# Alpena LED vs Alpena Auto

The clearest difference is rating: Alpena LED at 2.4 against Alpena Auto's 1.7. Alpena LED also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Alpena LED holds the better App Store score, 2.4 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 211 and 133 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Alpena LED's written reviews are positive against 13% of Alpena Auto's.

Alpena LED ships an update every 2 months, Alpena Auto every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alpena LED | Alpena Auto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.4 (211 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-led/id1254034541/reviews)** | [1.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-auto/id1565589074/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **211** | 133 |
| Positive reviews | **15.8% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 49 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [宇 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1254034540) | [Marklyn Group Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565589076) |

## What reviewers say

### Alpena LED

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-led/id1254034541)

Control Alpena automotive LED lighting products with this app. Adjust power, dimming, and colors for RGB devices. Program preset options for easy customization.

**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**

- 🎨 Bright and accurate colors
- 📱 App works seamlessly when functioning properly
- 🎛️ Good control over individual light channels
- 🔧 Multiple grouping and labeling options
- ✨ Quality LED strips with good brightness

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth connection failures
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes regularly
- 🔌 Unreliable app connectivity requiring constant restarts
- ❌ Lights won't turn off without manual intervention
- 🎨 Color mismatches (purple appears blue/pink, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to lights despite Bluetooth being on
- Color wheel not functioning properly
- App times out after 1-2 minutes of use
- Lights won't turn on after app updates
- Lights randomly turn off while changing channels

**Requested features**

- Custom scene creation and customization
- Music synchronization for light effects
- Ability to strobe single colors at custom speeds
- More color options and wider color wheel variety
- Chasing light effects around vehicle


### 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 Alpena LED free?

Alpena LED 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, Alpena LED or Alpena Auto?

Alpena LED is rated higher. Alpena LED averages 2.4 out of 5 from 211 ratings, while Alpena Auto averages 1.7 from 133 ratings.

### Do Alpena LED or Alpena Auto have ads?

Neither Alpena LED nor Alpena Auto shows ads.

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

Alpena LED ships an update every 2 months, and Alpena Auto every 6 months. Most recently, Alpena LED was updated on November 6, 2026 and Alpena Auto on November 3, 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.*
