# sPOD Bantam — user reviews > 50 indexed App Store user reviews of sPOD Bantam by sPOD, rated 2.60/5 from 61 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spod-bantam/id1256843949/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spod-bantam/id1256843949.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 14 · 4★ 6 · 3★ 7 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 25 ## Newest reviews (15 of 50) ### 2/5 — Unreliable *2026-05-10, version 3.8* Drops connection repeatedly over and over. ### 2/5 — Pairing prevents using *2026-01-12, version 3.8* Never been able to get the Bantam to pair with the app. It flashes a pairing box to the screen and then before you can enter the pin the box closes. It’s 2026 and they can’t make simple steps to pair a phone to the controller. And toggling a jumper 5x instead of a pairing button, come on really? ### 2/5 — Functionality steadily unimproving… *2025-09-11, version 3.7* First version I was using when i first got the sPOD was not great… but it worked well enough, and i could easily control brightness with the slider on the homescreen. Second version i was no longer able to find any way to control brightness on the app, now have to use the physical controls which is very inconvenient. Also the spacing of the buttons changed, causing me to have to re-learn muscle memory for operating the lights Current version now interrupts my audio bluetooth when the app is activated, in addition to another position shift of the buttons, and asks me to “pair” the app each time, and takes a few moments to activate each instance. Unfortunately, the pairing does not actually work, so i just have to click through menus before i can actually use the lights. This combined with the extra steps to get my audio back adds quite a bit of time and workload when im just trying to see better. Not ideal. Please concentrate on basic functions and ease of use- this is trending in the wrong direction. ### 2/5 — It does work. *2025-04-19, version 3.4* Been using this app for years now, through three major revisions. While initially clunky but functional, it got slightly better with the second version. This newest version as of April 2025 is a large step backwards. The UI is tougher to navigate as most things are somehow smaller, the new colors make it harder to read, and dimming now requires an extra click. It’s very frustrating. I have called in to the nice people at Spod and suggested and requested features since the beginning, to no avail. This app does a better job of selling their touchscreens than operating the system. Hopefully it gets better! Please get better! ### 3/5 — CarPlay *2025-04-18, version 3.4* App is ok for what it is. Simple and easy to use. An update to be compatible with Apple CarPlay would be a great add - allowing the use to control connections from car screens. ### 2/5 — Car play *2025-01-29, version 3.3* This would be super cool if it worked on apple car play. Still semicool. 5 stars when it is CarPlay compatible. ### 4/5 — Works well but missing CarPlay *2025-01-13, version 3.3* The app does as advertised. It’d be great to have the app CarPlay capable so I can control my lights from the console. ### 3/5 — Great app but needs apple carplay *2024-10-19, version 3.3* No issues using the app, great to setup things but can’t replace the spod touchscreen until carplay is supported ### 4/5 — Car play *2024-09-18* This would be super cool if it worked on apple car play. Still super cool. 5 stars when it is CarPlay compatible. ### 1/5 — Broken for Source LT *2024-04-07, version 3.2* Doesn’t work with Source LT. No estimate on when this will be fixed. The functions that work are unimpressive for the highest priced switch system on the market. Wish I would have bought the cheap knockoff. SPOD is supposed to be better. Rep from SPOD said I am stuck waiting on their programmers in India to fix the problem. So much for buying American. ### 3/5 — New app doesn’t support old HD panel *2024-04-04, version 3.2* Been using spod4x4 HD panel for multiple years now on multiple vehicles. No issues or problems until now. Recently I was forced to update my spod app on my phone. The new app doesn’t support the old Hd panel I have. Won’t connect through blue tooth. The old app that is on my other device works flawlessly still. ### 3/5 — Pro feature not available for download *2024-02-19, version 3.1* Solid system is great! Unable to download pro version. Any update ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2023-12-13, version 3.1* Very disappointing the app doesn’t work and it refers you to a paid app? When I purchased my S pod, it was sold with the intention you can use it with an app and they want you to now pay 29.99 for that app? All the app does is flash connecting. ### 1/5 — App doesn’t work because it won’t pair *2023-11-07, version 3.1* The intern that wrote this app doesn’t know how to actually do Bluetooth it seems. The app prompts for a pin that isn’t published and give you a while half second to enter the pin before it goes back to scanning. Because this app is useless you can’t do most of the configuration that is promised in the hardware literature. ### 3/5 — Need Better Bluetooth Connection *2023-10-26, version 3.1* I been using BantamX Touchscreen for a bit over 1 year now, overall I don’t have any negative things about it with the exception that the Bluetooth functionality is not strong enough to connect when you are far away from the unit… basically you have to be like 1 foot, 2 feet pushing it. Hopefully there’s an update to fix this issue. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Horrible *2026-05-13, version 3.8* This app is pretty bad. The Bluetooth takes forever to get connected to. Constantly loses connection regardless of what iPhone I use. No apple car play option. Like come on, update this app more frequently and clean up the UX. ### 1/5 — SwitchPros is so much better. *2026-03-07, version 3.8* Fix this app. God it sucks ### 1/5 — No reliability when you need it *2026-01-30, version 3.8* The app will open connect sometimes and when you do connect the switches turn off randomly within a minute regardless if your app is connected or not. The app says I need to update my bantam x but doesn’t indicate any way of doing so. Why sell the bantam x as an app standalone when it can’t even perform as such. I don’t want to drop an extra few hundred dollars for a controller that may fix the issues ### 1/5 — Its ok. *2025-11-23, version 3.7* I get it, the sPod is an expensive and awesome piece of equipment. I love everything about it and been installing them for years. However, the app is just garbage. Yeah it works when you’re about 6 inches away from it, if you step anything more than 7 inches away, it will disconnect and you can’t use it. Amazing how in 1969 we could have video imagery and communication to the moon, but we can’t have this app get 6 inches away from its screen without disconnecting or having a problem. