Free vs. Paid Apps for Safety and Emergency Monitoring

Table of contents: 

• Benefits of Safety Monitoring and Life Alert Apps
• Free vs. Paid Apps for Monitoring Older Adults and Safety
• When to Pick Free vs. Paid Wellbeing Monitoring/Emergency Alert Apps
• AllsWell Free and Paid Versions for Safety Monitoring

 

Over 93% of Apple App Store apps and 96% of Android apps have a freemium model. Besides, around half of smartphone users have never paid for an app.

People usually need a solid reason to start a premium subscription. It may be advanced functionality, additional reliability, or unique capabilities. Another case is life-critical applications. Advanced features matter when, for example, an app is used for monitoring older adults or emergency alerts. A paid plan may provide the features that directly affect the well-being of users.

But what else distinguishes free vs. paid apps for safety and emergency monitoring? Why do you need life alert apps at all?

This article covers the main differences between free vs. paid apps for safety monitoring. It should help you decide what to choose.

Benefits of Safety Monitoring and Life Alert Apps

There are many kinds of safety monitoring, medical, and life alert apps, which vary in use. Safety monitoring applications allow people who live, travel, or commute alone to ask for help in risky situations. Medical alert systems are designed for monitoring older adults or other groups with chronic health issues. Emergency and life alert apps are a universal solution for health and life threats. 

The exact benefits depend on the functionality of the selected solution. Nevertheless, all these applications offer some common advantages like enhanced security, peace of mind, and other benefits listed here:

• Safety monitoring apps save lives. When you or your loved ones can instantly ask for help, it’s more likely to arrive in time. Speed is crucial in a health crisis (asthma episode, heart attack, etc.) or a safety threat (burglary). Monitoring apps with GPS location tracking also provide exact coordinates of the user in need.

• You don’t need a pricey home security system. Even premium apps are affordable, not to mention free versions. 24/7 monitoring through applications will cost you several dollars per month, whereas the price of home care security systems may reach hundreds.

• Smartphone apps are more convenient than devices. Users are more likely to forget where they’ve put a safety device than lose their smartphone. Safety and life alert apps are always at hand.

• Installation of standalone medical alert apps takes minutes. You don’t have to order and connect physical devices, saving time. It’s enough to download the life alert app to your smartphone and create an account.

• Monitoring older adults automatically frees family caregivers. By using an app for monitoring older adults, caregivers become more independent. They know their dear ones are safe and can focus on daily tasks. Besides, some safety applications support special features for monitoring older adults, including fall detection. It makes them particularly effective for seniors.

• Emergency organizations can use apps to improve the quality of care. Healthcare and safety providers offer mobile apps in addition to their core services. It helps all parties to stay in touch and exchange alerts.

As you can see, both free vs. paid apps for safety monitoring are worth using. They enable people to ask for help when they need it most. It’s a great feature to have on a smartphone.

Free vs. Paid Apps for Monitoring Older Adults and Safety

Now, when you know the benefits of safety apps, let’s compare their free and paid versions. Quite predictably, premium apps provide richer functionality, but what’s the offer?

Free App Versions

App developers take two approaches to free versions. They can provide an app without charges but add the in-app purchase functionality. Even though such applications are forever-free, some capabilities are limited from the start. For example, you may need to pay for emergency monitoring if you want professional assistance apart from mobile emergency contact alerts. 

The second approach is when an application is totally free. This option doesn’t allow software providers to generate revenue and, therefore, is uncommon. In this case, vendors are not interested in refining their life alert apps and supply only basic functionality.

Paid App Versions

When it comes to paid apps, providers willingly invest in advanced functionality. Such safety monitoring applications are multifunctional. They combine the panic button, real-time alerts, GPS tracking, inactivity monitoring, and other valuable features. Most paid apps can help in both health emergencies and safety threats. It makes them suitable for all user categories, from women on a blind date to senior citizens.

Companies designing premium life alert apps have several ways to charge users. Some applications are paid from the start. You will need to share your credit card details and complete the payment to download them. Unlike free versions, these apps allow sending alerts through multiple channels, support location tracking, health indicators, etc.

Another way to get advanced features is by switching to premium after a free trial. Software providers allow 30 days for testing. Once they finish, the life alert app will prompt you to pay or will automatically downgrade you to basic features. Such trials are a great opportunity to see what functionality is available and make up your mind about a specific app. If there are several paid plans, at this point, you can also decide which one is best for you.

Generally, the choice depends on your current needs. If you seek reliability, pick paid solutions. If you only want to see how everything operates, consider using an app for free. Learn more about use cases in the next section.

When to Pick Free vs. Paid Wellbeing Monitoring/Emergency Alert Apps

Summarizing the comparison of free vs. paid apps for safety monitoring, we can state both formats work. Yet, they are effective in different circumstances. Mind this to derive the maximum benefit.

Choose Free or Freemium Safety Apps if You:

• Aren’t sure you need health or safety monitoring yet

• Aren’t sure what types of alerts you need to send

• Want to figure out how it works

• Don’t need 24/7 or professional monitoring

• Can sacrifice reliability for free features

• Don’t have acute health conditions

• Don’t lead a risky lifestyle

Choose Paid Subscription If You:

• Have made up your mind on what life alert app you need

• Want secure and reliable monitoring

• Provide caregiving to someone with poor or deteriorating health

• Want to protect your kids or teens

• Expect real-time alerts to emergency contacts and services through multiple channels

• Want to have location tracking and other advanced features

All these uses boil down to one thing. If you know the user is likely to need help, it’s better to install paid apps or medical alert devices. They activate additional emergency channels and offer more effective ways to request help. If the situation is less critical and you only test security monitoring, a free version is enough.

AllsWell Free and Paid Versions for Safety Monitoring

AllsWell Alert is a personal safety & emergency alert app for people living, commuting, or traveling alone. It combines the panic button functionality with inactivity monitoring, enabling the app to send your emergency contact an alert with your location even when you cannot press a button.

AllsWell Alert offers a 30-day trial and a premium subscription at $9.99/month only. You get access to all the features and 24/7 support at an affordable price.

Download our emergency alert app for iOS or Android to make your life safer now.