# LARKKEY vs Alpena Auto

The clearest difference is rating: LARKKEY at 4.7 against Alpena Auto's 1.7. LARKKEY also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 13%) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 133). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

LARKKEY holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LARKKEY has 4.3K ratings behind it against 133, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of LARKKEY's written reviews are positive against 13% of Alpena Auto's.

LARKKEY ships an update every 3 months, Alpena Auto every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LARKKEY | Alpena Auto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/larkkey/id1176874587/reviews)** | [1.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-auto/id1565589074/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 133 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 190 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [建敏 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1176874586) | [Marklyn Group Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565589076) |

## What reviewers say

### LARKKEY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/larkkey/id1176874587)

Control your smart home devices remotely, manage power consumption, and set custom schedules for appliances. Share device access with family and friends to easily enjoy a connected lifestyle from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Power saving management, Add multiple home appliances, Flexible timing tasks, Device sharing with family

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Good video quality
- 🔒 Reliable security camera
- 👍 Easy setup
- 👍 Affordable price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and offline issues
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and freezes
- 🔇 Poor audio quality
- 🔍 Limited camera control and viewing options

**Reported bugs**

- Camera goes offline frequently
- App fails to connect to cameras
- Motion detection triggers false alarms
- Cloud storage subscription issues

**Requested features**

- Add multi-camera view
- Improve motion detection accuracy
- Allow video downloads
- Provide better customer support


### Alpena Auto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-auto/id1565589074)

This app allows you to control Alpena® automotive LED lighting products. Adjust power, dimming, and colors for RGB devices, and set up custom presets. Requires Bluetooth 4.0 or higher.

**Highlights:** Control power, Adjust dimming levels, Select RGB colors, Program preset options, Bluetooth 4.0+ connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Extensive customization options for individual light strips
- 🌈 Wide variety of color options and patterns available
- 💪 Durable hardware that survives harsh conditions
- ⚙️ Simple and intuitive app interface when working properly
- ✨ Impressive visual effects and lighting capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Persistent Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 📱 App frequently fails to recognize connected devices
- 🔌 Unreliable connection that drops unexpectedly
- ⚠️ Recent app updates introduced critical bugs
- 🔋 Lights drain vehicle battery when not properly controlled

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to found devices after scanning
- Clicking on found devices produces no response
- Lights show as connected but cannot be controlled
- Color selection limited to white after updates
- App freezes when switching between multiple light sets

**Requested features**

- Custom scene/pattern creation in app
- Music synchronization with lights
- Better app navigation and menu structure
- Strobe light functionality
- Ability to control multiple light sets without switching


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LARKKEY free?

LARKKEY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Alpena Auto free?

Alpena Auto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LARKKEY or Alpena Auto?

LARKKEY is rated higher. LARKKEY averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Alpena Auto averages 1.7 from 133 ratings.

### Do LARKKEY or Alpena Auto have ads?

Neither LARKKEY nor Alpena Auto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LARKKEY or Alpena Auto?

LARKKEY ships an update every 3 months, and Alpena Auto every 6 months. Most recently, LARKKEY was updated on October 24, 2026 and Alpena Auto on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*