Comparison

PetScanner vs Full Alert

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

Head to head
About

PetScanner

This app facilitates pet microchip registration and identification for owners and professionals. It helps reunite lost pets quickly by scanning microchips and providing contact information for registered pets. It also guides users on next steps for unregistered or externally registered pets.

Highlights
  • Microchip registration
  • Contact detail updates
  • Smart microchip scanner pairing
  • FDX-B microchip reading
  • Lost pet reunification support
  • Database identification
Features
Read full description

PetScanner is built to support both pet keepers and professionals, including vets, rescues and local authorities, we combine registration and scanning in one system. This helps reduce delays in identifying pets and increases the likelihood of a safe and quick reunion. As a DEFRA-compliant microchip database, we allow keepers to securely register their pet’s microchip details for a small fee. Registration includes unlimited contact detail updates for life and optional subscription benefits giving you exclusive perks on top of your DEFRA registration. Alongside registration, the PetScanner app pairs with the PetScanner smart microchip scanner to provide fast and effective identification of microchipped animals. The scanner reads FDX-B (15-digit) microchips in dogs, cats and other animals, instantly displaying the unique microchip number within the app. Please note, a PetScanner smart microchip scanner is required to scan your pet – you cannot scan the microchip with your smartphone alone. When a pet is scanned, PetScanner guides you through the next steps based on the microchip’s registration status. If the microchip is registered with PetScanner, the keeper’s contact details will be displayed, making it easy to get in touch. If the microchip is registered with another database, PetScanner will identify the relevant database and provide the appropriate contact information. If no registration is found, the chip number is still shown, allowing the pet to be identified and registered if needed. EULA: https://www.petscanner.com/index.php/end-user-license-agreement Privacy Policy: https://www.petscanner.com/index.php/privacy-policy

About

Full Alert

This app provides a live safety map for families, pets, and assets. It allows users to create circles for loved ones and items, receive geofence alerts, and send SOS notifications. Features include trip history, pet and asset tracking, and household coordination tools.

Highlights
  • Live safety map
  • Geofence alerts
  • SOS notifications
  • Trip history and playback
  • Pet and asset tracking
  • Circle chat for coordination
Features
Read full description

Full Alert helps families, pets, vehicles, and valuables stay connected on one live safety map. Create a circle for the people and things you care about. See live locations, get geofence alerts when someone arrives or leaves a place, review trip history, and send SOS notifications to your circle when help is needed. ONE APP FOR YOUR WHOLE HOUSEHOLD • Live map with circle members, pets, and tracked items • Invite family by link, code, SMS, or WhatsApp • Ghost Mode and location sharing controls in Profile • Safety Dashboard with recent trips and alerts SAFETY & ALERTS • SOS: hold to send a loud or silent alert to your active circle • Geofence alerts for saved places • Alert feed for SOS, geofences, and safety events • Circle chat for quick coordination TRIPS & MOVEMENT • Automatic trip detection when you drive or travel • Trip history with distance and duration • GPS route playback on Silver and Gold (Free includes a preview) • Safe Driving Guide in the app PETS & ASSETS • Add pets and items to your circle • Link supported trackers where available • Recovery last-seen reporting for missing pet or item searches • Activity insights on pet and item profiles PLANS FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD Free Protect what matters most with live family safety. - Up to 3 people and 2 circles - Up to 2 places and 5 pets/items - 1-day history; blurred routes with one clear teaser - Live map, SOS, and geofence alerts Silver Run a full household with history and more places. - Up to 10 people and 5 circles - Up to 10 places and 15 pets/items - 90-day history and full GPS route playback - Household trip stats and 30-day dashboard Gold Larger households and a full year of history. - Up to 25 people and 15 circles - Up to 25 places and 50 pets/items - 365-day history - Driving and household intelligence (rolling out) Subscriptions are optional. Manage or cancel anytime in the App Store. IMPORTANT Full Alert is not a replacement for emergency services. In an emergency, contact local emergency services directly. Location information may be delayed or inaccurate depending on device, GPS, and network conditions. Privacy matters: review our in-app Privacy Policy and Location Data Policy. You can delete your account from Profile. Full Alert is built by Rietek PTY Ltd, South Africa. Support: info@rietek.co.za Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://rietek.co.za/index.php/full-alert/

