# CarRadioRemote vs SmartBT iPlug

The clearest difference is update cadence: CarRadioRemote at every 3 months against SmartBT iPlug's every 8 months. SmartBT iPlug's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CarRadioRemote ships an update every 3 months, SmartBT iPlug every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CarRadioRemote | SmartBT iPlug |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbt-iplug/id1473976660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [小梅 苏](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141829061) | [Shenzhen Anghui Electronic Science & Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1473976659) |

## What reviewers say

### CarRadioRemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carradioremote/id1444992687)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SmartBT iPlug

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbt-iplug/id1473976660)

Enhance your car audio experience with this app, offering intelligent control over various media modes like radio, disc, USB, SD, and Bluetooth. Adjust sound settings, customize lighting, and access maps for a more convenient drive.

**Highlights:** Multiple media modes (Radio, Disc, USB, SD, Bluetooth, Aux), Radio tuning and station presets, Music and video playback control, Bluetooth music streaming with ID3 display, Adjustable EQ curves and DSP sound enhancement, Speaker balance and fader control, Customizable light color and wallpaper

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CarRadioRemote free?

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

### Is SmartBT iPlug free?

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

### Do CarRadioRemote or SmartBT iPlug have ads?

Neither CarRadioRemote nor SmartBT iPlug shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CarRadioRemote or SmartBT iPlug?

CarRadioRemote ships an update every 3 months, and SmartBT iPlug every 8 months. Most recently, CarRadioRemote was updated on September 9, 2026 and SmartBT iPlug on September 10, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*