Comparison

ArmME Security App vs Netstar Companion

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

Head to head
About

ArmME Security App

Control and monitor your home or business alarm system remotely. Arm, disarm, and receive alerts for triggered alarms. Manage gates, garage doors, lights, and other connected devices from anywhere.

Highlights
  • Remote arm/disarm/stay
  • Triggered alarm alerts
  • Gate/garage door control
  • Lights/sprinkler control
  • AC power status
  • Customizable area names
  • Event log access
Read full description

Monitor and control your alarm system from anywhere in the world when using a Rhino alarm panel or a Falcon communicator with selected third-party alarm panels. The ArmME app allows you to be in control and aware of whatever is happening at your home or business even when you’re not there. With the ArmME app, you are easily able to: - Arm, disarm or stay arm different areas of your home as set up by the technician - Receive alerts when the alarm is triggered and know where on your property the intrusion occurred - Check whether your alarm system is armed or not - Open or close your gate or garage door and switch your lights, sprinklers and pool pump on or off - See if there is AC power or not at your place - Identify the different areas or partitions of your home by uploading photos and customising area and zone names - Access a history of events via the event log - Bypass specific zones, when in use, to prevent triggering an alarm PLEASE NOTE: To access the above features and more you have to be using a Rhino 68, 816, 232 or 832 alarm panel or a Falcon communicator which is connected via the serial port to one of these third-party panels: - IDS X-Series & IDS805 - Texecom Premier 412, 816 & 832 - Paradox MG & SP series - DSC PowerSeries and PowerSeries Neo - Risco LightSYS 2 - Orisec ZP-10, 20, 40, & 100 - Hikvision AX Pro Terms & Conditions apply.

About

Netstar Companion

This app provides on-demand emergency response by dispatching the nearest armed responders or medical services to your location. It offers a nationwide network and features like shake-to-activate panic, location sharing, and emergency recording.

Highlights
  • On-demand emergency dispatch
  • Nationwide armed responder network
  • Shake-to-activate panic button
  • Real-time location sharing
  • Emergency audio/video recording
  • Family membership options
Features
Read full description

Netstar Companion is an on-demand emergency response service that dispatches the nearest Armed Response Officer or Emergency Medical Services to your location – whenever you tap the app on your smartphone.• Feel safe & supported for just R69p/m:With Netstar Companion, you have access to over 1500 armed responders nationwide.• No matter the emergency, we've got you:Whether you need armed response or medical assistance, just tap your app! • Quick & efficient response:The app automatically dispatches the closest responder to your phone's GPS location.• One family, one membership:Add additional family members to your account at a reduced fee.KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS • Mobile Response:Netstar Companion is not limited to a specific place. You can use it from home, at the office – anywhere, any time.• Autonomous Dispatch:Smart technology identifies the closest responder to your location and autonomously dispatches them.• Pinpoint Geo-located Incidents:The closest response vehicle is navigated to your exact GPS location, resulting in greater response accuracy.• Nationwide Response Network:We have partnered with the best response companies, to give you access to over 1500 armed responders, nationwide.• Rapid Response:The Netstar Companion Control Room will quickly call you on receiptof your panic.• Shake-to-Activate Mechanism:The emergency panic feature can also be activated by simply shaking your phone.• Emergency Messages:The app can send SMS messages with a link to your real-time location to 5 specified emergency contacts.• Emergency Recording:A 20-second audio/video recording is triggered on activation of a panic. The app automatically sends the file to the Netstar Companion server for safekeeping. This can be used as evidence in future legal action.HOW DOES IT WORK• Tap Your App for Help:When in an emergency, simply open the Netstar Companion app and tap the ‘activate now’ button.• Closest Responder Activated and User Contacted:The alert is autonomously distributed to the 5 closest response vehicles to your location and the control room attempts to contact you to gather information. If the control room is unable to make contact with you, the responder will still arrive at your location.• GPS Navigation:The accepting response vehicle is navigated via the responder device, directly to the incident location through built in GPS and accurate tracking.• Instant Client Profile:Client identity and other key information are automatically shared with the dispatched response vehicle and the control centre.• Control Room Back-Up:The control centre oversees all activations and can support in dispatching additional resources if required. e.g. SAPS and EMS.HOW TO SIGN UP1. Subscribe to Netstar Companion at www.netstar.co.za/companion2. Download the Netstar Companion app from your app store.3. Complete the registration process in the app, using the same cellphone number as entered during the online subscription process.For more information about this service, please visit www.netstar.co.za/companion, email companion@netstar.co.za or phone 010 822 9288.

Screenshots

ArmME Security App4 screens
Netstar Companion4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Netstar Companion at none against ArmME Security App's shown. Netstar Companion also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). ArmME Security App's advantage is review sentiment (24% vs 14%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ArmME Security App ships an update every 5 weeks, Netstar Companion every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 27, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ArmME Security App versus Netstar Companion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArmME Security AppNetstar Companion
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (50 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews24.1% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings50 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmecor (Pty) LtdNETSTAR (PTY) LTD

Customer experience

ArmME Security App

All ratings50 ratings
Positive78.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive24.1%
Neutral19.0%
Negative56.9%

Netstar Companion

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%

In-app purchases

None

ArmME Security App

No in-app purchases

None

Netstar Companion

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ArmME Security App free?
ArmME Security App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Netstar Companion free?
Netstar Companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ArmME Security App or Netstar Companion have ads?
ArmME Security App shows ads; Netstar Companion does not.
Which is updated more often, ArmME Security App or Netstar Companion?
ArmME Security App ships an update every 5 weeks, and Netstar Companion every 3 weeks. Most recently, ArmME Security App was updated on July 27, 2026 and Netstar Companion on September 2, 2026.

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