# The Piper vs Smoothdrop

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smoothdrop at fortnightly against The Piper's every 5 weeks. Smoothdrop also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

The Piper ships an update every 5 weeks, Smoothdrop fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Piper | Smoothdrop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-piper/id6753019614/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 135 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THE PIPEY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842180675) | [Smoothdrop](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847339605) |

## What reviewers say

### The Piper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-piper/id6753019614)

This app offers a convenient way to navigate your local area for short trips and spontaneous outings. Discover nearby restaurants, events, and points of interest without needing a car. It's designed for relaxed, easy exploration at your own pace.

**Highlights:** Local navigation, Discover nearby places, Short trip planning, Spontaneous outings, Car-free exploration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smoothdrop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smoothdrop-request-a-ride/id6754243436)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Piper free?

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

### Is Smoothdrop free?

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

### Do The Piper or Smoothdrop have ads?

Neither The Piper nor Smoothdrop shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Piper or Smoothdrop?

The Piper ships an update every 5 weeks, and Smoothdrop fortnightly. Most recently, The Piper was updated on November 5, 2026 and Smoothdrop on October 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.*
