# Sentinel — user reviews > 41 indexed App Store user reviews of Sentinel by Reference Point Limited. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentinel/id662867082/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentinel/id662867082.md ## Newest reviews (17 of 41) ### 1/5 — Qr code reader *2018-10-23, version 3.0.79* Trying to scan barcode on sentinel, when I click on qr code reader button it just comes up with a blank screen. Deleted and reinstalled still the same problem ### 2/5 — LTE CHIP *2018-07-31, version 3.0.79* This app could be so much better😡 Upgrade to LTE/Chip and pin card touches your phone and the details are there easier signing in more locations and reminders/notifications when to sign out ### 1/5 — App crashes with any input *2018-06-11, version 3.0.79* I can’t see any of the features in the app as it crashes whenever you click on anything ### 1/5 — Scrap it *2018-04-10, version 3.0.79* By the time you access this AP the shifts Finished. I bet the people who designed This unworkable AP made a lot of money it Could be made a lot simpler and easy to Use to most people on the rail it’s not Worth the data used to access it sorry Thumbs down from me ### 1/5 — Good Idea but not practical *2018-02-20, version 3.0.79* There are hardly any locations that you can swipe into. ### 1/5 — Poor App *2017-03-23, version 3.0.67* Absolutely abysmal since the update. Needs a notification reminder to remind you to log off your shift. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2017-02-25, version 3.0.67* Now I'm sure this app is perfect in a lovely quiet office with a super speedy wireless connection. Where there are no distractions and you have all the time in the world to use this. In reality if you get 3G in some places your lucky,as an Es you check all the cards from strapman to cosses. All the while being constantly on the phone and making sure everyone knows where they are going. How we are supposed to use this long winded dogs dinner of an app to sign untold people in quickly at the start of a possession beats me. Unless of course we all start 8 hours early. Please go back to your perfect testing environment and come up with a sensible, easier quicker to use version that the average railway worker can use. Or bin it completely ### 1/5 — Awful so many issues. *2017-02-11, version 3.0.67* As someone who goes out as a COSS a lot, and who has the displeasure of having to TRY and use this app on a regular basis, please listen to me when I say, either make it work or just go back to the original version where you only have to check that your persons are competent. The amount of times that I click finish work for the day, and then the next day/shift go to swipe myself and or the same persons as last shift in, and it says that I didn't swipe out last time is unreal?! And means I end up not being able to swipe myself or anyone else in no matter what I do all because of the issues of your app?!?! Please fix it asap or get rid? ### 1/5 — Poor system *2017-01-01, version 3.0.67* From a regular Coss opinion I think this new app is just waste of money and man hours. Line managers should swipe lads in when booking them on shifts that way no Coss/lads can manipulate or do double shift. It wastes upto half an hour man hours on track for the Coss to input so much info, swipe lads in and then give authority to start plus runs down phone battery. COSSs' should only be made to check competencies, validity and also checked the lads have been assigned for the shifts which as been swiped in by the line manager. ### 1/5 — Not fit for purpose *2016-12-08, version 3.0.67* What a struggle , this is supposed to be mandatory but It's cringingly poor and I can't get my head round it . 45 minutes to scan a 5 man team in errrr what's wrong with let's have a look at your card ? Are you competent? Let's go ! Given 1 star because it won't go lower!!!!😂😂😂👊👊👊 ### 1/5 — Awful update *2016-11-29, version 3.0.67* New update made this completely useless ### 1/5 — Everything looks zoomed *2016-11-26, version 3.0.67* Everything works perfectly fine and never had any issues but I only one reason I'm rating this app 1 star because the app is not optimised for the plus size 5.5' screen. I mean everything looks zoomed and not compatible... it's been 3 years in a row apple launched big phones please optimise so everything looks normal... regards ### 1/5 — What a joke *2016-11-16, version 3.0.67* Unusable app. DONT UPDATE YOUR APP. Bring back the old app. ### 2/5 — Needs finishing *2016-10-15, version 3.0.67* Station locations only go up to N, no good when working at Sunderland! The app seems very clunky and designed to work with a limited type of people. With a bit of work I'm sure this can be a useful tool for the railway. ### 1/5 — Remove this from the App Store! *2016-10-10, version 3.0.67* As far as useless updates go, this tops them all. Well done for spoiling a perfectly good app. Can't give zero stars, so begrudgingly here's one. Not impressed. ### 1/5 — Awful *2016-10-09, version 3.0.67* The last version was merely basic but at least it let you swipe your workforce in. Locations of where you are working must be just Network Rail orientated. Terrible version of the app!! ### 1/5 — Less than useless *2016-10-09, version 3.0.67* Less than useless