Two simple fluorescent sensors for Cu(II) ions were synthesized in two reaction steps, using recently developed C–H functionalization reactions for boron dipyrrins, starting from a standard 8-aryl-BODIPY dye and a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) ligand. At pH 5, the resulting BODIPY–TREN conjugates are demonstrated to be promising, highly selective, water soluble, Cu(II) sensors that can permeate the cell membrane.