# BI SmartLINK vs CBP Home

BI SmartLINK and CBP Home both sit at 2.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 24% of CBP Home's written reviews are positive against 11% of BI SmartLINK's. CBP Home also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). BI SmartLINK's advantage is ratings volume (721 vs 130). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.8 for BI SmartLINK against 2.8 for CBP Home. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BI SmartLINK has 721 ratings behind it against 130, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 11% of BI SmartLINK's written reviews are positive against 24% of CBP Home's.

BI SmartLINK ships an update every 5 weeks, CBP Home every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BI SmartLINK | CBP Home |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (721 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bi-smartlink/id1068021794/reviews) | **[2.8 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbp-home/id6745836171/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **721** | 130 |
| Positive reviews | 10.7% of reviews | **23.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 158 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BI Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1016782233) | [US Customs and Border Protection](https://appshunter.io/developer/948812863) |

## What reviewers say

### BI SmartLINK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bi-smartlink/id1068021794)

This app provides a suite of tools for individuals under community supervision. It enhances case management with features like appointment calendaring and connects users to vital community resources to support successful program completion.

**Highlights:** Secure communications tools, Appointment calendaring, Community resource connection, Case management enhancement, Program completion support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Monitoring feature is better than ankle monitor
- 🚀 App works well when it functions properly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and malfunctions
- 🔒 Security concerns with potential hacking
- 👎 Inconvenient and stigmatizing design of monitoring device
- 🔋 Monitoring device requires frequent replacement

**Reported bugs**

- App not opening or logging in
- Issues with camera and photo capture
- Inconsistent app behavior and functionality

**Requested features**

- Ability to upload documents and photos directly from library
- Improved biometric login and face recognition
- More reliable notification system
- Better user interface and usability


### CBP Home

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbp-home/id6745836171)

This app offers a free, safe, and supportive way for eligible individuals to voluntarily return to their home countries. It provides financial assistance, departure support, and timely travel arrangements for a respectful departure process.

**Highlights:** Voluntary self-departure submission, Financial assistance for return, Departure ticket booking, Travel documentation assistance, Timely departure arrangements, Respectful departure process

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Innovative features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes
- 🔍 Concerns about privacy and surveillance
- 👎 Poorly implemented

**Reported bugs**

- Camera not loading properly
- Registration process issues

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Prioritize voluntary exit over forced deportation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BI SmartLINK free?

BI SmartLINK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CBP Home free?

CBP Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BI SmartLINK or CBP Home?

CBP Home is rated higher. BI SmartLINK averages 2.8 out of 5 from 721 ratings, while CBP Home averages 2.8 from 130 ratings.

### Do BI SmartLINK or CBP Home have ads?

Neither BI SmartLINK nor CBP Home shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BI SmartLINK or CBP Home?

BI SmartLINK ships an update every 5 weeks, and CBP Home every 2 weeks. Most recently, BI SmartLINK was updated on November 6, 2026 and CBP Home on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*