Comparison

Composer Express vs MAV Base

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

MAV Base

This platform allows AV, networking, and surveillance integrators to remotely manage and configure devices for their clients. It enables automatic reboots, power monitoring, and real-time diagnostics to proactively fix system issues and reduce support calls.

Highlights
  • Remote device access and control
  • Client system monitoring and management
  • Real-time diagnostics and issue prevention
  • Automatic and manual device reboots
  • Power usage and temperature monitoring
  • Push notifications for system changes
Read full description

MAVBase™ is a monitoring and remote management platform designed by MetraAV® for Automation, AV, networking and surveillance integrators. This app makes it easy to give customers the best service possible by managing and configuring all device settings and fixing problems before they affect their systems. The MAVBase app is compatible with Big Dog Power power distribution systems and will expand to encompass more products in the future. Integrators can reboot devices automatically or manually, set schedules, monitor power usage and temperatures and maintain clients’ systems right from their smartphone with the intuitive MAVBase app. For integration professionals, this means reduction of time-intensive support calls and truck rolls. The flexible app is designed to work how integrators work, with easy programming that can be set up by outlet or device to mimic the workflow of their choice. Combined with the award-winning Big Dog Power Smart Power Distribution Unit (PDU), this app allows AV professionals to deliver surge protection, remote control, smart home integration, rack temperature management, and more. The app-connected PDU features up to twelve individually controllable outlets that have power metering, self-healing, and automatic reboot capabilities for smarter and easier remote management of connected devices. It also includes revolutionary replaceable surge modules that protect connected devices by sacrificing a single module. Visit BigDogPower.com for more information. FEATURES ● Remotely access and control Big Dog Power devices ● Monitor and manage all of your clients and their systems ● User-friendly design makes remote management easy ● Stay on top of system changes with push notifications ● Self healing configuration ● View diagnostics remotely in real time to track and prevent system issues ● Virtually eliminates downtime from surge-related events

Screenshots

Composer Express4 screens
MAV Base4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MAV Base at 100% against Composer Express's 54%. Composer Express's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). 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 4.3. 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 MAV Base'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, MAV Base every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Composer Express versus MAV Base: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComposer ExpressMAV Base
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (31 ratings) — better4.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSnap One, LLCEthereal Home Theatre, LLC

Customer experience

Composer Express

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

MAV Base

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Composer Express

No in-app purchases

None

MAV Base

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Composer Express free?
Composer Express is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MAV Base free?
MAV Base is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Composer Express or MAV Base?
Composer Express is rated higher. Composer Express averages 4.7 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while MAV Base averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Composer Express or MAV Base have ads?
Neither Composer Express nor MAV Base shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Composer Express or MAV Base?
Composer Express ships an update every 4 months, and MAV Base every 9 months. Most recently, Composer Express was updated on September 12, 2026 and MAV Base on July 5, 2026.

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