# NIU vs Safe Redbirds

The clearest difference is rating: Safe Redbirds at 4.5 against NIU's 2.9. Safe Redbirds also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). NIU's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 11 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Safe Redbirds holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of NIU's written reviews are positive against 50% of Safe Redbirds's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NIU ships an update every 5 months, Safe Redbirds every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIU | Safe Redbirds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu/id439798389/reviews) | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-redbirds/id1474967908/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **71.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Northern Illinois University](https://appshunter.io/developer/439798392) | [Illinois State University](https://appshunter.io/developer/579933715) |

## What reviewers say

### NIU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niu/id439798389)

Access essential campus information, including event schedules, tech support, and residence hall updates. Find emergency contacts, navigate with campus maps, and connect through social media.

**Highlights:** Campus resource links, Event calendars, Tech guides, Laundry machine status, Emergency information, Campus maps, Social media integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Safe Redbirds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-redbirds/id1474967908)

This app provides Illinois State University students, faculty, and guests with enhanced campus safety. It offers emergency alerts, direct access to safety resources, and tools for personal safety and reporting concerns.

**Highlights:** Emergency alerts and contacts, Campus safety guides (text/video), Virtual Blue Light emergency feature, Request campus escorts (Redbird Safe Walk), Friend Walk location sharing, Tip reporting to campus police, Interactive campus maps

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NIU free?

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

### Is Safe Redbirds free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NIU or Safe Redbirds?

Safe Redbirds is rated higher. NIU averages 2.9 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Safe Redbirds averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do NIU or Safe Redbirds have ads?

Neither NIU nor Safe Redbirds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NIU or Safe Redbirds?

NIU ships an update every 5 months, and Safe Redbirds every 11 months. Most recently, NIU was updated on October 21, 2026 and Safe Redbirds on October 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.*