Comparison

Composer Express vs AVA

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Composer Express

This configuration tool streamlines system setup for authorized partners, simplifying installation and increasing productivity. It allows for account management, device connection, and system updates, both locally and remotely.

Highlights
  • Manage customer accounts and register controllers
  • Service and update customer systems remotely
  • Add and identify new controllers
  • Search and add device drivers
  • Configure project properties and network settings
  • Manage Zigbee and Z-Wave devices
  • Backup and load customer projects
Read full description

Composer Express is a configuration tool exclusively for authorized Control4 partners that dramatically simplifies the install process, allowing partners to minimize their time at job sites and increase their productivity during system setup. For smaller projects, use Composer Express standalone to create accounts, define a system, and connect devices. For more advanced projects, use it as a companion to the full Composer Pro programming experience. Key Features: • Search for, view, and add new customer accounts under your dealership • Register a controller to a customer account • Service and update a customer system locally or remotely • Add and identify a new controller into the project • Search and add device drivers from an online database or personal cloud storage • Set all project properties (date, time, timezone, location, locale & language, etc.) • Discover and add SDDP and IP devices on a local network • Setup and manage Zigbee networks and discover Zigbee devices • Add and manage supported Z-Wave devices • Update drivers on customer systems • Create connections between devices (AV Inputs, AV Outputs, Control, and Room) • Configure and set properties on device drivers • Manage room settings for device visibility, display order, or hide the room entirely • View Network status of all ZigBee (signal, battery, associated mesh controller) • Backup customer projects • Load customer projects (or project templates) from an online backup, USB drive, or Dropbox • Refresh Navigators • Assign a 4Sight license to a customer account • Reports controller serial number to support OvrC integration PLEASE NOTE: 1) Composer Express is available exclusively to authorized Control4 partners. 2) Partners can only access customers associated with their dealership. 3) Local and Remote Access to controllers requires Control4 OS version 2.7.0 and greater.

About

AVA

This app enhances your connected home experience by allowing control of lighting, media, and climate. It offers a modern interface for ease of use and requires an AVA OS system to function. Designed for both homeowners and professional installers, it provides a premium experience across all devices.

Highlights
  • Control lighting
  • Manage media playback
  • Adjust climate settings
  • Modern, clear interface
  • Premium experience
  • Requires AVA OS system
Features
Read full description

The AVA App is the companion to AVA OS 2.0, bringing the connected home experience to iPhone and iPad. Control lighting, media, climate, and more through a crisp, modern interface designed for clarity and ease of use. Requires an AVA OS system. Built for both homeowners and pro installers, the AVA App delivers a consistent, premium experience across every screen in your home.

Screenshots

Composer Express4 screens
AVA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AVA at 100% against Composer Express's 54%. AVA also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). Composer Express's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (31 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Composer Express holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Composer Express has 31 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Composer Express's written reviews are positive against 100% of AVA's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Composer Express ships an update every 4 months, AVA every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Composer Express versus AVA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComposer ExpressAVA
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (31 ratings) — better4.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB178 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSnap One, LLCAVA Innovations AG

Customer experience

Composer Express

All ratings31 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral15.4%
Negative30.8%

AVA

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Composer Express

No in-app purchases

None

AVA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Composer Express free?
Composer Express is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AVA free?
AVA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Composer Express or AVA?
Composer Express is rated higher. Composer Express averages 4.7 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while AVA averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Composer Express or AVA have ads?
Neither Composer Express nor AVA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Composer Express or AVA?
Composer Express ships an update every 4 months, and AVA every 5 weeks. Most recently, Composer Express was updated on October 1, 2026 and AVA on September 18, 2026.

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