Comparison

DrinkControl vs Reliant EMU

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

Head to head
About

DrinkControl

This app helps you track your alcohol intake, calories, and expenses. It converts drinks into standard alcohol units and provides insights into your drinking habits to help you cut back or stay mindful. Features include history tracking, dry day streaks, and personalized statistics.

Highlights
  • Track drinks, alcohol units, and calories
  • Monitor alcohol expenses
  • View drinking history in a calendar
  • Mark dry/sober days and streaks
  • Analyze alcohol and calorie consumption trends
  • Sync with Apple Health
  • Personalized drink infographics
Features
Read full description

More than a log — it’s your accountability partner. Track what, when, and how much you drink. Non-judgemental with full privacy (data is on your device only). DrinkControl helps you stay accountable and notice patterns in your drinking habits. Whether you're trying to cut back, stick to certain days, or simply stay more mindful, this app keeps you on track. “This app helped me reduce my drinking by simply making me aware.” We think and drink in glasses, cans and bottles — not alcohol units. But not all beers, wines, or cocktails contain the same amount of alcohol. DrinkControl takes the guesswork out of the equation by converting every drink into standard alcohol units / grams of pure alcohol, based on real guidelines from health institutions. “Really opens your eyes when you see how many units are in a few ‘innocent’ drinks.” Alcohol doesn’t just affect your liver — it affects your waistline and wallet too. Drinks are full of empty (without any nutritional value) calories. DrinkControl helps you stay aware of the amount of calories in your drinks, making it easier to manage your weight, cut down for health reasons, or save money. “This app helped me lose weight and drink less at the same time.” Features: - Easily and quickly track your drinks and alcohol expenses - Track and see your drinking history in calendar - Stay within low-risk/moderate alcohol limits - Mark your dry/sober days and streaks - Charts, trend-line and statistics on alcohol/calories consumed, money spent on drinks - Sync alcohol units (standard drinks) and alcohol calories with Apple Health - Get your personal infographic on drinks consumed Premium features include: - Add DrinkControl widgets for your homescreen - Set and customize drink tracking reminders/notifications - Get statistics and charts for previous months/weeks, quarters or years - Look back in the history, create an infographic for full month or year - Customize with your favourite types of drinks and serving sizes - Export data to .csv file for use in Excel/Numbers - Back up your data to iCloud or Dropbox - Select one of many alternate app icons Terms, Conditions and Privacy: https://drinkcontrolapp.com/privacy

About

Reliant EMU

This application connects to a portable breath alcohol tester to monitor individuals in programs requiring alcohol-free behavior. It provides a digital platform for tracking and reporting alcohol consumption data.

Highlights
  • Connects to portable breathalyzer
  • Monitors alcohol-free behavior
  • Digital data tracking
  • Program enrollment support
  • Smartphone integration
Features
Read full description

RELIANT EMU (Electronic Monitoring Unit) is a portable breath alcohol tester connected to a Smartphone using a proprietary App for monitoring of subjects enrolled in programs observing alcohol free behavior

Screenshots

DrinkControl4 screens
Reliant EMU2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DrinkControl at 4.8 against Reliant EMU's 3.4. DrinkControl also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 60%) and ratings volume (4.4K vs 20). Reliant EMU's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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

Both are free to download. DrinkControl sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Reliant EMU asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DrinkControl holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DrinkControl has 4.4K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of DrinkControl's written reviews are positive against 60% of Reliant EMU's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrinkControl ships an update every 3 weeks, Reliant EMU every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
DrinkControl versus Reliant EMU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrinkControlReliant EMU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4.4K ratings) — better3.4 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.4K — better20
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.49.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB46 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperE-protectAlcohol Countermeasure Systems Inc

Customer experience

DrinkControl

All ratings4,355 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral3.2%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews659 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative2.6%

Reliant EMU

All ratings18 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

DrinkControl

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Calendar view shows incorrect day colors
  • Email button opens wrong mail app

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add custom drink size and ABV options
  • Allow users to set their own drink limits
  • Improve overall UI and UX
  • Implement time-of-day tracking for drinks

Reliant EMU

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

DrinkControl

Subscriptions7
  • Monthly tip/donation$0.991 Month
  • Premium$2.991 Month
  • DrinkControl Plus (monthly)$3.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • DrinkControl Premium (monthly)$3.991 Month
  • Premium$6.991 Year
  • DrinkControl Premium (yearly)$11.991 Year
  • DrinkControl Plus (annual)$14.991 Year
One-time6
  • Generous Tip$2.99
  • Premium features (promo)$4.99
  • Premium features$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Premium, lifetime$14.99
  • Premium, lifetime$19.99
  • Premium, lifetime$24.99
None

Reliant EMU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DrinkControl free?
DrinkControl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reliant EMU free?
Reliant EMU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DrinkControl or Reliant EMU?
DrinkControl is rated higher. DrinkControl averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.4K ratings, while Reliant EMU averages 3.4 from 20 ratings.
Do DrinkControl or Reliant EMU have ads?
Neither DrinkControl nor Reliant EMU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrinkControl or Reliant EMU?
DrinkControl ships an update every 3 weeks, and Reliant EMU every 2 months. Most recently, DrinkControl was updated on October 29, 2026 and Reliant EMU on October 24, 2026.

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