Comparison

Directed SmartStart vs OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
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 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)

About

OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

Control your Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV remotely via your smartphone. Manage charging schedules, pre-heat or cool the cabin, locate your vehicle, and monitor its status. This app offers a unified and improved experience for managing your PHEV's features.

Highlights
  • Remote charging control
  • Pre-heating and cooling
  • Charging timer settings
  • Vehicle location lights
  • Vehicle status monitoring
  • Customizable schedules
Read full description

MITSUBISHI Remote Control allows you to customize your Outlander PHEV experience from your phone. When you connect to your PHEV’s wireless LAN, you can: - Charge your vehicle on a timer or on demand - Heat or cool your car before your drive - Set timers to ensure your PHEV charges completely and avoid peak rate hours - Turn on your headlights or parking lights to help locate your vehicle - Check your vehicle status The MITSUBISHI Remote Control lets you view all vehicle settings in an intuitive dashboard. Manage timer settings for charging and climate control, monitor battery status and performance, and set customized weekly schedules to reflect your lifestyle, directly from your connected device. Please note: Your Outlander PHEV communicates with this app exclusively via Wireless LAN, not by cellular technology. Wireless LAN communication can be hindered by distance, radio waves, or physical barriers. MITSUBISHI Remote Control is a renewed and unified experience combining and replacing the prior “OUTLANDER PHEV”, “OUTLANDER PHEV I” applications. This app is intended to provide the same functionality (and more) in an improved user interface. For users of the earlier applications: - “OUTLANDER PHEV” : If you are using this app, you may need to contact the nearest Authorized Mitsubishi Dealership to implement the service campaign of the security upgrade. - “OUTLANDER PHEV I” : Please download this new MITSUBISHI Remote Control app and re-register. For Troubleshooting and our FAQ, please visit our MITSUBISHI Remote Control website here: https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/products/outlander_phev/app/remote/jizen.html

Screenshots

Directed SmartStart4 screens
OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Directed SmartStart at 2.7 against OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl's 1.5. Directed SmartStart also leads on review sentiment (22% vs 8%). OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (11 vs 14.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Directed SmartStart holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 123 and 85 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Directed SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 8% of OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Directed SmartStart versus OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDirected SmartStartOUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (123 ratings) — better1.5 (85 ratings)
Positive reviews22.0% of reviews — better7.6% of reviews
Number of ratings123 — better85
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.011 — better
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB117 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDirectedMitsubishi Motors Corporation

Customer experience

Directed SmartStart

All ratings123 ratings
Positive39.0%
Neutral10.6%
Negative50.4%
Written reviews132 reviews
Positive22.0%
Neutral11.4%
Negative66.7%

OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

All ratings85 ratings
Positive11.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative85.9%
Written reviews197 reviews
Positive7.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative87.8%

User reviews

Directed SmartStart

From 123 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works great
  • 🔒 Robust security features
  • 💡 Convenient remote start
  • 🗺️ Useful GPS tracking

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable connectivity
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • ⚠️ Inconsistent performance
  • 🕰️ Slow response times

OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

From 85 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Useful for remote climate control
  • 👍 Works well for some users

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
  • 💡 Limited functionality compared to expectations
  • 🔌 Weak WiFi range, requires being near the car
  • 🤔 Difficult to set up and use
  • ❌ Doesn't work with newer car models

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

OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or fails to connect
  • Inconsistent performance after OS updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve WiFi connectivity and range
  • Add more functionality like remote start, battery status, etc.
  • Make the app more user-friendly and intuitive
  • Support for newer car models

In-app purchases

None

Directed SmartStart

No in-app purchases

None

OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Directed SmartStart free?
Directed SmartStart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl free?
OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Directed SmartStart or OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl?
Directed SmartStart is rated higher. Directed SmartStart averages 2.7 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl averages 1.5 from 85 ratings.
Do Directed SmartStart or OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl have ads?
Neither Directed SmartStart nor OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Directed SmartStart or OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl?
Directed SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, and OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl every 3 months. Most recently, Directed SmartStart was updated on October 7, 2026 and OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons