UseIRIS vs BEACON Field
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UseIRIS
This app enables administrators to send mass notifications via text, voice, or recorded alerts. Recipients can view and listen to recent messages and respond to emergency alerts if the 'needs assistance' feature is enabled.
- Broadcast messages via text, voice, or recorded alerts
- Deliver messages via SMS, phone calls, and email
- View alert delivery reports
- Access last ten received alerts
- Respond to emergency alerts with assistance status
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The UseIRIS App is a turbo companion to the online IRIS mass notification messaging system. Administrators: The App allows system and group administrators to quickly broadcast messages via the IRIS system. The Message admins have the ability to quickly broadcast messages via Text-to-Speech, voice recorded alert or saved alert methods. These messages will then be delivered to the groups via SMS text, phone calls and email, or combinations thereof. Upon sending an alert, admins can quickly view a report summary to see how many alerts have been delivered so far. End Users/Recipients: This App allows users to view and listen to the last ten alerts/messages they have received. If the "needs assistance" feature is activated, it also allows the users to reply to messages, whether or not she or he needs assistance due to an emergency alert.
BEACON Field
This utility app provides field technicians with mobile access to critical AMI data. It allows for instant viewing and updating of meter information, capturing site photos, performing final reads, and identifying on-site exceptions for faster resolution.
- View and update AMI data
- Capture and upload images
- Perform final reads
- Identify on-site exceptions
- Real-time data access
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BEACON Field empowers utility teams with on-the-go access to critical AMI data from BEACON SaaS on an intuitive mobile application. Built for efficiency and accuracy, the app streamlines daily operations by giving technicians the ability to: • View and Update AMI Data Instantly – Access meter and consumption data in real time, right from the field. Update location and field details for services that can be then accessed by the BEACON web portal. • Capture & Upload Images – Document site conditions with photo uploads for accurate records. • Perform Final Reads – Quickly grab reliable final reads to support service transfers and billing accuracy. • Identify Exceptions On-Site – See flagged exceptions immediately, enabling faster resolution and improved customer service. Access requires BEACON SaaS user credentials and license.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BEACON Field at 5.0 against UseIRIS's 3.8. BEACON Field also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 24 months). UseIRIS's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BEACON Field holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 5 respectively.
UseIRIS ships an update every 24 months, BEACON Field every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | UseIRIS | BEACON Field |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.3 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 192 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Techradium, Inc. | Badger Meter, Inc. |
Customer experience
UseIRIS
BEACON Field
In-app purchases
UseIRIS
No in-app purchases
BEACON Field
No in-app purchases









