Alpena Auto vs MachXDrone
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
MachXDrone
Control a toy drone with your smartphone. View real-time camera feeds in normal or VR mode, and capture photos and videos directly within the app's album.
- Remote drone operation
- Real-time camera streaming
- Normal and VR viewing modes
- Photo and video capture
- In-app media album
Read full descriptionHide full description
The TOY DRONE is operated by a remote control. The app window displays the pictures returned by the camera picture on the toy DRONE. The real-time streaming pictures are divided into normal mode and VR mode.Users can take photos and videos and view them in the app's built-in album.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MachXDrone at 2.9 against Alpena Auto's 1.7. Alpena Auto's advantage is ratings volume (133 vs 36). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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.
MachXDrone holds the better App Store score, 2.9 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 36 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of Alpena Auto's written reviews are positive against 15% of MachXDrone's.
Alpena Auto ships an update every 6 months, MachXDrone every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Alpena Auto | MachXDrone |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.7 (133 ratings) | 2.9 (36 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | 15.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 133 — better | 36 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marklyn Group Inc | Shenzhen Yilushi Technology Co.,ltd |
Customer experience
Alpena Auto
MachXDrone
Bugs and requests
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
MachXDrone
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Alpena Auto
No in-app purchases
MachXDrone
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Alpena Auto free?
Is MachXDrone free?
Which has better reviews, Alpena Auto or MachXDrone?
Do Alpena Auto or MachXDrone have ads?
Which is updated more often, Alpena Auto or MachXDrone?
Other comparisons
