# ALRM vs Thoughtmarks

The clearest difference is rating: Thoughtmarks at 5.0 against ALRM's 4.2. Thoughtmarks also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). ALRM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Thoughtmarks sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per 7 days. ALRM asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thoughtmarks holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of ALRM's written reviews are positive against 100% of Thoughtmarks's.

ALRM ships an update fortnightly, Thoughtmarks every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ALRM | Thoughtmarks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alrm/id6739757486/reviews) | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thoughtmarks-capture-thoughts/id6746895453/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 22 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kevin Phelan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786881908) | [Nickolas Sawyer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818928989) |

## What reviewers say

### ALRM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alrm/id6739757486)

This app acts as a personal safety companion for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. It uses AI to detect critical sounds like fire alarms and sirens, alerting users through visual and haptic feedback. Designed with privacy and accessibility in mind, it works offline and is battery optimized.

**Highlights:** Critical sound detection (fire alarms, sirens), Multi-modal alerts (screen flash, LED, haptics), On-device sound processing for privacy, Simplified, accessible UI, Customizable geofence alerts, Offline functionality, Battery optimization

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Thoughtmarks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thoughtmarks-capture-thoughts/id6746895453)

Capture ideas instantly with voice notes and AI-powered organization. This app helps you find forgotten thoughts through semantic search and smart filing. It's designed for busy minds to think better by organizing and rediscovering inspiration.

**Highlights:** Voice notes with automatic transcription, AI-powered titles, tags, and filing, Semantic search for easy recall, Smart bins for projects and topics, Offline-first architecture, Siri capture and Apple Watch integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access Weekly Subscription | $5.00 | per 7 days |
| All Access Monthly Subscription | $15.00 | per month |
| All Acccess Annual Subscription | $90.00 | per year |
| Thoughtmarks+ Pro AI Credit Pack | $10.00 | one-time |
| Thoughtmarks+ Power AI Credit Pack | $50.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ALRM free?

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

### Is Thoughtmarks free?

Thoughtmarks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ALRM or Thoughtmarks?

Thoughtmarks is rated higher. ALRM averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Thoughtmarks averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.

### Do ALRM or Thoughtmarks have ads?

Neither ALRM nor Thoughtmarks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ALRM or Thoughtmarks?

ALRM ships an update fortnightly, and Thoughtmarks every 2 days. Most recently, ALRM was updated on September 26, 2026 and Thoughtmarks on September 30, 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.*