Comparison

Viper SmartStart vs DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Remote start, lock, and unlock
  • Vehicle location tracking
  • Real-time status updates
  • Safety notifications (speeding, geofencing)
  • Trunk release
  • Apple Watch control
  • Roadside assistance
Features
Read full description

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)

About

DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO

Read full description

Start, control, and locate your car from virtually anywhere with your iPhone! “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 the all-new VIPER SMARTSTART PRO app, connecting with and controlling your vehicles is easier and more powerful than ever. Send commands, track your vehicle's location in real time, and monitor key status updates right from the integrated control screen, complete with light and dark mode support and seamless vehicle personalization in the Garage. New Features: • Trip Review & Route Tracking: Access detailed logs of your trips and view routes directly on an interactive map to easily monitor where your vehicle has traveled. (Requires a qualifying service plan). • Direct DS4 Bluetooth (BLE) Support: Enjoy direct local control of your DS4 system over Bluetooth. Lock, unlock, remote start, and control up to two custom AUX functions without relying solely on cellular networks. - Add VIPER SMARTSTART PRO GPS to any compatible VIPER remote start or security system in your car, and 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 PRO monitored car is speeding or goes where it's not supposed to go. - For the ultimate connected car experience, use your VIPER SMARTSTART PRO as part of a complete VIPER Digital System, and you’ll also get engine runtime and other real-time status info right on the app dashboard. Even if a thief opens your vehicle using a cloned factory fob, you can get alerted immediately while the VIPER security system sounds the alarm and prevents unauthorized vehicle starting. - VIPER SMARTSTART PRO comes with a free 30-day GPS trial so you can check out the cool features right away. You can have Basic 1-way service free for the first year, step up to Secure service to get 2-way control confirmations, or add GPS or Small Fleet & Family plans for the ultimate in car control and monitoring. The simple, uncluttered new control screen design for VIPER SMARTSTART PRO gives you quick, 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 - View current status, including cabin temperature, lock status, remote start runtime, and more at a single glance Follow these three simple steps to get VIPER SMARTSTART PRO: 1) Download the free VIPER SMARTSTART PRO app 2) Get a VIPER SMARTSTART PRO system installed in your vehicle 3) Set up your account and start using your VIPER SMARTSTART PRO system Key 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 vehicle data such as battery voltage, odometer, and fuel level in the extended Vehicle Status tab (requires a digital system; some features may not be supported on all vehicles) - Map page integrates GPS and SmartPark features seamlessly – locate your vehicle, or track down where you parked (live vehicle location requires GPS or Small Fleet & Family GPS plan) - Manage notifications: Each user can select how they want to receive alerts or other notifications. Select push notification, email, or SMS as desired (SMS alerts may not be available outside North America)

Screenshots

Viper SmartStart4 screens
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Viper SmartStart at every 3 months against DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO's every 8 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Viper SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Viper SmartStart versus DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterViper SmartStartDIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (8.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews62.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings8.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB27 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperDirectedVOXX Electronics Corp

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

DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Viper SmartStart

No in-app purchases

None

DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Viper SmartStart free?
Viper SmartStart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO free?
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Viper SmartStart or DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO have ads?
Neither Viper SmartStart nor DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Viper SmartStart or DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO?
Viper SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, and DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO every 8 months. Most recently, Viper SmartStart was updated on October 24, 2026 and DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO on October 24, 2026.

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