HackIllinois vs UIC SAFE
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HackIllinois
This app enhances the hackathon experience by providing event schedules, point-earning opportunities through QR scans and duels, and a shop for redeeming prizes. Users can track their progress, view rankings, and manage check-ins for food and events.
- Event schedule and details
- Point system via QR scans and duels
- Prize redemption in Point Shop
- Personal progress and rank tracking
- Event check-in functionality
- Countdown timer for hacking
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Download the official HackIllinois 2026 app for a complete in-person hackathon experience! With our app, you can: - See how much time you have left to hack! - View the time, location, and other details for all of our events. - Scan QR codes at events to obtain points! - Play duels against other members for points. - Get checked in by staff for food and other events. - Redeem points for merchandise and raffle prizes through our newly improved Point Shop! - View your rank, points, and other personal information. - and more!
UIC SAFE
This official campus safety app connects students, faculty, and staff to university security systems. It offers real-time location sharing, emergency alerts, and direct communication with campus police for enhanced safety.
- Emergency call button
- Real-time location sharing with friends
- Instant safety notifications and alerts
- Live chat with campus police
- Anonymous tip reporting
- Emergency preparedness guidance
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UIC SAFE is the official safety app of University of Illinois at Chicago. It is the only app that integrates with UIC's safety and security systems. The Office of Preparedness and Response, along with the Office of Public and Government Affairs, and the UIC Police Department, have worked to develop a new mobile application that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. The new app is just one part of a number of strategies being implemented to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness on- and off-campus. The apps user-friendly interface allows users to easily connect and share their location with family and friends in real-time as they walk and report information to UIC Police, anonymously if needed. UIC SAFE features include: -Emergency call button: contact UIC Police quickly for help in an emergency. -Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend, who can watch you walk home in real-time. -Safety notifications: receive instant notifications, emergency UIC ALERTs, and instructions when on-campus emergencies occur. -Chat with UIC Police: Communicate live with a UIC Police officer via chat. -Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the UIC area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern. -Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to UIC Police. -Emergency Preparedness Protractive Measures: Learn what to do in case of an emergency. -Campus safety resources: access all important safety resources and student and employee services. Download today and ensure that you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: HackIllinois at 100% against UIC SAFE's 36%. HackIllinois also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.6) and update cadence (daily vs every 4 months). UIC SAFE's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). 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.
HackIllinois holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of HackIllinois's written reviews are positive against 36% of UIC SAFE's.
HackIllinois ships an update daily, UIC SAFE every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HackIllinois | UIC SAFE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (32 ratings) — better | 3.6 (24 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 36.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 32 — better | 24 |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ACM UIUC | University of Illinois at Chicago |
Customer experience
HackIllinois
UIC SAFE
In-app purchases
HackIllinois
No in-app purchases
UIC SAFE
No in-app purchases
