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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Smart Traveler vs Mobile Passport Control

Smart Traveler 4.6★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 30
Winner Mobile Passport Control
Mobile Passport Control 4.9★ · Free to download 75

Mobile Passport Control is the clear winner due to its high user satisfaction for expediting US entry, despite some inconsistencies, while Smart Traveler suffers from significant functionality issues and outdated information.

Full reviews: Smart Traveler · Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) generally provides a faster and easier re-entry experience into the US, though some users encounter closed lanes or airport-specific issues. Smart Traveler, while intended to provide crucial travel advisories and emergency assistance, is plagued by login problems, outdated information, and general app dysfunction.

Head to head

Features edge: Mobile Passport ControlR7R9R10R12
Smart Traveler Smart Traveler aims to provide travel advisories, embassy contact info, and the ability to register trips with the STEP program for safety R12. However, users report that key features like STEP login and account management often don't work R7R9R10.
Mobile Passport Control Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is designed to expedite US re-entry by allowing travelers to submit passport and customs declaration information via the app . Users appreciate its ability to save time at customs . Some users desire the ability to save traveler information for future trips without re-entering it .
Ease of Use edge: Mobile Passport ControlR4R6R7R10
Smart Traveler Many Smart Traveler users find the app difficult to use, citing issues with signing in, blank screens after login, and the app not being mobile-device friendly R4R7R10R13. Some also find it a hassle to add multiple countries as a guest R6.
Mobile Passport Control Mobile Passport Control is generally praised for being easy to use, simple, intuitive, and seamless . However, a few users found it confusing, complicated, or had difficulty with specific aspects like understanding declaration rules or reviewing entered information .
Reliability edge: Mobile Passport ControlR4R9R10R21
Smart Traveler Smart Traveler has significant reliability issues. Users frequently report that the app crashes, hangs, or fails to load information R4R9R10R21. The core STEP program is often non-functional within the app R9R32.
Mobile Passport Control Mobile Passport Control generally works well, but its reliability is heavily dependent on airport implementation and staffing. Many users report that MPC lanes are frequently closed or unstaffed at various airports, rendering the app useless for them R61R70R72R73. Some also experienced the app hanging or not transmitting data to officers .
Information Accuracy & Timeliness edge: Mobile Passport ControlR3R16R18R20
Smart Traveler A major concern for Smart Traveler users is the outdated and inaccurate information. Reviews mention travel advisories being months or years old R3R26R31R44. There are also reports of incorrect country information, such as Morocco linking to Macau China, or Austria linking to Australia R16, and some countries lacking information entirely R18R20R48.
Mobile Passport Control Mobile Passport Control's information accuracy is less about travel advisories and more about airport availability. Some users report the app listing an airport as available when it isn't or not listing an airport that should be available .
Price/Value edge: Mobile Passport ControlR1R13R47R48
Smart Traveler Both apps are free to download. For Smart Traveler, the value is diminished by its pervasive functionality issues and outdated information, making it less useful than intended R1R13R47R48.
Mobile Passport Control Mobile Passport Control is free and offers significant value to users by potentially saving time at customs . However, its value is entirely dependent on the availability of MPC lanes at the arrival airport, which is a frequent point of frustration R61R70R72R73.
Pick Smart Traveler if

You are looking for general travel information and contact details for US embassies, and are willing to tolerate significant app bugs and potentially outdated information R12.

Pick Mobile Passport Control if

You are a US citizen or eligible traveler looking to potentially expedite your re-entry into the United States and are willing to check if your arrival airport consistently staffs MPC lanes .

Evidence note: Reviews for Smart Traveler are overwhelmingly negative regarding functionality and information accuracy, despite its higher lifetime rating, indicating a significant decline in recent performance. Mobile Passport Control's reviews are generally positive about the app's function but frequently negative about airport implementation, which is outside the app's direct control.

