# Beacon vs InstAlert

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.

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

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Beacon | InstAlert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instalert-panic-button/id6757727008/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 6 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marija Gvozdenovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1244055478) | [Parker Toney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845003401) |

## What reviewers say

### Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-panic-button-and-sos/id1301300836)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### InstAlert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instalert-panic-button/id6757727008)

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:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*