NIMS ICS Guide vs ICS Dashboard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NIMS ICS Guide
This interactive reference app provides first responders with fast access to incident command information. It features dynamic checklists, customizable contact information, and all-hazards content to support training and on-scene decision-making.
- Dynamic checklists
- Incident-specific contact information
- Import contacts from address book
- Color-coded ICS charts
- All-hazards content
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“TIMELY AND THOROUGH… AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE TOOL.” —Cynthia Kellams, Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management When the NIMS ICS Guide® was introduced in 2006, it was the first pocket reference to give first responders fast access to information needed for effective incident command. Now updated with National Response Framework (NRF), this must-have pocket reference is used by more than 150,000 public safety and health professionals. Now available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, this interactive application allows you to customize contact information for each incident for rapid on-scene communication, and provides detailed dynamic checklists that ensure that no detail is missed. The content is all-hazards, non-jurisdictional and discipline-specific, and includes responsibilities and rules for applying the Incident Command System (ICS). In addition to being an indispensable field tool, it is ideal for NIMS/ICS training and functional exercises, with dozens of detailed illustrations, charts and checklists. Designed for responders at the local, state or federal level or in private industry, this will quickly become your preferred NIMS training and field decision-support tool. Support your NIMS training with this comprehensive app and feel confident that your NIMS compliance requirements are met. TESTIMONIALS “In the process of retooling our campus Emergency Management Plan, this has been an invaluable resource. It has also been of great benefit during ICS and unified command training and emergency management exercises. It’s a top notch product.” —Lieutenant Bret Collier, Professional Standards and Emergency Management, University of Houston Department of Public Safety “A fantastic resource…indispensable to public safety operations.” —Director of the Office of Emergency Management, Arlington, Texas “An excellent reference for anyone faced with the possibility of working within a NIMS environment.” —Ed Wilson, Past President, Western Fire Chiefs Association APP FEATURES * Dynamic checklists that ensure you remember all steps * Incident-specific addresses that you can reset for each incident * Addresses can be imported from your address book or entered manually * Detailed, easy-to-read color-coded ICS charts * All-hazards, non-jurisdictional, discipline-specific FOR MORE INFORMATION Informed Publishing offers a full product line of references for the medical and first response markets, as well as a consumer line for home and family emergency preparedness. Informed references are available in a variety of formats: pocket-size print guides, PDF editions and now, apps for the iPhone & iPod Touch. Learn more at www.informedguides.com. SUPPORT For questions, comments, or suggestions concerning this guide, contact Informed® Publishing at apps@informedguides.com
ICS Dashboard
This app provides fillable and shareable Incident Command System (ICS) forms directly on your mobile device. Currently, it supports key forms like the Medical Plan, Safety Message, General Message, and Activity Log, with more to be added soon.
- Fillable ICS forms
- Sharable forms
- ICS 206 Medical Plan
- ICS 208 Safety Message/Plan
- ICS 213 General Message
- ICS 214 Activity Log
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Welcome to the ICS Dashboard App. Find ICS Forms that are fillable and sharable right from the app. Currently supports the - ICS 206 form - Medical Plan. - ICS 208 form - Safety Message/Plan - ICS 213 form - General Message - ICS 214 form - Activity Log More forms coming soon!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ICS Dashboard at Free against NIMS ICS Guide's $14.99. ICS Dashboard also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). NIMS ICS Guide's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On 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
ICS Dashboard is free to download; NIMS ICS Guide costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NIMS ICS Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of NIMS ICS Guide's written reviews are positive against 67% of ICS Dashboard's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
NIMS ICS Guide ships an update every 2 months, ICS Dashboard fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NIMS ICS Guide | ICS Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (17 ratings) — better | 3.8 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #192 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Informed Publishing | Pioneer Mobile Applications, LLC |
Customer experience
NIMS ICS Guide
ICS Dashboard
In-app purchases
NIMS ICS Guide
No in-app purchases
ICS Dashboard
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is NIMS ICS Guide free?
Is ICS Dashboard free?
Which has better reviews, NIMS ICS Guide or ICS Dashboard?
Do NIMS ICS Guide or ICS Dashboard have ads?
Which is updated more often, NIMS ICS Guide or ICS Dashboard?
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