Meridian Lighting vs Alpena Auto
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Meridian Lighting
Control your home appliances remotely using WiFi. Manage multiple devices, set timers for automated functions, and share access with family. Enjoy smart connectivity based on environmental factors and time.
- WiFi remote control
- Multiple device management
- Timer functions
- Device sharing
- Easy device connection
- Smart device automation
- Real-time alerts
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Meridian Smart WiFi, Meridian lighting 1. WiFi Remote control: Control home appliances from anywhere 2. Multiple device control: Add and control multiple devices at once with one app 3. Timer Function: Set timer to perform multiple functions 4. Device sharing: One tap to share devices with family members 5. Easy connection: Easily and quickly connect Meridian Lighting app to devices 6. Multiple Smart Device connectivity: Automatically start/stop working based on temperature, location and time. 7. Receive real-time alerts to ensure safety and security
Alpena Auto
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.
- Control power
- Adjust dimming levels
- Select RGB colors
- Program preset options
- Bluetooth 4.0+ connectivity
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The Alpena® Command Center application is a specialized application designed to operate Alpena® automotive LED lighting products. Control power, dimming levels, colour selection on RGB devices and program easy to use preset options. Requires Bluetooth 4.0 and up for communication.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Meridian Lighting at 4.3 against Alpena Auto's 1.7. Meridian Lighting also leads on ratings volume (418 vs 133). Alpena Auto's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 25 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Meridian Lighting holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 418 and 133 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Meridian Lighting's written reviews are positive against 13% of Alpena Auto's.
Meridian Lighting ships an update every 25 months, Alpena Auto every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Meridian Lighting | Alpena Auto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (418 ratings) — better | 1.7 (133 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 13.8% of reviews — better | 12.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 418 — better | 133 |
| Update frequency | Every 25 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 201 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Meridian Lighting Inc | Marklyn Group Inc |
Customer experience
Meridian Lighting
Alpena Auto
User reviews
Meridian Lighting
From 418 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Works for some users
- 💡 Timer functionality appreciated
- 💡 Works with other WiFi products
- 💡 Retains programmed colors after power cycle
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connection issues prevalent
- 🐛 App is difficult to use
- 🐛 App requires personal info (WiFi name/password)
- 🐛 Lights are useless without connection
- 🐛 Timeouts during connection
Alpena Auto
From 133 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎨 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
Room to improve
- 🐛 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
Bugs and requests
Meridian Lighting
Reported bugs
6 issues- Unable to connect
- App crashes or freezes
- Connection timed out
- App requires WiFi name and password
- Hacked immediately after setup
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Connection fails at 99%
Requested features
5 requests- Fix connection issues
- Improve app usability
- Allow control away from home network (peer to peer/adhoc)
- Provide clearer instructions for setup
- Offer alternative connection modes beyond 'AR Mode'
Alpena Auto
Reported bugs
16 issues- 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
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- Bluetooth signal drops to 1 bar and disconnects automatically
- Lights turn off in wet conditions despite showing connected status
- App won't turn off lights (power glitch)
- Lights flicker when engine is idling
- App crashes when music is playing in background
- Update 2.1 prevents clicking on lights in app
- App stuck on v1 and won't update to v2
- Incompatibility with iOS 16 and iOS 17
- Lights flash white and disappear from app after selecting twinkle mode
- Module stops sending Bluetooth signal after short period
- Color wheel colors appear dull or don't work as advertised
Requested features
8 requests- 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
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Improved documentation and user manual in app
- Compatibility information for different products
- Auto-off timer to prevent battery drain
In-app purchases
Meridian Lighting
No in-app purchases
Alpena Auto
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Meridian Lighting free?
Is Alpena Auto free?
Which has better reviews, Meridian Lighting or Alpena Auto?
Do Meridian Lighting or Alpena Auto have ads?
Which is updated more often, Meridian Lighting or Alpena Auto?
Other comparisons
