# Drive Smarter — user reviews > 424 indexed App Store user reviews of Drive Smarter by CEDAR ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS CORP., rated 4.80/5 from 20,926 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drive-smarter/id1498075222/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drive-smarter/id1498075222.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 18,171 · 4★ 1,680 · 3★ 549 · 2★ 123 · 1★ 403 ## What do users think of Drive Smarter? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Loyal customer - 👍 Good app - 👍 Straight forward - 👍 Works well when it works - 👍 Consistent updates have really made the experience so much smoother - 👍 Worked okay **Cons** - 🐛 Connection troubles while using CarPlay - 🐛 Has bugs and flaws to fix immediately - 🐛 Useless map in apple CarPlay - 🐛 FAILS CONSTANTLY - 🐛 Very slow ands buggish - 🐛 Concerning bugs on v3.4.1 - 🐛 Cam shut downs and often failure to come on - 🐛 App is better but needs improvement - 🐛 App won't connect to app again! - 🐛 Unsatisfied - 🐛 Better, not quite there though - 🐛 Decent App, decent... - 🐛 Connection problem - 🐛 Still won't load gallery even after bug fix update - 🐛 Not good - 🐛 Totally useless trash - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Hard to use - 🐛 Don't waste your money - 🐛 Any 13 year old can write a better app - 🐛 Worthless - 🐛 Needs work - 🐛 The amount of time spent sitting and waiting for this thing to load is ridiculous - 🐛 Horrible, doesn't work - 🐛 Needs update for gallery - 🐛 App is absolute trash - 🐛 Abysmal - 🔋 App is a battery hog! - 🐛 Absolutely Pathetic - 🐛 Horrible App for Escort M2 - 🐛 Returning SC 201 - 🐛 Absolute Garbage App - 🐛 APP NEEDS TO BE FIXED!!! - 🐛 This is by far the worst camera I've ever used - 🐛 Battery hog - 🐛 Well intentioned but very buggy - 🐛 Garbage - 🐛 Poor app and poor customer service - 🐛 Worse than the Original - 🐛 Great idea. Doesn't work - 🐛 Very unfinished - 🐛 Glitchy - 🐛 Lots of bugs **Commonly reported bugs** - Spotty WiFi connection - Inconsistent speed limit display - Inability to connect to detector - Frequent disconnects from detector - Difficulty configuring WiFi hotspot - Repeated alerts for single detect event - Bluetooth connectivity issues - Map not updating vehicle position - Impossible to delete emergency video file - Time not displaying correctly - Unable to download gallery videos - Firmware update not working - Camera shutting down unexpectedly - Inability to access recorded videos **Most requested features** - Improve navigation app - Ability to launch app from CarPlay screen - Ability to send directions to app from other apps - Option to orient map in direction of travel - Ability to delete multiple videos at once - Persistent sound settings - Longer verify alert toast message - Ability to see speed limits in metric units - Ability to connect to multiple WiFi hotspots ## Newest reviews (16 of 424) ### 3/5 — Connectivity Issues *2026-08-24, version 4.12.1* Needs to connect automatically to Redline 360C if app is open, radar detector is on, and Bluetooth enabled. Shouldn’t have to manually search for radar detector. Also, needs to be able to connect to same iPhone hotspot as phone being used for app - shouldn’t need two iPhones to connect to a Apple hotspot. ### 4/5 — Missing important features. *2026-08-16, version 4.12.0* Finally the HUD speedo is back, which was a big feature of Escort Live, and you don’t need readers to see it. Still no directional arrows displayed on the app from the top of the range 360. When the detector has to be hidden, it would be nice to show what I’ve paid for in a high end unit, especially when Escort live showed threat direction. Hopefully the job will be finished, and a first class app eventuates. ### 3/5 — REALLY needs updated red light camera locations. *2026-08-15, version 4.12.0* I’m using an Escort Max Ci 360. It’s been an amazing piece of tech and I love it. However, since switching to the new app there are dramatically less user crowd sourced reports, missing red light cameras that are a few years old, and just puts a sense of doubt in the device that wasn’t there before. ### 4/5 — Can’t connect a hotspot *2026-08-13, version 4.12.0* I can’t connect it because on my iPhone, the keyboard won’t go down to connect ### 2/5 — Basic *2026-08-11, version 4.12.0* Can’t setup the camera to see if it is at the correct angle or location because I have CarPlay. Also can't see live view because of the same thing. Idiots developed this app. ### 4/5 — More iPad support *2026-08-07, version 4.11.0* A lot of people are using iPads as their infotainment screen these days, would be nice if the app was able to use the full iPad screen, and specially if it supported split-screen