SchoolGuard vs Viking Connect App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SchoolGuard
This app provides K-12 school staff with an immediate panic button for emergencies. Upon activation, it alerts law enforcement, school personnel, and nearby protected schools, while displaying the alert's location.
- One-tap panic button for emergencies
- Alerts law enforcement and school staff
- Sends location data
- Notifies nearby schools
- Listed in AT&T FirstNet App Catalog
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SchoolGuard is a mobile panic button app for K-12 school staff. In the event of an active school shooting emergency, a teacher or school staff member presses the main SchoolGuard panic button. As the app is dialing 911, an alert is immediately sent to the smartphones of all federal, state and local, ON and OFF duty, law enforcement officers who are in close proximity to the school and who belong to the Hero911 Network. Additionally, an intra-school alert is simultaneously sent to the smartphones of all school staff and a mapped location of the initial alert is displayed (mapping depends on cell coverage). SchoolGuard also alerts all other protected schools within a 5 mile radius of the initial alert. SchoolGuard is also listed in the AT&T FirsNet App Catalog as an emergency app for first responders. Please be aware that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Viking Connect App
This app connects schools and families, providing a central hub for all important updates, messages, and alerts. It facilitates communication between teachers and parents, ensuring families stay informed about school news, assignments, and events.
- School news and classroom updates
- Direct messaging with teachers
- Automated translation in 190+ languages
- School alerts and notices
- Event and volunteer sign-ups
- Absence and tardy reporting
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What is Viking Connect? Viking Connect helps schools and families stay connected and informed—all in one easy place. Whether it’s a quick message from a teacher, an important alert from the district, or a reminder about tomorrow’s field trip, Viking Connect makes sure families never miss a thing. Why families and teachers love Viking Connect: • Simple, easy-to-use app and website • Messages are automatically translated into 190+ languages • Best-in-class safety and security practices • One place for all school updates, alerts, and messages With Viking Connect, families and staff save time and stay connected—so everyone can focus on helping students succeed. Viking Connect for iOS The Viking Connect app makes it easy for families to stay in the loop and engage with their child’s school community. With the app, parents and guardians can: • See school news, classroom updates, and photos • Receive important notices like attendance alerts and cafeteria balances • Message teachers and staff directly • Join group conversations • Sign up for wishlist items, volunteering, and conferences • Respond to absences or tardies* • Pay school-related fees and invoices* * If included with your school's implementation
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SchoolGuard at 5.0 against Viking Connect App's 3.4. SchoolGuard also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Viking Connect App's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (28 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SchoolGuard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Viking Connect App has 28 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of SchoolGuard's written reviews are positive against 33% of Viking Connect App's.
SchoolGuard ships an update every 6 months, Viking Connect App weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SchoolGuard | Viking Connect App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 3.4 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 28 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 154 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Guard911, LLC | ParentSquare |
Customer experience
SchoolGuard
Viking Connect App
In-app purchases
SchoolGuard
No in-app purchases
Viking Connect App
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SchoolGuard free?
Is Viking Connect App free?
Which has better reviews, SchoolGuard or Viking Connect App?
Do SchoolGuard or Viking Connect App have ads?
Which is updated more often, SchoolGuard or Viking Connect App?
Other comparisons
