TAG vs ICS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TAG
This app transforms your phone into a responder identity for emergency situations. It generates QR codes for interoperability with emergency management software and allows users to join incidents, track positions, and access responder information.
- Create Quick Response Codes (QR Codes)
- Interoperability with Salamander emergency software
- Join incidents and submit responder records
- Real-time position updates for command operations
- Download responder information (rank, qualifications, medical)
- Form crews and teams
- Create identity without SalamanderLive account
Read full descriptionHide full description
TAG™ is designed to allow first responders and others to turn their phone into an identity. At an incident scene TAG™ may create a Quick Response Code (QR Code) which can be read into existing Salamander emergency management software ensuring interoperability at any incident employing Salamander Intelligent Accountability™ products nationwide. TAG™ users with a SalamanderLive account may electronically join an in progress incident or event submitting their responder record to the acting incident commander to begin accountability tracking. While joined to an incident, the device will post accurate position updates which may be displayed in SalamanderLive™ on a map assisting with command operations such as: task assignment, communication, search, directions, and overall operating picture. Please note continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Users with a SalamanderLive™ account will have the capability to download the following first responder information: rank/title, organization affiliation, National Incident Management System (NIMS) qualifications, and baseline medical information. Additionally, search and download other responder and equipment information as needed from SalamanderLive™ to form crews or teams. A SalamanderLive™ account is purchased separately and validates the responder information by providing a secure token to be downloaded into the smartphone. This ensures that the responder’s organization, rank, and qualifications are secure, current and up to date. TAG™ users without a SalamanderLive account may still create an identity from the following information: first name, last name, phone number and e-mail. The user can then collect the identities of other users to form a crew. The individual identity or the crew/team information can then be collected by other Salamander software applications for use at an incident. To learn more about this and the other great Salamander Intelligent Accountability™ incident management products please visit www.salamanderlive.com or call (877) 430-5171. For technical support call: (877) 430-5171
ICS
This application simplifies the creation and sharing of ICS-214 forms. It offers an intuitive workflow for adding details and activity entries, with offline capabilities for uninterrupted work. Users can pre-populate forms with default fields to save time during ongoing incidents.
- Friendly workflow for details and entries
- Offline authoring and editing
- Shareable ICS-214 form export
- Set default fields for pre-population
- Optimized for field use
Read full descriptionHide full description
An easy-to-use app to help prepare and share the ICS-214 form. Friendly workflow: Add details and activity entries using a friendly workflow optimized for field use. Work Offline: Designed to work completely offline for authoring and editing activity details even while off the grid. Share Official ICS-214: When connectivity is available, use the share option to export or send out a copy of the ICS-214 form. Set Default Fields: Use the "214 Default Fields" option in settings to set defaults that will pre-populate new ICS-214 forms upon creation. This will save time when working the same incident and/or with the same team for multiple operational periods. Coming next: Support for spreadsheet format, preview the form, edit filename, attach images & location, electronically sign PDFs, and more.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TAG at 5.0 against ICS's 4.2. TAG also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0.0). ICS's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
TAG holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ICS has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | TAG | ICS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.2 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 85.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 14.0.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OrangeHook, Inc. | Mike Comer |
Customer experience
TAG
ICS
In-app purchases
TAG
No in-app purchases
ICS
No in-app purchases








