Comparison

Beacon vs InstAlert

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

Head to head
About

Beacon

Features
Read full description

When a moment turns scary, one tap sends an SOS. Beacon alerts your trusted circle with your live location, gets you to a call fast, and can even fake an incoming call to help you slip away — plus a check-in timer so someone always knows you got there. Beacon is your quiet safety net — simple enough to reach for in a rush, private enough to trust completely. PANIC ALERT Hold to arm, then one tap prepares an SOS with your live tracking link for your trusted circle. One more tap sends. One more tap calls. A built-in Fake Call helps you step away from an uncomfortable situation without alerting anyone around you. LIVE LOCATION SHARE Send a private tracking link and let your trusted contact watch your dot move in real time. They open a link — no app needed on their end, no account, nothing to install. Sharing stops the moment you say you're safe. Nothing is ever stored. WATCH ME CHECK-IN Set a timer before you head out — a night walk, a first date, a rideshare home, a solo hike. Check in with one tap when you arrive. If you don't, Beacon gets your last known location ready to send to the people you chose. YOUR TRUSTED CIRCLE Add up to 5 contacts. They need no account and no app — they just get a text. You choose who hears about a Panic, a Watch Me, or both. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account. No sign-up, ever. • No analytics, no ads, no tracking. • Your circle and settings live only on your device — visible to you, erasable any time. • Live location passes through an ephemeral relay and is never written to disk, never logged, gone the moment you stop. HONEST ABOUT HOW IT WORKS Beacon is a safety net, not a replacement for emergency services. In a real emergency, call your local emergency number first. iOS always asks you to tap Send — Beacon cannot text silently, by design. Personal safety since 2017 — years before iPhone added Check In. Still free. Still no account. ROIDS software — indie-built, privacy-first.

About

InstAlert

Instantly send safety alerts to your trusted contacts with a single tap. This app provides a quick and reliable way to notify family or colleagues during urgent situations, ensuring help is on the way.

Highlights
  • One-tap alert sending
  • Customizable contact groups
  • Real-time location sharing
  • Reliable alert delivery
  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • Privacy and security focused
Features
Read full description

InstAlert helps you reach the people who matter most—fast. Whether it’s your family at home or your team at work, InstAlert gives you a simple way to send an immediate alert when something isn’t right. One tap notifies your trusted group and shares key details so they can respond right away. For families, it means knowing your kids, parents, or loved ones can reach you instantly. For workplaces, it adds an extra layer of safety—keeping employees connected and informed during unexpected situations. InstAlert is built to be quick, reliable, and easy to use. There’s no learning curve, no extra steps—just a direct way to call for help when it counts. Alerts are delivered even if the app isn’t open, so you can trust it to work when you need it most. You can create and manage groups, coordinate with teams, and stay connected without clutter or confusion. Everything is designed to keep communication clear in urgent moments. Your privacy and security are always a priority, so your information stays protected. InstAlert is for anyone who wants peace of mind—at home, at work, or anywhere in between.

Screenshots

Beacon4 screens
InstAlert4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Beacon at 16.0 against InstAlert's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Beacon ships an update monthly, InstAlert every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Beacon versus InstAlert: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeaconInstAlert
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarija GvozdenovicParker Toney

In-app purchases

None

Beacon

No in-app purchases

None

InstAlert

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Beacon free?
Beacon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is InstAlert free?
InstAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Beacon or InstAlert have ads?
Neither Beacon nor InstAlert shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Beacon or InstAlert?
Beacon ships an update monthly, and InstAlert every 3 weeks. Most recently, Beacon was updated on October 8, 2026 and InstAlert on October 3, 2026.

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