Comparison

Hero911 vs Community by RapidSOS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hero911

This app alerts law enforcement officers to active school shooting emergencies. It provides mapped locations, officer response status, and a timer, while also notifying 911 call centers. Designed for certified law enforcement and qualified retired officers.

Highlights
  • Active school shooting alerts
  • Mapped incident locations
  • Officer response tracking
  • Alert timer
  • Simultaneous 911 notification
  • Proximity-based alerts
Read full description

This application is restricted only to active law enforcement officers in good standing of a federal, state or local law enforcement agency, or a retired officer in good standing, as defined in accordance with 18 USC § 926C, a “qualified retired law enforcement officer.” The Hero Network™ is a voluntary, nonprofit foundation of federal, state and local law enforcement officers. The Hero Network™ forms a Social Protection Network™ dedicated to reducing law enforcement response time to active school shooting incidents. When installed, the app will alert officers of an active school shooting emergency. The alerts are sent to all on duty and off duty officers who are in close proximity to the incident. The app alerts the officers, displays a mapped location of the school, reports how many uniformed and plain clothes officers have acknowledged the alert AND provides a timer from the onset of the initial alert. The app is part of a system that simultaneously calls the appropriate 911 call center. ALL federal, state and local law enforcement officers, including certified retirees, are encouraged to download the app and join the Hero Network™ today! You must certify that you are a law enforcement officer during the signup process. Your signup will be fully vetted before your app will be activated. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is punishable to the extent of a felony violation. Please be aware that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Community by RapidSOS

This app connects life-saving data from connected devices and buildings directly to 911 and emergency responders. It aims to revolutionize emergency response by providing critical information to save lives.

Highlights
  • Securely links life-saving data
  • Connects to 911 and responders
  • Supports over 540 million devices
  • Trusted by public safety agencies
  • Pioneering public safety solutions
Features
Read full description

Transforming Public Safety with RapidSOS RapidSOS is revolutionizing emergency response by securely linking life-saving data from over 540 million connected devices and buildings directly to 911, RapidSOS Safety Agents, and field responders across the globe. Why are: + Purpose-Driven: At RapidSOS, we are doers who roll up our sleeves to assist in over 165 million emergencies annually. Every second matters, and no task is too big or small when saving lives is on the line. + Trusted and Secure: We are committed to trust and safety, acting with integrity even when no one is watching. Our technology and team are trusted by public safety agencies worldwide. + Urgency in Action: We understand that emergencies don’t wait, so we move fast while maintaining the highest standards of quality to support first responders. + Innovative Solutions: RapidSOS is pioneering the future of public safety by challenging the status quo and constantly seeking new ways to enhance emergency response. + A Shared Mission: In partnership with the world’s most innovative companies, RapidSOS works tirelessly to keep local communities safe. Our work has a global impact, ensuring that every second of our effort contributes to saving lives. + Team-Centric Culture: We operate as a cohesive unit with no room for ego, celebrating our collective success. Our inclusive, empathetic, and supportive team is always ready to innovate and grow together. + Flexibility and Growth: We believe in a culture of flexibility and trust, allowing our team to live multi-faceted lives while doing their best work. Continuous learning and development are at the heart of what we do as we reimagine the future of public safety. Join us in making the world a safer place. Download RapidSOS today and be part of the life-saving mission.

Screenshots

Hero9114 screens
Community by RapidSOS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Community by RapidSOS at 4.3 against Hero911's 3.2. Community by RapidSOS also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Hero911's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (55 vs 8). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Community by RapidSOS holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hero911 has 55 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hero911 ships an update every 2 months, Community by RapidSOS weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hero911 versus Community by RapidSOS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHero911Community by RapidSOS
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (55 ratings)4.3 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings55 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB143 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperGuard911, LLCRapidSOS, Inc.

Customer experience

Hero911

All ratings50 ratings
Positive46.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative44.0%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive23.8%
Neutral14.3%
Negative61.9%

Community by RapidSOS

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

Hero911

No in-app purchases

None

Community by RapidSOS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hero911 free?
Hero911 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Community by RapidSOS free?
Community by RapidSOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hero911 or Community by RapidSOS?
Community by RapidSOS is rated higher. Hero911 averages 3.2 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Community by RapidSOS averages 4.3 from 8 ratings.
Do Hero911 or Community by RapidSOS have ads?
Neither Hero911 nor Community by RapidSOS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hero911 or Community by RapidSOS?
Hero911 ships an update every 2 months, and Community by RapidSOS weekly. Most recently, Hero911 was updated on October 23, 2026 and Community by RapidSOS on October 30, 2026.

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