# Sentinel vs TrustID Chip Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: TrustID Chip Reader at every 6 weeks against Sentinel's every 4 months. Sentinel's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, 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.

Sentinel ships an update every 4 months, TrustID Chip Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sentinel | TrustID Chip Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trustid-chip-reader/id1591455859/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 9.8% of reviews | **12.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 6 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reference Point Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/662867085) | [TrustID Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/990217318) |

## What reviewers say

### Sentinel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentinel/id662867082)

Access and verify Network Rail Sentinel smartcards. Check your own card details or authenticate team members and conduct spot checks. Works online for real-time data or offline for card access and stored check history.

**Highlights:** Read Sentinel smartcards via NFC, Scan QR codes for card data, Verify cardholder information, Authenticate team members, Perform spot checks, Check TVPs (Track Vacancy Permits), Offline access to card data

**In-app purchases:** none


### TrustID Chip Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trustid-chip-reader/id1591455859)

Securely scan and verify the NFC chip embedded in your passport or ID card. This application provides a straightforward method for digital identity verification.

**Highlights:** Scan NFC chips, Verify passport data, Verify ID card data, Secure scanning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick scan when it works
- 👍 Straightforward process (when functional)
- ✅ Worked first time for some users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent passport chip scan failures
- 🐛 App not recognized after download
- 🐛 Camera not opening/black screen
- 🐛 Browser redirection issues
- 🐛 Frustrating and time-consuming

**Reported bugs**

- Passport chip scan fails repeatedly
- App not recognized even after download
- Camera not opening or showing a black screen
- Browser link does not redirect to the app
- App gets stuck on the welcome screen

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Fix browser redirection issues
- Provide clear instructions for users
- Ensure app works with default browsers
- Make the app compatible with all devices and browsers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sentinel free?

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

### Is TrustID Chip Reader free?

TrustID Chip Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Sentinel or TrustID Chip Reader have ads?

Neither Sentinel nor TrustID Chip Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sentinel or TrustID Chip Reader?

Sentinel ships an update every 4 months, and TrustID Chip Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, Sentinel was updated on June 8, 2026 and TrustID Chip Reader on September 21, 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.*