Comparison

Smart Card Utility vs MobileConnect AF

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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/

About

MobileConnect AF

This app enables passwordless login to supported websites using your personal phone as a primary authentication factor. Register your device once to scan QR codes and enter a passcode for secure access, eliminating the need for a physical CAC card.

Highlights
  • Passwordless login
  • Primary Factor Authentication
  • Phone registration
  • QR code scanning
  • Passcode entry
Read full description

Enhance your login experience with MobileConnect's Primary Factor Authentication. In addition to your regular CAC access, you can now register your phone to allow you to login to your account using your personal device.Using MobileConnect is a simple 2 step process that allows you to access websites that support Primary Factor Authentication without the need of a CAC (supported websites only): - Scan the QR code when prompted to login - Enter the passcode you created during registration

Screenshots

Smart Card Utility4 screens
MobileConnect AF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Card Utility at 2.9 against MobileConnect AF's 2.4. Smart Card Utility also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (39% vs 25%). MobileConnect AF's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Smart Card Utility sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MobileConnect AF asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smart Card Utility holds the better App Store score, 2.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Card Utility has 63 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Smart Card Utility's written reviews are positive against 25% of MobileConnect AF's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smart Card Utility ships an update every 2 months, MobileConnect AF every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Smart Card Utility versus MobileConnect AF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmart Card UtilityMobileConnect AF
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (63 ratings) — better2.4 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews38.6% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings63 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB28 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTwocanoes Software, Inc.USAF-BESPIN

Customer experience

Smart Card Utility

All ratings60 ratings
Positive48.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative48.3%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive38.6%
Neutral7.0%
Negative54.4%

MobileConnect AF

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

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
Show 12 more
  • 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

MobileConnect AF

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Smart Card Utility

Subscriptions1
  • 3rd Party Readers Support$2.991 Month
One-time3
  • Smart Card Utility$49.99
  • Smart Card Utility Mobile$49.99
  • Third Party Readers$49.99
None

MobileConnect AF

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smart Card Utility free?
Smart Card Utility is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MobileConnect AF free?
MobileConnect AF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Smart Card Utility or MobileConnect AF?
Smart Card Utility is rated higher. Smart Card Utility averages 2.9 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while MobileConnect AF averages 2.4 from 10 ratings.
Do Smart Card Utility or MobileConnect AF have ads?
Neither Smart Card Utility nor MobileConnect AF shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smart Card Utility or MobileConnect AF?
Smart Card Utility ships an update every 2 months, and MobileConnect AF every 5 months. Most recently, Smart Card Utility was updated on October 23, 2026 and MobileConnect AF on October 27, 2026.

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