The best safety app for most women in Canada starts with the free emergency SOS and location sharing already built into Android phones and iPhones; paid apps are worth it only if they add something you need, such as check-ins, a crime map or easy alerts to trusted contacts. The data shows why privacy matters as much as features: women and girls were 78% of the 128,175 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence in Canada in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Data: Statistics Canada, “Trends in police-reported family violence and intimate partner violence in Canada, 2024” (The Daily, 28 October 2025); “Firearms and intimate partner violence in Canada” (The Daily, 8 July 2026); police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026). Support services: Government of Canada, “Get help now” (checked 17 October 2026). Ratios marked as ours are our calculation from Statistics Canada data. Disclosure: Safety App Canada is made by the operator of this website. Updated 17 October 2026.
Key facts
- Women and girls were 78% of victims of police-reported intimate partner violence in Canada in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 28 October 2025).
- The 2024 intimate partner violence rate was 553 per 100,000 women and girls aged 12 and older, compared with 158 per 100,000 men and boys, about 3.5 times higher (our calculation).
- Police recorded 175 women and girls among homicide victims in 2025, 67 fewer than in 2024; 41% of women victims were killed by a spouse or intimate partner, compared with 5% of men victims.
- Criminal harassment rose 6% in 2025 to 86 incidents per 100,000 people in Canada.
- Only about 6% of sexual assaults were reported to police in 2019, compared with about half of break-ins and vehicle thefts.
What risks do women in Canada face, according to the data?
Women in Canada face a much higher risk than men of violence from a partner or family member: in 2024 the police-reported rate of intimate partner violence was 553 victims per 100,000 women and girls aged 12 and older, against 158 for men and boys, Statistics Canada reported.
| Indicator (Canada) | Women and girls | Men and boys | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimate partner violence victims per 100,000 (age 12+) | 553 | 158 | 2024 |
| Family violence victims per 100,000 | 474 | 224 | 2024 |
| Share of intimate partner violence victims | 78% | 22% | 2024 |
| Homicide victims (count) | 175 | 494 | 2025 |
| Homicide victims killed by a spouse or intimate partner | 41% | 5% | 2025 |
| Share of firearm-related intimate partner violence victims since 2009 | 85% | 15% | 2009–2024 |
Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily: family and intimate partner violence, 2024 (28 October 2025), police-reported crime, 2025 (22 July 2026) and firearms and intimate partner violence (8 July 2026). The 22% and 15% shares for men and boys are our subtraction from the published shares.
The pattern matters when you choose an app. Much of the violence women experience comes from someone they know, not a stranger on the street, so a safety app has to protect your privacy from people close to you as well as help you call for help. Statistics Canada also says these police figures underestimate the problem, because many victims never report. Our guide is Canada safe? puts these numbers in the national context.
What should a safety app for women do?
A good safety app for women in Canada should do five things well: call for help fast, share your location only when you choose, check in automatically, work with your phone’s own emergency features and keep your data private.
- Fast, discreet SOS. One action from the lock screen that alerts 911 or your chosen contacts, without unlocking the phone or opening several menus.
- Location sharing you control. Sharing for a set time (for example, until you get home) that ends on its own, with a clear list of who can see you.
- Check-ins and arrival alerts. A timer or “I got home” alert that notifies a friend if you do not check in, useful for walking home alone at night or a first date.
- Local information. A map of official crime data or route planning helps you judge an unfamiliar area; see how to check crime in your neighbourhood.
- Clear privacy terms. A plain explanation of what location history is stored, for how long and who can access it, and an easy way to delete it.
No app replaces calling 911. An app that needs data, battery or a subscription to work can fail at the moment you need it, so set up the free features first.
What can a phone already do for free?
Android phones and iPhones can already call emergency services, alert emergency contacts with your location and share your live location for free, which covers the most important needs for most women in Canada.
Spend ten minutes in your phone’s safety or emergency settings: add two or three emergency contacts, learn the button combination that starts an emergency call, and practise it without completing the call. Names and steps vary by model and software version. Our honest comparison of the best personal safety apps in Canada covers built-in features, family location apps and crime-alert apps, with prices checked in October 2026.
How do I stop a safety app being used to track me?
To stop a safety app or location-sharing feature being used to track you, regularly check who can see your location, turn off sharing you did not set up and review which apps have location permission.
- Review sharing lists in your phone’s location settings and in every family or map app you use.
- Check app permissions and remove location access from apps that do not need it.
- Change passcodes after a breakup and do not share them; use a passcode a partner cannot guess.
- Keep your cloud account private. Someone who knows your account password may see your location history.
- If you are in an abusive relationship, sudden changes can alert the other person. Talk to a support service about safety planning before you remove tracking.
Because 78% of intimate partner violence victims in 2024 were women and girls, this step is as important as choosing the app itself.
Which type of safety app fits which situation?
The right type of safety app depends on the situation: built-in phone SOS suits everyone, check-in features suit walks and dates, and crime maps suit moving or travelling to an unfamiliar area.
| Situation | Most useful tool | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Any emergency | 911 and built-in phone emergency SOS | Free |
| Walking home or taking a late taxi | Time-limited location sharing or a check-in timer | Free on most phones |
| Riding transit at night | Location sharing plus the transit agency’s own reporting options; see public transit safety | Free |
| Moving to a new city or neighbourhood | Official police crime maps and our Canada crime map | Free |
| Family wanting ongoing location sharing | Family location app, with everyone’s consent | Paid tiers from C$9.99 a month (Life360, October 2026) |
| Crime map, safer routes and SOS in one app | Safety App Canada (coming soon) | Planned about C$4.99 a month |
Prices change; check the store listing before you subscribe.
Where can women in Canada get help besides an app?
Women in Canada can get help by calling 911 in an emergency and through crisis lines and shelters listed on the Government of Canada’s “Get help now” page (updated 15 April 2026).
- Emergency: call 911 anywhere in Canada.
- Shelters: the federal page points to ShelterSafe, an online map of shelters for women seeking safety from violence and abuse across Canada.
- Provincial crisis lines: the same page lists lines by province and territory. In Ontario, for example, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline can be reached by texting #SAFE (#7233) on Bell, Rogers, Fido or TELUS mobile phones.
- Reporting: for non-urgent crimes, see how to report a crime in Canada.
The federal page includes a “Leave quickly” button that switches to a weather site, which can help if someone may see your screen.
A safety app built on official data
Safety App Canada puts official crime data on a live map, plans walking routes that avoid high-risk areas and sends one-tap SOS alerts to the people you trust. Coming soon to Android and iPhone.
Safety apps for women FAQ
What is the best safety app for women in Canada?
For most women, the best starting point is the free emergency SOS and location sharing built into Android and iPhone. Paid apps make sense only if they add a feature you need, such as check-ins or a crime map.
Are free safety features on my phone enough?
For many women, yes. Built-in emergency SOS, emergency contacts and time-limited location sharing are free and work anywhere with mobile service.
Can a safety app be used to stalk me?
Yes, location sharing can be misused by someone close to you. Check regularly who can see your location; women and girls were 78% of intimate partner violence victims in Canada in 2024.
Who can I call if I am experiencing violence at home?
Call 911 in an emergency. For support, the Government of Canada’s “Get help now” page lists crisis lines in every province and territory, and ShelterSafe maps women’s shelters across Canada.
Is Safety App Canada available yet?
Not yet. It is coming soon to Android and iPhone at a planned price of about C$4.99 a month; see the Safety App Canada page for updates.
