Metra COPS vs NICOR NLC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Metra COPS
Report safety and security concerns discreetly to the police with photos, videos, and text. The app ensures reports are sent even with poor signal strength and offers BOLO alerts for missing persons or persons of interest.
- Discreet reporting of safety concerns
- Send photos, videos, and text
- Location tagging for reports
- Anonymous reporting option
- Offline report storage and sending
- BOLO alerts for persons of interest
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Metra COPS: Free Safety and Security Mobile App for Riders The Metra COPS Safety and Security App offers riders a quick and discreet method for reporting safety and security concerns directly to the police. App users can send photos, videos, text descriptions, and locations of suspicious people or activities. From the home screen, users have two easy options for contacting the police: * The “Report an Issue” button allows users to send text or photos directly to the police. To ensure discretion, the camera flash is automatically disabled when photos are taken through the app. When reporting an issue, users can select locations and report categories to assist the police. Riders can also send reports anonymously if they chose. * The “Call 911” button will connect customers directly the police. The application is designed for robust operation even under conditions of poor signal strength. If you send a report from an area without cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity, it will be stored and sent when connectivity returns. The system is also designed to send text descriptions before photos so that the police can get information as quickly as possible. Additional Features: BOLO (Be On the Look Out) Alerts. BOLO Alerts on Metra COPS may display alerts from the police about specific persons of interest. For example, Metra COPS may display information about a missing person or child, such as where they were last seen. If you see a person from a BOLO, immediately call 9-1-1 and send an app report discreetly. Help keep Metra safe, "See Something, Say Something"
NICOR NLC
This app enables remote control of compatible luminaires through a Bluetooth Mesh network. It allows users to define groups and zones, create scenes, adjust settings, and monitor energy usage. Access can be shared easily via QR codes.
- Define and Control Groups and Zones
- Create and Manage Scenes
- Adjust Occupancy/Vacancy Settings
- Utilize Daylight Harvesting
- Monitor Energy Usage
- Share Access via QR Codes
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NICOR's Network Lighting Controls (NLC) is a Bluetooth Mesh Lighting Control System. The NLC lighting control network is comprised of various NLC enabled luminaires including the following components: - PIR Occupancy Sensors - PIR Daylight Sensors - Load Controllers - Power Packs - Wall Control Switches - Mesh System Nodes Each component utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Mesh to remotely control and operate compatible luminaires. Scale up from individual luminaires to groups, zones, and entire establishments. The NLC system can control up to 100 luminaires per zone across multiple rooms. Manage controls and luminaires directly from the app with integrated features: - Define and Control Groups and Zones - Create and Manage Scenes - Adjust Occupancy/Vacancy Settings - Utilize Daylight Harvesting - Control Task Tuning/High-End Trim Settings - Set and Define Schedules - Monitor Energy Usage - Integrated DLC NLC5 Encrypted Security - Share Access Simply via QR Codes To learn more about NICOR NLC and view a full list of components and NLC enabled luminaires, visit https://nicorlighting.com/network-lighting-controls/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Metra COPS at 100% against NICOR NLC's 0%. Metra COPS also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.9) and ratings volume (90 vs 15). NICOR NLC's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Metra COPS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metra COPS has 90 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Metra COPS's written reviews are positive against 0% of NICOR NLC's.
Metra COPS ships an update every 12 months, NICOR NLC every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Metra COPS | NICOR NLC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (90 ratings) — better | 1.9 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 90 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Northeast Ilinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation | Nicor Lighting |
Customer experience
Metra COPS
NICOR NLC
In-app purchases
Metra COPS
No in-app purchases
NICOR NLC
No in-app purchases









