Most of these apps are available on both Android and iOS, along with few exclusive. However, you can also check out this list of third-party safety app which is exclusively for Android.

Best Personal Safety Apps

1. Emergency SOS ( Native)

Android and iOS have plenty of options that we do not use and some that we do not know of, Emergency SOS is one such feature that I never configured. These features are very basic but useful when the need arises. To try this feature, simply press the power button three times which will activate SOS and make a call to your assigned emergency contact.

You can add a maximum of three numbers, plus the one default ( in my case it’s 112, which is the universal emergency number for India). You can also set an automatic dial feature (calling under 3 seconds) but that can only be configured for the default number.  Alternatively, an option to send an SOS message is also available. Enabling this will capture the surroundings and send pictures. In addition to that, you can also send an automatic 5 seconds voice recording on the surroundings. It’s exactly the same on iPhone and you can also tweak your emergency contacts. Access by 5 times pressing the power button on both Android and iPhone.

2. Google Maps

There is no denying it is a go-to app whenever you want to access your location or need direction to reach a place. So the next time you open the app, look for the location-sharing feature. It’s a way you can share your real-time location with your friends and family. You can access it by tapping the top left menu option and selecting location sharing. You can easily share your real-time location, from 15 minutes to 3 days or until you turn it off. Read: Best Family Locator Apps for Android and iOS

In case you’re already commuting to a place, you can swipe up the bottom menu and share trip progress. This will share the location until you arrive at the destination. If you’re a parent and you’re children are too young to handle maps, you can keep a track of their whereabouts with the Family Link app. Get Google Maps for Android and iOS.

3. Parachute (iOS)

Once you install the Parachute app, the preview after you open the app is pretty self-explanatory. With one tap you can broadcast your location, audio, and video with trusted contacts. It’s really simple to use as there just one tap which simultaneously calls, texts and emails all the trusted contacts. The recording is always discreet so you don’t have the fear of letting others know that you’re recording.

Some features that I personally feel are quite useful are multi-camera recording, so recording it both front and back simultaneously. It’s available on iOS 13.0 or newer and is accessible on iPhone XR and above.  You can also activate the app through Siri. It records video until you manually stop so, hitting a button or a random touch on the screen won’t stop the capture.  If you’re a privacy freak, the app explicitly states that it doesn’t share the information until the matter reaches court which may be a huge reason to go for this app. One limitation is that the app isn’t free it comes at a monthly cost of $9.99 but you can still decide for the trial period (30 Days). There is no Android version but you can request easy access by providing your e-mail here.  Get Parachute for iOS here. 

4. Find My (iOS)

Apple recently joined the ‘Find My Friends’ and ‘Find My Phone’ app  and rebranded it to be ‘Find My’. Besides being able to share live location, track your other Apple device you can do a lot more. You can lock, erase and send custom messages once you confirm the device as lost. But what about personal security measure and how do you track others?

You’ve to select People from the bottom of Find My application. Click on a certain contact and tap share. As soon as the request has been accepted you can click on the contact, user the Notifications select add and then notify me. You can add multiple locations and receive a notification when someone leaves or arrives at a location. These are very subtle differences that are extremely useful as well.

5. Carelife (Android)

I’d easily say this app is a toolbox for emergencies. As soon as you install and set it up, you get emergency situations in the form of tiles. As soon as you press an emergency, it gives you 10 seconds to cancel the alarm. If you fail to do it, it sends alters in the form of calls, messages and also a siren. You can test the app in Demo Mode by sending alerts to demo contacts. The first step is to complete the user profile which consists of your name, Blood Group, state, and country. In case of a specific persistent problem, allergies or chronic conditions,  you can give personal medical information as well.

There is a premium version for the app as well, which gives verified disasters alert in your region. In addition to tips and tricks, it gives contact details of various disaster handling agencies in your area. In case you’re dealing with situations where there is no internet, you get to share and receive location updates as well. Don’t worry, there is no need to sign in nor there are any ads or interruptions. Caution There is an option for voice detection as well. You can try setting it up and it activates when you say Help Help! but is somehow couldn’t make it work. These features are often unreliable in emergency situations. Get Carelife here.

6. Smartwatches

I live with my grandparents and as it happens, they use support while walking. God forbid something happens but if there is even a tiny bit of possibility, remember, precaution is better than cure. With Apple watch series 4, you can detect hard falls and connect to emergency service if a possibility arises. So when a fall happens it vibrates and alerts you. In case it thinks you’re immobile for more than a minute it’ll place a call automatically. It requires you to set up a medical ID that has information about your medical conditions and emergency contacts.

But I don’t want to use Apple watch? Well, if you’re one of those users, there is an option for you as well. That Galaxy Watch Active 2, which recently came with a similar feature. Get Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch Active 2

Closing Words

There are plenty of options to choose from on both the platforms but these are some of the few I tested. Native features on both Android and iOS are already in place and works in most cases but in case you want dedicated support and extra features such as video, audio recording, notification when someone arrives or leaves, hidden recording, etc, these apps are worth trying. Apple already has a robust in-built support system which suffices in my opinion.  Android, on the other hand, does that with maps but with few features missing. Carelife is exactly there to fill these gaps. I hope you don’t get into a situation where you’d need these, but if you do, use your presence of mind first and then these apps, see you!