# THINKWARE CONNECTED vs R8 Companion

The clearest difference is review sentiment: R8 Companion at 83% against THINKWARE CONNECTED's 15%. R8 Companion also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.4) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 5). THINKWARE CONNECTED's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

THINKWARE CONNECTED is free to download; R8 Companion costs $9.99 up front. THINKWARE CONNECTED sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and R8 Companion sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

R8 Companion holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: R8 Companion has 1.5K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of THINKWARE CONNECTED's written reviews are positive against 83% of R8 Companion's.

THINKWARE CONNECTED ships an update fortnightly, R8 Companion every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | THINKWARE CONNECTED | R8 Companion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [2.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkware-connected/id1502055879/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r8-companion/id6461348120/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 15.1% of reviews | **82.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#14** |
| Size | 115 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THINKWARE SYSTEMS CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/403472990) | [Angela Mcarthur](https://appshunter.io/developer/451676466) |

## What reviewers say

### THINKWARE CONNECTED

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkware-connected/id1502055879)

This app connects to compatible dash cams, offering real-time vehicle monitoring and alerts. It provides features like remote live view, impact notifications with video playback, and vehicle location tracking. Users can also review driving history and update dash cam firmware remotely.

**Highlights:** Remote Live View, Real-time Parking Impact Video, Real-time Vehicle Location, Captured Image of Most Recent Parking, Vehicle Status Monitoring, Driving History Review, Remote Firmware Updates

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LTE BASIC (1 Month) | $3.49 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| LTE EXTENDED (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| Wi-Fi EXTENDED (1 Month) | $6.90 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Month) | $8.90 | one-time |
| LTE BASIC (1 Year) | $34.99 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| LTE EXTENDED (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| Wi-Fi EXTENDED (1 Year) | $69.00 | one-time |
| LTE PREMIUM (1 Year) | $89.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well (when connected)
- 👍 Live streaming capability
- 👍 GPS mapping of locations
- 👍 Regular updates and fixes (mentioned once)
- 👍 Real-time footage for incidents

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Extremely difficult to connect
- ❌ App is buggy and unreliable
- ❌ Registration process is a nightmare
- ❌ Poor user interface and instructions
- ❌ Frequent disconnections

**Reported bugs**

- App does not connect
- Barcode scanning is blurry or doesn't work
- Serial number entry fails
- Cannot register device
- App disconnects after a few minutes

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode
- Request live view
- Show battery percentage
- Add radar health check
- Improve app connectivity


### R8 Companion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r8-companion/id6461348120)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Enhance your radar detector experience with intelligent alerts, advanced muting, and location-based false silencing. This app optimizes your detector's performance and provides detailed real-time information for a safer drive.

**Highlights:** Location-based false silencing (SpotLocks), Intelligent voice announcements, Customizable heads-up display (HUD), Proximity meter for signal source, Advanced false muting for K & X bands, Remote detector settings adjustment, Customizable audio announcements

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Snacks - Contribution | $1.99 | one-time |
| Drinks - Contribution | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lunch - Contribution | $6.99 | one-time |
| Super Fan - Contribution | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great functionality
- 👍 Customizable settings
- 👍 Responsive developer
- 👍 Helps quiet the R8
- 👍 Useful features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bluetooth disconnection issues
- 🔊 Audio volume issues
- 🔧 Needs better UI organization
- 🔧 Lacks granular audio control

**Reported bugs**

- Bluetooth disconnection on mute button press
- Automatic speed limit setting changes

**Requested features**

- Option to control push notifications
- Wireless/Bluetooth firmware updates for R8
- CarPlay support
- Background app functionality
- Home screen widget


## Frequently asked questions

### Is THINKWARE CONNECTED free?

THINKWARE CONNECTED is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is R8 Companion free?

R8 Companion costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, THINKWARE CONNECTED or R8 Companion?

R8 Companion is rated higher. THINKWARE CONNECTED averages 2.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while R8 Companion averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do THINKWARE CONNECTED or R8 Companion have ads?

Neither THINKWARE CONNECTED nor R8 Companion shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, THINKWARE CONNECTED or R8 Companion?

THINKWARE CONNECTED ships an update fortnightly, and R8 Companion every 2 weeks. Most recently, THINKWARE CONNECTED was updated on September 23, 2026 and R8 Companion on September 25, 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.*