# SmartStops vs Ski Planner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ski Planner at none against SmartStops's 4. SmartStops's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartStops sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Ski Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SmartStops against 5.0 for Ski Planner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartStops has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

SmartStops ships an update every 9 days, Ski Planner every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartStops | Ski Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartstops-road-trip-planner/id6747735128/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ski-planner/id6754906093/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 47 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maple Ridge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822379851) | [John Hanna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850892491) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartStops

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartstops-road-trip-planner/id6747735128)

This app helps families plan road trips by finding parks, playgrounds, and rest stops along their route. It balances drive time with convenient and kid-friendly stopping points, reducing stress for everyone on long journeys.

**Highlights:** Find parks and playgrounds on route, Locate rest stops and amenities, Preview stops on interactive maps, Save and reuse routes, Discover kid-friendly food options, Compare nearby cities at stops

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekender | $4.99 | one-time |
| Explorer | $12.99 | one-time |
| Adventurer | $39.99 | one-time |
| Road Warrior | $49.99 | one-time |


### Ski Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ski-planner/id6754906093)

Discover ski resorts with detailed information and map views. Plan your next trip based on vertical drop, pass compatibility, and location. Ideal for skiers and snowboarders looking for the best slopes.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of ski resorts listed, Map and list views, Pass compatibility (Epic, Ikon, Indy, etc.), Filter by vertical drop, North American focus, Trip planning assistance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartStops free?

SmartStops is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ski Planner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartStops or Ski Planner?

SmartStops and Ski Planner are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do SmartStops or Ski Planner have ads?

Neither SmartStops nor Ski Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartStops or Ski Planner?

SmartStops ships an update every 9 days, and Ski Planner every 3 months. Most recently, SmartStops was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ski Planner on October 9, 2026.

---

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