Comparison

Smartlock BLE vs VACS IC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Smartlock BLE

Features
Read full description

This application is used to operate the Smartlock BLE Smartkey.

About

VACS IC

Features
Read full description

VACS IC helps secure critical infrastructure by verifying who enters a facility and recording where they go. The application implements National Security mandates from government and quasi-government standards bodies to secure Critical Infrastructure. It layers biometric verification for users entering secure facilities using physical credentials such as magnetic stripe cards and NFC tags. WHAT YOU CAN DO โ€ข Enrol with confidence: verify your identity by scanning your ID document, taking a selfie that is matched against it, and registering your phone's biometrics (Face ID or Touch ID). โ€ข Tap & Go: use your phone with Bluetooth readers at secured locations. When your session has expired, the app asks you to authenticate before access is granted. โ€ข Stay in control: approve or deny the enrolment of a new device from your existing device. โ€ข Stay informed: receive a notification when authentication is required. LOCATION While you are on site, the application collects high-accuracy location in the background to help track and trace in case of theft, vandalism and terrorism, and to determine the occupancy of buildings and zones in emergencies such as fire, terrorism and flooding. Location data is sent to our servers in encrypted form and stored in encrypted form, with access limited to authorised security personnel. The application stops storing location data when you are not on site. VACS IC is a security service for employees, contractors and visitors of critical facilities, not a consumer app; users are informed of its purpose in the app and through their organisation. PERMISSIONS Camera (ID scan and selfie), Bluetooth (readers), location (audit and safety), Face ID / Touch ID (authentication) and notifications (authentication prompts) are used only for the features described above. Access to VACS IC is provided through your organisation. If you need help, contact your organisation's administrator or VACS support from the Settings screen.

Screenshots

Smartlock BLE3 screens
VACS IC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: VACS IC at every 9 days against Smartlock BLE's every 5 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smartlock BLE ships an update every 5 months, VACS IC every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Smartlock BLE versus VACS IC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartlock BLEVACS IC
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 9 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.7 โ€” better15
Further details โ€” not scored
Size11 MB316 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKeystoneiCrypto

In-app purchases

None

Smartlock BLE

No in-app purchases

None

VACS IC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smartlock BLE free?
Smartlock BLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VACS IC free?
VACS IC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Smartlock BLE or VACS IC have ads?
Neither Smartlock BLE nor VACS IC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smartlock BLE or VACS IC?
Smartlock BLE ships an update every 5 months, and VACS IC every 9 days. Most recently, Smartlock BLE was updated on October 5, 2026 and VACS IC on October 24, 2026.

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