to be able to show the map and other apps at the same time. Imagine the map on one side and music on the other side. Besides that the app works as it should. ### 3/5 — Needs Improvements *2026-08-06, version 4.11.0* Vehicle does not continue to track on the map if you zoom out in order to see further ahead on the road. If you zoom out, the map stops tracking your location. The old Escort Live app would keep tracking if you zoomed in or out. With the Drive Smarter app, you can only see 1 mile ahead when it is tracking your movement. At 90 mph on the interstate, you have to look down at the screen every 40 seconds to see if there are any marked alerts ahead. On a 1000 mile trip at 90 mph, that requires you to take your eyes off the road and look down at the screen over 400 times to make sure you’re not driving into a speed trap. Need to update the app to allow you to zoom out on the map to the users desired preference and the map still tracks your current location and movement. Also, I’ve seen multiple red light cameras marked on the map and get alerts that there is one ahead but yet these intersections I’ve never had a red light camera on them since I’ve lived in this area for 30 plus years. I do not see where there is a way through the app to either delete or at least permanently mute/ignore the incorrectly marked camera or provide any feedback through the app that it does not actually exist. Please make these app improvements with the most important one to me being the map tracking after zooming out. ### 4/5 — No speed limits *2026-07-30, version 4.11.0* The app stop showing the current speed limits unless is running on the foreground all the time. The instant another app start running the speed limits stop showing. This should be addressed. ### 2/5 — Bring back the dashboard *2026-07-30, version 4.11.0* Don't really need navigation. The dashboard is more relevant to the app. Why did you remove the dashboard?!?!? Update: Just received a generic template response. Very disappointed. Changing my rating from 4 Star to 2 star. You guys can do better. I will definitely change it again to 5 Star once you bring back the Dashboard. ### 2/5 — Broken *2026-07-29, version 4.11.0* Seems like the app no longer displays the speed limit for a given area. ### 4/5 — Bring back the dashboard *2026-07-21, version 4.11.0* Don't really need navigation. The dashboard is more relevant to the app. Why did you remove the dashboard?!?!? ### 2/5 — Bought all don’t work *2026-07-17, version 4.11.0* Can’t login doesn’t recognize my email or some reason. Got a new phone now app doesn’t work at all. ### 3/5 — Good but not great *2026-07-15, version 4.11.0* The app has come a long way in the last year that I’ve owned the Escort Redline 360c and the M2 camera. I do like that it actually shows alerts on my Kenwood screen now like it was originally advertised after the app update. The maps still aren’t great, I think a satellite view like other apps would help the look and feel on the screen a ton! The most frustrating part has been the hotspot connection. My personal phone is AT&T & my work phone is Verizon. A year later and this issue still hasn’t been resolved. Are you even trying? There’s a lot left on the table that I can’t use because of this. If these few issues get corrected, I will change my review to 5 stars immediately! ### 2/5 — Weird issues *2026-07-10, version 4.10.0* Had issues with the app specifically in CarPlay. It was lowering the volume of my radio for no reason. It didn’t stop until I deleted the app. It was acting like the app wanted to give a notification but never did. ### 3/5 — No speed limits *2026-07-08, version 4.10.0* The app stop showing the current speed limits unless is running on the foreground all the time. The instant another app start running the speed limits stop showing. This app is getting worse than it already was. ### 3/5 — Cluncky but adequate *2026-06-24, version 4.10.0* The app is clunky and slow, thigh that may be the Cobra sc 100 I’m using it with. It would be nice if I could select multiple pictures/videos and download them in bulk, instead of one at a time. It would also be nice if the CarPlay app had a snap picture button in it, so I don’t have to use the app on my phone, while driving. The camera can’t hear me, for some reason, and I’m not always sure hitting the button, on the camera works. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App *2026-08-23, version 4.12.1* It takes multiple attempts to view my gallery at times and right now I can’t even view my gallery just says device not connected when it’s connected. ### 1/5 — Fix your support portal *2026-08-20, version 4.12.1* Can’t send any support request, can’t link my device, no one can help!!! ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-08-05, version 4.11.0* Way to screw up a great detector. Since the switch it has not found my 360. I'm ashamed to say that I have spent hours trying to get it to work. The old app worked like a charm and was user friendly. I'll be getting rid of the 360 soon and move on. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2026-08-03, version 4.11.0* Setting up has been nightmare zero intelligence on app ### 1/5 — No Dashboard *2026-07-23, version 4.11.0* Older Escort App would show speed and speed limits. Could switch between map view and radar detector view. I don’t need another map. I have Apple Maps and in vehicle map!!! ### 1/5 — Must delete! Always running, often wrong *2026-07-23, version 4.11.0* At first I thought the biggest problem with this app was its tendency to falsely give “overspeed alerts” every time I drive past an off-ramp (terrible, terrible bug). But no, it’s worse. The app uses battery constantly even when not running. I don’t mean running in the background, I mean not even running. Even after quitting the app and restarting your phone, that kind of not even running. There can be no justification for this. Is it spying on my location 24/7? How is it even allowed in the App Store? I have no choice but to delete. ### 1/5 — Needs updating *2026-07-19, version 4.11.0* Get off the Smart Stack on my Apple Watch. I can’t disable it without messing up my music on the watch THIS IS THE MOST CURRENT UPDATE OF THE APP 4.11 ### 1/5 — Horrible Speed Limit Database *2026-07-14, version 4.11.0* Displayed speed limit is wrong 85% of the time, even on state highways. Anything below a state highway road level is wrong virtually 100% of the time. It is like they bought a database from 1992. Come on folks. Speed limits should be accurate 99% of the time nationwide, like every other major mapping app on the planet. Good grief. ### 1/5 — Terrible Connectivity *2026-07-14, version 4.10.0* Terrible WiFi connection. Can never connect to my SC 400 Cobra to view and download videos. I captured a moment that I needed to keep for proof of harassment and what do you know. The app will not allow me to connect to the dash cam to view/download videos. I can’t even update the firmware because I can’t connect!! I tried to reset, remove device, delete and redownload app and nothing!! I spent 2 hours trying to fix it. I’ve had issues with this camera before and the moment I need it the most I’m left with nothing. Now my data is lost. DO NOT BUY DASH CAMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS APP!!!!!! ### 1/5 — Horrible *2026-07-14, version 4.10.0* Won’t let me log in or reset. Pull down fields don’t work. Why did they get rid of the original app??? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Drive Smarter *2026-08-09, version 4.12.0* Love ❤️ this App ### 5/5 — Best of all *2026-08-03, version 4.11.0* Love this camera ### 5/5 — Works perfectly with my Escort and Cobra. *2026-07-27, version 4.11.0* Works flawlessly. Very helpful. I would suggest adding a feature that would let you exclude live alerts older than a selected number of hours. ### 5/5 — Perfect app *2026-07-14, version 4.10.0* Perfect ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-05-09, version 4.10.0* Perfect ### 5/5 — Install *2026-01-24, version 4.7.0* Just installed so I will review in a week or so ### 5/5 — 360 Redline *2026-01-11, version 4.7.0* This had to be my best investment ever. Cops are bad in my area. They are always hiding. This picked them up from a far distance. ### 5/5 — ALIF *2026-01-09, version 4.7.0* ALIF ### 5/5 — Great product *2025-12-30, version 4.7.0* Got it as my Christmas gift and I'm enjoying it. The app it uses is pretty cool. Recommend it. ### 5/5 — App issues with camera video & firmware installation *2025-11-22* I’ve been a user since 2020. Bought a Cobra SC200 dash cam after I was involved in a nasty wreck in 2019. After buying a new car and setting the camera back up, I had no issues. But since I upgraded my cellphone, I have had constant issues with the app. My gallery/live view will not load on my phone from the camera, nor will my phone connect to the camera (with Bluetooth and WIFI enabled) to download the newest firmware. It gives me an error message of “cannot connect to camera” every time, even though the camera gives me the *chime* noise to let me know that connection has been established. Not sure why this is now all of a sudden a problem. **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry you're running into issues. We want to take a closer look at this for you. Please send a note to https://drivesmarter.com/support/app-support/ so we can connect. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*