Software · head to head
CentralSquare vs Citizen
CentralSquare
Software
Public Safety and Administration Software
- From
- $1500/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CentralSquare pricing for all editions (Public Safety Suite Enterprise, Public Safety Suite Pro, Public Safety Suite ONESolution) is gated behind Request a Demo or Schedule a Call, with no figures published; Citizen the App Store listing for Citizen: Safety & Live Video (seller sp0n, Inc., matched) states the base app is free but gates police/fire scanner audio, detailed incident archives and multiple alert zones behind a Citizen Premium subscription tier, whose price is not disclosed in the listing.
- They diverge on capability: CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Citizen covers Real-time Alerts.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CentralSquare and Citizen actually diverge.
| Attribute | CentralSquare | Citizen |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1500/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Ios, Android | Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2018 | 2016 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 CentralSquare
- Computer-Aided Dispatch
- Records Management
- Jail Management
- Fire RMS
- Community Development
- Esri ArcGIS
- FBI CJIS
- NCIC
Only in Citizen
- Real-time Alerts
- 911 Monitoring
- Live Video
- Safety Map
- Personal Safety
- Emergency Services
- Social Media
- Location Services
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CentralSquare
- 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.
CentralSquare
- Pricing for all editions (Public Safety Suite Enterprise, Public Safety Suite Pro, Public Safety Suite ONESolution) is gated behind Request a Demo or Schedule a Call, with no figures published
Citizen
- The App Store listing for Citizen: Safety & Live Video (seller sp0n, Inc., matched) states the base app is free but gates police/fire scanner audio, detailed incident archives and multiple alert zones behind a Citizen Premium subscription tier, whose price is not disclosed in the listing.
Pricing, plan by plan
CentralSquare
$1500/month- Public Safety Suite$1500/month
- CAD
- Records Management
- Mobile Solutions
Citizen
Free- BasicFree
- Real-time Alerts
- Incident Feed
- Safety Map
Which should you pick?
Choose CentralSquare if
- You need computer-aided dispatch.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
- You also want records management.
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 CentralSquare or Citizen better?
- Neither clearly leads. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month and Citizen at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CentralSquare or Citizen?
- Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1500/month for CentralSquare and Free for Citizen.
- Does CentralSquare or Citizen run on more platforms?
- CentralSquare runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android. Citizen runs on Ios, Android.
- Can I use Citizen for free?
- Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month.
- What is CentralSquare best used for?
- CentralSquare is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
- What can CentralSquare do that Citizen cannot?
- CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Jail Management, Fire RMS. Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map. Both handle Ios support, Android support.