Government · head to head
American Legal Publishing vs Citizen
The short version
- Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: American Legal Publishing a 2019 recodification contract between American Legal Publishing Corporation and the City of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, publicly posted by a separate Kentucky municipality as a model agreement, sets a base codification cost of $9,485 (USD) plus per-page increase rates of $18 (single column) and $21 (dual column) once the code exceeds the estimated page count, a one-time $550 setup fee to put the code in a searchable online format, $495 per year to host the code online after that, and a five-year supplement plan billed at $18-21 per reprinted page plus $200 per annual statutory update. This is one specific signed municipal contract, not a general price list, and actual costs for other municipalities will scale with code length.; Citizen no premium or paid features mentioned
- They diverge on capability: American Legal Publishing covers Code Codification, Citizen covers Real-time Alerts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which American Legal Publishing and Citizen actually diverge.
| Attribute | American Legal Publishing | Citizen |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $150/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1912 | 2016 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Government).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in American Legal Publishing
- Code Codification
- Online Publishing
- Print Services
- Editorial Support
- Code Search
- Legislative Systems
- Document Management
- Public Portals
Only in Citizen
- Real-time Alerts
- 911 Monitoring
- Live Video
- Safety Map
- Personal Safety
- Emergency Services
- Social Media
- Location Services
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
American Legal Publishing
- Citizen Services
- Records Management
- Public Safety
- Civic Engagement
Citizen
- Citizen Services
- Records Management
- Public Safety
- Civic Engagement
Both are used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
American Legal Publishing
- A 2019 recodification contract between American Legal Publishing Corporation and the City of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, publicly posted by a separate Kentucky municipality as a model agreement, sets a base codification cost of $9,485 (USD) plus per-page increase rates of $18 (single column) and $21 (dual column) once the code exceeds the estimated page count, a one-time $550 setup fee to put the code in a searchable online format, $495 per year to host the code online after that, and a five-year supplement plan billed at $18-21 per reprinted page plus $200 per annual statutory update. This is one specific signed municipal contract, not a general price list, and actual costs for other municipalities will scale with code length.
Citizen
- No premium or paid features mentioned
- App is completely free with no monetization model disclosed
- No in-app purchases or premium tier mentioned
- Subscription or paid features may exist but not disclosed
Pricing, plan by plan
American Legal Publishing
$150/month- Online Code$150/month
- Online Publishing
- Code Updates
- Search
Citizen
Free- BasicFree
- Real-time Alerts
- Incident Feed
- Safety Map
Which should you pick?
Choose American Legal Publishing if
- You need code codification.
- You also want online publishing.
Choose Citizen if
- You need real-time alerts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android.
- You also want 911 monitoring.
Questions people ask
- Is American Legal Publishing or Citizen better?
- Neither clearly leads. American Legal Publishing starts at $150/month and Citizen at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, American Legal Publishing or Citizen?
- Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $150/month for American Legal Publishing and Free for Citizen.
- Does American Legal Publishing or Citizen run on more platforms?
- American Legal Publishing runs on Web. Citizen runs on Ios, Android.
- Can I use Citizen for free?
- Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. American Legal Publishing starts at $150/month.
- What is American Legal Publishing best used for?
- American Legal Publishing is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
- What can American Legal Publishing do that Citizen cannot?
- American Legal Publishing covers Code Codification, Online Publishing, Print Services, Editorial Support. Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Citizen: How much does Citizen cost?
Citizen is available as a free app download for iOS and Android. The app includes core safety and alert features at no cost.
SourceCitizen: Are there paid features or premium subscriptions in Citizen?
Citizen's website does not mention paid features, premium subscriptions, or in-app purchases. All advertised features appear to be included in the free app.
SourceRelated pages
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