# HOAU Smart vs HelpMeNow

The clearest difference is update cadence: HelpMeNow at fortnightly against HOAU Smart's every 12 months. HOAU Smart's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HOAU Smart ships an update every 12 months, HelpMeNow fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HOAU Smart | HelpMeNow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 101 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [上根 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1386531409) | [INFOMYCITY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761907720) |

## What reviewers say

### HOAU Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoau-smart/id1514044171)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### HelpMeNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helpmenow/id6466714652)

This app provides a quick way to alert emergency services and designated contacts when you're in danger or notice suspicious activity. It offers real-time location tracking and in-app chat for communication with your trusted contacts.

**Highlights:** One-click emergency alerts, Real-time location tracking, Designated Helper notifications, In-app chat functionality, Send photos and set timers, Safety actions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HOAU Smart free?

HOAU Smart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HelpMeNow free?

HelpMeNow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HOAU Smart or HelpMeNow have ads?

Neither HOAU Smart nor HelpMeNow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HOAU Smart or HelpMeNow?

HOAU Smart ships an update every 12 months, and HelpMeNow fortnightly. Most recently, HOAU Smart was updated on October 9, 2026 and HelpMeNow on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*