# Alpena Auto vs MachXDrone

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.

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 November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alpena Auto | MachXDrone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpena-auto/id1565589074/reviews) | **[2.9 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/machxdrone/id1602139783/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 36 |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | **15.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 47 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marklyn Group Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565589076) | [Shenzhen Yilushi Technology Co.,ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1760309976) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### MachXDrone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/machxdrone/id1602139783)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote drone operation, Real-time camera streaming, Normal and VR viewing modes, Photo and video capture, In-app media album

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alpena Auto free?

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

### Is MachXDrone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Alpena Auto or MachXDrone?

MachXDrone is rated higher. Alpena Auto averages 1.7 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while MachXDrone averages 2.9 from 36 ratings.

### Do Alpena Auto or MachXDrone have ads?

Neither Alpena Auto nor MachXDrone shows ads.

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

Alpena Auto ships an update every 6 months, and MachXDrone every 5 months. Most recently, Alpena Auto was updated on November 3, 2026 and MachXDrone 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.*