Comparison

Viper SmartStart vs Pocketpack

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

Pocketpack

This app helps outdoor enthusiasts plan trips and pack efficiently. It offers a guide to outdoor skills and survival tips, along with tools to manage gear lists for various containers. Prepare for your adventures with confidence and ensure you never forget essential items.

Highlights
  • Trip planning tools
  • Smart packing assistance
  • Gear container management
  • Outdoor skills guide
  • Survival tips
  • Item tracking
Read full description

Pocketpack is your all-in-one outdoor companion, designed to help you plan smarter, pack better, and explore the outdoors with confidence. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or just starting your adventure journey, Pocketpack keeps everything you need in one easy-to-use app. Learn essential outdoor skills and survival tips with our built-in guide. From first aid basics to wildlife safety, Pocketpack helps you stay informed and prepared wherever you roam. Create and manage your own gear containers—like backpacks, bins, or duffel bags. Add items to each container and keep track of everything you bring along. Say goodbye to forgetting essentials and hello to stress-free packing.

Screenshots

Viper SmartStart4 screens
Pocketpack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pocketpack at 100% against Viper SmartStart's 62%. Pocketpack also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Viper SmartStart's advantage is ratings volume (8.1K vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, 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

Pocketpack holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Viper SmartStart has 8.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Viper SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pocketpack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Viper SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, Pocketpack every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Viper SmartStart versus Pocketpack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterViper SmartStartPocketpack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (8.1K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.1K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB15 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperDirectedNicolas Deleasa

Customer experience

Viper SmartStart

All ratings8,057 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.8%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews391 reviews
Positive62.4%
Neutral9.7%
Negative27.9%

Pocketpack

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Pocketpack

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Viper SmartStart

No in-app purchases

None

Pocketpack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Viper SmartStart free?
Viper SmartStart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocketpack free?
Pocketpack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Viper SmartStart or Pocketpack?
Pocketpack is rated higher. Viper SmartStart averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Pocketpack averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Viper SmartStart or Pocketpack have ads?
Neither Viper SmartStart nor Pocketpack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Viper SmartStart or Pocketpack?
Viper SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, and Pocketpack every 5 weeks. Most recently, Viper SmartStart was updated on October 13, 2026 and Pocketpack on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons