Softwr

Government · head to head

Citizen vs Laserfiche

Citizen logo

Citizen

Government

Real-time Safety Alerts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Laserfiche logo

Laserfiche

Government

Intelligent Content Management

From
$50/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Citizen no premium or paid features mentioned; Laserfiche self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management
  • They diverge on capability: Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, Laserfiche covers Document Capture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citizen and Laserfiche actually diverge.

Attributes where Citizen and Laserfiche differ
AttributeCitizenLaserfiche
Starting priceFree$50/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux
Founded20161976

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 Citizen

  • Real-time Alerts
  • 911 Monitoring
  • Live Video
  • Safety Map
  • Personal Safety
  • Emergency Services
  • Social Media
  • Location Services

Only in Laserfiche

  • Document Capture
  • Workflow Automation
  • Records Management
  • Electronic Forms
  • Process Automation
  • Microsoft Office
  • SharePoint
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • 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

Laserfiche

  • 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

  • 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

Laserfiche

  • Self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management
  • Complex implementation often requires significant upfront customization
  • High total cost of ownership for on-premises deployments due to infrastructure needs

Pricing, plan by plan

Citizen

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Real-time Alerts
    • Incident Feed
    • Safety Map

Laserfiche

$50/month
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Document Management
    • Workflow Automation
    • Records Management

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.
Citizen review

Choose Laserfiche if

  • You need document capture.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Laserfiche review

Questions people ask

Is Citizen or Laserfiche better?
Neither clearly leads. Citizen starts at Free and Laserfiche at $50/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citizen or Laserfiche?
Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citizen and $50/month for Laserfiche.
Does Citizen or Laserfiche run on more platforms?
Citizen runs on Ios, Android. Laserfiche runs on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Citizen for free?
Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Laserfiche starts at $50/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 Laserfiche cannot?
Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map. Laserfiche covers Document Capture, Workflow Automation, Records Management, Electronic Forms. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

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.

Source
Laserfiche: Does Laserfiche offer both cloud and self-hosted options?

Yes. Laserfiche Cloud offers three tiers (Starter $53/user/month, Professional $73, Business $93). Laserfiche 12 provides self-hosted deployment for organizations requiring on-premise infrastructure or with strict security and regulatory constraints.

Source
Citizen: 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.

Source
Laserfiche: What does Laserfiche capture from documents?

Laserfiche provides document capture, electronic forms, workflow automation, case management, mobile access, and government-certified records management with automatic filing and retention schedules.

Source
Laserfiche: Can Laserfiche track document workflows automatically?

Yes. Laserfiche includes workflow automation that tracks and fulfills processes like FOIA requests, with access controls, audit trails, and automated recordkeeping for compliance.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Citizen

More on Laserfiche

Keep looking

Other head to heads