# Service First vs Flag Protocol

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Service First at 55% against Flag Protocol's 0%. Service First also leads on rating (3.6 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Flag Protocol's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price 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.

Service First holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Service First's written reviews are positive against 0% of Flag Protocol's.

Service First ships an update every 2 weeks, Flag Protocol every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Service First | Flag Protocol |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/service-first-flag-alerts/id6747616299/reviews)** | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flag-protocol/id6752128454/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **54.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 23 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Service First Flagpole](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833520097) | [Curayt, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1012363586) |

## What reviewers say

### Service First

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/service-first-flag-alerts/id6747616299)

Receive timely alerts for federal and state half-staff observances, and get weather-based notifications for high winds or storms. This app assists homeowners, businesses, schools, and organizations in maintaining flag etiquette and safety with personalized updates.

**Highlights:** Half-staff alerts by state and nation, Weather-based flag lowering notifications, Calendar of upcoming observances, Location-based personalized updates, Flag etiquette guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Flag Protocol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flag-protocol/id6752128454)

This app provides up-to-date information on when to fly the US flag at full staff versus half staff. It's designed to be free and easy to use, ensuring you always display your flag correctly.

**Highlights:** Full staff vs. half staff guidance, Up-to-date flag display information, Easy setup, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Service First free?

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

### Is Flag Protocol free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Service First or Flag Protocol?

Service First is rated higher. Service First averages 3.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Flag Protocol averages 2.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Service First or Flag Protocol have ads?

Service First shows ads; Flag Protocol does not.

### Which is updated more often, Service First or Flag Protocol?

Service First ships an update every 2 weeks, and Flag Protocol every 2 months. Most recently, Service First was updated on October 14, 2026 and Flag Protocol on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*