Frequently asked

Does Smart Traveler provide up-to-date travel advisories?
No, many users report that Smart Traveler's advisories are often outdated, sometimes by months or even years, which can be dangerous for travelers R3R26R31R44.
Is the STEP program functional within the Smart Traveler app?
Many users report that the STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) function within the Smart Traveler app is not working, with issues like blank screens after login or inability to register R9R10R28R32.
Does Mobile Passport Control guarantee faster entry into the US?
While Mobile Passport Control is designed to expedite entry and many users report significant time savings, its effectiveness is inconsistent because MPC lanes are frequently closed or unstaffed at various airports R61R70R72R73.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R7] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Issue: Unable to login
  2. [R9] Smart Traveler 3/5 · US Step not working: The Step function in my Smart app is not loading properly after in put in the login info
  3. [R10] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: Nothing loads and when you sign in it don’t load any account. Since they updated it won’t work proper any more.fix step account login please you can’t login you can’t save login or stay signed in
  4. [R12] Smart Traveler 3/5 · US Smart Traveler: This app provides good information and contact info for DoS personnel in event of emergency. It would be much more useful if you could store family member info, regular hotels, ets and just select the info as needed.
  5. [R4] Smart Traveler 2/5 · US The app is not mobile device friendly: The app is not really mobile device friendly. When trying to sign in the app hangs up. You have to go to the website on a computer to enter your travel info correctly. They need to make this more user friendly
  6. [R6] Smart Traveler 3/5 · US Adding alerts as guest: It’s a hassle to add multiple countries. You have to do the whole thing every time.
  7. [R21] Smart Traveler 5/5 · US App Still Not Functioning: App allows me to sign in, but the page does not populate.
  8. [R3] Smart Traveler 3/5 · US Proceed with caution: This app was always a great resource when traveling. Unfortunately it no longer appears to be updated in a timely manner. I was looking to see what travel advisories were in place for a planned trip to Mexico in light of Feb 2026 unrest on the Pacific coast. The information was not current as the last update was August 2025.
  9. [R16] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Morocco is not in China: Trying to look up information for Morocco and it links to information for Macau China… good use of tax dollars.
  10. [R18] Smart Traveler 2/5 · US Some countries don’t have info: A few countries/areas lacked info and gave error messages when trying to open them. Some areas also didnt have travel ratings that should. Not including ratings on areas at war is a bit counterintuitive
  11. [R20] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US What happened?: Not all countries have information. Some countries have information about other countries. Please be professional and care about what used to be a great App. It is no longer Smart Traveler but more like Whatever, you will find out when you get there. We know nothing or we just won’t tell you.
  12. [R1] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US VERY BAD: Bad
  13. [R13] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Worst app ever: This has possibly got to be the dumbest and worst app invented by our incompetent government. So, to set up an account they send you an email to confirm. Once you click that link, you are taken back to the same page for account set up which then sends you another email and so on into perpetuity. So, much for MAGA and DOGE. Also, if you offend them with your password, they won’t all
  14. [R47] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Travel: This is the most difficult application I have ever used. It is not helpful at all.
  15. [R48] Smart Traveler 2/5 · US App is now deemed worthless: this app does not reflect the current state of affairs. Urgent travel restrictions have already been issued as per the state department listed here. The Smart Traveler app does not reflect this and the only country found to be a no travel consideration is Iran. This app and it’s developer should be considered liable for false information.. “Americans in Bahrain, Egyp
  16. [R26] Smart Traveler 2/5 · US Very old updates: I use STEP for international travel, but very odd & disappointing to see updates 2-4 years old
  17. [R31] Smart Traveler 5/5 · US I’m new here: I just installed the app and I can see that the latest update to warning traveling to Honduras was on 2023 that was a year ago, Gracias a Dios Departamento was too dangerous now a year later the entire country is unsafe
  18. [R44] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Out of date: This was last updated last year so is not helpful at all.
  19. [R28] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Does not work: Multiple attempts to register for STEP through the app failed. Once logged in the app just goes blank. Good job USG!
  20. [R32] Smart Traveler 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: Step doesn’t work
  21. [R61] Mobile Passport Control 1/5 · US No MPC line at LAX WTF!: No MPC line at LAX WTF!
  22. [R70] Mobile Passport Control 1/5 · US Great idea, poor execution: At Hartsfield-Jackson currently on a Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm and they tell me it is closed. So now I’m forced to wait in a long line after traveling 12 plus hours back to the states. What a waste of my time.
  23. [R72] Mobile Passport Control 3/5 · GB App works - but lanes never open: The principle is good but waste of time if wherever I go it's closed. Seems Americans are comfortable with a matter of fact "no, it's closed" without any apology or sympathy. Kinda pants!
  24. [R73] Mobile Passport Control 1/5 · US Lanes aren’t staffed, so what’s the value?!: I have not been able to use this service is Newark for years. I highly recommend saving your sanity and just pass this app by.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store