth | Yes |
| Whole system on one screen | Yes: battery, solar, loads, chargers, tanks, temperatures | One device at a time over Bluetooth. A system overview exists for systems with a GX device on VRM. | Yes |
| Change device settings, update firmware | No | Yes | Partly, remotely |
| Non-Victron sensors | Mopeka and Ruuvi directly over Bluetooth, plus the Boardstrom Tank Sensor | No | Those connected to the GX device |
| Away from the boat or van | Not on its own. It works within Bluetooth or local WiFi range, or over your own VPN to a GX device. | Through VRM, with a GX device | Yes, this is its purpose |
| Where the data lives | On your phone or tablet | On your devices | On Victron's servers |
| Price | Free for one device. Pro is a one-time purchase. | Free | Free |
When to use which
- VictronConnect when you install or change something: charge settings, battery capacity, firmware updates. You also need it once per device to read the encryption key Boardstrom asks for.
- Boardstrom for the daily look: one screen for the whole system, on your phone or on a tablet mounted on the wall, with history, tank levels and a solar forecast. It needs no GX device, no internet and no account.
- VRM when you are away from the boat, van or cabin and it has a GX device with an internet connection.
Many owners use all three. Boardstrom does not replace VictronConnect: it cannot change a device's settings.
If you already have a Cerbo GX
Boardstrom reads the whole system from the GX device over your local WiFi. That gives you as many extra dashboards as you have phones and tablets, without logging in to anything, and it works with no internet connection. With Pro you can also switch the inverter on and off from the dashboard.
Checked in October 2026. Victron updates its apps regularly; its own pages are the authority on what VictronConnect and VRM can do. Victron, VictronConnect, VRM, Cerbo GX and GlobalLink are names of Victron Energy B.V. Boardstrom is not affiliated with Victron Energy.
Get Boardstrom
Boardstrom runs on iPhone, iPad and Android. It is free to start, and Demo Mode shows a simulated system if you want to look around first. Get the app.