Software · head to head
Citizen vs Bang the Table
The short version
- Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Bang the Table the Internet Archive's capture of Bang the Table's homepage on 29 December 2020 confirmed its EngagementHQ platform is sold only via demo request, with EngagementIQ support offered as separate 'annual success plan options'; no price figure is published for either.
- They diverge on capability: Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, Bang the Table covers Online Surveys.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Citizen and Bang the Table actually diverge.
| Attribute | Citizen | Bang the Table |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $600/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Ios, Android | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
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 Citizen
- Real-time Alerts
- 911 Monitoring
- Live Video
- Safety Map
- Personal Safety
- Emergency Services
- Location Services
Only in Bang the Table
- Online Surveys
- Discussion Forums
- Interactive Mapping
- Story Telling
- Participation Analytics
- ArcGIS
- Google Maps
- Web support
Both cover
- Social Media
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Citizen
- Citizen Services
- Records Management
- Public Safety
- Civic Engagement
Bang the Table
- 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.
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.
Bang the Table
- The Internet Archive's capture of Bang the Table's homepage on 29 December 2020 confirmed its EngagementHQ platform is sold only via demo request, with EngagementIQ support offered as separate 'annual success plan options'; no price figure is published for either.
Pricing, plan by plan
Citizen
Free- BasicFree
- Real-time Alerts
- Incident Feed
- Safety Map
Bang the Table
$600/month- EngagementHQ$600/month
- Surveys
- Forums
- Mapping Tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Citizen if
- You need real-time alerts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android.
- You also want 911 monitoring.
Choose Bang the Table if
- You need online surveys.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want discussion forums.
Questions people ask
- Is Citizen or Bang the Table better?
- Neither clearly leads. Citizen starts at Free and Bang the Table at $600/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Citizen or Bang the Table?
- Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citizen and $600/month for Bang the Table.
- Does Citizen or Bang the Table run on more platforms?
- Citizen runs on Ios, Android. Bang the Table runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Citizen for free?
- Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bang the Table starts at $600/month.
- What is Citizen best used for?
- Citizen is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement.
- What can Citizen do that Bang the Table cannot?
- Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map. Bang the Table covers Online Surveys, Discussion Forums, Interactive Mapping, Story Telling. Both handle Social Media, Ios support, Android support.