# SZapp vs Alert SA

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Alert SA at 53% against SZapp's 4%. SZapp's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

SZapp ships an update every 3 weeks, Alert SA every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SZapp | Alert SA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alert-sa/id1487904728/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **15** |
| Positive reviews | 4.1% of reviews | **53.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 33 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Schoolzine Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/877468257) | [Government of South Australia – South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission](https://appshunter.io/developer/998243396) |

## What reviewers say

### SZapp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/szapp/id982105479)

Stay connected with your school community. Access newsletters, documents, and receive live notifications directly from your school.

**Highlights:** Access school newsletters, View school documents, Receive live notifications, Stay connected with school community

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 New interface praised
- 🚀 Fast and easy to use (rarely mentioned)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't load/open
- 🐛 Constant login issues
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Notifications not working
- 🐛 Incompatible with latest iOS

**Reported bugs**

- App does not load after latest updates
- App remains on cover/home screen
- App fails to display/load content
- Absentee form is not received
- User is logged out after quitting the app

**Requested features**

- Fix app compatibility with latest iOS
- Improve login stability
- Ensure absentee forms are received
- Fix notification issues
- Allow users to stay logged in


### Alert SA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alert-sa/id1487904728)

Receive timely alerts and warnings for various hazards like fires, heatwaves, severe weather, and floods. Customize notifications for up to 10 specific areas and stay informed about fire danger ratings and total fire bans. This official government app ensures you have critical public safety information.

**Highlights:** Multi-hazard alerts, Customizable watch zones, Fire danger ratings, Total fire ban information, Cross-border notifications, Accessibility features

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Customizable watch zones for personalized alerts
- 📍 Real-time incident mapping and location visibility
- 🔔 Reliable notifications for critical emergencies
- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
- 💾 Comprehensive incident information and details

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔊 Notification sound is intrusive and cannot be customized
- 📢 Alert fatigue from excessive non-critical notifications
- 🐛 Notifications fail to arrive despite enabled settings
- ❌ Frozen app after recent updates (iOS)
- 📍 Insufficient location details in notifications (missing suburb/street address)

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on welcome screen after update (version 3.3.0+)
- Fire hazard rating button causes app crash
- Notifications not received despite enabled settings and watch zones configured
- Push notifications fail after iPhone OS updates
- App stuck in portrait mode on iPad in landscape orientation

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification sounds with multiple options
- Ability to filter alert types (fires only vs. all incidents)
- Watch zones smaller than 5km for suburban areas
- Wind direction and speed information for fire events
- Dynamic watch zones that adjust based on fire danger levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SZapp free?

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

### Is Alert SA free?

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

### Do SZapp or Alert SA have ads?

Neither SZapp nor Alert SA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SZapp or Alert SA?

SZapp ships an update every 3 weeks, and Alert SA every 3 months. Most recently, SZapp was updated on October 16, 2026 and Alert SA on October 19, 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.*