How we compared them
Every lone worker app offers an SOS button, so we compared the things that actually separate them: whether the service is certified to BS 8484, whether an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is included, whether fall detection works on the phone or needs extra hardware, whether it works off-grid by satellite, and whether the price is published.
Disclosure: Vygard wrote this guide and Vygard is on the list. Prices change, so check each vendor's current figure before you buy. If you spot something out of date, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
For the criteria behind this list in more depth, see how to compare lone worker apps and our buyer's checklist.
The 8 apps at a glance
Vygard: best for mixed or remote teams on phones and watches who want sector workflows. BS 8484-aligned, not certified. From £9 per worker per month, 14-day trial with no card.
Peoplesafe: best for organisations that need a certified service with an in-house ARC. ARC certified to BS 8484:2022. Price on quote.
StaySafe (EcoOnline): best for the lowest per-seat price and G-Cloud buyers. Certified to BS 8484. From £3.30 per user per month on G-Cloud 14.
Vatix: best for a low-cost app with accredited monitoring included. BS 8484:2022 accredited monitoring. From £2.50 per user per month, 5-user minimum.
SoloProtect: best for dedicated devices and ID-badge alarms. BS 8484 and EN 50518 certified ARC. Price on quote.
LONEALERT: best if you want an app plus a Bluetooth button. App and Bluetooth Switch accredited to BS 8484:2022 together. Price on quote, 30-day trial.
Safepoint: best for self-monitored or monitored teams across the US and UK. US store lists plans from $16.95 per month.
OK Alone: best for check-in based monitoring with ZOLEO satellite devices. Price on quote, free trial with no card.
1. Vygard
Vygard is a phone-first lone worker platform. SOS, fall and man-down detection run on the phone, Apple Watch and Wear OS, so there is no accessory to buy. Alerts follow an escalation cascade from buddy to supervisor to duty manager, then to an ARC and 999, with acknowledgement timers so an unanswered alert moves on. It supports Garmin inReach, SPOT and Iridium satellite communicators for crews out of signal, and includes sector packs for 13 industries plus an AI welfare monitor.
Where it falls short: Vygard is BS 8484-aligned, not certified, and it does not run its own ARC. If a tender, insurer or your risk assessment needs a certified service with the police URN route, choose a certified provider or have Vygard escalate to a certified ARC partner.
Price: from £9 per worker per month, published on the pricing page, with a 14-day free trial and no card needed.
2. Peoplesafe
Peoplesafe is one of the UK's best-known lone worker providers. Its own 24/7 ARC is certified to BS 8484:2022, and it offers an app with fall detection, an Apple Watch app, dedicated alarm devices and SPOT satellite alarms.
Best for organisations that want a certified service and in-house ARC from one supplier. Pricing is by quote and a free trial is not advertised on its site. Read our Vygard vs Peoplesafe comparison for a side-by-side view.
3. StaySafe (EcoOnline)
StaySafe is an app-first service, now part of EcoOnline. Its G-Cloud 14 listing states BS 8484 certification, monitoring in-house or through an external service, a time-limited free trial and a starting price of £3.30 per user per month. It supports Garmin satellite devices on the Iridium network, and fall detection comes through a paired Bluetooth panic button.
Best for public sector buyers using G-Cloud and anyone for whom price per seat decides. See Vygard vs StaySafe for the full comparison.
4. Vatix
Vatix publishes its pricing: £2.50 per user per month on Essentials and £3.50 on Professional, with a 5-user minimum for app licences. It says BS 8484:2022 accredited monitoring from UK-based centres is included on every plan.
Best for small and mid-sized teams that want accredited monitoring included at a low published price.
5. SoloProtect
SoloProtect is known for dedicated lone worker devices, including ID-badge style alarms and safety fobs, alongside an app. Its 24/7 ARC is certified to BS 8484 and EN 50518.
Best for roles where a discreet, dedicated device suits better than a phone, such as front-line public-facing staff. Pricing is by quote.
6. LONEALERT
LONEALERT offers a lone worker app that, used with its Bluetooth Switch, is accredited to BS 8484:2022, with its own ARC available in the response path. According to its site, fall detection comes from the Switch or its Man Down X device rather than the app alone. It advertises a 30-day free trial.
Best for teams that want an accredited service and are happy to carry a Bluetooth button. Pricing is by quote. See Vygard vs LONEALERT.
7. Safepoint
Safepoint sells a self-monitored lone worker app and a version with 24/7 alarm monitoring, plus dedicated devices. Its US store lists the self-monitored app from $16.95 per month and the monitored app from $20.95 per month; UK pricing is on its UK store.
Best for organisations with staff in both the US and UK that want one supplier.
8. OK Alone
OK Alone turns smartphones into lone worker devices with scheduled check-ins, man-down and fall detection, GPS and a panic button. You can monitor it yourself from a cloud dashboard or use its 24/7 monitoring centre, and it integrates with ZOLEO satellite devices. It offers a free trial with no card.
Best for check-in heavy workflows and remote teams using ZOLEO. Pricing is by quote.
How to choose
Start with your risk assessment. If it calls for police priority response, or a tender or insurer asks for BS 8484 by name, shortlist certified services only: Peoplesafe, StaySafe, Vatix, SoloProtect or LONEALERT.
If your main risks are slips, falls, medical events, lone driving or being out of signal, focus on how fall detection works (phone, watch or extra hardware), whether you need satellite cover, and who in your organisation will respond. That is where Vygard fits best.
Then trial two options side by side with real workers for a week. Our buyer's checklist on the compare page lists the eight questions to put to every supplier.
Frequently asked questions
- Do lone worker apps need to be BS 8484 certified?
- No. BS 8484 is a code of practice, not a legal requirement. Certification matters when you need police priority response through a URN, or when a tender or insurer asks for it.
- How much does a lone worker app cost in the UK?
- Published prices range from about £2.50 to £9 per user per month (Vatix from £2.50, StaySafe from £3.30 on G-Cloud 14, Vygard from £9). Several providers, including Peoplesafe, SoloProtect and LONEALERT, price by quote.
- Do I need an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)?
- You need one if nobody in your organisation can respond to alerts around the clock, or if your risk assessment calls for police priority response. If supervisors can respond during working hours, in-house escalation may be enough.
- Which lone worker app is cheapest?
- Of the prices published on 23 September 2026, Vatix Essentials at £2.50 per user per month was the lowest, with a 5-user minimum. Compare what is included, such as monitoring and fall detection hardware, not just the headline price.
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Last updated 2026-09-23