Comparison

UIC SAFE vs Illinois

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Illinois

Navigate the University of Illinois with this comprehensive digital companion. Access class schedules, your student ID, campus maps, and event information. Utilize an AI assistant for university-related questions and discover wellness resources.

Highlights
  • Customizable home screen
  • Class schedules and locations
  • Digital student ID and bus pass
  • AI-powered university assistant
  • Interactive campus maps with amenities
  • Campus event listings
  • Wellness resources
Read full description

Your digital companion to the University of Illinois, the Illinois app is for you, whether you’re a student, a Fighting Illini fan, an employee, or a first-time visitor. Features include: • A customizable home screen to make the app your own • Campus map with amenities like ADA entrances, all-gender restrooms, and lactation spaces • Class schedules, locations, and building floor plans • Illini ID, library card, and MTD bus pass • Digital business card • Wellness and safety resources, including SafeWalk requests and 24/7 crisis hotlines • Residence hall dining menus tailored to your food preferences • Groups: create or join one, or explore the official Illinois communities you’re already part of • University events, including Fighting Illini sports, Campus Recreation group fitness classes, arts, culture, and more Your quickest path to support is to report issues at https://go.illinois.edu/AppFeedback.

Screenshots

UIC SAFE4 screens
Illinois4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: UIC SAFE at 3.6 against Illinois's 2.6. UIC SAFE also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (36% vs 11%). Illinois's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (119 vs 24). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

UIC SAFE holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 119 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of UIC SAFE's written reviews are positive against 11% of Illinois's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UIC SAFE ships an update every 4 months, Illinois every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
UIC SAFE versus Illinois: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUIC SAFEIllinois
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (24 ratings) — better2.6 (119 ratings)
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews — better10.6% of reviews
Number of ratings24119 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB124 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoUniversity of Illinois

Customer experience

UIC SAFE

All ratings24 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.6%

Illinois

All ratings117 ratings
Positive39.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative56.4%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive10.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative84.8%

In-app purchases

None

UIC SAFE

No in-app purchases

None

Illinois

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UIC SAFE free?
UIC SAFE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Illinois free?
Illinois is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, UIC SAFE or Illinois?
UIC SAFE is rated higher. UIC SAFE averages 3.6 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Illinois averages 2.6 from 119 ratings.
Do UIC SAFE or Illinois have ads?
Illinois shows ads; UIC SAFE does not.
Which is updated more often, UIC SAFE or Illinois?
UIC SAFE ships an update every 4 months, and Illinois every 5 weeks. Most recently, UIC SAFE was updated on October 16, 2026 and Illinois on October 24, 2026.

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