Metra Heise Connect vs DirectLoader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Metra Heise Connect
Control Heise LED lighting products remotely from your smartphone or tablet. The app automatically detects lighting types and allows for group control of various products.
- Remote control for Heise LED lighting
- Automatic lighting type detection (RGB, RGBW, Chasing)
- Group control of multiple products
- Wireless streaming connection
- Free to download
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All-new, free downloadable app for smartphones & tablets that allows users to remotely control Heise LED lighting products. The app automatically connects via wireless streaming and detects if a product connected to the control box is RGB, RGBW, or Chasing, allowing groups of all products to be used and controlled within the same mobile app.
DirectLoader
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.
- 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
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DirectLoader App – Wirelessly flash and program select DIRECTED by VOXX Remote Start & Security systems. “For Installers, By Installers” At DIRECTECHS, our motto is “For Installers, By Installers.” We are committed to supporting installation technicians with our decades of technical experience, unrivaled passion, and dedication to the industry. Note: This app is intended for use only by authorized DIRECTED by VOXX Dealers and Distributors. Login credentials are required to access DIRECTECHS resources, which include the DirectWire vehicle wiring and information database, installation guides, online training, tech tips, and much more. With the DirectLoader APP, along with the DLOADER4, you can flash and program our analog and digital products, including many legacy products, along with mobile access to the following features and functions: • Wirelessly flash DS4/DS4+ modules (DLOADER4 not required) • Wired/Wireless flashing for DBALL2, DB3, DS3/DS3+ modules (DLOADER4 required) • Wired/Wireless ‘Bitwriter’ programming for supported analog systems (DLOADER4 required) • DirectWire Access • Installation Guides • Technical News Alerts and ‘Vehicles Added’ updates • DIRECTED by VOXX SmartStart Activation
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DirectLoader at 3.4 against Metra Heise Connect's 3.0. DirectLoader also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 40%). Metra Heise Connect's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, 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.
DirectLoader holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Metra Heise Connect's written reviews are positive against 50% of DirectLoader's.
Metra Heise Connect ships an update monthly, DirectLoader every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Metra Heise Connect | DirectLoader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (8 ratings) | 3.4 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Metra Electronics Corp. | VOXX Electronics Corp |
Customer experience
Metra Heise Connect
DirectLoader
In-app purchases
Metra Heise Connect
No in-app purchases
DirectLoader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Metra Heise Connect free?
Is DirectLoader free?
Which has better reviews, Metra Heise Connect or DirectLoader?
Do Metra Heise Connect or DirectLoader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Metra Heise Connect or DirectLoader?
Other comparisons
