# OpenRoaming vs START Connect

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.

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 15, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenRoaming | START Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openroaming/id1496830649/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-connect/id6727000637/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 4 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cisco](https://appshunter.io/developer/298844389) | [START USA, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771130993) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenRoaming

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openroaming/id1496830649)

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.

**Highlights:** Free Wi-Fi access, Seamless connection, Secure Wi-Fi, Google/Apple ID login, Automatic network attachment

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### START Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-connect/id6727000637)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote device management, Cloud-based platform, Real-time alerts, AI-powered security policies, 360-degree device view, Seamless user onboarding

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenRoaming free?

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

### Is START Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, OpenRoaming or START Connect?

START Connect is rated higher. OpenRoaming averages 3.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while START Connect averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do OpenRoaming or START Connect have ads?

Neither OpenRoaming nor START Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenRoaming or START Connect?

OpenRoaming ships an update every 27 months, and START Connect every 2 months. Most recently, OpenRoaming was updated on October 15, 2026 and START Connect on September 29, 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.*