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t Work *2025-11-17, version 3.7* $1000 Bucks down the drain. Doesn’t work. Touch screen on the digital screen barely works. ### 1/5 — The SourceL *2025-10-27, version 3.7* App is junk. Took forever to get it to pair with my iPhone 14. Did work, but not great. Recently switched to iPhone 16….won’t even find the device. Seems it is like everyone else is saying; no fix in sight ### 1/5 — Does not work with current Apple devices *2024-12-21, version 3.3* Tried four different current Apple devices, two circuit boards from BD/Spod. Nothing will connect via Bluetooth. BD/Spod claim this is new, forums and reviews say it’s been an issue for years. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2024-10-20, version 3.3* On a newly installed SourceLT the app does not connect. It scans, detects the device, then flips the pairing dialog away immediately and scans again… Over and over, and no way to pair to the device, ever. ### 1/5 — Apparently nothing is changing *2024-05-25, version 3.3* Like everyone else. The app is a gimmick and does not work. The Chinese have an app for the aux beam that actually does work that is about half the price of an spod. Complete rip off. Android is the same, doesn't connect. Oh yes I did the toggle thing and no that didn't work. ### 1/5 — Don’t install the new update! *2024-05-12, version 3.3* Everything was going ok until I installed update 5/10/24. The firmware update wiped the settings in the bantamX and now I can’t pair with it. It seems like every time I finally get this thing working they put out an update that bricks it. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — New Update *2025-04-08, version 3.4* The new update looks great. Easier to navigate and feels smoother throughout the app. ### 5/5 — Updated App *2025-04-08, version 3.4* The updates I’ve been waiting for and the new UI is awesome! Good work sPOD. ### 5/5 — Absolutely Amazing *2024-10-26, version 3.3* After using this product for more than 2 years, I can say that it is absolutely amazing. This is for the more advanced, tech savvy installer and not your average joe dyi. With that said, if you follow the directions precisely, you shouldn’t have an issue with it. Being able to take pictures to use as the icons, upload your own icons and being able to customize/label each switch is awesome. The technology in this system is far more advanced than anything else on the market. ### 5/5 — Works like a charm (read your instructions) *2024-02-09, version 3.1* I also had issues connecting the system up to the app. But there is a switch on the unit you need to toggle in order to enable pairing. Which I found in one of the pamphlets. Once connected, the app works perfect with no delay in controls! Thanks! ### 5/5 — Great for turning the lights off when up in the RTT! *2021-11-07, version 2.9* So overall this is a great app. Just the fact that there is an app to go along with the Spod is great. The app always seems to be getting better. I use this app mostly around camp or when I’m up in my RTT. It’s nice that I can keep my ground lights on until I’m ready for bed and can switch them off. So thank you Spod! I do have a few wants: - Portrait mode…I would love this. -A separate dimmer switch for each button -The ability to store a pre-set brightness for each switch/button. - Apple watch app version? Anyways, I love the app and also have the Pro version. For me as an active camper & overlander it is worth it! ### 5/5 — Intermittent strobe please!!!! *2021-05-19, version 2.7* Please put this feature in! It’s the only thing switch pro guys got on us. ### 5/5 — So close to fitting my application *2020-12-14, version 2.5* This would be a huge money maker if you made a marine model. Horn, bilge pump, nav lights, etc... all low amp draws 12v system. I like the idea but the appearance is a little too rough for marine applications. Customizable picture back grounds and customizable buttons would be awesome! Oh yeah and waterproof. ### 5/5 — HQ1’s BantamX *2020-04-06, version 2.3* Great App! We have been running the BantamX now for a couple months and are quite pleased with its ease of use. Using the app is definitely an easy way to customize the main controller. One thing that could be added; strobe rate controls! Really like the strobe feature but would like to be able to change the flash rate. ### 5/5 — Responsive development *2019-06-09, version 2.1* Having used all of the spod apps in the past with different installs, it’s nice to be able to use a single app for all the sPOD Bluetooth options. There’s been some issues but John and his team are quick to get them addressed, you just have to let them know the problem exists! Some things I noticed: It would be nice for those who set the background color to black to not lose the text that is black into the background; maybe a text color select option? And also perhaps change the font? My only other request would be more icons to select from, and perhaps the ability to MIRROR an icon to easily distinguish between left and right sides of the same icon (left side or right side of work light/rack light for example). I suppose that making my own icons (or finding some on an image search, and using the “select image” option to import them could work as well, just more work 😁 Keep up the good work! Love my Bantam and this app just makes it better ### 4/5 — Small changes to enhance. *2025-08-19, version 3.6* Please to whom it may concern. Can you please integrate this app to function with car play & not mess with the music playing while using app. Thank you & I love your app. --- *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 2026-07-07.*