Comparison

HazMat Reference vs DRR Rescue

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

DRR Rescue

This app provides a digital, multimedia field operations guide for urban technical rescue. It offers illustrated procedures, video tutorials, and specialized calculators for shoring and trenching. Interactive checklists and standard-level indicators enhance training and operational efficiency for rescuers.

Highlights
  • Illustrated rescue procedures
  • Video tutorials
  • Shoring calculators
  • Trench calculators
  • Interactive command checklists
  • Standard level indicators
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide is now a multi-media App. This full-featured App provides digital access to 240 pages of high-quality illustrated procedures with a fast navigation system so you can find your procedure quickly. Some of the features of this digital Field Operations Guide include: Video Tutorials that will be updated on a regular basis and automatically loaded onto your App device. Shoring Calculators that allow you to generate a cut-list with one take-off measurement. Allows you to share cut lists via text message or email. Trench Calculator for parameters (Total L) on simple straight trenches up to 8 feet wide. Interactive Command Checklists that include an elapsed time function to assist with training, as well as being a tool that helps rescuers lay the framework for safe efficient rescues. Icons within the App denote Awareness, Operational and Technician standards for each procedure. All levels of rescuers will find this a valuable reference tool with state-of-the-art illustrated rescue procedures. The goal of this App is to assist in training rescuers with performance of technical rescue skills and procedures in order to meet the U.S. national standard for consistency safety and competency. This guide is based on U.S. NFPA 1006 Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications 2021 edition. This app covers Rope Rescue, Tree Rescue, Technical Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Mountain Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Helicopter Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Rescue Medical procedures, and FEMA and NIMS ISC for disaster incident command.

Screenshots

HazMat Reference4 screens
DRR Rescue4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HazMat Reference at $4.99 against DRR Rescue's $19.99. HazMat Reference also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 518). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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 DRR Rescue $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HazMat Reference against 4.9 for DRR Rescue. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 518 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of HazMat Reference's written reviews are positive against 93% of DRR Rescue's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HazMat Reference ships an update every 4 months, DRR Rescue every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
HazMat Reference versus DRR Rescue: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHazMat ReferenceDRR Rescue
Price$4.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.8 (1.7K ratings)4.9 (518 ratings) — better
Positive reviews95.9% of reviews — better93.4% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better518
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#89#30 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB171 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperThatsMyStapler Inc.Tom PENDLEY

Customer experience

HazMat Reference

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

DRR Rescue

All ratings518 ratings
Positive99.2%
Neutral0.2%
Negative0.6%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative4.9%

User reviews

HazMat Reference

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Excellent tool
  • 🚀 Saves time
  • 👍 Handy app
  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 👍 Great resource

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Closed unexpectedly
  • 🐛 Outdated information
  • 👎 Color of distance pages makes it unreadable
  • 👎 User interface not great

DRR Rescue

From 518 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Extremely easy to use and navigate
  • 📚 Comprehensive technical rescue content covering multiple disciplines
  • 🔄 Regularly updated with current material and standards
  • 📱 Convenient pocket reference on mobile device
  • 🎯 Practical field-tested information from industry experts

Room to improve

  • 💧 Moisture exposure risk compared to laminated physical guides
  • 🔌 Requires device to be charged for use
  • 📹 Video content limited or incomplete
  • ⚠️ Platform-specific issues (iPad video download problems)
  • 🔗 Redirects to external video content unexpectedly

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

DRR Rescue

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during use
  • Text unreadable or display glitches
  • Calculator functionality not working
  • Video downloads cause app to close (iPad)
  • Unexpected redirects to external video content
Show 1 more
  • App kicks users out to watch videos

Requested features

4 requests
  • User notes section for personal annotations
  • Metric measurements (metres) in addition to imperial
  • More comprehensive video tutorial library
  • Improved video streaming and download functionality

In-app purchases

None

HazMat Reference

No in-app purchases

None

DRR Rescue

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HazMat Reference free?
HazMat Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DRR Rescue free?
DRR Rescue costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HazMat Reference or DRR Rescue?
DRR Rescue is rated higher. HazMat Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while DRR Rescue averages 4.9 from 518 ratings.
Do HazMat Reference or DRR Rescue have ads?
Neither HazMat Reference nor DRR Rescue shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HazMat Reference or DRR Rescue?
HazMat Reference ships an update every 4 months, and DRR Rescue every 12 months. Most recently, HazMat Reference was updated on September 25, 2026 and DRR Rescue on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, HazMat Reference or DRR Rescue?
HazMat Reference currently peaks at #89 in the App Store charts, and DRR Rescue at #30. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons