# Dial vs JoinDispatch

The clearest difference is rating: JoinDispatch at 4.2 against Dial's 3.3. JoinDispatch also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (898 vs 23). Dial's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dial sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and JoinDispatch sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

JoinDispatch holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JoinDispatch has 898 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Dial's written reviews are positive against 60% of JoinDispatch's.

Dial ships an update every 4 months, JoinDispatch weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dial | JoinDispatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dial-911-simulator/id1125820665/reviews) | **[4.2 (898 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joindispatch/id1161946025/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **898** |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | **59.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 109 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Shelton](https://appshunter.io/developer/1776007412) | [Kyle McCullough](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161946024) |

## What reviewers say

### Dial

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dial-911-simulator/id1125820665)

Experience the role of a 911 dispatcher, responding to emergencies by dispatching the correct emergency vehicles. Upgrade your station, recruit more staff, and acquire new vehicles to tackle increasingly challenging missions and grow your player level.

**Highlights:** Simulate 911 dispatcher role, Dispatch emergency vehicles, Upgrade station and buildings, Recruit more staff, Acquire new vehicles, Earn money and experience

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| double missions for 1h | $0.99 | one-time |
| double mission, experience and coin for 1h | $1.99 | one-time |
| 100 notes | $1.99 | one-time |
| double mission, experience and coin for 3h | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 notes | $7.99 | one-time |
| double mission, experience and coin for 24h | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1000 notes | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2500 notes | $34.99 | one-time |
| 5000 notes | $59.99 | one-time |
| 10000 notes | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun
- 🚒 Realistic emergency response simulation
- 👍 Great for first responder enthusiasts
- 🌐 Ability to choose any location

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- ⏱️ Slow progression and long wait times
- 🤖 Lack of clear instructions and tutorials
- 🗺️ Unrealistic map and vehicle speeds

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to start missions or receive calls
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Map not loading properly or zooming incorrectly
- In-app purchases not working as intended

**Requested features**

- Customizable response radius and station locations
- Ability to assign personnel to specific vehicles
- More varied call types and emergency scenarios
- Faster vehicle speeds and response times
- Improved alliance and multiplayer functionality


### JoinDispatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/joindispatch/id1161946025)

Experience the thrill of managing emergency dispatches in a text-based adventure. Make critical decisions, earn stars, and unlock new opportunities as a Citizen Responder. Navigate limited resources and even rewind time to correct mistakes.

**Highlights:** Achieve 5-Star rating, Earn skills and unlock opportunities, Resource management, Rewind time function, Choice-driven narrative, Simplified decisions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shift One - Remove Ads | Free | one-time |
| Shift Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Pass | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Interesting story and gameplay
- 🤖 Unique text-based adventure concept
- 👍 Immersive atmosphere and mystery
- 💎 Compelling narrative and 4th wall breaks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall after initial tutorial
- 🐛 Bugs, glitches, and inconsistencies
- ⏱️ Short first episode/shift
- 🕰️ Long wait times for new content

**Reported bugs**

- Calls getting stuck on hold
- Skills disappearing or not working as expected
- Repeated resets of progress
- Unresponsive UI and black screens

**Requested features**

- More episodes/shifts to continue the story
- Ability to replay past calls/choices
- Clearer progression and skill system
- Offline mode or reduced battery drain


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dial free?

Dial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is JoinDispatch free?

JoinDispatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dial or JoinDispatch?

JoinDispatch is rated higher. Dial averages 3.3 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while JoinDispatch averages 4.2 from 898 ratings.

### Do Dial or JoinDispatch have ads?

Neither Dial nor JoinDispatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dial or JoinDispatch?

Dial ships an update every 4 months, and JoinDispatch weekly. Most recently, Dial was updated on October 1, 2026 and JoinDispatch on September 29, 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.*