# AARP Now vs Smart911

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart911 at none against AARP Now's 6. Smart911 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (37% vs 28%). AARP Now's advantage is ratings volume (183K vs 6.6K) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AARP Now sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $20.00 per year. Smart911 asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for AARP Now against 4.7 for Smart911. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AARP Now has 183K ratings behind it against 6.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of AARP Now's written reviews are positive against 37% of Smart911's.

AARP Now ships an update monthly, Smart911 every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AARP Now | Smart911 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (183K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-now/id394286729/reviews)** | [4.7 (6.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart911/id1413223852/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **183K** | 6.6K |
| Positive reviews | 28.4% of reviews | **37.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#97** | — |
| Size | 182 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AARP](https://appshunter.io/developer/394286732) | [Rave Mobile Safety](https://appshunter.io/developer/691246565) |

## What reviewers say

### AARP Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aarp-now/id394286729)

**Currently charting:** #97 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #126 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Access personalized news, events, and member benefits on the go. This app provides a mobile gateway to your membership, offering curated content, digital publications, and local event listings. Easily manage your account and discover exclusive savings.

**Highlights:** Personalized news and alerts, Digital editions of AARP publications, Local and virtual event listings, Member discounts and nearby benefits, Digital membership card, Save articles and events for later, Access to AARP games

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Membership Subscription | $20.00 | per year |
| AARP Membership 1 Year | $20.00 | one-time |
| AARP Membership 3 Years | $55.00 | one-time |
| AARP Renew Membership 3 Years | $55.00 | one-time |
| AARP Membership 5 Years | $79.00 | one-time |
| AARP Renew Membership 5 Years | $79.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Informative articles and content
- 👍 Useful for seniors and retirees
- 💡 Variety of features (games, workouts, community)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🤯 Clunky and frustrating user interface
- 💸 Ads despite paid membership
- 🤔 Inconsistent app behavior across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and repeated sign-ins required
- Rewards system not functioning properly
- Video/quiz content not loading or working as expected
- Compatibility problems on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add ability to save/bookmark articles
- Improve navigation and flow between app and browser
- Optimize app for tablet/iPad usage
- Enhance rewards program and make it more reliable


### Smart911

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart911/id1413223852)

Enhance emergency preparedness by creating a Safety Profile to share vital household information with 9-1-1. Receive targeted emergency alerts for weather, traffic, and public safety events.

**Highlights:** Create Safety Profiles, Share household information with 9-1-1, Receive emergency alerts, Customize notification types, View medical and contact details

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient access to critical information
- 🔒 Secure emergency response
- 💡 Helpful for first responders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔑 Difficult to log in and account management issues
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to confirm phone number and get verification code
- Keeps signing users out and unable to log back in
- Incorrect address formatting and inability to update location
- Delayed or missing emergency alerts and notifications

**Requested features**

- Ability to adjust pin location on map
- Option to select specific areas for alerts
- Improved notification settings and customization
- Support for apartment/building entry details


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AARP Now free?

AARP Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Smart911 free?

Smart911 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AARP Now or Smart911?

AARP Now is rated higher. AARP Now averages 4.8 out of 5 from 183K ratings, while Smart911 averages 4.7 from 6.6K ratings.

### Do AARP Now or Smart911 have ads?

AARP Now shows ads; Smart911 does not.

### Which is updated more often, AARP Now or Smart911?

AARP Now ships an update monthly, and Smart911 every 4 months. Most recently, AARP Now was updated on September 25, 2026 and Smart911 on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*