Published 27 Apr 2023

Best COVID-19 Response Apps of 2023

employee using COVID-19 response app

What is a COVID-19 Response App?

A COVID-19 response app is a digital tool that assists both individuals and organizations in addressing COVID-19-related health and safety concerns. It can be used for contact tracing, case investigation, and risk assessment. As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, businesses should encourage staff to use a COVID-19 response app to help identify potential risks.

Importance of a COVID-19 Response App for Businesses 

While it is incredibly difficult to manage a business during a pandemic, business owners should keep in mind that, despite numerous uncontrollable factors, there are still ways for them to better position themselves in the handling of this current crisis. One such way is implementing the use of a COVID-19 response app, as using one can help with the following tasks:

Business Reopening

Having a COVID-19 response app with several state-specific (USA) pages on business reopening as well as several COVID-19 checklists and templates can be a great help. Unlike other COVID-19 response apps that are solely focused on infection control measures, a flexible response app that can also take into account plans for business continuity and returning to work profitably safely is more helpful in the long run.

Employee Protection

Aside from helping lower employee exposure to COVID-19 through mobile contact tracing forms and digital COVID-19 screening checklists, having a COVID-19 response app also aids companies in managing and ensuring workplace safety. With allocated pages for the specific workplace hazards of each industry and accompanying guides on the relevant safety regulations, having a response app can help prioritize the protection of employees from any and all types of harm.

Operations Management

A multipurpose COVID-19 response app will also be beneficial in the long run. If your business has already taken the necessary steps to prepare for business reopening and reduce the chances of a COVID-19 outbreak occurring in your workplace, you can continue using your existing response app as a digital operations platform. Through collaborative actions and proactive issue capturing, your app should empower both you and your employees to work together more efficiently.

COVID-19 Data Security

Although there is an increased emphasis on using digital tools, not only for COVID-19 but also for day-to-day operations, there have also been concerns regarding how COVID-19 data is handled. Personally identifiable information (such as health conditions, location, name, age, and contact details) is often necessary for contact tracing to be effective. Yet, despite its importance to managing public health, the collection, use, and storage of such data may have negative impacts on individual privacy if not handled correctly and transparently. 

In line with this, having a COVID-19 response app that remains open and honest always regarding the personal data the application collects and the actions taken to keep user data secure should be your first choice. Aside from a GDPR-compliant data retention policy, look for an app that also uses AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) for data at rest and data in transit, respectively.

COVID-19 Response Apps Overview

Here is a comparison table of the ten most useful COVID-19 response apps today:

COVID-19 Response App

Best For 

Free Version?

Pricing

SafetyCulture

General COVID-19 risk management and response in all countries and businesses 

Yes, for teams with less than ten members 

Starts at $19 per month with a 30-day trial

COVIDSafe

People in Australia 

Yes

N/A

ServiceNow

Managing COVID-19 in the workplace

No

Dependent on the organization’s needs

TousAntiCovid

People in France

Yes

N/A

DHIS2

Dissemination of health-related information and improving COVID-19 mitigation plans

Yes

N/A

Corona-Warn-App

People in Germany

Yes

N/A

MyCovidRisk

Calculating your risk for COVID-19

Yes

N/A

EdApp by SafetyCulture

Learning about all things related to COVID-19 and training for it

Yes, but with limitations

Starts at $2.95 per user per month with a 30-day trial

NHS Covid-19

People in England and Wales

Yes

N/A

The Coronavirus App

Monitoring COVID-19 data

Yes, but the free version does not have vaccination data

Optional to pay a starting fee of $3 a month

roselin manawis safetyculture content specialist

SafetyCulture Content Specialist

Roselin Manawis

Roselin Manawis is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture. She has experience in news writing and content marketing across different fields of discipline. Her background in Communication Arts enables her to leverage multimedia and improve the quality of her work. She also contributed as a research assistant for an international study and as a co-author for two books in 2020. With her informative articles, she aims to ignite digital transformation in workplaces around the world.

Roselin Manawis is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture. She has experience in news writing and content marketing across different fields of discipline. Her background in Communication Arts enables her to leverage multimedia and improve the quality of her work. She also contributed as a research assistant for an international study and as a co-author for two books in 2020. With her informative articles, she aims to ignite digital transformation in workplaces around the world.