Directed SmartStart vs Omega Linkr
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Directed SmartStart
Control your car remotely from your smartphone or smartwatch. Start, lock, unlock, and locate your vehicle, with advanced features like real-time status and safety notifications. Includes roadside assistance access.
- Remote start, lock, unlock
- Vehicle location tracking
- Real-time vehicle status
- Safety notifications (speeding, geofencing)
- Trunk release and panic button
- Roadside assistance access
- Apple Watch control
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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 Directed 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 Directed SmartStart GPS module to the Directed 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 Directed SmartStart-protected car is speeding or goes where it's not supposed to go. - For the ultimate connected car experience, install a complete Directed 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 Directed 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 Directed SmartStart: 1) Download the free Directed SmartStart app 2) Get a SmartStart system installed in your vehicle 3) Set up your account, and start using your SmartStart system Directed SmartStart also includes Directed 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)
Omega Linkr
Control your vehicle's security and convenience features remotely. Lock, unlock, start the engine, and track your car's location from anywhere. Receive alerts for security breaches and low battery.
- Remote lock/unlock
- Remote trunk release
- Remote start/stop engine
- Vehicle location tracking
- Security alerts
- Geo-fencing
- Multi-user support
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NOTE: An Omega Linkr system must be installed in your vehicle for this app to operate. NOTE: Locations are sent by SMS message with a link to Google Maps. NOTE: Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease battery life. Models: LINKR-MOBILE-2G is an international (outside the USA) system that works on any GSM cellular network with a user supplied SIM card. LINKR-M1 uses the Verizon network in the USA (does not work in Puerto Rico). Activation info and subscriptions are available at www.OmegaLinkr.com. Omega Linkr is a smartphone interface that gives you control of vehicle convenience & security features from virtually anywhere in the world! This app can directly control Omega's Excalibur line of remote start/security systems & Omegalink vehicle specific remote start kits. It can also be hardwired directly to the vehicle. Omega Linkr allows you to safely and securely remote start, lock - unlock, or open your car's trunk from virtually anywhere in the world. Receive alerts and notifications if your vehicle is violated when installed with any compatible remote start - security system. Main Features: - Lock control - Unlock control - Trunk release - Start / Stop Engine (optional remote start system required) - Locate on demand (via GPS) - 2 Auxiliary functions - Dedicated starter disable function - Multi-user support (up to 5) - Multi-device support - Easy swipe between devices - 6 languages supported: English, Spanish, French, Malay, Romanian, Serbian - Heartbeat - Auto-track w/ selectable frequency (LINKR-M1: every 1-30 days) (LINKR-MOBILE-2G: every 2 minutes-30 days) - Excessive speed alert w/ selectable threshold (exceed threshold for more than 30 seconds) - Low car battery alert (bellow 11v for more than 30 seconds) - 2 selectable Geo-fences w/ entry & exit alerts - Security fence feature alerts you when your vehicle moves 100m while armed (Anti-towing theft alert) - Selectable device icon from library or take your own picture (in-app purchase) - Selectable control screen skin - Panic from button in car or from app - Check SIM balance (LINKR-MOBILE-2G only - outside USA) - Eaves drop feature allows you to listen to the vehicle's interior (LINKR-MOBILE-2G only - outside USA). Optional LINKR-MIC required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Directed SmartStart at 2.7 against Omega Linkr's 2.2. Directed SmartStart also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (123 vs 11). Omega Linkr's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 22%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. Omega Linkr sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Directed SmartStart asks for nothing beyond the download.
Directed SmartStart holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Directed SmartStart has 123 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 22% of Directed SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 33% of Omega Linkr'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 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Directed SmartStart | Omega Linkr |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (123 ratings) — better | 2.2 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 22.0% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 123 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Directed | Omega Research & Development Technologies, Inc. |
Customer experience
Directed SmartStart
Omega Linkr
Bugs and requests
Directed SmartStart
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes on launch
- Geofencing not working
- Remote start failures
- Incorrect vehicle status
Requested features
4 requests- Siri/Shortcuts integration
- Improved status indicators
- Scheduled remote start
- Multilingual support
Omega Linkr
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Directed SmartStart
No in-app purchases
Omega Linkr
- Pink skin for the control screen$0.99
- Gold skin for the control screen$0.99
- Choose any picture on your phone as your device icons!$1.99
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- Weather Skin$1.99
Questions
Is Directed SmartStart free?
Is Omega Linkr free?
Which has better reviews, Directed SmartStart or Omega Linkr?
Do Directed SmartStart or Omega Linkr have ads?
Which is updated more often, Directed SmartStart or Omega Linkr?
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