Have you ever felt an unexpected tremor and thought, "Is there an app for detecting earthquakes and tsunamis that actually works?" I've been there—I was in my room in the middle of the night and felt a slight tremor.
That's when I started looking apps to detect earthquakes and tsunamis that would make me feel safer.
In this article, I will share my personal experience, the challenges, my learnings and which apps are really worth it — with direct download links, practical tips and reliable information.
My experience with seismic alerts
When that tremor happened, I felt scared and insecure. I wanted to be prepared. I started by downloading some recommended apps and testing each one:
- It was essential that the app deliver fast alerts — seconds can save lives.
- I wanted it to work globally, including where I live (in Brazil, even though we don't have as robust an infrastructure as the US or Japan).
- It needed to be simple, reliable, and free from heavy advertising.
Over the weeks of testing, I've come to realize the strengths and weaknesses of each app. Today, I'm briefly sharing what I learned and which apps I use daily.
The main apps I use for earthquake and tsunami alerts
1. MyShake (Android and iOS)
Developed by UC Berkeley and the USGS, it connects to the ShakeAlert system on the US West Coast. It sends alerts seconds before the tremor in covered areas.
Popular and reliable — it has already had over 4 million downloads and over 5 million alerts issued as of April 2025, with warnings up to 35 seconds before the earthquake.
- Download Android / iOS: https://www.myshake.org (or official stores)
2. Earthquake Network (Android and iOS)
Fully crowdsourced system: smartphones detect tremors and send alerts to nearby users. Active in over 150 countries. Works well worldwide even without an official local system.
- Download Android / iOS via the official app store (“Earthquake Network”)
3. Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts (iOS and Android)
SMS-Tsunami-Warning app monitors global seismic activity and sends earthquake and tsunami alerts with a blaring siren. Free with push notifications by subscription (~ USD 2.99/year).
- Download iOS / Android: (or through the website: Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts)
4. Earthquake+ (iOS)
A leader in real-time earthquake and volcano monitoring. It uses data from the USGS, EMSC, and Smithsonian, notifies up to 20 locations, and includes tsunami warnings and historical data dating back to 2010.
- Download iOS: on the App Store (“Earthquake+”)
5. Disaster Alert (Android and iOS)
From the Pacific Disaster Center, not only about earthquakes and tsunamis, but also 18 types of natural disasters. Animated map, global alerts customized by location and severity.
- Download: “Disaster Alert PDC” in official stores
Quick comparison between the 5 apps
| App | Territory covered | Early warning | Tsunami | Free? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyShake | USA (ShakeAlert) global crowdsourced | ✅ (seconds before) | ❌ | Free |
| Earthquake Network | Global | ✅ (community) | ❌ | Free (Pro optional) |
| Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts | Global (SMS-Tsunami) | 📳 seconds/minutes | ✅ | Free + push subscription |
| Earthquake+ | Global + volcanoes | ❌ post-event notice | ✅ | Free + premium subscription |
| Disaster Alert | Global multidisaster | ❌ usually post-event | ✅ | Free |
Practical tips for using these apps well
- Enable location and push notification, essential for receiving alarms in real time.
- Leave the app running in the background and enable sound notifications, especially for Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts with siren.
- Configure filters (distance, magnitude, location) to avoid unnecessary alarms.
- Test the apps: Most allow you to configure alert testing.
- Use more than one app at the same time: This increases the chance that you will receive early warning from different systems.
My emotions, challenges and learnings
I confess that at first I was anxious about false notifications or alarms that didn't arrive at the right time. But I chose apps based on reliable sources, such as USGS, PDC, EMSC, and I grasped the power of the crowdsourced system. I learned that:
- In Brazil, we know little about earthquakes, but it is essential to prepare, especially in coastal regions.
- To have more than one active app provides more security and reliability.
- THE Android now has a built-in seismic alert system based on the same sensors as MyShake — so on modern phones, many already come automatically protected.
- On iPhones in Brazil, it's worth having apps like Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts or Earthquake+ for visual and audio notifications.
Relevant statistics and data
- The Android Earthquake Alerts system has detected more than 1,000 earthquakes in 98 countries and provides alerts seconds before the tremor.
- MyShake has surpassed 4 million downloads and has issued over 5 million alerts as of April 2025, with warnings up to 35 seconds before shaking for earthquakes up to magnitude 5.2.
- Earthquake Network has coverage in over 150 countries via a community smartphone network
Download and protect yourself
- Use apps to detect earthquakes and tsunamis as complementary tools for your security.
- My favorite apps are: MyShake, Earthquake Network, Earthquake & Tsunami Alerts, Earthquake+ and Disaster Alert.
- Combine official and community sources, set up filters, and keep everything up to date and active.
- These apps offer early warnings, interactive maps, personalization and a global view, essential for anyone who cares about security.
Do you already use any of these apps? Share your experience! And if you found this article helpful, share it with friends and family who live in coastal areas or who want to be more prepared.