Viper SmartStart vs Dodge®
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Viper SmartStart
Control your car remotely from your smartphone or smartwatch. Start, lock, unlock, and locate your vehicle from anywhere. Receive real-time status updates and safety notifications.
- Remote start, lock, and unlock
- Vehicle location tracking
- Real-time status updates
- Safety notifications (speeding, geofencing)
- Trunk release
- Apple Watch control
- Roadside assistance
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Start, locate and control your car from virtually anywhere with your iPhone or Apple watch! "Making the cloud-connected car a reality" - Edmunds.com "Without a doubt, one of the coolest apps I've ever seen" - GIZMODO With the release of its all-new 5th generation Viper SmartStart app, connecting with and controlling your vehicle is easier than ever – including real time status via the updated dashboards, and control via your Apple watch! - Add a Viper SmartStart GPS module to the Viper remote start or security system in your car so you can start, lock and unlock your car from virtually anywhere. You can also locate your car, share its location with your friends or family, and get safety notifications if your Viper SmartStart-protected car is speeding or goes where it's not supposed to go. - For the ultimate connected car experience, install a complete Viper SmartStart Digital System and you’ll also get engine runtime and real time status on your choice of app dashboard. Get notified if your vehicle sets a diagnostic code, or check your fuel, battery, or odometer right in the app! - All 4G LTE GPS modules come with a free 30-day GPS trial so you can check out the cool features right away, and there’s even an option for a year of free Basic service. Step up to Secure service to get 2-way control confirmations or add GPS or Small Fleet & Family for the ultimate in car control and monitoring along with extended warranty and theft protection. The sleek, modern dashboards of Viper SmartStart 5.3 mobile app give you fingertip control over the following features of your installed Viper remote start or security/remote start system: - Lock/arm - Unlock/disarm - Remote car starter - Trunk release - Panic - Aux channels Follow these three simple steps to get Viper SmartStart: 1) Download the free Viper SmartStart app 2) Get a SmartStart system installed in your vehicle 3) Set up your account, and start using your SmartStart system Viper SmartStart also includes Viper Motor Club, providing convenient 24/7 access to our nationwide roadside assistance network. Just press a button in the app to get connected for towing due to breakdown or accidents, or assistance with a dead battery or flat tire. Member roadside assistance is free with Secure or higher level service plans and pre-registration. Even if you don’t sign up, you can use the guest program for the same great service at a fixed cost. Latest features: - Real time status on your favorite dashboard! Check the remote start runtime or whether your doors are locked and more instantly just by opening the app! (digital systems only) - Monitor the battery, odometer, and fuel level in the extended Status page (requires a digital system, some features may not be supported on all vehicles) - Convenient widget for one-touch command execution without needing to open the app first - Start, lock, unlock or locate your car using your Apple watch, or send other commands - Receive alert notifications on your phone and Apple watch - Four user-selectable dashboards and launch page settings – now you can customize the app for the way you use it - Modern dashboard "swipe up to start" feature eliminates accidental remote start commands - Map page integrates GPS and SmartPark features seamlessly – locate your vehicle, or track down where you parked - Manage notifications: Each user can select how they want to receive alerts or other notifications. Choose from push alerts with custom sound effects, email, or SMS (SMS alerts may not be available outside North America)
Dodge®
Manage your Dodge vehicle remotely, access owner's manuals, schedule service, and stay informed about recalls. Control features like remote start, lock/unlock doors, and activate the horn or lights for enhanced convenience and peace of mind.
- Remote vehicle start/stop
- Lock/unlock doors
- Activate horn/lights
- Schedule service appointments
- Access owner's manual
- View service history
- Recall alerts
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Whether you’re out adventuring in your Dodge Brand vehicle, relaxing in the comfort of your home or just about anywhere else, the new Dodge app lets you stay in touch and helps keep you in control of your vehicle like never before. Need to contact your dealer? No problem, simply use the My Dealer feature to find your preferred dealership’s address, schedule service appointments, or call them directly with the touch of a button. Easily access your vehicle’s info—including the owner’s manual, service history, and more—with the My Garage and Digital Glovebox features. And stay up to date on open recalls using the Recall Alert so you’re always one step ahead. If your vehicle is equipped, you can remotely start or stop your vehicle+, lock or unlock the doors and activate the horn or exterior lights. You now have access to more services than ever, ranging from entertainment to available Navigation, safety and security and more, all combining to offer new levels of convenience and the peace of mind you deserve. +You are responsible for using remote features in accordance with any laws, rules or ordinances in effect in your vehicle's location. You must have an active subscription to SiriusXM Guardian™ or Uconnect® Access in order to use remote services. See Terms of Service for service limitations. ©2021 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dodge is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Viper SmartStart at 62% against Dodge®'s 34%. Dodge®'s advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Dodge® holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.1K and 23K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Viper SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 34% of Dodge®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Viper SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, Dodge® monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Viper SmartStart | Dodge® |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (8.1K ratings) | 4.8 (23K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.4% of reviews — better | 34.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8.1K | 23K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 287 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Directed | FCA US LLC |
Customer experience
Viper SmartStart
Dodge®
User reviews
Viper SmartStart
From 8.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Years of reliable use
- 🔒 Secure and dependable
- 👍 Convenient remote start and control
- 👍 Helpful in cold/hot weather
- 👍 Easy to use app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues and unreliable performance
- 🐛 Frequent disconnects and errors
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and glitches
- 🔋 Battery drain on phone
- 🤔 Lacking key features like temperature monitoring
Dodge®
From 23K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Quick connection
- 🔒 Helps recover stolen vehicle
- 👍 Useful features when working
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow response times
- 💰 Expensive subscription required
- 🤷♀️ Unreliable functionality
- 📍 Inaccurate location tracking
Bugs and requests
Viper SmartStart
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashing on map view
- Persistent login issues
- Vehicle status not updating correctly
- Geofencing not working as expected
Requested features
4 requests- Siri/Shortcuts integration
- Customizable dashboard and widgets
- Automatic start/stop based on temperature
- Improved notification system
Dodge®
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unable to add vehicle to app
- Vehicle information not updating
- Remote start/lock/unlock not working
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to see if doors are locked
- Faster remote start
- More detailed vehicle information
- Scheduled remote start/climate control
- Compatibility with older vehicles
In-app purchases
Viper SmartStart
No in-app purchases
Dodge®
No in-app purchases








