Comparison

Cargo Decoder Plus vs Chemdata

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

Head to head
About

Cargo Decoder Plus

Instantly identify hazardous materials by their 4-digit DOT placard number. Access comprehensive safety information from multiple Emergency Response Guidebook editions, even offline. Quickly search by number or material name for critical details.

Highlights
  • Identify materials by DOT placard number
  • Access ERG 2024, 2020, 2016, 2012 editions
  • Search by UN/NA placard number or material name
  • View protective distance and toxic inhalation hazards
  • Offline access, no network required
  • Learn about GHS classification and labeling
Features
Read full description

Cargo Decoder is your guide to what is in the truck or tanker next to you on the highway. Enter the 4 digit number from the DOT placard to learn about a material. See details from both the 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG 2024) If you need them, ERG 2020, ERG 2016 and ERG 2012 are available too. Powerful search capabilities will help you quickly find information by matching just part of the UN/NA placard number or material name. Protective distance information, toxic inhalation hazards, and ERG2020 reference pages are just a touch away for emergency responders and HazMat personnel. A simple touch quickly gets you to the information you need. Cargo Decoder Plus uses no network bandwidth so information will always be available even if your network is not. - Find safety information on hazardous cargo - Search by name or input DOT number - View ERG2024, ERG2020, ERG2016, or ERG2012 reference pages - Access directly on device, no network connection required - Share information with friends and colleagues - Learn about the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)

About

Chemdata

Access a comprehensive chemical hazard database offline for incident management. Provides detailed information on over 62,000 chemicals, including safety, transport, and emergency response guidance. Offers multilingual support and regular updates.

Highlights
  • Offline chemical database access
  • Hazardous chemical identification
  • Incident command support
  • Transport classification
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance
  • Multilingual support (EN, NL, FR, DE, ES)
Features
Read full description

If your organisation handles chemicals and you need to know how to manage their risks, Pocket Chemdata® is simply a 'must have'. Pocket Chemdata is a reliable, interactive database subscription service providing access to over 62,000 documents and more than 186,000 different chemical names including pure and trade-name chemicals. Pocket Chemdata provides clear information including how to manage their hazardous affects. PRODUCT BENEFITS: •Simple and easy-to-use chemical and chemical hazard identification •Incident commanders can access chemical information from anywhere in the world (no internet connection required) •Helps to mitigate the consequences of incidents •Regularly updated database, so users always have the latest information •Information is installed on the device, so an internet connection is not required to access data •Provides the same clear concise advice as the standard Chemdata® FEATURES: •Powerful search functionality for efficient chemical identification •UN number, ADR HIN, EAC codes •Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements •Physical form information •Transport classification •Chemical hazard information (only available to subscribers) •Reactivity guidance (only available to subscribers) •Fire, decontamination and first aid advice (only available to subscribers) •Precautions information including large and small spill advice (only available to subscribers) •Environmental data (only available to subscribers) •Physical properties (only available to subscribers) •Add private notes and comments against chemical records (only available to subscribers) •Sync private notes and comments with your organisation’s central Chemdata solution (only available to subscribers) Designed and continuously maintained by emergency responders from Ricardo's NCEC, one of the world's leading chemical emergency centres, Pocket Chemdata is one of the most trusted sources of chemical information available. Data is updated approximately twice a year to ensure responders have access to up-to-date information. Pocket Chemdata is used globally by organisations, including fire and other emergency services, to provide invaluable and timely advice in the event of chemical spillages, fires and contamination incidents. Trust Pocket Chemdata for clear and concise information on more than 62,000 substances, at your fingertips. The free app provides access to one full record, to demonstrate the full capabilities of the system, this can be found by searching for the ‘Chlorine’ record or document number 5. LANGUAGES As well as English, Pocket Chemdata includes Dutch, French, German and Spanish translations - all in the one app. SUPPORT We would really like to know what you think about Pocket Chemdata, so please visit www.chemdata.co.uk to provide feedback or ask questions. Alternatively, you can email us at chemdata@ricardo.com. Chemdata® and Pocket Chemdata® have been developed for NCEC by Ark Software Ltd and Payot Ltd.

Screenshots

Cargo Decoder Plus4 screens
Chemdata3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chemdata at Free against Cargo Decoder Plus's $1.99. Chemdata also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). Cargo Decoder Plus's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 19 months). On review sentiment, 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

Chemdata is free to download; Cargo Decoder Plus costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cargo Decoder Plus ships an update monthly, Chemdata every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cargo Decoder Plus versus Chemdata: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCargo Decoder PlusChemdata
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 19 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB49 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperStrategies In SoftwareRicardo-AEA ltd

Customer experience

Cargo Decoder Plus

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

Chemdata

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Cargo Decoder Plus

No in-app purchases

None

Chemdata

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cargo Decoder Plus free?
Cargo Decoder Plus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chemdata free?
Chemdata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cargo Decoder Plus or Chemdata have ads?
Neither Cargo Decoder Plus nor Chemdata shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cargo Decoder Plus or Chemdata?
Cargo Decoder Plus ships an update monthly, and Chemdata every 19 months. Most recently, Cargo Decoder Plus was updated on September 14, 2026 and Chemdata on June 5, 2026.

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