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Government · head to head

Citizen vs ShotSpotter

Citizen logo

Citizen

Government

Real-time Safety Alerts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShotSpotter logo

ShotSpotter

Government

Gunshot Detection Technology

From
$5000/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; ShotSpotter shotSpotter now trades as SoundThinking and shotspotter.com redirects to soundthinking.com
  • They diverge on capability: Citizen covers 911 Monitoring, ShotSpotter covers Gunshot Detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citizen and ShotSpotter actually diverge.

Attributes where Citizen and ShotSpotter differ
AttributeCitizenShotSpotter
Starting priceFree$5000/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20161996

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

  • 911 Monitoring
  • Live Video
  • Safety Map
  • Personal Safety
  • Emergency Services
  • Social Media
  • Location Services

Only in ShotSpotter

  • Gunshot Detection
  • Location Triangulation
  • Forensic Analysis
  • Historical Data
  • CAD Systems
  • 911 Centers
  • Camera Systems
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Real-time Alerts
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Citizen

  • Citizen Servicesnot ShotSpotter
  • Records Managementnot ShotSpotter
  • Public Safetynot ShotSpotter
  • Civic Engagementnot ShotSpotter

ShotSpotter

  • Gunshot detection and location alerting for police departmentsnot Citizen
  • Directing patrol response to outdoor firearm dischargesnot Citizen
  • Building incident data for law enforcement analysisnot Citizen

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

ShotSpotter

  • ShotSpotter now trades as SoundThinking and shotspotter.com redirects to soundthinking.com
  • No pricing is published; the site routes to contact and demo requests with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
  • The service depends on an acoustic sensor array installed across a defined coverage area rather than being software alone

Pricing, plan by plan

Citizen

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

ShotSpotter

$5000/month
  • Detection Service$5000/month
    • Gunshot Detection
    • Real-time Alerts
    • Forensic Reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Citizen if

  • You need 911 monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want live video.
Citizen review

Choose ShotSpotter if

  • You need gunshot detection.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want location triangulation.
ShotSpotter review

Questions people ask

Is Citizen or ShotSpotter better?
Neither clearly leads. Citizen starts at Free and ShotSpotter at $5000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citizen or ShotSpotter?
Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citizen and $5000/month for ShotSpotter.
Does Citizen or ShotSpotter run on more platforms?
Citizen runs on Ios, Android. ShotSpotter runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Citizen for free?
Yes. Citizen has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ShotSpotter starts at $5000/month.
What is Citizen best used for?
Citizen is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what ShotSpotter is typically brought in for.
What can Citizen do that ShotSpotter cannot?
Citizen covers 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map, Personal Safety. ShotSpotter covers Gunshot Detection, Location Triangulation, Forensic Analysis, Historical Data. Both handle Real-time Alerts, 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
ShotSpotter: Does SoundThinking publish ShotSpotter pricing?

No. SoundThinking does not disclose ShotSpotter pricing on their website. Interested municipalities and organizations must request a consultation, contact the sales team, or book a demo.

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
ShotSpotter: How do I get a ShotSpotter quote?

SoundThinking directs prospects to book a demo, contact them directly, or request a consultation through their website. No self-serve pricing, calculator, or trial is available.

Source
ShotSpotter: Who is ShotSpotter for?

ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system designed for law enforcement and municipalities to improve public safety response.

Source
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