Comparison

智方便 iAM Smart vs 1823

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

智方便 iAM Smart

This app offers a single digital identity for Hong Kong residents to securely log in to government and commercial online services. It features auto form filling, personalized notifications, and digital signing capabilities for enhanced convenience and efficiency in managing digital transactions.

Highlights
  • Single digital identity for login
  • Secure authentication
  • Auto form filling with e-ME
  • Personalized notifications
  • Digital signing (iAM Smart+)
Read full description

"iAM Smart" is a free account for all Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID Card) holders aged 11 or above. It allows users to perform authentication through personal mobile phones, to log in and use the online services of different government departments and commercial organisations with a single digital identity. "iAM Smart" account is available in two versions, namely "iAM Smart" and "iAM Smart+". The "iAM Smart" version has authentication, form filling and personalised notifications functions, while the "iAM Smart+" version has the digital signing function in addition: ● Authentication √ Users will have a single digital identity that enables simple and secure login to various government and commercial online services. It brings convenience to daily life without having to manage different user names and passwords. ● Form Filling with e-ME √ Users can use the "e-ME" function to store their personalised data (such as name, gender, HKID Card number, date of birth, residential address, and contact phone number), and enjoy the convenience brought by auto form filling and avoid filling in the same data for different applications. ● Personalised Notification √ Users can choose to receive personalised notifications from various government online services to keep up with service updates, expiry alerts and latest information. ● Digital Signing √ Users can use "iAM Smart+" to sign digitally in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Chapter 553 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to process legal documents and procedures online. To register and use your "iAM Smart", simply: ● Use mobile device with biometric authentication functions enabled (including fingerprint or facial identification) to download and install the "智方便 iAM Smart" app ● Could access a wide range of daily information before "iAM Smart" account registration. ● Click “Register”, scan the HKID Card according to the instructions, and let the app to read the HKID Card information and verify the authenticity of the HKID Card ● Align your face with the photo frame on the screen, do the actions specified by the system and take selfies for real person and facial identification ● Wait for the identity verification based on the records of his/her identity card after submission of the application ● Perform mobile phone built-in biometric authentication, set up "iAM Smart" 6 digital password and provide email address upon successful identity verification ● Start using various functions of the "iAM Smart" platform once the above steps are completed Note: ● Consent of your parent or guardian is required if you are aged from 11 to 17.

About

1823

Submit cases, view records, and get instant answers to government service inquiries. This app allows users to easily submit complaints, compliments, and suggestions to 23 participating departments.

Highlights
  • Submit cases with photos/videos
  • Track case history and replies
  • Instant answers via FAQ and Chatbot
  • Submit compliments and suggestions
  • Contact 23 participating departments
Features
Read full description

1823, managed by the Digital Policy Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, handles enquiries, compliments and suggestions for 23 participating departments and receives complaints about any area of Hong Kong Government services. - KEY FEATURES - • Case submission Submit cases with ease using user-friendly forms. You can also upload photos and videos, record a voice message and mark the case location on a map. • Case record and replies View your case history, check replies from the departments, follow up on cases, or inform 1823 to close cases. • Instant answers to simple enquiries Get instant answers from FAQs on 1823 Online through auto-search, or have simple enquiries handled instantly by Chatbot Tammy. Privacy Statement: https://www.1823.gov.hk/en/mobile-app/privacy-policy Personal Information Collection Statement: https://www.1823.gov.hk/en/mobile-app/pics

Screenshots

智方便 iAM Smart4 screens
18234 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 1823 at 3.0 against 智方便 iAM Smart's 1.8. 智方便 iAM Smart's advantage is ratings volume (30 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

1823 holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 智方便 iAM Smart has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 3% of 智方便 iAM Smart's written reviews are positive against 0% of 1823's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

智方便 iAM Smart ships an update every 3 weeks, 1823 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and July 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
智方便 iAM Smart versus 1823: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter智方便 iAM Smart1823
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (30 ratings)3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews2.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings30 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size212 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDigital Policy Office1823, HKSAR Government

Customer experience

智方便 iAM Smart

All ratings30 ratings
Positive16.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative83.3%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive2.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative94.8%

1823

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

智方便 iAM Smart

Reported bugs

27 issues
  • System update requires resetting linkage
  • Cannot scan ID card or QR code
  • Camera function cannot be activated
  • Face recognition doesn't work
  • NFC function doesn't work
Show 22 more
  • App locks account after successful registration
  • Quick registration process has bugs
  • QR code scanner never works
  • Cannot scan ID card
  • System busy error
  • App keeps saying 'client error' at the last step
  • Facial recognition fails repeatedly
  • App does not proceed
  • App requires Face ID or Touch ID
  • Flash goes off automatically during scanning
  • App says scan successful but then unsuccessful
  • Cannot capture the third and last scan
  • Network problem during registration
  • Cannot transfer from old device to new
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • App is not working on iPhone 14
  • App is not working on iPhone 12
  • App is not working on iPhone 15 Pro
  • App is not working on iPhone 17
  • App is not working on iPhone XR

Requested features

13 requests
  • Alternative login method besides Face ID
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve NFC functionality
  • Improve QR code scanner
  • Improve facial recognition accuracy
Show 8 more
  • Allow app transfer from old devices
  • Provide clear upgrade instructions from old app
  • Allow users to change language
  • Remove Face ID requirement
  • Make signing function accessible online
  • Improve app design and navigation
  • Fix bugs in quick registration process
  • Remove buggy authentication features

1823

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

智方便 iAM Smart

No in-app purchases

None

1823

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 智方便 iAM Smart free?
智方便 iAM Smart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 1823 free?
1823 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 智方便 iAM Smart or 1823?
1823 is rated higher. 智方便 iAM Smart averages 1.8 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while 1823 averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do 智方便 iAM Smart or 1823 have ads?
Neither 智方便 iAM Smart nor 1823 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 智方便 iAM Smart or 1823?
智方便 iAM Smart ships an update every 3 weeks, and 1823 every 2 months. Most recently, 智方便 iAM Smart was updated on September 11, 2026 and 1823 on July 30, 2026.

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