7 Apps to Make You Feel Safer: A Guide for Apps

Many Americans are afraid for their personal safety these days. Chapman University conducts a survey on fears in the U.S. each year and as of 2018 , 23 percent of respondents were afraid of walking alone at night. Twenty-eight percent were afraid of mugging, and 25 percent of abduction or kidnapping. If you’re one of the many Americans who fears for their personal safety you can take simple actions that will help protect you from harm. All it takes is downloading an app. The following seven safety apps will help you feel more secure. bSafe is an all-around safety app with several key features that will keep you out of harm’s way. The app has an SOS button you can tap, which will immediately send your location to your emergency contacts. After you tap the button, the app will start recording audio and video as well. You can also turn on GPS tracking for your contacts with the “Follow Me” feature. It lets friends or family watch your location as you make your way home at night. You can even set up a timer, so if you don’t arrive at a location when you say you will, the app automatically alerts your emergency contacts. If you feel better knowing your loved ones receive automatic updates when you’re in trouble, then bSafe is the app for you. bSafe is available for Android and iPhone. Circle of 6 works by saving emergency contacts and notifying them when you’re in distress. You choose six people to be your contacts. When you’re in a bad situation, you hit the car button in the Circle of 6 app and all six contacts are alerted. The closest one to you can then come and pick you up. Circle of 6 is ideal when you need to quickly contact someone for help, and aren’t able to send a text message or call. The app is available on both Android and iPhone. Watch Over Me is like a GPS and traffic app for personal safety. The app collects crime data from official sources and will send you an alert if you’ve entered an area flagged as high-crime. You can turn on a timer and ask the app to “watch over” you for the time duration you’ve set. You can upload photos or notes on your way and if you don’t tap the “I’m safe” button before the timer runs out, your emergency contact will be notified of your location and receive any information you uploaded. If you don’t have time to call someone in an emergency, you can shake your phone and Watch Over Me will activate, alerting your emergency contacts and starting video and audio recordings. Watch Over Me is available on the Apple Store and the Google Play store. Red Panic Button installs a button on your phone’s home screen that you can press when you’re in a bad situation. Once you do, your emergency contacts will receive a Google Maps link via SMS or email to your location. The Red Panic Button is a simple solution for contacting friends or family in an emergency. The app is especially helpful for those who aren’t as savvy with a smartphone, such as children or the elderly. You can download Red Panic Button on Android or iPhone. My Safetipin differs from other apps because it contacts emergency services instead of your pre-configured contacts. You can set it to alert your specified contacts too, though. The app also includes a safety map, with pins showing safe places and dangerous ones. My Safetipin is a great personal safety option, but it’s also good for traveling in unfamiliar areas. It’s available on both the Google Play Store and the App Store. Kitestring isn’t technically an app, but it’s a great personal safety tool to have on your phone. You alert Kitestring when you’re going out and set a duration. Kitestring will check in with you via SMS, and if you don’t respond, alert your emergency contacts. Kitestring’s service is great for personal safety and privacy because you don’t have to download an app to use it. All you need is your phone number and your emergency contacts’ phone numbers. Since it’s not an app, you can use Kitestring on any mobile cellular device. Noonlight works as a sort of safety social media network. The app has many of the same features as others in this list, including check-ins and a safe button. You can also add people to your Safety Network and post updates to a Timeline, so your emergency contacts can see where you’ve been and if you’ve gone missing. Noonlight also integrates with other apps, like Tinder. It’s a paid app, but it’s also a step up from a basic personal safety app. App developers and first responders can also use Noonlight to set up professional monitoring or coordinate emergency dispatches. Staying safe should be a top priority. Personal safety apps can put your mind at ease and reassure loved ones. You can never be too careful, and your safety is never too important. If you’re also concerned about securing your digital presence, check out our list of the best privacy apps for Android and iOS that protect your personal information online.