ECU Connect vs MX5 Tech Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ECU Connect
This app allows you to program tuned files directly to your car's ECU using your phone. It also provides real-time engine performance monitoring and customizable dashboards. A Bluetooth interface is required for full functionality.
- Program tuned ECU files wirelessly
- Real-time engine performance monitoring
- Customizable parameter dashboards
- Log engine data with GPS coordinates
- Adjust RaceROM features on the fly
- Connects via Bluetooth Vehicle Interface
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IMPORTANT This app requires an EcuTek Bluetooth Vehicle Interface to connect to your car's ECU. These are available from EcuTek Tuners. Find your nearest one at www.ecutek.com/dealers. If you don't have an interface, run the demo mode within the app to see ECU Connect in action. ECU Connect is the free companion app to the new pocket-size Bluetooth Vehicle Interface produced by specialist tuning firm EcuTek Technologies. Once you have purchased your EcuTek Vehicle Interface, plug it into your car's OBD vehicle diagnostic socket, pair it with your phone in the app and you will open up a whole new world of enjoyment with your car. With ECU Connect, you can receive and program in a tuned file from one of our EcuTek Master Tuners just with your phone. No laptop, no wires, no fuss. Just create an account in the app, select the tuner you want to work with, and you are ready to receive the tuned file. Discuss with your tuner what you want to achieve from the tune and once the file has been created, you will receive a notification that the file is ready. Go to Program ECU, select the file and follow the on-screen instructions. It's as easy as that. All that's left is for you to enjoy the car! For more details on programming your car’s ECU with ECU Connect go to www.ecutek.com/phone-flash Your EcuTek Tuner can also set up some unique RaceROM features which allows you to control and adjust some aspects of the tune with your phone: Launch RPM; Traction Control settings; boost and torque levels; switch between different set ups such as track mode, economy mode, fast road and flexfuel on the fly. These are just some of the example set ups. Speak to your EcuTek Master Tuner and discuss with them what you'd like. There are lots of options to choose from. For a list of supported models together with their ECU Connect Features go to www.ecutek.com/ecu-connect Whether your car is tuned on EcuTek or not, with ECU Connect you can instantly see how your engine is performing as you drive it (even if the car is not officially supported, ECU Connect provides basic support for most cars using generic OBD2 CAN communication protocol available on nearly all vehicles manufactured from 2008 onwards). You can view and log any parameter the ECU records and even create unlimited personalised dashboards if you want to monitor specific groups of parameters. Save and send these logs direct from the app to your tuner. You can also record GPS coordinates in the log files, so you can see what was happening at any given point on your logging run (very useful on track days).
MX5 Tech Remote
Control a diagnostic tool remotely via Bluetooth to scan fault codes, monitor engine data, and test various vehicle components. It also integrates with a "Wink/Sleepy Eye" mod for custom lighting effects.
- Remote device control via Bluetooth
- Fault code scanning
- Engine data monitoring (rev counter, battery voltage, O2 sensor)
- Component testing (switches, fan, fuel pump)
- Wink/Sleepy Eye mod control
- Customizable lighting patterns
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Plug in the MX5 Tech Diagnostic tool and use this app to remote control the device via blue tooth. All functions are available remotely including fault code scanning, rev counter, battery voltage, O2 Sensor, switch testing, fan test (MK1/NA only), fuel pump test etc. Also connects to the MX5Tech Wink/Sleepy Eye mod and allows the user to remotely perform winks, set sleepy eye mod on and off, adjust sleepy eye level, choose default wink patterns for 1,2,3, and 4 button presses and swap left and right lights. Securely links to only your wink mod until the wink mod is reset in the car to prevent others operating the device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ECU Connect at 4.0 against MX5 Tech Remote's 3.2. ECU Connect also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (63% vs 37%). MX5 Tech Remote's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ECU Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of ECU Connect's written reviews are positive against 37% of MX5 Tech Remote's.
ECU Connect ships an update every 3 weeks, MX5 Tech Remote every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ECU Connect | MX5 Tech Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (87 ratings) — better | 3.2 (21 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 63.2% of reviews — better | 36.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 87 — better | 21 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 83 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | EcuTek Technologies Ltd | ILSOFT Limited |
Customer experience
ECU Connect
MX5 Tech Remote
In-app purchases
ECU Connect
No in-app purchases
MX5 Tech Remote
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ECU Connect free?
Is MX5 Tech Remote free?
Which has better reviews, ECU Connect or MX5 Tech Remote?
Do ECU Connect or MX5 Tech Remote have ads?
Which is updated more often, ECU Connect or MX5 Tech Remote?
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