Comparison

Rigger Ref vs ICG Safety

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

Head to head
About

Rigger Ref

This utility app provides riggers with quick access to specifications for ropes, hardware, and slings. It offers calculations for safe working loads, line sag, line on drums, and bridle configurations, supporting both US and metric units.

Highlights
  • Rope, hardware, and sling specifications
  • Safe working load calculations
  • Line sag and line on drum calculations
  • Bridle and sling tension calculations
  • US and metric unit conversions
  • Customizable equipment lists and manifests
  • Weight and cost budgeting
Features
Read full description

Rigger Ref is a reference and calculation utility for riggers. Keep specifications of ropes, hardware, slings, and material densities at your finger tips. Quickly figure safe working loads, line sag, amount of line on a drum, and bridle calculations. Calculation features: -Figure Catenary curves based on line tension, weight, line weight, and tower heights. -Figure amount of Line on a Drum using Drum Calc -Estimate weights based on volume and materials using Load Calc -Figure sling tension, and angles for different bridles -US and Metric units / on the fly conversion Reference Features: -Common Rope Specifications -Common Hardware Specifications -Common Sling Specifications -Search Specifications and Comments -Automatically figure Safe Working Loads Customization Features: -Add your own Ropes or Hardware -Set your own Safety Factors for figuring Safe Working Loads -Track which ropes and hardware you've got on hand. -Create manifests of frequently used equipment to automatically total weights or costs. -Track when a manifest or equipment exceeds or falls short of a weight budget. -Mail manifests of equipment or labor quickly. -Easily import manifests onto other devices running Rigger Ref.

About

ICG Safety

This safety reference app provides critical information for professionals in the motion picture and television industry. It includes hazard reporting with two-way communication, safety bulletins, emergency guides, and videos. Access anonymous hotlines and industry-specific initiatives.

Highlights
  • Two-way hazard reporting communication
  • Anonymous safety hotline numbers
  • Industry-wide safety bulletins
  • Emergency preparedness guides
  • Safety videos
  • Local 600 initiatives
Features
Read full description

The ICG Safety App is a safety reference in the palm of your hand for IATSE Local 600 members and working professionals in the motion picture and television industry. The app now features two-way communication for users who submit safety hazard reports, allowing for real-time texting with a Local 600 Business Rep. Find critical safety information, such as anonymous safety hotline numbers, industry-wide safety bulletins, in-depth articles about safety and what to do in an emergency, safety videos, and information on Local 600’s Rides & Rooms initiative.

Screenshots

Rigger Ref4 screens
ICG Safety3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ICG Safety at Free against Rigger Ref's $19.99. ICG Safety also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 24 months) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). Rigger Ref's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On rating, 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

ICG Safety is free to download; Rigger Ref costs $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 — 5.0 for Rigger Ref against 5.0 for ICG Safety. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ICG Safety has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rigger Ref ships an update every 24 months, ICG Safety every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Rigger Ref versus ICG Safety: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRigger RefICG Safety
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGumball LabsInternational Cinematographers Guild

Customer experience

Rigger Ref

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

ICG Safety

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Rigger Ref

No in-app purchases

None

ICG Safety

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rigger Ref free?
Rigger Ref costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ICG Safety free?
ICG Safety is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Rigger Ref or ICG Safety?
Rigger Ref and ICG Safety are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 7 ratings respectively.
Do Rigger Ref or ICG Safety have ads?
Neither Rigger Ref nor ICG Safety shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rigger Ref or ICG Safety?
Rigger Ref ships an update every 24 months, and ICG Safety every 5 months. Most recently, Rigger Ref was updated on September 10, 2026 and ICG Safety on September 17, 2026.

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