DroneMobile vs DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DroneMobile
Control and track your vehicle remotely from your smartphone or smartwatch. Lock/unlock doors, start the engine, and receive alerts for security and maintenance. Requires hardware installation.
- Remote start
- Lock/unlock doors
- GPS tracking
- Widget control
- Apple Watch app
- Security alerts
- Maintenance reminders
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YOUR CAR, CONNECTED DroneMobile is the award-winning smartphone solution for staying connected to your vehicle from anywhere in the world. Using the DroneMobile iPhone app, you can lock your doors, remote start your engine, and even track your vehicle’s exact location. WIDGET + FORCE TOUCH ENABLED Remote start, lock and unlock your vehicle without even opening the DroneMobile app. Force touch the DroneMobile app icon, or swipe to your widgets, to quickly access these basic control features for your vehicle. NOW WORKS WITH APPLE WATCH Remote start, secure, and GPS track your vehicle from your Apple Watch using the DroneMobile watch app. Simply download the smartphone app and the watch app will automatically download onto your watch. INSTALLATION REQUIRED In order to use DroneMobile on your vehicle, a DroneMobile module and compatible remote start or security system must be installed onto your vehicle. To find an authorized DroneMobile retailer, visit www.dronemobile.com UPDATED INTERFACE We’ve completely revamped our control interface to make it easier to connect to your vehicle! As you lock/start your car using DroneMobile, AVA 1.0, the Animated Vehicle Assistant, will animate and change states to show your vehicle’s status. Also, upload profile pictures to get the most customizable experience in the Connected Car Industry! FEATURES • Widget vehicle control • Siri voice-control keyless entry • Remote start • Remote start shutdown • Keyless entry • Trunk release • Security system activation/deactivation • 2 Customizable auxiliary functions • GPS tracking • Push notifications for security alerts • Regular maintenance reminders • Low battery alerts • Geofence and curfew alerts for driver monitoring • Speeding alerts for driver safety OUR COMPANY CES Innovations Honoree for In-Vehicle Accessories (2015) CES Best of Innovations for In-Vehicle Accessories (2011) 4X TOP VENDOR of Security, Convenience, and Safety Products (Mobile Electronics Retailers - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) COMPATIBILITY DroneMobile can be added to any of the following brands of remote start and/or security systems: • Compustar • Compustar PRO • Arctic Start • NuStart • FTX APP USER'S MANUAL Visit https://support.dronemobile.com/hc/en-us/categories/360001278852-DroneMobile-4-User-Guide to download our App User's Guide.
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: DroneMobile at every 2 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DroneMobile ships an update every 2 months, DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DroneMobile | DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (28K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 28K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 229 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Firstech, LLC | VOXX Electronics Corp |
Bugs and requests
DroneMobile
Reported bugs
4 issues- Doors show incorrect locked/unlocked status
- GPS not accurately tracking vehicle location
- Login/password issues after app updates
- Frequent server downtime/outages
Requested features
4 requests- Add NFC/local control for when out of cell range
- Implement winter timer/remote start automation
- Allow customizable alert sounds
- Make single car the default for all commands
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
DroneMobile
No in-app purchases
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DroneMobile free?
Is DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO free?
Do DroneMobile or DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO have ads?
Which is updated more often, DroneMobile or DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO?
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