# Directed SmartStart vs CL7

The clearest difference is ads: Directed SmartStart at none against CL7's shown. Directed SmartStart also leads on rating (2.7 vs 2.3). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 123 and 71 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Directed SmartStart's written reviews are positive against 15% of CL7's.

Directed SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, CL7 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and July 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Directed SmartStart | CL7 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.7 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/directed-smartstart/id393395612/reviews)** | [2.3 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cl7/id6476150590/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **123** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | **22.0% of reviews** | 14.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 179 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.5.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Directed](https://appshunter.io/developer/329155615) | [Distribution Automobilite Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1126478871) |

## 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


### CL7

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cl7/id6476150590)

Control your car remotely from anywhere. Start the engine, check status, locate your vehicle, and receive alerts. Offers advanced features like trip tracking and geofencing for enhanced vehicle management.

**Highlights:** Remote engine start/shutdown, Vehicle location tracking, Door lock/unlock, Real-time status monitoring, Smart alerts and notifications, Trip tracking and route mapping, Geofencing and zone monitoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Basic functions work well
- 🚀 Remote start is reliable
- 👍 Installation is easy
- 👍 GPS location works
- 👍 Plug and play installation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently crashes
- 🐛 App goes offline often
- 🐛 Unreliable connectivity
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 Technical support is difficult

**Reported bugs**

- App constantly crashing
- App going offline
- Login and account creation issues
- App not receiving signal from module
- System requires frequent reboots by company

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app integration
- Siri control integration
- Alexa support
- Google Assistant support
- Widgets for iOS


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Directed SmartStart free?

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

### Is CL7 free?

CL7 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Directed SmartStart or CL7?

Directed SmartStart is rated higher. Directed SmartStart averages 2.7 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while CL7 averages 2.3 from 71 ratings.

### Do Directed SmartStart or CL7 have ads?

CL7 shows ads; Directed SmartStart does not.

### Which is updated more often, Directed SmartStart or CL7?

Directed SmartStart ships an update every 3 months, and CL7 every 2 months. Most recently, Directed SmartStart was updated on September 15, 2026 and CL7 on July 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.*