# SmartControls vs Bus Status

The clearest difference is rating: SmartControls at 2.6 against Bus Status's 1.8. SmartControls also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 11%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

SmartControls holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of SmartControls's written reviews are positive against 11% of Bus Status's.

SmartControls ships an update monthly, Bus Status every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartControls | Bus Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcontrols/id1180167127/reviews)** | [1.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bus-status/id6453250648/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | **42.9% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 170 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightwavetechnology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180167110) | [Box Clever](https://appshunter.io/developer/574591324) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartControls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcontrols/id1180167127)

This app allows you to remotely control your vehicle's starter system, lock/unlock doors, and receive security alerts. It requires a specific hardware add-on and professional installation to function.

**Highlights:** Remote engine start/stop, Keyless entry and trunk release, Security system arming/disarming, Push notifications for alerts, Up to 1.5 miles operating range, Multi-vehicle operation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bus Status

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bus-status/id6453250648)

This app allows parents to track their school district's buses and receive real-time updates on cancellations, delays, or early arrivals. Users can select specific buses to follow and get push notifications for important changes.

**Highlights:** Follow specific school buses, Receive push notifications, Track cancellations, Monitor delays, Get early arrival alerts, District-verified accuracy

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartControls free?

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

### Is Bus Status free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartControls or Bus Status?

SmartControls is rated higher. SmartControls averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Bus Status averages 1.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do SmartControls or Bus Status have ads?

Neither SmartControls nor Bus Status shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartControls or Bus Status?

SmartControls ships an update monthly, and Bus Status every 4 months. Most recently, SmartControls was updated on September 5, 2026 and Bus Status on September 24, 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.*