Screenshots

PetScanner4 screens
Full Alert4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Full Alert at 100% against PetScanner's 4%. Full Alert also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.2) and device support (3 vs 1). PetScanner's advantage is ratings volume (51 vs 1). 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. PetScanner sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months and Full Alert sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Full Alert holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PetScanner has 51 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of PetScanner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Full Alert's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PetScanner ships an update every 10 days, Full Alert weekly. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PetScanner versus Full Alert: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPetScannerFull Alert
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.2 (51 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews3.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings51 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB85 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPetscannerRietek (PTY) Ltd

Customer experience

PetScanner

All ratings51 ratings
Positive2.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative96.1%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive3.5%
Neutral3.5%
Negative93.0%

Full Alert

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PetScanner

Reported bugs

78 issues
  • App keeps stopping/freezing
  • Barcode scanner not working
  • App closes when entering chip number manually
  • Login issues
  • Subscription automatically added
Show 73 more
  • App crashes during registration/launch/setup
  • Pet details not registering/adding
  • Spinning wheel when adding pet
  • Links to EULA/privacy policy broken
  • Pet not legally registered
  • Incorrect pet information displayed
  • Cannot correct incorrect information
  • App requires Bluetooth scanner
  • Cannot change pet photos
  • Incorrect breed information displayed
  • Registration requires street address
  • App requires additional hardware (scanner)
  • Payment taken but pet not added
  • Discount only via app
  • App may not work for all users
  • App harvests personal data
  • No scanning functionality
  • App tells you to buy scanner after registration
  • App requires too much personal info
  • App is not a scanner
  • App requires attachment/external scanner
  • App doesn't use phone's hardware for scanning
  • Pictures uploaded sideways
  • Cannot delete or upload photos
  • Constantly crashing
  • Needs serious update
  • App is not a scanner
  • Requires separate Bluetooth device
  • Search radius measurement is off
  • App kept crashing when trying to search
  • Have to buy something
  • Not worth it
  • Couldn't get app to pair with scanner
  • Subscription not showing
  • Have to buy scanner to scan
  • False advertising
  • Deceptive description
  • Useless
  • Total junk
  • Force closes
  • Immediate crash
  • Only allows Google registration via Safari
  • App wouldn't open after registration
  • Terrible app and website
  • Incorrect pet details recorded
  • No colors for Tabby cats
  • Date of birth changes to 1970
  • Pay individually for each microchip
  • Poor performance
  • Misleading name
  • Waste of time
  • Requires you to buy their gear
  • Garbage app
  • Too much personal info required
  • Worthless
  • Not a scanner app at all
  • Stealing from legit microchip companies
  • Wannabe company with no purpose
  • Total fraud
  • Absolute garbage
  • Doesn't do anything
  • Doesn't allow free scanning
  • Terrible app
  • Barely functional
  • Security risk?
  • Dodgy
  • So bad
  • Not a scanner
  • Requires 9.99 scanner
  • Junk
  • Bs app
  • Needs your address
  • Misleading name

Requested features

16 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve scanning functionality
  • Allow manual entry of chip number without crashing
  • Fix website login issues
  • Provide clear information about scanner requirement upfront
Show 11 more
  • Allow deletion of personal details
  • Add more pet colors and breed options
  • Allow registration of multiple microchips in one payment
  • Improve search radius accuracy
  • Allow users to correct incorrect pet information
  • Make subscription removal easier
  • Fix issues with address validation for rural areas
  • Allow users to update photos and share missing pet information
  • Enable direct phone hardware scanning
  • Offer a discount for multiple pets when paying via app
  • Provide a warning on the app if it may not work for all users

Full Alert

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

PetScanner

Subscriptions11
  • Quarterly subscription, 1 pet$2.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription, 2 pets$5.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription, 3 pets$8.493 Months
Show 8 more
  • Quarterly subscription, 5 pets$12.493 Months
  • Quarterly subscription, 6 pets$14.493 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 12 pets$26.493 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 16 pets$32.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 17 pets$33.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 18 pets$34.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 19 pets$35.993 Months
  • Quarterly subscription 20 pets$36.993 Months
4 purchases

Full Alert

Subscriptions4
  • Silver Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Gold Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Silver Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Gold Yearly Subscription$34.991 Year

Questions

Is PetScanner free?
PetScanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Full Alert free?
Full Alert is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PetScanner or Full Alert?
Full Alert is rated higher. PetScanner averages 1.2 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Full Alert averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PetScanner or Full Alert have ads?
Neither PetScanner nor Full Alert shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PetScanner or Full Alert?
PetScanner ships an update every 10 days, and Full Alert weekly. Most recently, PetScanner was updated on October 12, 2026 and Full Alert on October 12, 2026.

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