# Stanley vs Columbia Protocol

The clearest difference is rating: Columbia Protocol at 4.6 against Stanley's 3.8. Stanley's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Columbia Protocol holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Stanley's written reviews are positive against 50% of Columbia Protocol's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Stanley ships an update every 5 weeks, Columbia Protocol every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stanley | Columbia Protocol |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stanley-brown-safety-plan/id695122998/reviews) | **[4.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/columbia-protocol/id1450966911/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | **57.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Two Penguins Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/659621625) | [PSS Chute Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1019573904) |

## What reviewers say

### Stanley

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stanley-brown-safety-plan/id695122998)

This app guides users through creating a personalized safety plan to manage suicidal crises and distress. It helps individuals identify warning signs, coping strategies, and support networks. The plan is designed to be brief, personal, and easy to follow during emergencies.

**Highlights:** Identify warning signs, Develop internal coping strategies, List distracting social contacts and settings, Identify helpful family and friends, List professional help contacts, Make environment safe

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Columbia Protocol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/columbia-protocol/id1450966911)

This application provides a standardized tool for assessing suicide risk through a series of questions. It is designed for widespread use to aid in suicide prevention, offering guidance for low or moderate risk responses.

**Highlights:** Suicide risk assessment, Evidence-supported tool, Simple question series, Global usability, Mental health referral guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stanley free?

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

### Is Columbia Protocol free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stanley or Columbia Protocol?

Columbia Protocol is rated higher. Stanley averages 3.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Columbia Protocol averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.

### Do Stanley or Columbia Protocol have ads?

Neither Stanley nor Columbia Protocol shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stanley or Columbia Protocol?

Stanley ships an update every 5 weeks, and Columbia Protocol every 6 weeks. Most recently, Stanley was updated on October 24, 2026 and Columbia Protocol on October 22, 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.*