# CarLive vs SmartBT iPlug

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CarLive at 60% against SmartBT iPlug's 17%. CarLive also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.7) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 8 months). SmartBT iPlug's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). 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.

CarLive holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of CarLive's written reviews are positive against 17% of SmartBT iPlug's.

CarLive ships an update every 5 weeks, SmartBT iPlug every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CarLive | SmartBT iPlug |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carlive/id1450912381/reviews)** | [1.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartbt-iplug/id1473976660/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | **60.0% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **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

### CarLive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carlive/id1450912381)

This app connects to smart automotive audio electronic products. It offers control and functionality for various consumer electronics, leveraging a strong technical background in chip software development.

**Highlights:** Automotive audio control, Consumer electronics integration, Smart device connectivity, Bluetooth functionality, Chip software development expertise

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

**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 CarLive free?

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

### Is SmartBT iPlug free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CarLive or SmartBT iPlug?

CarLive is rated higher. CarLive averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while SmartBT iPlug averages 1.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do CarLive or SmartBT iPlug have ads?

Neither CarLive nor SmartBT iPlug shows ads.

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

CarLive ships an update every 5 weeks, and SmartBT iPlug every 8 months. Most recently, CarLive was updated on September 17, 2026 and SmartBT iPlug on September 10, 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.*