# SMART GDO vs GarageMax

The clearest difference is rating: SMART GDO at 5.0 against GarageMax's 4.4. SMART GDO also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). GarageMax's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 21 months). 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.

SMART GDO holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GarageMax has 24 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of SMART GDO's written reviews are positive against 88% of GarageMax's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SMART GDO ships an update every 21 months, GarageMax every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMART GDO | GarageMax |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-gdo/id1481025674/reviews)** | [4.4 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garagemax/id1498286248/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **88.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 197 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [强 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481025673) | [BlueMate Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/885169014) |

## What reviewers say

### SMART GDO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-gdo/id1481025674)

Control home appliances remotely and simultaneously with one app. Share device access with family members and easily connect to your smart devices for a smarter living experience.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Simultaneous multi-device control, Device sharing with family, Easy device connection, Smart living integration

**In-app purchases:** none


### GarageMax

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garagemax/id1498286248)

Control your garage door remotely using your iPhone or Apple Watch. Pair up to 8 devices for convenient access. Requires a separate Bluetooth receiver for secure operation.

**Highlights:** Open garage door with iPhone/Apple Watch, Pair up to 8 devices, Secure access control, Wide opener compatibility, Fail-safe testing, Password protection

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMART GDO free?

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

### Is GarageMax free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMART GDO or GarageMax?

SMART GDO is rated higher. SMART GDO averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while GarageMax averages 4.4 from 24 ratings.

### Do SMART GDO or GarageMax have ads?

Neither SMART GDO nor GarageMax shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMART GDO or GarageMax?

SMART GDO ships an update every 21 months, and GarageMax every 2 months. Most recently, SMART GDO was updated on June 8, 2026 and GarageMax on September 21, 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.*