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Software · head to head

NextRequest vs Citizen

NextRequest logo

NextRequest

Software

Public Records Request Management

From
$300/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Citizen logo

Citizen

Software

Real-time Safety Alerts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Citizen has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: NextRequest now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site; 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: NextRequest covers Request Intake, Citizen covers Real-time Alerts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NextRequest and Citizen actually diverge.

Attributes where NextRequest and Citizen differ
AttributeNextRequestCitizen
Starting price$300/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebIos, Android
Founded20152016

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 NextRequest

  • Request Intake
  • Workflow Management
  • Document Redaction
  • Public Portal
  • Reporting
  • Document Systems
  • Email
  • Payment Processors

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.

NextRequest

  • Receiving and routing public records and FOIA requestsnot Citizen
  • Tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrallynot Citizen
  • Redacting documents before release with RapidReviewnot Citizen
  • Invoicing and collecting payment for records requestsnot Citizen
  • Publishing a public-facing request portal for residentsnot Citizen

Citizen

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

NextRequest

  • Now sold as part of the CivicPlus product line rather than standalone, and nextrequest.com redirects into the CivicPlus site
  • Pricing is not published
  • Aimed at government agencies, so it is not a general purpose request or ticketing tool

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

NextRequest

$300/month
  • Standard$300/month
    • Request Management
    • Document Redaction
    • Public Portal

Citizen

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

Which should you pick?

Choose NextRequest if

  • You need request intake.
  • You also want workflow management.
NextRequest review

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

Questions people ask

Is NextRequest or Citizen better?
Neither clearly leads. NextRequest starts at $300/month and Citizen at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NextRequest or Citizen?
Citizen has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/month for NextRequest and Free for Citizen.
Does NextRequest or Citizen run on more platforms?
NextRequest 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. NextRequest starts at $300/month.
What is NextRequest best used for?
NextRequest is most often used for receiving and routing public records and foia requests, tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrally, redacting documents before release with rapidreview, invoicing and collecting payment for records requests. Of those, receiving and routing public records and foia requests and tracking request status and statutory deadlines centrally are not what Citizen is typically brought in for.
What can NextRequest do that Citizen cannot?
NextRequest covers Request Intake, Workflow Management, Document Redaction, Public Portal. Citizen covers Real-time Alerts, 911 Monitoring, Live Video, Safety Map.
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Related pages

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