Comparison

Service NSW vs Emergency Plus

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

Head to head
About

Service NSW

Access essential government services and digital credentials securely. Manage driver licenses, competency cards, and more. Features quick QR code check-ins, fine payments, and access to important health information.

Highlights
  • Digital driver license
  • QR code check-in
  • View and pay fines
  • Access competency cards
  • Verify digital licenses
  • COVID-19 and Flu information
Features
Read full description

The official Service NSW app, making it easier to access government services. Some 5 star reviews: • “I highly recommend it as it is very convenient to have all this information at one’s fingertips” - AM • “Absolutely amazing! Easy to install, shows demerit points and fines, and displays your licence securely” – DB Access the following digital licences and credentials, with more to come: • Driver Licence • RSA/RCG Competency Card • Working with Children Check • Recreational Fishing Licence • Boat Driver Licence • Seniors card • Trade Licences Apply for and use vouchers: • Active and Creative Kids QR Code Check-in • Quick, contactless check in • Point your device camera at a Service NSW QR Code to get started • Save your details for a faster check in next time Useful tools and services: • Verify a Digital Driver Licence via our licence checker • Check or renew a registration • Sign into licensed venues • COVID-19 and Flu information • Set up for multi-factor authentication Fines and demerits: • View and pay your traffic fines • View your demerits Tell us what you think: • Help us help you! We’re always working on a better, stronger, faster app • Share what you’d like to see in the app: we use your feedback to continuously improve the app experience

About

Emergency Plus

This app helps you quickly call emergency services and accurately share your location. It provides direct access to Triple Zero (000) and other essential emergency numbers, utilizing GPS and what3words for precise location identification, even offline.

Highlights
  • Quick emergency calls
  • Accurate location sharing
  • GPS functionality
  • what3words integration
  • Offline location support
  • Access to Triple Zero (000)
Features
Read full description

Save the app that could save your life – Emergency Plus.   In an emergency, time and location accuracy are critical. By downloading the ‘Emergency +’ app, you’ll equip yourself with a powerful tool that will help you call Triple Zero (000) quickly, and allow you to accurately communicate your location to emergency call-takers.   ‘Emergency +’ is a national app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their government industry partners, helping people to call the right number at the right time, anywhere in Australia. Emergency + also includes SES and Police Assistance Line numbers as options, so non-emergency calls are made to the most appropriate number.   When calling Triple Zero (000), remember to stay focused, stay relevant and stay on the line. Before you call ask yourself:   * Is someone seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help? * Is your life or property being threatened? * Have you just witnessed a serious accident or crime?   If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, call Triple Zero (000). Triple Zero (000) calls are free.   The app uses a mobile phone’s GPS functionality and what3words, so callers can provide emergency call-takers with their location information as determined by their smart phone.   With what3words available within the Emergency+ app, Triple Zero (000) callers can confirm their exact location quickly and accurately. what3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one a unique three word identifier. Addressing using what3words works offline - ideal when you have no data coverage or are in a remote location.

Screenshots

Service NSW4 screens
Emergency Plus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Service NSW at fortnightly against Emergency Plus's every 9 months. Service NSW also leads on ratings volume (568 vs 2). Emergency Plus's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (49% vs 31%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Emergency Plus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Service NSW has 568 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Service NSW's written reviews are positive against 49% of Emergency Plus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Service NSW ships an update fortnightly, Emergency Plus every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Service NSW versus Emergency Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterService NSWEmergency Plus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (568 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.3% of reviews48.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings568 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperService NSWNational Triple Zero Awareness Work Group

Customer experience

Service NSW

All ratings568 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral2.1%
Negative9.0%
Written reviews515 reviews
Positive31.3%
Neutral6.6%
Negative62.1%

Emergency Plus

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive48.8%
Neutral14.0%
Negative37.2%

User reviews

Service NSW

From 568 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Convenient digital credentials
  • 🚀 Quick rego renewal
  • 👍 Excellent customer service
  • 👍 Improving user experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
  • 🐛 Unreliable data loading
  • 🐛 Difficult to navigate
  • 🐛 Inconsistent functionality
  • 🐛 Buggy multi-factor authentication

Emergency Plus

From 2 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great idea and concept
  • 🚀 Works well for many users
  • 💡 Useful in emergencies
  • ✅ Easy to use
  • 📍 Accurate location sharing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • ❌ Unreliable GPS/address
  • 🔴 Poor color contrast
  • 🚫 Not backward compatible
  • 📱 Requires latest OS

Bugs and requests

Service NSW

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Unable to load personal details
  • Inconsistent registration display
  • Trouble adding licenses and credentials
  • Repeated login issues
  • Unreliable COVID-19 exposure notifications

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add search functionality
  • Improve digital license management
  • Streamline credential linking process
  • Enhance COVID-19 check-in features
  • Integrate with other government services
Show 1 more
  • Provide better notifications and alerts

Emergency Plus

Reported bugs

22 issues
  • App crashes seconds after opening
  • Call drops out
  • Address shown is incorrect
  • GPS location inaccurate
  • App crashes on older iPhones (iPhone 8)
Show 17 more
  • App requires iOS 18, crashes on older versions
  • What 3 words no longer displayed
  • CPR videos have no audio
  • Address is over a kilometer out
  • Multiple WTWs for the same location
  • W3W obscured by iOS app handle
  • Text is too small
  • App gives multiple three word descriptors
  • Address shows wrong house number
  • Location is inaccurate (next street/door)
  • App thinks user is next door
  • Place names truncated
  • Inaccurate location, goes all over suburb
  • No instructions on how to save pin to home address
  • Shows GPS and address 3 mins walk away
  • App told user to dial 112 which didn't work
  • App is not compatible with iWatch

Requested features

25 requests
  • Ability to copy/paste GPS location
  • Changeable font colors
  • Save home/work addresses
  • Add metronome for CPR cadence
  • Flashing screen for CPR cadence
Show 20 more
  • WatchOS companion app
  • iPad and browser support
  • Link to AED location map
  • Include list of medications
  • Don't archive to cloud
  • Amber Alerts support
  • Apple Watch support
  • Notifications for emergencies
  • Add DAN number
  • Live Location Sharing
  • Widget for location
  • Watch integration
  • Send location coordinates as SMS
  • Add defibrillator locations
  • Closed captions for CPR videos
  • Option to add contact person
  • On water Lat/Long option
  • Store GPS coordinates for no service areas
  • Accessibility features for location identification and communication
  • Link coordinates to services for emergency responders

In-app purchases

None

Service NSW

No in-app purchases

None

Emergency Plus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Service NSW free?
Service NSW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Emergency Plus free?
Emergency Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Service NSW or Emergency Plus?
Emergency Plus is rated higher. Service NSW averages 4.6 out of 5 from 568 ratings, while Emergency Plus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Service NSW or Emergency Plus have ads?
Neither Service NSW nor Emergency Plus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Service NSW or Emergency Plus?
Service NSW ships an update fortnightly, and Emergency Plus every 9 months. Most recently, Service NSW was updated on September 22, 2026 and Emergency Plus on September 21, 2026.

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