Top 10 Essential Self-Defense Apps for Women

The Mobile Justice app records your interactions with police, streaming video to selected contacts and your local area. If you feel your rights are being violated during an interaction, you can file an incident report with location details, the name of the involved police department, and a detailed description of what happened. You’ll need mobile service or Wi-Fi for the app to work, but you can record on your phone and submit the report later if needed.

Mobile Justice is not just for those who are pulled over or subjected to unnecessary force; others can use it to document incidents they witness. This app is not a perfect solution, and even if you capture specific video evidence, it doesn't guarantee protection for a citizen or the execution of justice if harm is done. However, you have the right to record interactions with law enforcement.

As outlined in the Mobile Justice app’s rights section, police cannot view or delete footage or confiscate your phone without a warrant, and ordering you to stop recording violates your First Amendment rights. Third parties can legally record interactions with law enforcement, as long as they don’t interfere with the ongoing situation or obstruct officers' movements.

Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.aclu.mobile.justice.ca

Rescue allows you to quickly dispatch fire trucks or ambulances, so you don't have to worry about explaining the situation to an operator before the appropriate team is alerted. Another unique feature of Rescue is that you can send help to up to four saved addresses, even if you're not there. So, if you're out of town and your security cameras detect someone lurking around your home or there's an emergency at your elderly parents' house far away, you don't need to figure out exactly which department to call when you're already panicked.

Rescue is not a free app, but investing in your safety is important. For just $7 a month, it doesn't include GPS activation like other apps in this list. Instead, you'll have access only to your saved addresses. The Prime package for $10 adds the ability to send help to any location using GPS. Once you send an alert through the app, you can switch to a call or chat if needed.

The Rescue app will automatically be in trial mode on the first day after you download it, so you can familiarize yourself with all the features without actually calling anyone. If you want to refresh or show someone else how to use it, you can switch it back to trial mode at any time from the main menu.

Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.logmein.rescuemobile

The free version of SoSecure provides an SOS button that lets you trigger an alert when you can't communicate by phone. It will send help and notify your selected contacts. There's also an SOS chat option available. Both features allow you to seek assistance without anyone nearby knowing, so if you're in a strange situation, no one will suspect you're doing anything other than texting.

If you need to hide what you're doing for any reason, you can discreetly inform someone about your situation by reducing the phone's volume. Additionally, the free version includes location tracking with trusted contacts, similar to other recommendations we've made. By subscribing to the Plus package of SoSecure at $4.17 a month, you'll also get SOS video (which can be used as evidence).

This feature tracks your location for ADT and your contacts in potentially troubling situations, plus you can trigger a silent alarm with a secret phrase. The premium package of SoSecure, priced at $8.33 per month, includes roadside assistance and collision detection. You can also download a widget for your home screen.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sosecure-personal-security/id1495220820

Flare Bracelet looks just like a regular bracelet, not a tracking device. It features bead, leather, or cuff designs, with various metal finishes. The bracelet discreetly hides an SOS button that you would need to search for to keep it hidden from anyone you're trying to escape from. Press the button once to receive a fake call, which is customizable in the app. The call comes from a real number that you add to your contacts, and a fake name will appear when the phone rings.

This feature is helpful if someone is simply being annoying, but in a dangerous situation, you can hold the Flare button to send your message and location to selected contacts. Flare has partnered with Noonlight.com, so you can set up the device to call 911 through the app when you press the button. You’ll receive a message and call immediately, and if you cannot respond, your location will be shared with first responders in your area. If you accidentally turn off this feature and wish to cancel, the operator will request personal identification numbers to confirm your identity.

Flare is currently only available for iPhone users; an Android version is in development, but the company has not provided a release date. The bracelet's battery is non-rechargeable, a design choice to avoid frustration with constant charging. However, the device is guaranteed to last for a year, and depending on use, it can last up to two years. After that, you'll need to purchase a completely new bracelet for $98.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/get-flare/id1406945700

One of the most popular Android apps that ensures you never walk alone is bSafe. With this app, you can create a personal safety network of friends or family who will come to your aid in case of emergency. A single press of the SOS button alerts your contacts, who will try to reach you via a call or message. The app also includes fake call features to help deter unwanted attention. You can also subscribe to the premium version for $2 per month for additional features.

After a traumatic sexual assault, Charles and her father developed bSafe, one of the most trusted and advanced personal safety apps worldwide. The app is available in 125 countries, with millions of downloads and over 100,000 media mentions from outlets like ABC, CNN, NBC, BBC, Fox News, and Forbes. bSafe is designed to prevent crimes like violence, sexual assault, and rape, as well as provide evidence in case such incidents occur. It also offers groundbreaking technology to stop and record violent or threatening behavior against loved ones, employees, students, and communities.

Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bipper.app.bsafe

Boxx is one of the best free self-defense apps for Android. It’s an excellent security app for women, combining fitness and protection. Boxx is also one of the most popular boxing workout apps for both Android and iOS users, allowing you to learn boxing skills without joining a gym. The app offers both free and paid services, making it accessible to everyone, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced. It’s a complete self-defense app that provides essential security information for women.

Boxx is fast, easy to use, and private, helping you improve your self-defense abilities. The app provides great flexibility for your body, offering free stretching exercises. It includes boxing, cardio, strength, yoga, endurance, and other home workout routines. All exercises come with time limits, and you’ll need to complete them within that time. It's a simple tool to learn self-defense moves before violence occurs.

Download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boxxmethod.BoxxMethod

Life360 Family Locator is a widely-used security app that lets you track the location of your family members. One of the most popular real-time location apps globally, it allows you to receive accurate location updates and coordinate with friends and family with ease. The app automatically sends notifications when you arrive or leave a location, such as home or elsewhere. Used by 33 million people worldwide, Life360 is marketed as an excellent way for parents to keep track of their children’s whereabouts via their mobile phones.

The company has expanded its offerings to include other “digital safety” products, launching features like data breach alerts, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection. Life360 also acquired companies to enhance its tracking capabilities and data collection features. In 2019, it purchased ZenScreen, an app designed to monitor screen time for families, and a wearable tracking device company to help track children, pets, and elderly relatives for $37 million. Additionally, Life360 announced plans to acquire Tile, a device tracking company focused on locating lost items.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/life360-find-family-friends/id384830320

The best safety apps are those that are easy to use in moments of panic, and Noonlight.com is as simple as it gets. All you need to do is tap the button on the screen if you feel unsafe. Once you release your finger, the app will wait 10 seconds for you to enter your PIN, in case it's a false alarm. If you don’t enter your PIN, Noonlight.com will first attempt to contact you by phone, and if you don't answer, the service will contact local authorities and guide them to your location.

Noonlight.com is available for both iOS and Android, with the free version offering many features for most users. Specifically, the iOS version includes two additional free features: Timeline and Safety Network. Your timeline can include detailed information about your activities, such as who you are meeting on Tinder and where; you can even add their profile pictures. You can also indicate if you're doing anything out of the ordinary, like staying at home, working late, or traveling to a new location.

If you activate the Noonlight.com button, your timeline, along with your location, will be sent to authorities. When you add contacts to the app’s Safety Network, these people can register and send help to your most recent known location. Your contacts don’t need to download the app and can access all relevant information on the company’s website.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/noonlight-feel-protected-24-7/id716262008

Running outside alone can expose you to potential dangers, especially for women. The Strava app is a useful tool to have in such situations. Strava is a social network for athletes, primarily used to track long runs or bike rides, and it might even be an app you’re already familiar with.

Strava includes a handy feature called Beacon, which shares your real-time location with anyone you choose, along with the start time of your activity, the duration, and your phone’s battery percentage. If you’ve scheduled the check-in with someone, they’ll know when to be concerned. They can then share your GPS map with the police. Beacon is currently free on the mobile app (it was previously only available with the premium version of Strava), but you’ll need to pay $5 per month if you want to use it on other connected devices.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/strava-run-ride-training/id426826309

You might recognize the name Sabre if you’ve ever looked into pepper spray. The company offers a wide range of pepper sprays and other safety devices. However, the brand also provides valuable safety lessons, with certified instructors and programs. Sabre also has an app to assist you in an emergency. The app is free if you only want to notify trusted contacts or $5 per month to include police access as well.

In the Sabre app, you’ll input the names and numbers of your trusted contacts, and all they need to do is verify through a link sent via text; they don’t need to download the app. On the homepage, your location will be displayed on a map, with a red exclamation point at the bottom. Tapping the exclamation point takes you to the panic button. When pressed, your trusted contacts will receive a link to your location. If you’ve paid for a subscription, authorities will also be alerted to your location.

From there, you can mark yourself as safe or indicate it’s a false alarm, both requiring a PIN for confirmation, and your contacts will be notified of the status. The Sabre Personal Safety app can be used on its own or paired with a smart pepper spray. If you connect the spray to the app, it will notify your contacts or local authorities when deployed. However, as mentioned earlier, the law is complex, and pepper spray may not be the best option for everyone or every situation.

Download link: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/sabre-personal-safety/id1492726591