Comparison

HazMat Reference vs Cargo Decoder Plus

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

Cargo Decoder Plus

Instantly identify hazardous materials by their 4-digit DOT placard number. Access comprehensive safety information from multiple Emergency Response Guidebook editions, even offline. Quickly search by number or material name for critical details.

Highlights
  • Identify materials by DOT placard number
  • Access ERG 2024, 2020, 2016, 2012 editions
  • Search by UN/NA placard number or material name
  • View protective distance and toxic inhalation hazards
  • Offline access, no network required
  • Learn about GHS classification and labeling
Features
Read full description

Cargo Decoder is your guide to what is in the truck or tanker next to you on the highway. Enter the 4 digit number from the DOT placard to learn about a material. See details from both the 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG 2024) If you need them, ERG 2020, ERG 2016 and ERG 2012 are available too. Powerful search capabilities will help you quickly find information by matching just part of the UN/NA placard number or material name. Protective distance information, toxic inhalation hazards, and ERG2020 reference pages are just a touch away for emergency responders and HazMat personnel. A simple touch quickly gets you to the information you need. Cargo Decoder Plus uses no network bandwidth so information will always be available even if your network is not. - Find safety information on hazardous cargo - Search by name or input DOT number - View ERG2024, ERG2020, ERG2016, or ERG2012 reference pages - Access directly on device, no network connection required - Share information with friends and colleagues - Learn about the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)

Screenshots

HazMat Reference4 screens
Cargo Decoder Plus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HazMat Reference at 4.8 against Cargo Decoder Plus's 4.3. HazMat Reference also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 6) and review sentiment (96% vs 71%). Cargo Decoder Plus's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

HazMat Reference costs $4.99 and Cargo Decoder Plus $1.99 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 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HazMat Reference has 1.7K ratings behind it against 6, 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 71% of Cargo Decoder Plus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HazMat Reference ships an update every 4 months, Cargo Decoder Plus monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
HazMat Reference versus Cargo Decoder Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHazMat ReferenceCargo Decoder Plus
Price$4.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.8 (1.7K ratings) — better4.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews95.9% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#47 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB28 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperThatsMyStapler Inc.Strategies In Software

Customer experience

HazMat Reference

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

Cargo Decoder Plus

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

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

Cargo Decoder Plus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HazMat Reference

No in-app purchases

None

Cargo Decoder Plus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HazMat Reference free?
HazMat Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cargo Decoder Plus free?
Cargo Decoder Plus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HazMat Reference or Cargo Decoder Plus?
HazMat Reference is rated higher. HazMat Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Cargo Decoder Plus averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.
Do HazMat Reference or Cargo Decoder Plus have ads?
Neither HazMat Reference nor Cargo Decoder Plus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HazMat Reference or Cargo Decoder Plus?
HazMat Reference ships an update every 4 months, and Cargo Decoder Plus monthly. Most recently, HazMat Reference was updated on September 25, 2026 and Cargo Decoder Plus on September 14, 2026.

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