Safety timer · paid plans
A check-in that happens without you.
Set a timer before you head out. If you don’t turn it off in time, OneTapAlert alerts your contacts with your last known location — automatically.
Before
Start a timer
Choose how long you expect to be — a 20-minute walk home, a two-hour date, an eight-hour shift. Up to 24 hours.
During
Go about your day
The timer is saved on our servers. You can close the app, and it keeps counting even if your phone turns off.
After
Check in — or we alert
Turn it off when you’re safe. If time runs out, your contacts are told you didn’t check in, with your last known location.
What your contacts receive
The same channels as an SOS, with a message saying you set a safety timer and didn’t check in on time:
- An email with a link to your last known location.
- Text messages and an automated voice call to contacts with a mobile number.
Good times to use it
- Walking or running alone, especially at night.
- Meeting someone new from an app or listing.
- Lone work: home visits, deliveries, site inspections.
- Day hikes and rides where you expect to be back by a certain time.
For trips with no signal at all, also leave your plan with someone you trust — the timer can only include the location your phone last managed to send.
Safety timer questions
What if my phone dies or loses signal?
The timer still fires. It’s stored on our servers when you start it, and our servers check every minute for timers that have run out. Your contacts get the last location your phone shared before it went offline.
Can I cancel a timer?
Yes, turn it off in the app anytime before it ends. Cancelling needs a connection; if your phone is offline when you try, the timer will still fire on time.
How long can a timer be?
From one minute up to 24 hours.
Is the safety timer free?
It’s part of the paid plans, together with SMS and automated voice alerts. See pricing.
How is this different from iPhone Check In or Android Safety Check?
Those built-in features are worth knowing. iPhone Check In runs in Messages between iPhones (iOS 17 or later on both ends); Android Safety Check needs Google’s Personal Safety app on supported devices. OneTapAlert’s timer works on any phone, reaches contacts by email, text and an automated call, and your contacts don’t need a particular phone.
Be Ready Before You Need It.
Set up your trusted contacts in a few minutes. The free plan sends SOS email alerts with a live location link. No credit card needed.