Comparison

Safe Redbirds vs Unit5Schools

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

Head to head
About

Safe Redbirds

This app provides Illinois State University students, faculty, and guests with enhanced campus safety. It offers emergency alerts, direct access to safety resources, and tools for personal safety and reporting concerns.

Highlights
  • Emergency alerts and contacts
  • Campus safety guides (text/video)
  • Virtual Blue Light emergency feature
  • Request campus escorts (Redbird Safe Walk)
  • Friend Walk location sharing
  • Tip reporting to campus police
  • Interactive campus maps
Read full description

Safe Redbirds is the official safety app of Illinois State University. It is the only app that integrates with ISU's safety and security systems. ISU Police and Emergency Management worked together to develop a unique app that provides students, faculty, staff, and guests with added safety on the Illinois State University campus. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources. Safe Redbirds features include: - Emergency Numbers: Contact the correct services for the Illinois State University area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern.  - Emergency Guides: Campus emergency documentation with instructions on what to do in different types of emergency situations. Guides are available in both plain text and short video clips. Text guides can be accessed even when users aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data, but video clips do require a data connection. - Virtual Blue Light: Similar to the blue light emergency phones located around campus, the Virtual Blue Light feature allows you to speak with an ISU Police dispatcher and simultaneously share your location with them in real time. This feature is only available on or near campus. - Redbird Safe Walk: Request ISU Police have a representative walk with you on campus. - Virtual Safe Walk: Allow an ISU Police dispatcher to monitor your walk. If you would like an added level of safety when walking on or near campus, you can request a Virtual Safe Walk and a dispatcher on the other end will monitor your journey until you reach your destination. - Friend Walk: The app sends your location to a friend through email or SMS from your device. Once the friend accepts the Friend Walk request, you pick your destination and your friend tracks your location in real time; they can keep an eye on you to make sure you make it safely to your destination. Your friend does not need the Safe Redbird app for this feature. - Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to ISU Police and other key offices on campus. - Safety Toolbox: Enhance your safety with the set of tools provided in one convenient app.       - Share Map with your Location: Send your location to a friend by sending them a map of your position.       - I’m OK!: Send your location and a message indicating that “You’re OK” to a recipient of your choosing. - Campus Maps: - Campus Map: Navigate around ISU’s campus and see details about each campus building. - Where’s My Bus?: Track the Redbird Express or other Connect Transit lines in real time. - Campus Parking Map: See details of all parking lots on campus. - Campus AEDs: Interactive map with the locations of all AEDs on campus. - Evacuation Assembly Areas: Interactive map with pre-designated emergency evacuation assembly areas. - Blue Light Phones: Interactive map showing all physical blue light phones on campus. - Pawfficer Sage page: Pawfficer Sage now has her own page in the Safe Redbirds App, with details about her and a form to request Sage and the University Police Community Engagement Unit for your event. - Alerts, Crime Advisories, and Community Updates: Learn about the difference between ISU Emergency Alerts, Crime Advisories, and Community Updates, and see a history of notifications received through the app. Download today to ensure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

About

Unit5Schools

Features
Read full description

What is McLean County Unit 5 Schools? McLean County Unit 5 Schools helps schools and families stay connected and informed—all in one easy place. Whether it’s a quick message from a teacher, an important alert from the district, or a reminder about tomorrow’s field trip, this app makes sure families never miss a thing. Why families and teachers love McLean County Unit 5 Schools: • Simple, easy-to-use app and website • Messages are automatically translated into 190+ languages • Best-in-class safety and security practices • One place for all school updates, alerts, and messages With McLean County Unit 5 Schools, families and staff save time and stay connected—so everyone can focus on helping students succeed. McLean County Unit 5 Schools for iOS The McLean County Unit 5 Schools app makes it easy for families to stay in the loop and engage with their child’s school community. With the app, parents and guardians can: • See school news, classroom updates, and photos • Receive important notices like attendance alerts and cafeteria balances • Message teachers and staff directly • Join group conversations • Sign up for wishlist items, volunteering, and conferences • Respond to absences or tardies* • Pay school-related fees and invoices* * If included with your school's implementation

Screenshots

Safe Redbirds4 screens
Unit5Schools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Unit5Schools at weekly against Safe Redbirds's every 11 months. Safe Redbirds's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Safe Redbirds ships an update every 11 months, Unit5Schools weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Safe Redbirds versus Unit5Schools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSafe RedbirdsUnit5Schools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB155 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIllinois State UniversityMCLEAN COUNTY UNIT DISTRICT NO. 5

In-app purchases

None

Safe Redbirds

No in-app purchases

None

Unit5Schools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Safe Redbirds free?
Safe Redbirds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Unit5Schools free?
Unit5Schools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Safe Redbirds or Unit5Schools have ads?
Neither Safe Redbirds nor Unit5Schools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Safe Redbirds or Unit5Schools?
Safe Redbirds ships an update every 11 months, and Unit5Schools weekly. Most recently, Safe Redbirds was updated on October 14, 2026 and Unit5Schools on October 7, 2026.

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