# Directed SmartStart vs Smart Car Key

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Car Key at 3.7 against Directed SmartStart's 2.7. Smart Car Key also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). Directed SmartStart's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (22% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Car Key sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Directed SmartStart asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Car Key holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 123 and 46 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 22% of Directed SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 0% of Smart Car Key's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Directed SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, Smart Car Key daily. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Directed SmartStart | Smart Car Key |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directed-smartstart/id393395612/reviews) | **[3.7 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-car-key-remote-connect/id6443840323/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **123** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **22.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 179 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Directed](https://appshunter.io/developer/329155615) | [SUNNY AUTOMOTIVE VINA COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649886444) |

## 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


### Smart Car Key

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-car-key-remote-connect/id6443840323)

Control your car remotely via your smartphone. Track its location, lock/unlock doors, and manage maintenance schedules. This app helps you stay connected to your vehicle.

**Highlights:** Remote lock and unlock, Vehicle status monitoring, Car location tracking, Maintenance scheduling, Saved place pins

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Car Key Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Car Key Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Directed SmartStart free?

Directed SmartStart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smart Car Key free?

Smart Car Key is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Directed SmartStart or Smart Car Key?

Smart Car Key is rated higher. Directed SmartStart averages 2.7 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while Smart Car Key averages 3.7 from 46 ratings.

### Do Directed SmartStart or Smart Car Key have ads?

Neither Directed SmartStart nor Smart Car Key shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Directed SmartStart or Smart Car Key?

Directed SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, and Smart Car Key daily. Most recently, Directed SmartStart was updated on October 15, 2026 and Smart Car Key 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.*