What is the 'Are You Alive?' app?
Are You Alive? is a free daily check-in app where you press a button to confirm you are alive. After 24 hours without a check-in you are marked inactive, and after a delay you set between one and three days your contacts receive an email. It gained popularity in 2025-2026, inspired by the viral Chinese app 'Are You Dead?' which topped paid app charts.
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- One-button daily check-in: press to confirm you are alive
- Notifications emailed to contacts after a delay you set (one to three days)
- Free to use with a simple, gamified interface
- Lightweight and minimal: no encryption, no file attachments
- Inspired by the viral 'Are You Dead?' app from China
How is Safety Checkpoint different from Are You Alive?
Are You Alive? is a single daily button press. Safety Checkpoint is a full safety communication system with multiple protocol types, encrypted emergency messages, file attachments, and multi-channel alerts. Think of it as the difference between a light switch and a home security system.
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- Safety Checkpoint supports multiple check-in schedules, not just one daily button
- Emergency messages include medical details and, on paid plans, files and encrypted credentials
- Alerts go via email on every plan and SMS on Survival, not after a one-to-three-day delay
- Your emergency message, files and credentials are encrypted for each contact
- Multiple protocol types: check-in, heartbeat, location-based
Is Are You Alive? free?
Yes, Are You Alive? is free to use. Safety Checkpoint also has a free tier (Safety Base) with 1 one-off protocol a month, 1 contact and unlimited email alerts. Paid plans start at Safety 101 ($4.99/mo) for recurring protocols, more contacts and encrypted storage. SMS and email together are on Survival ($9.99/mo).
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- Are You Alive?: free; email to contacts after a delay of one to three days
- Safety Checkpoint Safety Base (free): 1 one-off protocol a month, 1 contact, unlimited email alerts, encryption included
- Safety 101 ($4.99/mo): 10 contacts, recurring protocols, 50 MB encrypted storage
- Survival ($9.99/mo): SMS + email, 20 contacts, 100MB storage
- Both apps offer free entry points for basic check-in needs
Can I use Safety Checkpoint as a daily 'am I alive' check-in?
Yes, on Safety 101 and above. Set up a recurring daily protocol with a one-tap check-in confirmation. If you miss it, your contacts are alerted and use their PIN to open your pre-written emergency message, with full context. It works like Are You Alive? but with encrypted emergency details attached.
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- Daily recurring protocol with customizable check-in time
- One-tap confirmation in the app. Reminders by email everywhere, and by push in the iPhone app
- Alert within minutes of a missed daily check-in. A one-off deadline can hold it up to 48 hours
- Emergency message includes your address, medical info, and instructions
- Contacts are alerted by email, or SMS on Survival
What about the 'Are You Dead?' app from China?
Are You Dead? is a viral paid app from China that topped the App Store charts in early 2026. It uses the same concept: press a button regularly, and if you stop pressing, your contacts are notified. Are You Alive? is the English equivalent. Safety Checkpoint builds on this concept with encryption, multi-channel alerts, and structured emergency context.
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- Are You Dead? popularized the 'dead man's switch' concept for personal safety
- Simple premise: press a button, or your contacts get alerted
- Safety Checkpoint adds what these apps lack: context, encryption, and reliability
- Email alerts, and SMS on Survival, reach contacts even without the app installed
- Emergency packages with detailed instructions and, on paid plans, files and credentials
When should I choose Are You Alive? instead of Safety Checkpoint?
Choose Are You Alive? if you want the simplest possible daily check-in with zero setup. It is a fun, lightweight app. Choose Safety Checkpoint if you need a missed check-in to alert your contacts by email, or SMS on Survival, and give them actionable emergency information, encrypted and opened with their PIN.
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- Are You Alive? is great for casual use and awareness
- No setup required: just install and press the button daily
- Safety Checkpoint is for serious safety: encrypted context, multi-channel delivery
- Safety Checkpoint works for travel, recovery, protests, and family coordination
- If your life depends on it, you want the encrypted emergency package
