The purpose of this post is to compile a list of the very best apps that would be useful to preppers and anyone trying to learn some survival skills. If you would like to recommend an app, please leave a comment below and if I like it I’ll add it to the list.
It should be noted that after an EMP or some other apocalyptic event, your phone might not even work. But in the meantime, these apps are a convenient way to learn about survivalism, whether you’re sitting on the toilet or waiting in line at the store. Now on to the list, in alphabetical order:
1. Army Survival Guide
The U.S. Army knows how to train their personnel to survive. Their field manual is the most authoritative guide on survival. This app is over 1,400 pages and provides a complete reference guide on basic survival, evasion, first aid and recovery information. Links: Apple iTunes.
2. Bug Out Bag Survival Guide
Don’t forget a single item for your bug out bag. This app walks you through the process, keeps track of what is in your bag, and reminds you when items need to be replaced. Links: No longer available.
3. CB Radio Box / CB Radio Chat
This allows you to chat with users close-by or around the world. Don’t expect real CB channels (or truckers) here, but the app brings the spirit of CB communication to your phone. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
4. CPR & Choking
New CPR videos that incorporate the latest guidelines issued by the American Heart Association. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
5. Cures A-Z
The ultimate guide to natural remedies. This is a great way to educate yourself, and it could come in handy if you run out of medicine and can’t find a doctor (at least for minor problems). Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
6. Disaster Alert
This provides a listing and interactive map of Active Hazards occurring around the globe. Additional hazard information can be viewed and shared. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
7. Disaster Readiness
This must-have app will help you and loved ones rebound from almost any disaster, anywhere, quickly and safely. Links: No longer available.
8. EMS BLS Field Guide
EMS Basic Life Support now with AHA Updates for ACLS Algorithms, Stroke and CPR AHA Updates for ACLS Algorithms, Stroke, and CPR. Links: No longer available.
9. FEMA
The official app of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Includes an interactive checklist for emergency supplies and information on how to survive disasters. List: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
10. First Aid White Cross
An easy to use application that will allow you to correctly handle an emergency situation. All the basic information you need for the correct handling of an emergency case is illustrated and shortly described. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
11. First Aid by American Red Cross
Includes step-by-step instructions for common first aid skills along with example videos and interactive quizzes. Great way to brush up on your skills. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
12. Flashlight
This flashlight app comes with a built-in compass and allows you to adjust the brightness. Could be very handy if you don’t have any other sources of light. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
13. Google Earth
The perfect app for when you find yourself lost in the wilderness. After it finds your position via GPS, you can zoom out and find the nearest road, river, lake, or whatever else you’re looking for. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
14. iTriage Health
Created by two emergency room physicians to help people answer health questions such as “What do I have?” and “Where do I go?” Links: No longer available.
15. Knots 3D
Learn how to make any kind of knot by watching a step-by-step 3D demonstration. In addition, it teaches you what each knot is commonly used for along with its strengths and weaknesses. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
16. Medicinal Herbs
Medicinal plants, herbal remedies & natural supplements have always been a healthy source of life. Links: Apple iTunes.
17. Pet First Aid
Let’s not forget about our pets. There are too many scenarios where veterinarians might be unavailable. This information in this app has saved many animals’ lives. Links: No longer available.
18. Pocket First Aid & CPR
Whether you’re at home or on the road, the American Heart Association’s Pocket First Aid & CPR app is at your fingertips with concise, clear instructions to care for you and your loved ones. Links: No longer available.
19. Practical Preppers
Created by Scott Hunt, expert adviser on the show Doomsday Preppers. Over 200 prepping videos, interactive checklists, and other tools. Links: No longer available.
20. Prep & Pantry
Excellent way to keep track of your food and other pantry items’ locations, quantities, and expiration dates. It even includes a bar code scanner to make it easier. Links: Apple iTunes
21. Radioactivity Counter
Believe it or not, this will turn your phone into a geiger mueller Counter. The only extra hardware you need is black tape to cover the lens. Links: Apple iTunes.
22. SAS Survival Guide
For over twenty years, the SAS Survival Guide has been the definitive guide to surviving any situation, anywhere in the world. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
23. Scanner Radio
With this you can listen to live audio from over 5,000 police scanners. It even lets you sort the scanners by distance from your location. Links: Google Play.
24. Spy Glass / Smart Compass
Much more than just a compass. When you hold your phone up, the compass overlays real-time video. This way you can head in the direction of a landmark without constantly re-checking your compass. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
25. St John Ambulance First Aid
Find out what to do in common medical emergencies. Up to date first aid advice and protocols with illustrations and audio instructions. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
26. Survival Guide
Based on the FM 21-76 U.S. Military Survival Manual. Works in portrait and landscape mode with zoom functionality so you can see the text and images. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
27. Ultimate Survival Manual
Based on the U.S Army Field Manual 3-05.70. This app will show you how to get through almost any survival scenario. Links: Apple iTunes.
28. ViewRanger GPS
Find your GPS mapped location even when the Internet is unavailable. With thousands of route guides and trails at your fingers, you will be able to find the best route. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
29. Weatherbug
Find out what is happening with local weather in real time. This will be essential when the power goes out due to a storm. This is the most popular weather app. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
30. Wild Edibles
Helps you forage for food in the wild. Includes pictures and descriptions of over 150 edibles along with warnings of poisonous plants that look similar to edible ones. Links: Apple iTunes, Google Play.
