As much as we hope that our encounters with those around us will be safe and pleasant, the world can be a dangerous place. Taking steps to protect yourself and your children is important, especially with crime rates on the rise in many parts of the country (and, for solo travellers, the rest of the world). With that in mind, we've rounded up this collection of the best personal safety apps you can use when walking alone, meeting a date for the first time, catching an Uber, or simply feeling like you need a little extra protection while you're out and about.
Best personal safety apps
5 min read
Compare the best personal safety apps
App | Best for | Free version | Price | iOS | Android |
 UrSafe | Best overall | Yes | $5.99/mo
(or $1.49 for once-off use) | View on App Store | View on Google Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Leelou Personal Safety | Best panic button | Yes | Free | View on App Store | View on Google Play |
 Help Me | Best for children | Yes | Free | View on App Store | View on Google Play |
 Life360 | Best for general use | Yes | From $9.99/mo | View on App Store | View on Google Play |
 Duress | Best for workers | No | Free via select workplaces From $149 + $9.99/mo for individuals | View on App Store | View on Google Play |
Prices are accurate as of post date.
1. UrSafe: Best personal safety app overall
Best overall
UrSafe is our top recommendation for personal safety apps as it has a wide and beneficial range of features. It also comes recommended by IT Security and Personal Safety Expert, Pete Canavan, who is a safety advisor for the American arm of SafeWise.
App functions can be activated instantly with a preselected safe word. Different selections will trigger actions that notify your chosen contacts about situations ranging from discomfort through to an emergency SOS.
When desired, live streaming of both video and audio capture can be shared with trusted contacts, as can your location. UrSafe can also contact the authorities for you, meaning that almost all bases are covered.
Pros
Voice activated
Audio and visual streaming
Quickly and easily share location with trusted contacts
Various levels of distress can be programmed
Can contact authorities if desired 
Cons
Paid plan required for full functionality
Safe words need to be chosen carefully so functions aren’t accidentally triggered The app has a free version that provides basic features, but you'll need a premium plan ($5.99 per month or one-off access for $1.49) to unlock full functionality. UrSafe works in most parts of the world and is available on both Android and iOS.
2. Leelou Personal Safety: Best panic button
Best panic button
Leelou is another solid personal safety app option, however, the SOS mode within this application does require physical input. Up to five trusted contacts, referred to as "Guardians", can be programmed into the Leelou Personal Safety app, and all will be notified when you press the SOS button. Once activated, the app sends your GPS coordinates, as well as a live audio stream to your elected Guardians, and will override any silencing functions they may have set on their phone.
Leelou Personal Safety is available for both Android and Apple devices and works anywhere you can get a mobile connection. A nice bonus feature is that Leelou will even attempt to connect you to local emergency services via satellite in places where phone coverage is not available, so you can enjoy added security. We also love that Leelou Personal Safety is completely free with no pesky subscription fees.
Pros
Notifies up to five Guardians
Can override silent mode on Guardian phones
Shares audio live stream and GPS coordinates
App attempts to contact authorities even in areas with no signal
Completely free Cons
Button requires physical input
Basic compared to other options 3. Help Me: Best for children
Best for children
Developed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Help Me is suitable for ages seven and up.
This child-friendly personal safety app is centred around the 'Help Me' button, which sends GPS coordinates to up to two nominated contacts when pressed. Help Me also features a notes section, with the ability to send notes taken to trusted contacts, and includes resources such as numbers for emergency services.
Although more basic than other selections within this article, Help Me is easy to use and has a design that can be navigated by children, making it a useful option to include.
Help Me is available for both Android and IOS devices and works Australia wide.
Pros
User friendly
Shares GPS details with up to two contacts
Notes functionality with details also shared with trusted contacts
Includes emergency numbers and other resources
Completely free Cons
Limited functionality in comparison to more advanced apps
Requires physical input 4. Life360: Best for general use
Best for general use
If you're looking for a personal safety application that can share information with the whole family and keep everyone in the loop, Life360 could be a good option.
