# Rivian vs Drive Stories

The clearest difference is rating: Rivian at 4.4 against Drive Stories's 3.3. Rivian also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 4). Drive Stories's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 45%). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Drive Stories sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Rivian asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rivian holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rivian has 1.4K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of Rivian's written reviews are positive against 80% of Drive Stories's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rivian | Drive Stories |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rivian/id1570215232/reviews)** | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drive-stories/id6743227880/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 45.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#207** | — |
| Size | 419 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rivian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1394739758) | [Thomas Moeller](https://appshunter.io/developer/541375349) |

## What reviewers say

### Rivian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rivian/id1570215232)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

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:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Drive Stories

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drive-stories/id6743227880)

Experience your travels with location-based audio stories that bring places to life. Discover history, landmarks, and fascinating facts as you drive, with seamless in-car integration. Transform every journey into an immersive narrative.

**Highlights:** Location-based audio stories, Seamless in-car use, Apple CarPlay integration, Over 40 languages, 15 story categories, Choice of 10 voices, Global location selection

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rivian free?

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

### Is Drive Stories free?

Drive Stories is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Rivian or Drive Stories?

Rivian is rated higher. Rivian averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Drive Stories averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Rivian or Drive Stories have ads?

Neither Rivian nor Drive Stories shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rivian or Drive Stories?

Rivian ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drive Stories every 3 weeks. Most recently, Rivian was updated on November 7, 2026 and Drive Stories on October 30, 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.*