if u r needing to swipe in when working in the middle of nowhere Could do with a mileage input option ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Disappointed with railway heads *2024-09-19, version 3.4.3* How this was ever a better idea than having the correct details on the cards? Works-ish. Seems to be more an idea of trying to incorporate technology for technologies sake, I’m sure it was a good sound bite in a meeting but it makes no improvement to safety on the railway. ### 1/5 — Awful app *2024-05-08, version 3.4.2* This is up there with the worst. It’s not user friendly, hard to navigate, but most of all, never works. There’s never any instruction that it’s been updated - just delete, reinstall and hope it works. Well today, it just doesn’t want to know. I can log in, but it displays no competences at all - just my name, card number and a blank screen. I’ve tried reinstalling, I’ve tried on two different phones. I’ve downloaded the Vircarda app for the virtual card and guess what? - That doesn’t work either. I’m fed up of having to put up with apps that no one seems to care about when they don’t work properly - but preach constantly that staff need to sign in and check cards. How? Sort this terrible system out PLEASE. ### 1/5 — Needs updating *2023-02-22, version 3.2.0* I cannot locate stations access gates nothing just comes up either trackside or none trackside or location not found ### 1/5 — Sentinel App *2022-10-28, version 3.0.91* The app is basically a great idea, it works great when connected to Wi-Fi. However when using mobile data, the app is either painfully slow or will not open. If the use of this app is to be mandated by Network Rail, then it should work. ### 1/5 — Record competence *2021-10-24, version 3.0.90* Crashes every time you go to record competency ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2021-03-16, version 3.0.85* For a so-called essential system this is useless. After taking 5 attempts to install it (3 of which didn’t actually work) the app freezes on the heartbeat screen. ### 1/5 — sentinel *2020-12-25, version 3.0.84* the app doesn’t work, to swipe the last person swiped in out comes up deny or allow keeps happening, deleting the app doesn’t work, now can’t get the app back, open in downloading the app keeps coming up deny or allow, after doing a full shift, lets fix this asap, going on for over a year, now can’t get the app ### 1/5 — App not working on IPhone se 20/20 *2020-10-12, version 3.0.84* Download new update to new iPhone SE can not choose locations to start work as nothing listed, I can tick location but it is completely blank so have no way of nowing what I have clicked. ### 1/5 — Ugh *2020-02-15, version 3.0.82* It’s bad enough that the app is terrible. What’s worse is that I have no other option but to use it. It has clearly been designed by people in an office and not by anyone who ever goes trackside. Also, instigated by people in your company who also work in an office and don’t ever go trackside. How about actually asking the people who’ll use it for some ideas? Mitie have no interest in fixing this terrible program. ### 1/5 — The ghost of Crow *2018-11-02, version 3.0.80* Typical NR, come up with a time consuming pain of an idea, no management has the spine to say ‘its crap’ and insist we make it work! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — ok *2014-11-03, version 1.03* ok ### 5/5 — I need a pony *2013-11-01, version 1.03* Just thought I'd be the first to write something here :) ### 5/5 — Sentinal Scanner *2013-10-31, version 1.03* Seem to work great. ### 4/5 — Latest change for the worse *2021-02-27, version 3.0.85* Latest update removed the auto camera flash lighting up when scanning Sentinel card, which is a step back. ### 3/5 — does the job... i guess *2015-07-21, version 1.03* but aesthetically looks terrible. ### 3/5 — NFC *2015-02-20, version 1.03* It now very much needs NFC support. Get it sorted lads ### 3/5 — Useful but needs work *2014-03-21, version 1.03* The app is a useful one and serves a specific purpose. However just because it is performing a specific task and is the only app capable of this function is no excuse for an extremely poor interface and use of legacy iOS interface. The implementation of the camera and QR scanning is in desperate need of attention also. ### 3/5 — Ok *2013-10-14, version 1.03* Great providing you have internet connection ### 2/5 — Great Idea, badly executed *2021-10-11, version 3.0.90* The app itself is a great idea for checking and recording competence use. Biggest issue is the lack of up to date locations. There are only a handful of project sites, NR DU’s and stations meaning you often have to swipe in at a location miles fro. Where you are. Simple fix either use GPS and link to the track locator app for accurate locations or upload all the access information from the Hazard Directory. ### 2/5 — Needs updated for larger screen sizes, and better location options *2018-10-22, version 3.0.79* Looks awful on iPhone Xs Max (and on 7+ before that), please update for the bigger screen sizes!! Also needs better location options, I spend longer trying to find a suitable location than anything else. Could you use the phones GPS location to help? --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-08.*