Comparison

ActiveAlert vs Brass Tacks

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

Head to head
About

ActiveAlert

This app provides essential call details directly on your smartphone, eliminating the need to manually record information or enter addresses while driving. It automatically maps alarm locations, facilitates real-time response coordination, and organizes past and current calls.

Highlights
  • Real-time call details on smartphone
  • Automatic alarm location mapping
  • Real-time response coordination map
  • Access photos and documents
  • Converts dispatch data
  • Manage past and current calls
Features
Read full description

ActiveAlert helps you respond to calls faster by getting the essential details right in your smartphone. No more copying down dispatch information or trying to enter an address while driving. - Uses Apple Push instead of SMS - Automatically maps alarm location - Coordinate response with others using real-time map - Access relevant photos and documents from your phone - Converts hard-to-read dispatch data into legible sections - Manage past and current calls

About

Brass Tacks

This app helps individuals overcome overwhelm and procrastination by focusing on one task at a time. It offers smart prioritization, task breakdown, timed focus sessions, and AI assistance to boost productivity and manage workload effectively.

Highlights
  • One task at a time prioritization
  • Task breakdown with AI assistance
  • Timed focus sessions
  • Focus companion mode
  • Rescue mode for overwhelm
  • Context memory for task switching
  • AI assistant for task queries
Features
Read full description

Brasstacks is a focus and productivity companion for people who struggle with overwhelm, prioritization, and getting started. Most apps give you a list and expect you to just do the things. That doesn't work when your brain fights you on deciding what matters, starting, and staying on track. Brasstacks takes a different approach. ONE TASK AT A TIME Instead of overwhelming lists, Brasstacks shows you one task — the right task, right now. Smart prioritization weighs urgency, importance, deadlines, and your own productivity patterns to surface what matters most. ONE TASK AT A TIME Instead of overwhelming lists, Brasstacks shows you one task — the right task, right now. Smart prioritization weighs urgency, importance, deadlines, and your own productivity patterns to surface what matters most. BREAK IT DOWN Big tasks cause paralysis. Break any task into micro-steps — small, concrete actions you can actually start. Use pre-built templates or let AI generate steps for you. FOCUS SESSIONS & FOCUS COMPANION Timed focus sessions with gentle transition warnings at 80%. Focus companion mode provides check-ins every 5 minutes — like having someone quietly working alongside you. RESCUE MODE For those moments when everything feels like too much. Four options: do just 5 minutes on one thing, park it with a note for later, box breathing, or a grounding exercise. No judgment, just support. CONTEXT MEMORY When you switch away from a task, Brasstacks asks where you left off. When you come back, that note is waiting. No more losing time trying to remember what you were doing. GENTLE NUDGES, NEVER GUILT Customizable reminders — supportive, direct, or playful. Quiet hours when you need silence. No streaks, no shame, no red "overdue" warnings. LEARNS YOUR PATTERNS Over time, Brasstacks notices when you're most productive and adjusts suggestions. Track your energy levels and let the app work with your natural rhythms. AI ASSISTANT Ask questions in plain English: "What tasks do I have?", "What did I finish this week?", "How does focus companion work?" Uses your own AI provider (Claude, OpenAI, or Gemini) — bring your own API key. YOUR DATA STAYS PRIVATE Your tasks, notes, and patterns are never sold, shared with advertisers, or used to train AI models. Rescue mode data gets the highest privacy protection. NOT A MEDICAL DEVICE Brasstacks is a productivity companion, not a medical device or therapy replacement. It does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition.

Screenshots

ActiveAlert4 screens
Brass Tacks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Brass Tacks at 5.0 against ActiveAlert's 4.1. ActiveAlert's advantage is ratings volume (741 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Brass Tacks holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActiveAlert has 741 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ActiveAlert ships an update every 9 days, Brass Tacks weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ActiveAlert versus Brass Tacks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterActiveAlertBrass Tacks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (741 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings741 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperActive911SAJID INSAF

Customer experience

ActiveAlert

All ratings741 ratings
Positive75.8%
Neutral9.4%
Negative14.7%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive55.2%
Neutral17.9%
Negative26.9%

Brass Tacks

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

ActiveAlert

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Continuous paging/re-alerting issues
  • Inability to disable repeat paging
  • Alerts not working when phone is on silent
  • Crashing and freezing issues
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

Requested features

8 requests
  • Favorites or saved calls list
  • Ability to adjust alert volume
  • More alert tone options
  • Improved map routing and integration
  • Customizable themes and color schemes
Show 3 more
  • Ability to mark on-duty/off-duty status with one button
  • Improved call details formatting and organization
  • Widgets and CarPlay integration

Brass Tacks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ActiveAlert

No in-app purchases

None

Brass Tacks

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ActiveAlert free?
ActiveAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Brass Tacks free?
Brass Tacks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ActiveAlert or Brass Tacks?
Brass Tacks is rated higher. ActiveAlert averages 4.1 out of 5 from 741 ratings, while Brass Tacks averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ActiveAlert or Brass Tacks have ads?
Neither ActiveAlert nor Brass Tacks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ActiveAlert or Brass Tacks?
ActiveAlert ships an update every 9 days, and Brass Tacks weekly. Most recently, ActiveAlert was updated on October 18, 2026 and Brass Tacks on September 24, 2026.

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