AskRail vs Decon Field Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AskRail
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.
- Hazardous materials safety information
- Rail incident support
- Query railcar contents
- Emergency response data
- First responder tool
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The AskRail app is a hazardous materials safety tool for first responders who are first on scene or directly support the first on scene in the event of a rail incident. Access to certain features, including the ability to query railcar contents based on an equipment number, is restricted to authorized personnel. To obtain authorization to use the restricted features, you must assert that you are a first responder, provide information about your emergency response agency, and identify a supervisor who can attest to your first responder duties. You also must obtain sponsorship from a Class I railroad. This process may take up to several weeks. AskRail is a collaborative effort among all North American Class I railroads, the Association of American Railroads, Railinc Corp., and the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. For more information about AskRail please visit: www.askrail.us.
Decon Field Guide
This reference app provides quick and efficient decontamination methods for hundreds of threats. It features a classic Threat Index, pictorial instructions, and an in-app dwell timer to guide users through mission execution. Designed for approved users, it aims to make anyone an instant decontamination expert.
- Threat Index for decontamination methods
- Pictorial instructions
- In-app dwell timer
- Covers hundreds of threats
- Designed for approved users
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Imagine decontamination in the palm of your hand. Introducing the all-new, redesigned Decon Field Guide. Using the same classic Threat Index, quickly and efficiently determine proper decontamination methods for hundreds of known and emerging threats and execute your mission flawlessly utilizing pictorial instructions and in-app dwell timer. Become an instant decontamination expert with the Decon Field Guide. Only available for approved users. Download now.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: AskRail at 58% against Decon Field Guide's 0%. AskRail also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Decon Field Guide's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.1). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Decon Field Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of AskRail's written reviews are positive against 0% of Decon Field Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
AskRail ships an update every 4 months, Decon Field Guide every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 21, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AskRail | Decon Field Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (37 ratings) | 4.6 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Association of American Railroads | First Line Technology, LLC |
Customer experience
AskRail
Decon Field Guide
In-app purchases
AskRail
No in-app purchases
Decon Field Guide
No in-app purchases








