# AskRail vs DOT Chart 17

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AskRail at 58% against DOT Chart 17's 0%. AskRail also leads on rating (4.1 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (37 vs 3). DOT Chart 17's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

AskRail holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AskRail has 37 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of AskRail's written reviews are positive against 0% of DOT Chart 17's.

AskRail ships an update every 4 months, DOT Chart 17 every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on July 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AskRail | DOT Chart 17 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askrail/id1142325064/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-chart-17/id1245251292/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **58.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 44 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Association of American Railroads](https://appshunter.io/developer/1142325063) | [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration](https://appshunter.io/developer/954888820) |

## What reviewers say

### AskRail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/askrail/id1142325064)

This app provides hazardous materials safety information for first responders dealing with rail incidents. It allows authorized personnel to query railcar contents and offers critical data for emergency response. Access to advanced features requires verification and railroad sponsorship.

**Highlights:** Hazardous materials safety information, Rail incident support, Query railcar contents, Emergency response data, First responder tool

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### DOT Chart 17

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-chart-17/id1245251292)

Access a full-color display of hazardous materials markings, labels, and placards. This app provides quick visual information and regulatory citations for shippers and carriers. It serves as a general guidance tool for hazardous materials regulations.

**Highlights:** Full-color display of markings, labels, and placards, Access to Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) citations, Quick visual information for shippers and carriers, Mobile access to DOT Chart-17, Guidance on 49 CFR Parts 171-180

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AskRail free?

AskRail is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DOT Chart 17 free?

DOT Chart 17 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AskRail or DOT Chart 17?

AskRail is rated higher. AskRail averages 4.1 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while DOT Chart 17 averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do AskRail or DOT Chart 17 have ads?

Neither AskRail nor DOT Chart 17 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AskRail or DOT Chart 17?

AskRail ships an update every 4 months, and DOT Chart 17 every 10 months. Most recently, AskRail was updated on July 21, 2026 and DOT Chart 17 on September 10, 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.*