- Earthquake apps at a glance
- Nine earthquake apps
- What early warning can do
- Early warning, alerts or preparedness?
- Preparing your phone and home
- After the shaking stops
- Travelling to earthquake-prone places
- Setting alerts that you'll trust
- My plain advice on choosing an earthquake app
- Frequently asked questions
The best earthquake app depends on where you live. On the US West Coast, an app that delivers official early warnings can give you a few seconds' notice; elsewhere, apps offer fast alerts, live maps and felt reports. Everyone benefits from a preparedness app with clear safety advice. Nine apps follow in no particular order.
Earthquakes give little warning, which is exactly why the right app matters. A few seconds' notice is enough to drop, cover and hold on, and fast information afterwards helps you understand what happened and what to do next.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from early warning apps to global maps and official preparedness tools. Each description comes from the app's own App Store or Google Play listing, re-checked this week. If you rely on an internet calling app, read my review of whether TextNow is safe for what it means for emergency calls.
Earthquake apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake Network | Early warning network | Warnings in many countries | Yes |
| Earthquake+ | Alert app | Quakes and volcanoes | Yes |
| Emergency: Severe Weather App | Emergency app | Many hazards in one app | Yes |
| FEMA | Preparedness app | Preparing for disasters | Yes |
| LastQuake | Felt reports | Reporting what you felt | Yes |
| My Earthquake Alerts | Alert app | A simple live map | Yes |
| MyShake | Early warning app | US West Coast warnings | Yes |
| QuakeFeed | Alert app | Quakes plus other hazards | Yes |
| Volcanoes & Earthquakes | Alert app | Tsunami information | Yes |
Nine earthquake apps
Earthquake Network
Best for: Android users outside the US West Coast who want a crowd-sourced early warning network that covers many countries.
Earthquake+
Best for: Travellers who want real-time earthquake and volcano alerts near them and worldwide, with an Apple Watch app.
Emergency: Severe Weather App
Best for: Households who want alerts and safety advice for many hazards, from storms to earthquakes, from the Red Cross.
FEMA
Best for: Planners who want official tools to prepare for, stay safe during and recover from disasters.
LastQuake
Best for: People in Europe and the Mediterranean who want fast information and to share what they felt.
My Earthquake Alerts
Best for: Watchers who want a simple live earthquake map with push notifications at no charge.
MyShake
Best for: Residents of California, Oregon and Washington who want early warning alerts and safety tips.
QuakeFeed
Best for: News followers who want quakes alongside wildfires, smoke, hurricanes and volcanoes on one map.
Volcanoes & Earthquakes
Best for: Coastal and island residents who want earthquake, volcano and tsunami alerts on one live map.
What early warning can do
ShakeAlert, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, detects significant earthquakes quickly enough to deliver alerts potentially seconds before strong shaking arrives, serving over 50 million people in California, Oregon and Washington.
What that means for you: seconds are enough to protect yourself, not to run outside. When an alert comes, drop to the ground, take cover under something sturdy and hold on. If you live outside those three states, early warning apps work differently, so read how each one gets its data.
Early warning, alerts or preparedness?
Early warning apps aim to alert you before shaking reaches you, using official systems or networks of phones. Alert apps notify you after an earthquake happens, with maps, magnitude and depth. Felt report apps let people share what they experienced, which helps scientists. Preparedness apps cover what to do before, during and after a disaster.
Most people need one alert app and one preparedness app. If you live in a covered area, add an official early warning app.
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Preparing your phone and home
- Turn on emergency alerts in your phone settings.
- Install one early warning or alert app for where you live.
- Practise drop, cover and hold on with your family.
- Agree a meeting point and an out-of-area contact.
- Keep a torch, water and a charged power bank ready.
- Secure heavy furniture and shelves to the wall.
After the shaking stops
- Check for injuries. Help others if it's safe.
- Expect aftershocks. Drop, cover and hold on again if needed.
- Check for hazards. Gas smells, damaged wiring and broken glass.
- Use messages, not calls. Texts get through busy networks more easily.
Travelling to earthquake-prone places
If you're visiting a country or region that sees earthquakes, it's worth installing an alert app before you go and learning the local advice. Hotels often have their own procedures, so read them when you check in.
Save the local emergency number in your phone and keep a small torch and water in your room. It feels like overkill until the day it isn't.
And don't let it spoil your trip. A few minutes of preparation means you can relax and enjoy where you are.
Setting alerts that you'll trust
Alert fatigue is real. If your app pings you for every small tremor on the other side of the world, you'll start ignoring it, which defeats the point.
Most apps let you set a minimum magnitude and a distance from your location. It's worth spending five minutes on those settings so that when your phone does go off, you know it matters.
You can always check the live map out of curiosity; alerts should be saved for the shaking that could affect you or people you love.
Do you make an earthquake app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing an earthquake app
Choose an app built for your region first, then set its alert threshold so you're warned about shaking that matters rather than every tiny tremor. Too many alerts and you'll start ignoring them.
Pair it with a preparedness plan your whole household knows. For more free guides, browse my free resources library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best earthquake app?
One built for your region: an official early warning app where available, plus an alert app and a preparedness app.
Can an app warn me before an earthquake?
Early warning apps can alert you seconds before strong shaking in covered areas, such as California, Oregon and Washington.
What should I do when I get an earthquake alert?
Drop to the ground, take cover under something sturdy and hold on.
Are earthquake apps free?
All apps here are free downloads, with optional upgrades in some.
Do earthquake apps work outside the US?
Yes. Several apps here cover earthquakes worldwide, and some focus on Europe and the Mediterranean.
Do I still need my phone's emergency alerts?
Yes. Keep official emergency alerts switched on in your phone settings.
