Comparison

Dead man's switch app vs NetTools

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

Head to head
About

Dead man's switch app

This app securely stores encrypted "packages" in the cloud for delivery in case of your absence. It uses step count, email, or SMS to detect your presence, notifying recipients if you fail to confirm. Designed for peace of mind and secure legacy planning.

Highlights
  • Encrypted cloud storage for packages
  • Presence detection via steps, email, SMS
  • Automated recipient notification
  • Configurable detection schedules
  • End-to-end encryption
Currently charting
Read full description

DMS is a safety, security, and secrecy application used to delivery a encrypted "package" in the event of your absence. Who it's for: - ordinary person planning for the unexpected - military person or person in a state of war - person in poor health wishing to delivery an "emotional will" - adventure seeker undertaking extreme challenges - professional journalist working in dangerous environment - activist protestor exercising rights against injustice - crypto bro that self-custodies their digital fortune - solo dweller, traveller, or hermit living alone - pirate with a treasure chest full of gold How it works: - the app is used to create a "package" on your device that is then uploaded and stored securely in the cloud* - detection of your presence is determined by Steps, Email, or SMS† - in the event of your absence, your recipient(s) will be contacted by email and your "package" will be delivered What ifs: - if you enable Steps but don't step, you'll be prompted with a notification before you are sent an email - if you lose your phone or delete the app, you'll be sent an email to confirm your presence - if you are captured, you can configure your detection schedule beyond 4 weeks Delivery: - this app is really about the recipient, not the user - in the event of your absence, our compliance team will review and reach out to you before delivery occurs - when delivery occurs, your recipient(s) will be notified and given their "package" - recipient delivery is easy enough for your grandma to understand Other: - for detailed setup instructions, visit https://www.deadmanswitch.com/ca/en/user-manual - for our privacy policy, visit: https://deadmanswitch.com/ca/en/privacy-policy - for our legal agreement, visit https://deadmanswitch.com/ca/en/legal - to verify our code, visit https://www.github.com/deadmanswitch - founded in Toronto, Canada in 2020 --- * User content is protected with end-to-end encryption; however, certain operational metadata is necessary for storage, retrieval, and decryption. † Functionality requires internet connectivity and access to third-party networks/services. Availability is dependent on local network conditions and government policies; in some jurisdictions connectivity may be degraded, restricted, or blocked. You are solely responsible for obtaining data connectivity and complying with all applicable laws.

About

NetTools

Read full description

NetTools - Network Toolbox ========================== Take full control of your network diagnostics and utilities with NetTools, the all-in-one toolkit designed for IT professionals, developers, and power users. Whether you're troubleshooting connectivity issues or performing advanced network analysis, NetTools puts powerful tools at your fingertips. Key Features: [Basic Tools] - NSLookup – Query DNS records for any domain (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS and PTR) - Ping – Test server or device reachability - Traceroute – Trace the route packets take to a destination - Whois – Get domain registration details [Advanced Tools] - HTTP request – Perform custom HTTP request and inspect server responses and headers - IP location – Get geolocation info for any IP - My public IP – Instantly view your public-facing IP address - Port scanner – Scan open ports on any host - Speed test – Measure your network's download/upload speed - Subnet calculator – Quickly calculate IP ranges and subnet masks - URL shortener – Generate short links from long URLs - Wake on LAN – Remotely wake up devices on your local network [Conversion Tools] - ASCII to HEX - Base64 Encoder/Decoder - SHA256 Hash Generator - URL Encoder/Decoder [Generator Tools] - Password generator – Create strong, secure passwords - UUID generator – Generate universally unique identifiers - WiFi QR Code Generator – Share WiFi access instantly with scannable QR codes ==========================

Screenshots

Dead man's switch app2 screens
NetTools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NetTools at $4.99 against Dead man's switch app's $22.99. NetTools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Dead man's switch app's advantage is chart position (#188 vs unranked). On ads 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

Dead man's switch app costs $22.99 and NetTools $4.99 up front. Dead man's switch app sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $22.99 per year. NetTools asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dead man's switch app ships an update every 2 months, NetTools every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Dead man's switch app versus NetTools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDead man's switch appNetTools
Price$22.99$4.99 — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.112.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeadmanswitch.com IncJeremy Turin

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dead man's switch app

Subscriptions1
  • Deadmanswitch7 Days trial2 variants$22.991 Year
None

NetTools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dead man's switch app free?
Dead man's switch app costs $22.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is NetTools free?
NetTools costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dead man's switch app or NetTools have ads?
Neither Dead man's switch app nor NetTools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dead man's switch app or NetTools?
Dead man's switch app ships an update every 2 months, and NetTools every 4 days. Most recently, Dead man's switch app was updated on August 24, 2026 and NetTools on September 18, 2026.

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