Comparison

HazMat Reference vs AskRail

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

Head to head
About

HazMat Reference

Quickly access critical information on hazardous materials for handling, storage, and incident response. Features include advanced search, sorting, and filtering of materials from key regulatory tables and guides. Offline access ensures availability in any situation.

Highlights
  • ERG 2024 data
  • NIOSH, CFR/HMT, NFPA, GHS information
  • Advanced search, sort, and filter
  • Offline access
  • NFPA Fire Diamond
  • Physical descriptions and CAS#
  • DOT incident data filter
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Your best quick reference for hazardous materials. Includes: NIOSH, CFR/HMT, NFPA, GHS, CAMEO information. This app serves as a quick reference and educational tool for employees that are involved with the regular handling and storage or incident response of Hazardous Materials. Materials from the Hazardous Material Table (HMT) and Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) are listed in easy to review form with advanced search, sort, and filter capabilities. Pertinent information from the HMT, ERG, NIOSH and other sources are listed with the proper placard and hazard class for each material. The Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) 49 CFR §172.101 is a list of hazardous materials by proper shipping name that governs the transportation, marking and labeling by all modes: air, water, rail, and highway. Understanding and knowing how to use information in the HMT is the first step toward compliance. The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is primarily a guide to aid first responders in quickly identifying the specific or generic hazards of the material(s) involved in the incident, and protecting themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. The ERG is updated and released every 4 years by the D.O.T. No internet connection required. Find materials by name or UN Identifier. Includes information from all tables and reference pages in the ERG. Additional Features: * Filter/Sort Materials with DOT Reported Incidents in the last 12 months * History of materials - most recent or most viewed * NFPA Fire Diamond: quick visual ref for Health, Fire, Reactivity, and other hazards * Physical descriptions for most chemicals * CAS#, RTECS# with NIOSH IDLH and exposure information * Quicksort by UN ID#, guide #, name or number of incidents

About

AskRail

This app provides hazardous materials safety information for first responders dealing with rail incidents. It allows authorized personnel to query railcar contents and offers critical data for emergency response. Access to advanced features requires verification and railroad sponsorship.

Highlights
  • Hazardous materials safety information
  • Rail incident support
  • Query railcar contents
  • Emergency response data
  • First responder tool
Features
Read full description

The AskRail app is a hazardous materials safety tool for first responders who are first on scene or directly support the first on scene in the event of a rail incident. Access to certain features, including the ability to query railcar contents based on an equipment number, is restricted to authorized personnel. To obtain authorization to use the restricted features, you must assert that you are a first responder, provide information about your emergency response agency, and identify a supervisor who can attest to your first responder duties. You also must obtain sponsorship from a Class I railroad. This process may take up to several weeks. AskRail is a collaborative effort among all North American Class I railroads, the Association of American Railroads, Railinc Corp., and the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. For more information about AskRail please visit: www.askrail.us.

Screenshots

HazMat Reference4 screens
AskRail4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AskRail at Free against HazMat Reference's $4.99. HazMat Reference's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (96% vs 58%). 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

AskRail is free to download; HazMat Reference costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HazMat Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HazMat Reference has 1.7K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of HazMat Reference's written reviews are positive against 58% of AskRail's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
HazMat Reference versus AskRail: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHazMat ReferenceAskRail
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (1.7K ratings) — better4.1 (37 ratings)
Positive reviews95.9% of reviews — better58.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better37
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#89 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB44 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperThatsMyStapler Inc.Association of American Railroads

Customer experience

HazMat Reference

All ratings1,723 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative1.8%

AskRail

All ratings37 ratings
Positive78.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.6%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative41.7%

Bugs and requests

HazMat Reference

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Bulk packaging information part of CFR 49 won't load

Requested features

2 requests
  • Format for larger phones
  • Ability to print guide or reference material

AskRail

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HazMat Reference

No in-app purchases

None

AskRail

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HazMat Reference free?
HazMat Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AskRail free?
AskRail is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HazMat Reference or AskRail?
HazMat Reference is rated higher. HazMat Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while AskRail averages 4.1 from 37 ratings.
Do HazMat Reference or AskRail have ads?
Neither HazMat Reference nor AskRail shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HazMat Reference or AskRail?
HazMat Reference ships an update every 4 months, and AskRail every 4 months. Most recently, HazMat Reference was updated on September 25, 2026 and AskRail on July 21, 2026.

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