# BackcountrySOS vs START On

BackcountrySOS and START On both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of START On's written reviews are positive against 43% of BackcountrySOS's. START On also leads on ratings volume (106 vs 19). BackcountrySOS's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 22 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for BackcountrySOS against 4.6 for START On. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: START On has 106 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of BackcountrySOS's written reviews are positive against 72% of START On's.

BackcountrySOS ships an update every 5 months, START On every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BackcountrySOS | START On |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backcountrysos/id1435916178/reviews) | **[4.6 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-on-demand/id1594026146/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **106** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **72.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 22 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435916177) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## What reviewers say

### BackcountrySOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backcountrysos/id1435916178)

This app helps you quickly send your location and status to emergency services if an accident occurs. It's designed for low power usage, high visibility in various lighting conditions, and requires no setup. It functions even with minimal cell signal, making it reliable in remote areas.

**Highlights:** Quick SOS messaging, Low power GPS usage, High contrast display, No account setup required, Works with minimal cell signal, Private data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### START On

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-on-demand/id1594026146)

Request on-demand rides within a specific service area with ease. This complimentary service connects you from point A to point B quickly and conveniently through a mobile application.

**Highlights:** On-demand ride requests, Point-to-point transportation, Complimentary service, Easy app booking

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BackcountrySOS free?

BackcountrySOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is START On free?

START On is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BackcountrySOS or START On?

START On is rated higher. BackcountrySOS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while START On averages 4.6 from 106 ratings.

### Do BackcountrySOS or START On have ads?

Neither BackcountrySOS nor START On shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BackcountrySOS or START On?

BackcountrySOS ships an update every 5 months, and START On every 22 months. Most recently, BackcountrySOS was updated on November 2, 2026 and START On on November 5, 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.*