This app runs in the background and lets those within the family "circle" know when users arrive or leave predetermined locations as well as tracking general movement. Location data can also be used to navigate directly to family members if needed.
Extra features include tracking of safety behind the wheel - with top speed, phone usage and hard braking recorded - and the app can even provide an ETA if it knows where someone is going.
Life360 also features a basic SOS function, which will send a silent alarm to circle members when triggered.
Pros
Can be used across the whole family
Alerts can be programmed for multiple events
Allows those within the family circle to navigate to individuals
Tracks safety behind the wheel and shows ETAs Cons
Can drain on phone battery and data
Paid plan required for full functionality
SOS function is basic Reports and place alerts are a little limited on the free version of the application. $9.99 a month gets you the Silver Plan, which involves everything in the free plan with increased place alerts and a 7 day location history. The next tier up is Gold. For $13.99 a month, you'll get unlimited place alerts, 30 day location history, roadside assistance, driver reports, free towing, and stolen funds reimbursement. Plus, Life360 will throw in a Tile Mate valued at $40.
The highest tier, Platinum, is $29.99 a month. You'll receive all that's included in the Silver tier, plus medical assistance, disaster response, travel support, and a Tile starter pack valued up to $70.
Life360 is available for both Android and Apple devices, so everyone can stay connected.
5. Duress: Best for workers
Best for workers
With four protection options (a mobile application and three types of wearables) Duress contacts a 24/7, Australian-based operations centre directly in an emergency situation.
When triggered, Duress provides location data as well as a live stream of the events that are unfolding. The operations centre then contacts the police directly and provides them with this information, including the live stream if required.
Triggering the alert is incredibly quick and easy and allows for an immediate connection to assistance without having to stress about whether you're going to be able to provide the necessary details.
We've selected Duress as best for workers as it can be implemented at an organisational level and is used by many large companies where worker safety is paramount, including Dan Murphy's, Legal Aid, Uniting and more.
Pros
Australian-based support
Instant connection to authorities
Livestream and location data shared
Wearable options
Can be scaled to protect whole organisations Cons
Contacts Duress support centre, not trusted contacts
No free version
Personal use requires $149 accessory It can be used on a personal basis too, but you'll need to purchase the Duress Halo Ring (currently $149 and comes with a 90-day free Duress Halo membership which then costs $9.99 per month) to do so.
5. Duress: Best for workers
Best for workers
With four protection options (a mobile application and three types of wearables) Duress contacts a 24/7, Australian-based operations centre directly in an emergency situation.
When triggered, Duress provides location data as well as a live stream of the events that are unfolding. The operations centre then contacts the police directly and provides them with this information, including the live stream if required.
Triggering the alert is incredibly quick and easy and allows for an immediate connection to assistance without having to stress about whether you're going to be able to provide the necessary details.
We've selected Duress as best for workers as it can be implemented at an organisational level and is used by many large companies where worker safety is paramount, including Dan Murphy's, Legal Aid, Uniting and more.
Pros
Australian-based support
Instant connection to authorities
Livestream and location data shared
Wearable options
Can be scaled to protect whole organisations Cons
Contacts Duress support centre, not trusted contacts
No free version
Personal use requires $149 accessory It can be used on a personal basis too, but you'll need to purchase the Duress Halo Ring (currently $149 and comes with a 90-day free Duress Halo membership which then costs $9.99 per month) to do so.
Final word
The applications recommended in this article have been selected based on a mixture of personal experience and information provided by developers and reviews.
What works best for one person will not necessarily be the ideal option for another. As such, we recommend testing multiple personal safety applications and selecting the one that works best for you, regardless of the experience of others.
All options, apart from Duress, have free functionality that will allow you to use the app as intended, so you can try them all in your quest to find the right personal safety app for yourself or your family.
We also suggest checking out our article on What to Do If You Think You’re Being Followed, as knowledge of what to do in a negative situation can be incredibly useful, albeit hopefully never needed.
