# Sentinel vs SafeChain

The clearest difference is update cadence: SafeChain at every 2 months against Sentinel's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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, SafeChain every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sentinel | SafeChain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 9.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reference Point Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/662867085) | [Hayden McIntee](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783494436) |

## 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


### SafeChain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safechain/id6783494434)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sentinel free?

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

### Is SafeChain free?

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

### Do Sentinel or SafeChain have ads?

Neither Sentinel nor SafeChain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sentinel or SafeChain?

Sentinel ships an update every 4 months, and SafeChain every 2 months. Most recently, Sentinel was updated on October 20, 2026 and SafeChain on October 14, 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.*