Comparison

Rivian vs Milpitas SMART

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

Head to head
About

Rivian

Control and manage your electric vehicle with your smartphone. Use your phone as a key, monitor charging, plan trips with charging stops, and access vehicle support and service. Keep your vehicle updated and ready for your next adventure.

Highlights
  • Phone as vehicle key
  • Remote lock/unlock
  • Remote climate control
  • Trip planning with charging stops
  • Charger and point of interest map
  • Vehicle status monitoring
  • Service and roadside assistance
Features
Read full description

The Rivian app works with your R1T and R1S to make driving and owning your Rivian simple. Use your phone as a key, manage charging sessions, tap into support and so much more: • Accept delivery of your Rivian • Make your phone a key to your R1T or R1S • Lock and unlock your vehicle remotely • Warm up or cool down your vehicle before you get in • Plan trips in the app to see recommended routes and charging stops based on your preferences • Search the map for points of interest and nearby chargers—and send any destination to your vehicle • Check your Rivian's range and current charging status • Connect with our support team to ask questions and troubleshoot • Request and track vehicle service and roadside assistance • Start available vehicle software updates from the app • Connect with your home Rivian Wall Charger Keep the World Adventurous Forever.

About

Milpitas SMART

Book personalized, express transit rides within Milpitas, CA. This app offers convenient and affordable on-demand connections between various city locations and key transit hubs. It combines ride-hailing flexibility with shuttle service capacity.

Highlights
  • Personalized express transit booking
  • On-demand connections
  • Affordable fares
  • Multiple transit stops
  • Ride-hailing convenience
  • Shuttle service capacity
Features
Read full description

Milpitas SMART lets you book personalized, express transit in Milpitas, CA. Milpitas SMART provides convenient, affordable, and on-demand connections between the entire City of Milpitas and the Great Mall, City Hall, Milpitas Transit Center, and VTA light rail stops. The program combines the convenience of a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft with the capacity and affordability of a more traditional shuttle or vanpool service. Riders can request service through the app and be picked up at one of many transit stops throughout Milpitas and dropped off at one of four hubs, and vice versa. Riders select their own pickup and drop-off locations from all the available stops in service. The regular adult fare is $2.50 per ride and youth, disabled, and low-income populations receive a reduced fare of $1.00 per ride.

Screenshots

Rivian4 screens
Milpitas SMART4 screens

Verdict

The call

Rivian and Milpitas SMART both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Milpitas SMART's written reviews are positive against 45% of Rivian's. Milpitas SMART also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Rivian's advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 85) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Rivian against 4.4 for Milpitas SMART. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rivian has 1.4K ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of Rivian's written reviews are positive against 87% of Milpitas SMART's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rivian ships an update every 3 weeks, Milpitas SMART monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Rivian versus Milpitas SMART: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRivianMilpitas SMART
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (1.4K ratings) — better4.4 (85 ratings)
Positive reviews45.1% of reviews87.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.4K — better85
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size419 MB32 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRivianRideCo Inc.

Customer experience

Rivian

All ratings1,343 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral4.4%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews224 reviews
Positive45.1%
Neutral12.1%
Negative42.9%

Milpitas SMART

All ratings83 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive87.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.9%

User reviews

Rivian

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app design
  • 👍 Useful features like climate control and charging management
  • 💎 Continuously improving with updates
  • 🔒 Secure phone-as-a-key functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity and reliability issues
  • 🔍 Limited functionality compared to Tesla app
  • 🔋 High battery drain on phone
  • 🕰️ Slow app response times

Milpitas SMART

From 85 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Convenient and easy to book rides
  • 💰 Affordable and cost-effective
  • 🚗 Reliable and punctual service
  • 🧑‍✈️ Nice and polite drivers
  • 👵👴 Great service for seniors and disabled individuals

Room to improve

  • ❌ Unable to register/create account
  • ⏳ Sometimes wish for more time options
  • 🚫 No refunds for unused rides when paid by card
  • ⚠️ Drivers sometimes miss pickups or don't stop
  • 📱 App can be buggy

Bugs and requests

Rivian

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Widgets disappearing after app updates
  • Inconsistent phone-as-a-key performance
  • Charging status not updating correctly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Remote access to cameras and Gear Guard videos
  • Ability to control more vehicle functions like windows, frunk, and charge port
  • Integration with Apple Watch and other smart devices
  • Customizable charge scheduling and energy cost tracking

Milpitas SMART

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Checkbox not clickable during registration
  • App is buggy
  • Cannot create an account
  • Driver passed by and did not stop

Requested features

2 requests
  • Increase the number of vehicles during peak hours
  • Expand service to Evergreen San Jose area

In-app purchases

None

Rivian

No in-app purchases

None

Milpitas SMART

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rivian free?
Rivian is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Milpitas SMART free?
Milpitas SMART is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Rivian or Milpitas SMART?
Rivian is rated higher. Rivian averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Milpitas SMART averages 4.4 from 85 ratings.
Do Rivian or Milpitas SMART have ads?
Neither Rivian nor Milpitas SMART shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rivian or Milpitas SMART?
Rivian ships an update every 3 weeks, and Milpitas SMART monthly. Most recently, Rivian was updated on October 20, 2026 and Milpitas SMART on October 22, 2026.

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