# SmartBox Reference Guide vs Xhorse

The clearest difference is rating: Xhorse at 4.3 against SmartBox Reference Guide's 3.1. Xhorse also leads on ratings volume (166 vs 34) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). SmartBox Reference Guide's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 58%). On price, update cadence, 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.

Xhorse holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 166 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of SmartBox Reference Guide's written reviews are positive against 58% of Xhorse's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmartBox Reference Guide ships an update fortnightly, Xhorse monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartBox Reference Guide | Xhorse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbox-reference-guide/id1172947942/reviews) | **[4.3 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xhorse/id1440550587/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **166** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 57.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 57 MB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [SmartBoxAutomotive](https://appshunter.io/developer/1172947941) | [Shenzhen XHorse Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/847134173) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartBox Reference Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbox-reference-guide/id1172947942)

Learn programming concepts through guided lessons. This educational tool breaks down key programming ideas for understanding, not for live coding. Ideal for beginners wanting to grasp fundamental principles.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step programming guidance, Clear explanations of key concepts, Educational training tool, Focus on understanding principles, Suitable for beginners

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Xhorse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xhorse/id1440550587)

This application connects to specialized locksmith devices via Bluetooth to perform various key and car remote operations. It offers features like transponder generation, cloning, editing, and key cutting. The app also provides access to a bonus points mall and customer service.

**Highlights:** Transponder generating, Transponder cloning, Transponder editing, Remote generating, Remote cloning, Key decoding, Key cutting

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartBox Reference Guide free?

SmartBox Reference Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Xhorse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartBox Reference Guide or Xhorse?

Xhorse is rated higher. SmartBox Reference Guide averages 3.1 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Xhorse averages 4.3 from 166 ratings.

### Do SmartBox Reference Guide or Xhorse have ads?

Neither SmartBox Reference Guide nor Xhorse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartBox Reference Guide or Xhorse?

SmartBox Reference Guide ships an update fortnightly, and Xhorse monthly. Most recently, SmartBox Reference Guide was updated on October 22, 2026 and Xhorse on October 23, 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.*