Comparison

Directlink vs CL7

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Directlink

This app provides installation technicians with a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for working with specific products. It offers features like vehicle wiring data, wireless module flashing, and direct chat with technical support.

Highlights
  • Wireless module flashing
  • Automatic vehicle detection
  • Manage paired devices
  • Installation guides
  • Technical news alerts
  • Live chat with technical service
Features
Read full description

“By Installers, For Installers“ Directechs is the industry’s #1 technical website, driven by the Directed’s award winning Technical Service team across the globe! We’ve come a long way from TechSoft diskettes to our new state-of-the-art Directlink Mobile app, but our purpose has remained the same. It’s our goal to bring installation technicians the most comprehensive and user friendly resource available to help you work with Directed’s products with help from your smartphone or tablet with features such as: •DirectWire •Wirelessly flash DS4/DS4+ modules with no extra devices to connect •Automatic vehicle detection •Manage devices paired •Adjust shock and tilt sensors •Installation Guides •Technical News Alerts •Directed SmartStart Activation •Interactive Live Chat with Technical Service At Directechs, our motto has always been “By Installers, For Installers”. With several years of installation experience and the pursuit of certification in MECP and ASE, we’re committed to support installation technicians by providing our unrivaled passion and dedication to this industry in technical expertise.   This application works only with the DS4/DS4+ units. Only Directed Dealers and Distributors have access to Directechs-specific resources, which include: DirectWire vehicle wiring and information database, installation guides, online training, tech tips, and much more. To become a Directed Dealer, visit http://www.directed.com/Contact/BecomeDealer.aspx.

About

CL7

Control your car remotely from anywhere. Start the engine, check status, locate your vehicle, and receive alerts. Offers advanced features like trip tracking and geofencing for enhanced vehicle management.

Highlights
  • Remote engine start/shutdown
  • Vehicle location tracking
  • Door lock/unlock
  • Real-time status monitoring
  • Smart alerts and notifications
  • Trip tracking and route mapping
  • Geofencing and zone monitoring
Features
Read full description

# CARLINK™ 7 — Control Your Car from Virtually Anywhere **THE FUTURE OF VEHICLE CONNECTIVITY** CARLINK™ 7 is the fastest, easiest, and most complete telematics system designed to keep you connected with your vehicle from anywhere in the world. Start your engine remotely, check vehicle status, or locate it in busy parking lots. **REQUIREMENTS** - Hardware purchase and professional installation required - Compatible CARLINK™ 7 device with supported remote-starter system - Active internet connection via cellular or Wi-Fi - Find authorized resellers at: https://carlink.voxxelectronics.com/dealer-locator/index ## NEW FOR 2025 **APPLE WATCH SUPPORT** Control key features from your wrist — start, lock, unlock, GPS locate, and get walking directions. **MYBRANDED APP** White-label branding for authorized retailers with custom logos, contact info, and promotions. **BLE COMMANDS (LOCAL CONTROL MODE)** Use Bluetooth Low Energy for essential functions (remote start, lock/unlock, trunk release) when cellular signal is unavailable. Perfect for underground parking or remote areas. *Note: Requires latest firmware update.* ## PREMIUM SERVICE FEATURES (INCLUDED WITH DEVICE) **CONTROL YOUR VEHICLE** - Remote Start/Shutdown with True Runtime - Door Lock/Unlock with status - Trunk Release or motorized hatch control - Up to 4 Auxiliary functions - Extend Runtime (on supported starters) **REAL-TIME STATUS** - Battery Voltage monitoring - GPS Location (instant locate) - Walk Me to My Vehicle with Apple/Google Maps directions **CUSTOMIZATION** - Unlimited users, devices, and vehicles per account - Customizable app layout and vehicle image picker ## PREMIUM PLUS UPGRADE Upgrade anytime with 30-day free trial included after installation. Premium Plus includes all Premium features plus smart alerts, driving reports, and enhanced notifications. **ALERTS & NOTIFICATIONS** - Low & Critical Battery Alerts - Excessive Speed Alerts - Movement notifications for unauthorized usage **TRIP TRACKING** - Detailed route mapping and recording - Playback feature for past journeys **ZONE MONITORING** - Zones of Interest: Up to 10 circular alert zones per vehicle - Guard Alerts: Up to 10 high-priority zones per vehicle - Curfew Alerts: Restrict driving during specific days/times - Geofences: Up to 4 advanced custom zones (circular, rectangular, or polygonal) **COMPATIBILITY** Supports major digital remote-starter brands: ADS, Directed, Eurostart, Firstech, Fortin, Mid City Engineering, Omega, Polarstart, and Voxx. Full compatibility list: https://www.voxxelectronics.com/security/carlink/ **HELP & SUPPORT** See in-app Help section for Owner's Guide or contact your authorized CARLINK™ 7 retailer. © 2025 Automobility Distribution Inc. All Rights Reserved. CARLINK™ 7 is a trademark of Automobility Distribution Inc.

Screenshots

Directlink4 screens
CL74 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Directlink at none against CL7's shown. Directlink also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.5.0). CL7's advantage is rating (2.3 vs 1.9) and review sentiment (15% vs 7%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CL7 holds the better App Store score, 2.3 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 71 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of Directlink's written reviews are positive against 15% of CL7's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and July 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Directlink versus CL7: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDirectlinkCL7
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (21 ratings)2.3 (71 ratings) — better
Positive reviews6.7% of reviews14.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2171 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.5.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB131 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperDirectedDistribution Automobilite Inc

Customer experience

Directlink

All ratings21 ratings
Positive14.3%
Neutral9.5%
Negative76.2%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive6.7%
Neutral20.0%
Negative73.3%

CL7

All ratings64 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral14.1%
Negative60.9%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral16.4%
Negative68.9%

Bugs and requests

Directlink

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

CL7

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • App constantly crashing
  • App going offline
  • Login and account creation issues
  • App not receiving signal from module
  • System requires frequent reboots by company
Show 14 more
  • GPS connection loss
  • App not communicating with vehicle after updates
  • Face ID continuously triggering
  • On/Off start button not showing
  • Position button showing instead of start button
  • Vehicle status not updating correctly (e.g., engine off while driving)
  • App not always updating car status accurately
  • Command timeouts reported
  • Security settings (Face ID) broken and difficult to disable
  • App not opening to main screen after update
  • Inability to delete or edit vehicle information
  • Face authentication in infinity loop
  • App signed out and cannot log back in
  • Communication error on forgot password feature

Requested features

9 requests
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Siri control integration
  • Alexa support
  • Google Assistant support
  • Widgets for iOS
Show 4 more
  • Ability to delete vehicles
  • Notification for unlocked doors
  • Siri shortcut integration
  • Automatic selection of favorite car

In-app purchases

None

Directlink

No in-app purchases

None

CL7

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Directlink free?
Directlink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CL7 free?
CL7 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Directlink or CL7?
CL7 is rated higher. Directlink averages 1.9 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while CL7 averages 2.3 from 71 ratings.
Do Directlink or CL7 have ads?
CL7 shows ads; Directlink does not.
Which is updated more often, Directlink or CL7?
Directlink ships an update every 2 months, and CL7 every 2 months. Most recently, Directlink was updated on July 7, 2026 and CL7 on July 30, 2026.

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