Smart Card Utility vs KXCardReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Smart Card Utility
Access secure government and military websites on your iPhone or iPad using your PIV-enabled smart card. Log in quickly to Office 365, Webmail, Teams, and more, eliminating the need for a laptop.
- Smart card authentication for O365, Webmail, Teams
- Access CAC protected websites via Safari
- Fast login on iPhone and iPad
- Supports PIV, CACv2/ECA, and PKCS15 cards
- Compatible with various smart card readers
- Access military and civilian web sites
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CAC Smart Card Access to O365, Webmail, Teams, and Much More Smart Card Utility enables smart card authentication to Office 365, Webmail, Teams, and most other CAC protected websites via Safari. Just plug in your existing PIV-enabled smart card and log in. Smart Card Utility is used by members of Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, and other military/government employees to access CAC protected websites on their iPhone or iPad. Login and Get to Work Fast! Forget about waiting for 20 minute for your laptop to boot up, log in and launch apps. Using your iPhone and iPad and Smart Card Utility, it takes seconds to turn on and access websites, Teams, Office 365 and more using your CAC smart card. Login fast with your CAC card and Smart Card Utility Readers for iOS and iPhone. Smart Card Authentication Wherever You Are Forget about waiting to get back to your laptop to check your email, verify your paycheck, take a course, or respond to a message on Teams. Smart Card Utility makes it simple to use the device you have with you to keep you connected. Simply insert your CAC into the reader and you are ready to access the resources where ever you are. Check Your Email and So Much More Leave your laptop behind and stop waiting in line to check your email on a shared PC. Use your smart card right on your iPhone or iPad to access your web mail using your CAC or PIV card. Smart Card Utility has been tested and is compatible with the most common military and civilian web sites, including: mypay.dfas.mil (myPay) www.defensetravel.osd.mil (Defense Travel System/DTS) jkodirect.jten.mil (JKO Learning Management) Office 365 (o365) owa.us.af.mil (webmail) www.tricare.mil (Tricare Health Care) www.dau.edu (DAU Defense Acquisition University) owa.us.af.mil (webmail) Microsoft Teams (web) MAX.gov Okta PIV Microsoft Azure Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Amazon Web Services (AWS) Supported Readers: All Smart Card readers from Twocanoes Software. Feitian br301 Bluetooth Reader Feitian iR301 Lightning Reader Feitian iR301 USB-C Reader Certgate AirID 2 Bluetooth Contact Smart Card Reader USB-C wired readers supported by iOS 16 or later. Supported Card: PIV CACv2/ECA (see https://public.cyber.mil/eca/ for more infomation) PKCS15 (Country-specific cards, healthcare cards and national ID cards) EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
KXCardReader
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KXCardReader helps user to read the ISO7816 standard contact smart card information through KX906 Smart Token. With supported smart card inserted, more information will be read, such as card information, certificate information and others. KXCardReader automatically detects smart card slot status change and with corresponding operations triggered. User can test with IS7816 standard smart card, such as baking card, credit card or ID card with KXCardReader for basic information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KXCardReader at none against Smart Card Utility's 4. KXCardReader also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Smart Card Utility sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. KXCardReader asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Smart Card Utility | KXCardReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (60 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 60 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Twocanoes Software, Inc. | KEYXENTIC INC. |
Bugs and requests
Smart Card Utility
Reported bugs
17 issues- Device will not connect to newer iPhones
- PIN suddenly won't work
- Does not see SCR 3310 card reader
- Bluetooth reader bug on macOS
- New update broke BT read on iOS
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- Reproducible bug with Bluetooth reader and macOS Sonoma
- Reader not showing up in app
- Limited trial is very limited
- iOS 16 with SCR3310 Non-functional
- App sees reader, but cannot detect smart card
- Reader could not be verified
- App detects reader, but reader does not detect card
- Broken in Big Sur
- App opens but closes or prompts for purchase on Big Sur
- BigSur Doesnt Work
- Big Sur Bricked it
- Doesn't work in Big Sur
Requested features
3 requests- Support for more CAC enabled sites
- Show cert chain graphically
- Support alphanumeric+symbols PINs
KXCardReader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Smart Card Utility
- 3rd Party Readers Support$2.991 Month
- Smart Card Utility$49.99
- Smart Card Utility Mobile$49.99
- Third Party Readers$49.99
KXCardReader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Smart Card Utility free?
Is KXCardReader free?
Do Smart Card Utility or KXCardReader have ads?
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