Robby says
October 10, 2017 at 11:05 pmThank you sooooo much for the info in your comment, a lot of that was a huge help to me as I would much rather have a dependable pdf stored rather than use a spybot app that wont work without wifi anyway. I have a few questions though that I’d like to ask you. Is there an email address I could contact you at so that our conversation isn’t posted on a comment board? Thank you again very much for the info in your comment.
Honest Prepper says
March 24, 2017 at 5:53 amI’d say that having a good app is very important also prior the disaster. When SHTF wifi will be down, so if app relies on that, it will be useless. For my bag I use expiration date app which tracks expiration dates of all items I use in my go bag. You can set a reminder, so when you receive notification you just swap that item with a new one. The app is called Expiry Wiz: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.terrificmobile.expirywiz&hl=en
It’s android app, don’t know what would be iOS counterpart.
David says
July 19, 2016 at 11:39 pmMost comprehensive reply to a post ever!! I like your old school style. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I bet your grandpa would scoff at the gagets even you use today. A stick in the dirt can give you pretty good time, wherever you are, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t get a watch.
Kathy Ruth says
April 16, 2016 at 9:41 amI find it amusing that you think your E Reader can’t be tracked. Devices do NOT need to be “connected” to be tracked by almost ANY government in the world.
Chuck Findlay says
April 16, 2016 at 6:20 pmMy Nook is the simple Nook, It doesn’t stream anything, It only reads EPUB & PDF files. It’s black & white (called E-Ink) I have the Wi-Fi connection turned off, my home Wi-Fi network doesn’t see it.
So yes I’m sure it is not tracked and without a very, very serious effort (a van full of equipment like the British use to find TV’s that are not registered and have the use tax paid) as the vans need to be within 50-feet or so for them to know something is there. And a Nook emits 100 times less RF then a TV.
I have not registered it with B&N so they have no idea who I am or that I have a Nook. I have never bought a single e-book, I only use it for free EPUB and PDF files. It is just about as off-the-books as you can get.
I have an Amateur radio license and am a member of an LIC (Local Interference Committee) I, along with a few other local hams work with the FCC to hunt down Interference on the radio bands. It’s HARD work and many times you find nothing. I have a spectrum analizer, frequency counter, directional antenna (mounted on my van when needed) and a few other things. I have a good understand of electronic emissions.
So yes I’m pretty sure it can’t be tracked. I find it amusing you buy into a ghost story about what daddy-government can do without really looking into what can and can not be done and the effort needed to do it. Another thing people don’t understand is that while things could be done, it takes a massive effort and expense to do it and as much as we like to think personally we are the center of the world, we are just not that important and not worth the time, effort and money.
The government can track you, as your body (all of us) runs on electricity, but it is not done because of what is needed to do it and the diminished return on the effort and expense doing it.
I’m a nobody and am simply not worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars it would take to find my Nook full of free downloaded books.
scottdouglasjohnson says
February 18, 2016 at 10:24 amMaps.me and a compass are far more useful then google earth.
Mike Lashewitz says
August 2, 2015 at 9:37 amThis post though “helpful” is on the same level as the post about “free money”. Aren’t we MONITORED” enough already? Both posts include excessive monitoring and loss of privacy.
Think about it. If you NEED “apps” to survive it perhaps is best that you do not, because you are not already ready. How well will “apps” work in the few short hours after TSHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens? If you do not have a quality hand crank radio to get your news and some form of additional unmonitored communications. It is already too late…
Go ahead and use “apps” and be tracked in every way possible, just remember who created the event to begin with.
Conan says
February 29, 2016 at 7:40 amYou are right! One has to be careful whom you deal with.
But not using any apps is no solution too. For organizing my food supplies I use the App MyHoard (see http://bit.ly/1XV1Oan).
The company creating this app promises not to monitory you (see http://www.privatesecuredata.com).
Ed C says
March 22, 2015 at 2:50 pmIf you require a phone app to survive, you will not survive. LOL
shastatodd says
January 29, 2015 at 9:31 pmmost of these suggestions are based on working cell/ wifi data. assuming this will always be available might not be wise.
how about a compass or gps app? i like mine and they are independent of phone data connections.
ralph says
January 29, 2015 at 2:36 pm#12 Flashlight app, these have been implicated in stealing data from your phone including but not limited to your online banking if you use your mobile for that purpose. Do an internet search on flashlight apps + security concerns, and make your own judgement.
asdfklj says
September 14, 2015 at 12:02 pmabsolutely correct. The particular app wants to do the following:
retrieve running apps
Location
approximate location (network-based)
precise location (GPS and network-based)
Photos/Media/Files
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
read the contents of your USB storage
Camera
take pictures and videos
Wi-Fi connection information
view Wi-Fi connections
Device ID & call information
read phone status and identity
Other
receive data from Internet
control flashlight
change system display settings
modify system settings
view network connections
full network access
prevent device from sleeping
I only found ONE thing actually NEEDED…”Control Flashlight”. Why does this app need to know your GPS? Full network access? Modify or delete contents of your USB storage?
No thanks!
scottdouglasjohnson says
February 18, 2016 at 10:26 amInstall a firewall app to stop rogue apps from contacting head office. I like NoRoot firewall.