# THINKWARE CONNECTED vs DirectLoader

The clearest difference is rating: DirectLoader at 3.4 against THINKWARE CONNECTED's 2.4. DirectLoader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (50% vs 15%). THINKWARE CONNECTED's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. THINKWARE CONNECTED sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. DirectLoader asks for nothing beyond the download.

DirectLoader holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of THINKWARE CONNECTED's written reviews are positive against 50% of DirectLoader's.

THINKWARE CONNECTED ships an update fortnightly, DirectLoader every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | THINKWARE CONNECTED | DirectLoader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkware-connected/id1502055879/reviews) | **[3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directloader/id6449791353/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 15.1% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 115 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [THINKWARE SYSTEMS CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/403472990) | [VOXX Electronics Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1022024144) |

## What reviewers say

### THINKWARE CONNECTED

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkware-connected/id1502055879)

This app connects to compatible dash cams, offering real-time vehicle monitoring and alerts. It provides features like remote live view, impact notifications with video playback, and vehicle location tracking. Users can also review driving history and update dash cam firmware remotely.

**Highlights:** Remote Live View, Real-time Parking Impact Video, Real-time Vehicle Location, Captured Image of Most Recent Parking, Vehicle Status Monitoring, Driving History Review, Remote Firmware Updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LTE BASIC (1 Month) | $3.49 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| LTE EXTENDED (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| Wi-Fi EXTENDED (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Month) | $8.90 | one-time |
| LTE BASIC (1 Year) | $34.99 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| LTE EXTENDED (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| Wi-Fi EXTENDED (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Year) | $89.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well (when connected)
- 👍 Live streaming capability
- 👍 GPS mapping of locations
- 👍 Regular updates and fixes (mentioned once)
- 👍 Real-time footage for incidents

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Extremely difficult to connect
- ❌ App is buggy and unreliable
- ❌ Registration process is a nightmare
- ❌ Poor user interface and instructions
- ❌ Frequent disconnections

**Reported bugs**

- App does not connect
- Barcode scanning is blurry or doesn't work
- Serial number entry fails
- Cannot register device
- App disconnects after a few minutes

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode
- Request live view
- Show battery percentage
- Add radar health check
- Improve app connectivity


### DirectLoader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directloader/id6449791353)

This app allows authorized installers to wirelessly flash and program select remote start and security systems. It provides access to vehicle wiring databases, installation guides, and technical updates for DIRECTED by VOXX products.

**Highlights:** Wireless flashing for DS4/DS4+ modules, Wired/Wireless flashing for DBALL2, DB3, DS3/DS3+ modules, Wired/Wireless 'Bitwriter' programming, DirectWire vehicle wiring database access, Installation guides and technical news, SmartStart activation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is THINKWARE CONNECTED free?

THINKWARE CONNECTED is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DirectLoader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, THINKWARE CONNECTED or DirectLoader?

DirectLoader is rated higher. THINKWARE CONNECTED averages 2.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while DirectLoader averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do THINKWARE CONNECTED or DirectLoader have ads?

Neither THINKWARE CONNECTED nor DirectLoader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, THINKWARE CONNECTED or DirectLoader?

THINKWARE CONNECTED ships an update fortnightly, and DirectLoader every 3 months. Most recently, THINKWARE CONNECTED was updated on September 23, 2026 and DirectLoader on September 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.*