About RUOK Safety
What RUOK Is
RUOK Safety is a personal safety check-in application developed by ThinkWriteBuild LLC, based in Campbell, California. The app allows users to set timed safety check-ins before entering situations where they may feel at risk, such as solo travel, first dates, hiking, late-night commutes, or attending protests.
If the user does not check in before the timer expires, the system automatically sends an SMS alert to their designated emergency contacts. The contacts receive the message the user wrote in advance and, if the user opted in, their last known location. The emergency contacts do not need to install any app to receive the alert.
How It Works
The user adds one or more emergency contacts. Each contact must confirm their participation through a web-based consent link before they can be added.
Before entering a situation where a safety backup is desired, the user starts a timer in the app. The timer can be set for durations ranging from a few minutes to several hours.
If the user checks in before the timer expires, the timer is cleared. If the user does not check in, RUOK's servers send an SMS to all designated emergency contacts with the user's pre-written message and optional location data.
Key Features
- One-tap safety timers, from a few minutes to several hours
- Daily check-in mode for recurring routines (commutes, evening walks, solo work)
- Emergency contacts alerted by SMS the moment a timer expires without check-in
- Emergency contacts do not need to install any application
- Web-based contact consent: contacts confirm before being added
- Panic button on every plan, including the free tier, for instant alerts
- Optional location sharing: included in alerts only if the user opts in
- Pause, extend, and check in from the lock screen
- Available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese
Availability
RUOK Safety is available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). The application supports English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. SMS alert delivery currently covers United States and Canada phone numbers (+1 country code). International SMS delivery is under development.
Pricing
RUOK Safety offers three subscription tiers:
- Free: 1 emergency contact, 2 check-in alerts and 1 panic alert per month. No credit card required.
- Pro ($4.99 per month): 3 emergency contacts, 15 check-in alerts and 4 panic alerts per month.
- Premium ($7.99 per month): 5 emergency contacts, 30 check-in alerts and 10 panic alerts per month.
Annual plans are available at a reduced rate. Every new account receives a 30-day free trial with free-tier features.
Privacy and Data Covenant
RUOK maintains an irrevocable Data Covenant in its privacy policy and terms of service. The covenant states that ThinkWriteBuild LLC will never sell, rent, license, or share user data with advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for commercial purposes.
The Data Covenant is legally binding and permanent. It cannot be removed, weakened, or overridden by any future modification to the terms of service or privacy policy. In the event of acquisition, merger, or transfer of assets, the covenant transfers to and binds any successor entity.
Company
ThinkWriteBuild LLC is a software company founded by Chenguang Pan. The company is based in Campbell, California, United States.