OpenRoaming vs START Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenRoaming
This app enables free, seamless, and secure Wi-Fi access using your Google or Apple ID. Once activated, your device automatically connects to supported Wi-Fi networks globally without further action.
- Free Wi-Fi access
- Seamless connection
- Secure Wi-Fi
- Google/Apple ID login
- Automatic network attachment
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The OpenRoaming App configures your device with Free, Seamless and Secure Wi-Fi using your Google or Apple ID. This service can be leveraged in many Wi-Fi networks around the world. After activating the service on your device through the app, there is nothing more for you to do, your device will automatically attach to Wi-Fi where supported. Support: openroaming-app@external.cisco.com
START Connect
Remotely manage and monitor all your IoT devices from a single platform. Streamline workflows, gain a 360-degree view of your device ecosystem, and ensure data usage compliance with AI-powered real-time alerts and security policies.
- Remote device management
- Cloud-based platform
- Real-time alerts
- AI-powered security policies
- 360-degree device view
- Seamless user onboarding
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Through START Connect APP, Administrator or user can remotely manage all your START devices like Hotspots, CPEs, Dongles, Wearables, Trackers and other IoT devices from a single cloud-based mobile device management platform (desktop and mobile access available) that speeds up deployment, improves monitoring and easily makes sure all devices comply with company data usage policies. Powered by AI, real-time alerts and security policies, these dashboards help you streamline workflows, get a 360-degree view of your ecosystem of devices, and seamless user onboarding.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: START Connect at 5.0 against OpenRoaming's 3.0. START Connect also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). OpenRoaming's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
START Connect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenRoaming has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
OpenRoaming ships an update every 27 months, START Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenRoaming | START Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cisco | START USA, INC. |
Customer experience
OpenRoaming
START Connect
In-app purchases
OpenRoaming
No in-app purchases
START Connect
No in-app purchases
