Dead Man's Switch vs A Dead Mens Switch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dead Man's Switch
This app acts as a digital safety net, automatically notifying chosen contacts if you fail to check in within a set interval. It's designed for situations where you might be alone or in a risky environment, providing peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
- Set custom check-in intervals
- Designate emergency contacts
- Compose custom alert messages
- Automatic email notifications
- Optional SMS alerts with credits
- Reminders before alert triggers
Read full descriptionHide full description
Free to use: email alerts, reminders, widgets, Apple Watch, the daily deadline and up to 3 people. Dead Man's Switch checks that you're OK. Choose how often you'll check in, anywhere from once a day to once a year. Miss your deadline and your phone reminds you. Still no check-in after the grace window, and the people you chose get an email with the message you wrote. It's for anyone who lives alone, hikes or travels solo, has a health condition, or wants the people who care about them to know if something is wrong. CHECK IN WITH ONE TAP • From the app, a widget, a notification, Siri, Control Center or the Action Button • Or automatically: a Shortcuts automation can check you in when you stop your morning alarm • Or press and hold the app icon and tap Check in • On Apple Watch: see the time left on your watch face and check in from your wrist • On your Lock Screen: in the last 8 hours, the time left and a Check in button that works without unlocking • A live countdown shows exactly how long you have, down to the second • Every check-in is confirmed by our server, so what you see is what will happen • Every day by a set time: pick a time, say 9 PM, and that's your deadline every day. Checking in early doesn't move it KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, AND WHEN • See when your contacts would be emailed, and who • Reminders every day and before your deadline • Still no check-in an hour before anyone is told? Your phone can ring like an alarm clock, even on silent (iOS 26) • Settings > Reminders lists what your phone will do next: each reminder in order, then when your people are told • A grace window before anyone is emailed • Send a test email so your contacts know what to expect • If you check in after an alert went out, your contacts get an "all clear" email • Each alert email has a button your people tap to say they're checking on you, and the app shows who did YOUR MESSAGE, YOUR PEOPLE • Write one message for everyone, or a personal one for each person • One tap adds what they'd need: your address, where the spare key is, who relies on you, health notes, who to call • Your contacts don't need the app. They just get an email • When you add someone, they get one short heads-up email from us, so a real alert is never a surprise (you can switch it off) • A typo in someone's address (like gmial.com) is caught when you add them • The people you add are kept on our server only to send your alerts, never shared or sold, and deleted when you turn the switch off. The app asks before anything is sent TEXT ALERTS (US AND CANADA) • Your contacts can get a text as well as the email, once they say yes with one tap • Texts come in small packs. Emails are always free AWAY MODE • Going somewhere without signal? Pick the day you're back, and nobody is emailed before then PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account to create • No location tracking DEAD MAN'S SWITCH PRO (OPTIONAL) • Safety timer: a hike, a run, a first date? Set 1 to 23 hours and where you're going. Not back in time? Your people get your message with that note on top. Start it in the app, with Siri or from the app icon • Up to 10 people instead of 3 • App icons: Pulse, Green, Moon or Daylight on your Home Screen instead of the candle • Yearly $9.99 with the first week free, monthly $1.99, or lifetime $19.99 once • Bought the app before it was free? Pro is included • Subscriptions renew automatically until you cancel in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Available in English, Spanish, German, Polish, French, Italian, Dutch, Japanese and Korean. Dead Man's Switch is not an emergency service and does not contact emergency services. If you are in danger, call 911 or your local emergency number.
A Dead Mens Switch
This personal safety application automatically notifies your designated emergency contacts if you do not check in within a predetermined time frame. It offers customizable check-in intervals and secure login options for peace of mind.
- One-tap check-in
- Customizable check-in intervals
- Multiple emergency contacts
- Customizable notification messages
- Face ID / Touch ID login
- Two-factor authentication
- Reminder notifications
Read full descriptionHide full description
Dead Men's Switch is a personal safety app that automatically alerts your emergency contacts if you fail to check in within your set time interval. HOW IT WORKS- • Set your check-in interval (1 hour to 7 days) • Add trusted emergency contacts • Check in regularly with one tap • If you miss a check-in, your contacts are automatically notified PERFECT FOR • People who live alone • Solo travelers and hikers • Remote workers • Anyone who wants peace of mind • International KEY FEATURES • Simple one-tap check-in • Customizable check-in intervals • Multiple emergency contacts • Custom notification messages • Face ID / Touch ID login • Two-factor authentication • Reminder notifications before deadline • Check-in streak tracking PRIVACY FIRST Your data is secure. We only collect what's necessary to keep you safe. Read our privacy policy for details. Stay safe. Stay connected. Check in.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A Dead Mens Switch at none against Dead Man's Switch's 6. A Dead Mens Switch also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Dead Man's Switch's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Dead Man's Switch sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. A Dead Mens Switch asks for nothing beyond the download.
A Dead Mens Switch holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Dead Man's Switch's written reviews are positive against 33% of A Dead Mens Switch's.
Dead Man's Switch ships an update every 6 days, A Dead Mens Switch every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dead Man's Switch | A Dead Mens Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aaron Jin | Wellington Mukahiwa |
Customer experience
Dead Man's Switch
A Dead Mens Switch
In-app purchases
Dead Man's Switch
- Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- 5 Texts$0.99
- 15 Texts$1.99
- 40 Texts$3.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Pro Lifetime$19.99
A Dead Mens Switch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Dead Man's Switch free?
Is A Dead Mens Switch free?
Which has better reviews, Dead Man's Switch or A Dead Mens Switch?
Do Dead Man's Switch or A Dead Mens Switch have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dead Man's Switch or A Dead Mens Switch?
Other comparisons















