# smart 12V+ vs Alpena Auto

The clearest difference is update cadence: smart 12V+ at every 3 weeks against Alpena Auto's every 6 months. Alpena Auto's advantage is rating (1.7 vs 1.5) and review sentiment (13% vs 4%). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Alpena Auto holds the better App Store score, 1.7 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 111 and 133 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of smart 12V+'s written reviews are positive against 13% of Alpena Auto's.

smart 12V+ ships an update every 3 weeks, Alpena Auto every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | smart 12V+ | Alpena Auto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.5 (111 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-12v-plus/id1384085096/reviews) | **[1.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-auto/id1565589074/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 111 | **133** |
| Positive reviews | 4.0% of reviews | **12.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [兴高 汪](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195509761) | [Marklyn Group Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565589076) |

## What reviewers say

### smart 12V+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-12v-plus/id1384085096)

Monitor your vehicle's 12V battery in real-time via Bluetooth. Track voltage, analyze battery health, and view historical data. The app also records the last known location if the device disconnects, and allows for custom lighting modes and music playback to enhance your vehicle's atmosphere.

**Highlights:** Real-time battery voltage monitoring, Automatic battery health analysis, 7-day and 30-day electricity records, Last known location tracking, Customizable display light modes, Music file playback integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 smart 12V+ free?

smart 12V+ 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, smart 12V+ or Alpena Auto?

Alpena Auto is rated higher. smart 12V+ averages 1.5 out of 5 from 111 ratings, while Alpena Auto averages 1.7 from 133 ratings.

### Do smart 12V+ or Alpena Auto have ads?

Neither smart 12V+ nor Alpena Auto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, smart 12V+ or Alpena Auto?

smart 12V+ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Alpena Auto every 6 months. Most recently, smart 12V+ was updated on October 21, 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.*