Comparison

Dead man's switch app vs SafeAfter

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
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

SafeAfter

Features
Read full description

SafeAfter: Dead Man's Switch is a safety companion app built for situations when you want trusted people to know if something has happened to you – automatically, without anyone having to guess. Setup is simple. You open the app, add your emergency contacts, write a message they should receive if you go silent, and set how often you want to check in. Once active, the app sends you regular reminders to confirm you're okay. If you miss enough check-ins, your emergency contacts are automatically notified with your message and any access information you've prepared for them. The app works as a companion to SafeAfter: Digital Vault. If you store sensitive information in the Vault, the Switch app can alert your contacts when they may need to access it – without any manual coordination from you. There are no complicated triggers or rules. You choose the check-in frequency and how many missed check-ins should trigger the alert. Everything else is automatic. SafeAfter: Dead Man's Switch requires an internet connection to send emergency notifications. Your data is encrypted and stored locally on the device. Emergency messages are only sent through our infrastructure when the trigger condition is met – never shared, sold, or accessed otherwise. SafeAfter helps make sure the people who matter most are notified when you can no longer reach them yourself. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Dead man's switch app2 screens
SafeAfter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SafeAfter at Free against Dead man's switch app's $22.99. On update cadence, 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

SafeAfter is free to download; Dead man's switch app costs $22.99 up front. Dead man's switch app sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $22.99 per year and SafeAfter sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Dead man's switch app versus SafeAfter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDead man's switch appSafeAfter
Price$22.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeadmanswitch.com IncMarcin Czepiel

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dead man's switch app

Subscriptions1
  • Deadmanswitch7 Days trial2 variants$22.991 Year
1 purchases

SafeAfter

Subscriptions1
  • SafeAfter: DMS Premium (1 year)$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Dead man's switch app free?
Dead man's switch app costs $22.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SafeAfter free?
SafeAfter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Dead man's switch app or SafeAfter have ads?
Neither Dead man's switch app nor SafeAfter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dead man's switch app or SafeAfter?
Dead man's switch app ships an update every 2 months, and SafeAfter every 2 months. Most recently, Dead man's switch app was updated on October 8, 2026 and SafeAfter on September 30, 2026.

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