# Directed SmartStart vs OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

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.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Directed SmartStart | OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.7 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directed-smartstart/id393395612/reviews)** | [1.5 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outlander-phev-remote-ctrl/id1107478931/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **123** | 85 |
| Positive reviews | **22.0% of reviews** | 7.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 179 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **11** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Directed](https://appshunter.io/developer/329155615) | [Mitsubishi Motors Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/568393393) |

## What reviewers say

### Directed SmartStart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directed-smartstart/id393395612)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Geofencing not working
- Remote start failures
- Incorrect vehicle status

**Requested features**

- Siri/Shortcuts integration
- Improved status indicators
- Scheduled remote start
- Multilingual support


### OUTLANDER PHEV Remote Ctrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outlander-phev-remote-ctrl/id1107478931)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or fails to connect
- Inconsistent performance after OS updates

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*