Comparison

Speedometer Simple vs Drive Smarter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Speedometer Simple

This app uses your phone's GPS to display your current speed accurately. It supports multiple units, shows traveled distance, and offers optional city names and a compass. You can also record trip statistics like maximum speed and distance.

Highlights
  • Accurate GPS speed tracking
  • MPH, KM/H, and knots support
  • Displays traveled distance
  • Optional city name and compass
  • Records trip statistics
  • Customizable interface colors
Features
Read full description

Speedometer Simple is a simple speedometer that is very easy to use. This app uses phone's GPS to accurately determine your speed. Speedometer has large fonts and supports mph, km/h, and knots speed display. Optionally, city name and a compass can be shows on the screen. The app also shows the traveled distance. Average and maximum speed is displayed in an optional screen as well. Interface color can be set one of many pre-selected colors. Speedometer app can record the speed during your trips and provide post-trip statistics like maximum speed, traveled distance etc. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://bit.ly/speedometer_privacy

About

Drive Smarter

This app acts as a companion to compatible connected dashcams, allowing you to manage recordings, share clips, and access emergency features. It offers streamlined reporting for insurance and firmware updates for your devices.

Highlights
  • Manage dashcam recordings
  • Download and trim video clips
  • Share recordings with contacts
  • Insurance claim reporting
  • Mayday emergency services
  • Remote snapshot photos
  • Device firmware updates
Features
Read full description

Drive Smarter enhances your driving experience when you are using select* connected Cobra and Escort devices. Drive Smarter lets you use your smartphone as a companion to your DashCam. A streamlined onboarding process lets you quickly connect your Dash Cam and configure it as part of your dashboard. You can "add" a virtual vehicle to your account, then add compatible* Cobra and Escort branded devices to your vehicle. Users with mobile WiFi hotspots** can optionally connect their cameras directly to the Drive Smarter cloud, to avail of instant upload of videos and to share time-sensitive data and event information. View recordings stored on your Dash Camera SD card; recordings are conveniently sorted by timeline which highlights events of importance; such as possible collisions or impact. Select files to download to your phone; trim video clips and share with your contacts using your favorite communications app. Take advantage of streamlined reports generated for insurance claims processing. Get help using the in-built Mayday services that are automatically triggered in severe collisions - send details regarding your current situation to a designed in-case-of-emergency contact. Keep your devices' firmware up-to-date so you are enjoying all the latest features that your devices' have to offer. Emergency videos stored in the Drive Smarter cloud. *** Convenient Snapshot button lets you remotely take photos via connected cameras, with a tap on your smartphone screen. currently the Drive Smarter app and service is compatible with the Cobra SC- series Dash Cameras. Check out drivesmarter.com for up-to-date information. * should have upload / download speeds equal to or exceeding 4G / Cat 4 speeds ** See drivesmarter.com for latest storage / deletion policies for free user accounts on the Drive Smarter cloud. Terms of service: https://drivesmarter.com/eula/ Privacy policy: https://drivesmarter.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Speedometer Simple4 screens
Drive Smarter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Drive Smarter at none against Speedometer Simple's shown. Speedometer Simple's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 24%) and ratings volume (131K vs 22K). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Speedometer Simple sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Drive Smarter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Speedometer Simple against 4.8 for Drive Smarter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Speedometer Simple has 131K ratings behind it against 22K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Speedometer Simple's written reviews are positive against 24% of Drive Smarter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Speedometer Simple ships an update fortnightly, Drive Smarter every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Speedometer Simple versus Drive Smarter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeedometer SimpleDrive Smarter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (131K ratings)4.8 (22K ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.5% of reviews — better23.9% of reviews
Number of ratings131K — better22K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#24 — better#103
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB761 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWATT APPSCEDAR ELECTRONICS HOLDINGS CORP.

Customer experience

Speedometer Simple

All ratings128,842 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews1,109 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative36.2%

Drive Smarter

All ratings21,971 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews444 reviews
Positive23.9%
Neutral12.4%
Negative63.7%

User reviews

Speedometer Simple

From 131K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Accurate speedometer
  • 🚀 Helpful for vehicles without built-in speedometers
  • 💡 Useful for tracking mileage and maintenance
  • 👍 Clean and simple interface
  • 👍 Customizable color schemes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional GPS signal issues
  • 🐛 Inconsistent data synchronization
  • 🐛 Inaccurate location/city information
  • 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
  • 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data usage

Drive Smarter

From 22K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Loyal customer
  • 👍 Good app
  • 👍 Straight forward
  • 👍 Works well when it works
  • 👍 Consistent updates have really made the experience so much smoother

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connection troubles while using CarPlay
  • 🐛 Has bugs and flaws to fix immediately
  • 🐛 Useless map in apple CarPlay
  • 🐛 FAILS CONSTANTLY
  • 🐛 Very slow ands buggish

Bugs and requests

Speedometer Simple

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Speed not displayed when screen is locked or app is in background
  • Occasional crashes and freezes
  • Inaccurate speed readings at times

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add full-screen map option
  • Implement a 'pause' feature for recordings
  • Allow customization of fonts and colors
  • Integrate speed camera and red light detection
  • Provide a widget and Apple Watch companion

Drive Smarter

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Spotty WiFi connection
  • Inconsistent speed limit display
  • Inability to connect to detector
  • Frequent disconnects from detector
  • Difficulty configuring WiFi hotspot
Show 9 more
  • Repeated alerts for single detect event
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Map not updating vehicle position
  • Impossible to delete emergency video file
  • Time not displaying correctly
  • Unable to download gallery videos
  • Firmware update not working
  • Camera shutting down unexpectedly
  • Inability to access recorded videos

Requested features

9 requests
  • Improve navigation app
  • Ability to launch app from CarPlay screen
  • Ability to send directions to app from other apps
  • Option to orient map in direction of travel
  • Ability to delete multiple videos at once
Show 4 more
  • Persistent sound settings
  • Longer verify alert toast message
  • Ability to see speed limits in metric units
  • Ability to connect to multiple WiFi hotspots

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Speedometer Simple

Subscriptions4
  • Speedometer Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Speedometer Premium$4.997 Days
  • Speedometer Premium$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Speedometer Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$9.99
2 purchases

Drive Smarter

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly Subscription1 Month trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Speedometer Simple free?
Speedometer Simple is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Drive Smarter free?
Drive Smarter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Speedometer Simple or Drive Smarter?
Drive Smarter is rated higher. Speedometer Simple averages 4.7 out of 5 from 131K ratings, while Drive Smarter averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.
Do Speedometer Simple or Drive Smarter have ads?
Speedometer Simple shows ads; Drive Smarter does not.
Which is updated more often, Speedometer Simple or Drive Smarter?
Speedometer Simple ships an update fortnightly, and Drive Smarter every 2 weeks. Most recently, Speedometer Simple was updated on October 21, 2026 and Drive Smarter on October 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Speedometer Simple or Drive Smarter?
Speedometer Simple currently peaks at #24 in the App Store charts, and Drive Smarter at #103. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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