--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Police Scanner: Fire Radio" developer_entity: "Guru Network Limited Inc." bundle_id: "com.radio.police.scanner.Scanner" app_store_id: "1477440076" category: "News" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2025-11-28" report_date: "2026-06-21" last_verified: "2026-06-21T12:51:38.584Z" report_version: "2.39.0" total_reviews: 159949 overall_rating: 4.74 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.35 data_age_days: 0 momentum_velocity: "steady" intelligence_version: 3 nemesis: "Police Scanner Radio & Fire" competitor_count: 6 tags: ["news", "freemium", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "individuals", "seeking", "real-time"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-radio-police-scanner-scanner" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Police Scanner: Fire Radio App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: News · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 4.74 > **TL;DR:** Police Scanner: Fire Radio is a news app by Guru Network Limited Inc., rated 4.74/5 by 159.9K users, available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Police Scanner: Fire Radio is a news app by Guru Network Limited Inc.. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.74/5 (159.9K reviews) | | **Category** | News | | **Developer** | Guru Network Limited Inc. | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Low (0.35/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Guru Network Limited Inc. - **Category:** News - **Target Audience:** Individuals seeking real-time information on local public safety, emergency services, and breaking news events. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Audited:** 2.39.0 - **Audit Date:** 2026-06-21 - **Signal Count:** 0 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.35/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1477440076 - **Bundle ID:** com.radio.police.scanner.Scanner - **Performance Trend:** Mixed - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-06-21 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Police Scanner: Fire Radio is a news-category app providing global live emergency radio feeds and public safety alerts on iOS. **Why users hire it:** Users hire this app to maintain situational awareness of local emergencies, wildfires, and public safety events via real-time audio monitoring. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Global Feed Directory:** Access to thousands of live police, fire, and emergency radio feeds categorized by location and popularity - **[Differentiator] Emergency Code Reference:** In-app library of police, fire, and emergency codes for interpreting scanner audio without prior training * *User Intent:* Users expect intelligent, adaptive experiences that learn from their behavior. - **[Standard] Location-Based Alerts:** Push notifications for major events, fire department updates, and breaking news based on user-selected regions * *User Intent:* Users want timely prompts to stay engaged without missing updates. - **[Differentiator] Integrated Map View:** Visual display of feed locations to identify the geographic source of emergency broadcasts - **[Standard] Ad-Free Premium:** Subscription tier that removes advertisements from the listening experience * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. ## Market Position {#market-position} The app maintains a strong presence in the News category, currently holding #15 Free in the US. The gap between its high free-tier visibility and the $9.99/month premium price point suggests a need to better convert casual listeners into long-term subscribers. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free tier with ad-supported access, Premium tier at $9.99/month for ad removal - **Analysis:** Freemium model anchored at $9.99/month, utilizing ad-supported access to monetize the free user base. ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Integrated map view provides geographic context to audio feeds. - Emergency code library lowers the barrier for non-expert users. **Critical Frictions:** - Premium tier at $9.99/month exceeds category median. - Ad-supported free tier disrupts high-stakes emergency listening. **Growth Levers:** - Integration of professional-grade wildfire mapping data. - Partnerships with local dispatch for verified alerts. **Market Threats:** - Watch Duty's specialized wildfire mapping captures high-utility users. - NewsBreak's AI-driven aggregation competes for local news attention. ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app transitioned to a freemium model with a $9.99/month premium tier and added mapping and code reference features to improve competitive utility. **Overall trend**: Mixed **Compared at**: 2026-06-21 ### High-impact changes - **[Shifted] Freemium Model Adoption** (pricing) — Pricing model shifted from free-only to freemium, introducing a $9.99/month premium tier for ad removal. - **[Added] Utility-Focused Feature Set** (features) — Added Emergency Code Reference and Integrated Map View as new differentiators to provide geographic and technical context. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Shifted] Competitive Stance Pivot** (positioning) — Executive summary shifted from a general radio streaming focus to a public safety monitoring narrative, acknowledging vulnerability to specialized competitors. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Police Scanner: Fire Radio vs Police Scanner Radio & Fire — Head to Head - **[Police Scanner Radio & Fire](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/net-gordonedwards-scanner-radio-deluxe)** by GordonEdwards.net LLC: This app is the dominant market leader in the police scanner niche, boasting over 500,000 reviews and a high-frequency release cadence. - **Moat strength:** High — sustainable advantage over 12 months - **Key differences:** - Maintains a massive, long-standing user base that creates a significant barrier to entry for new competitors. - High release velocity of 14 updates in six months ensures rapid adaptation to platform OS changes. - Deeply established brand presence in the scanner category makes it the default choice for most users. - **Where Police Scanner: Fire Radio wins:** - ✅ Target app offers a more modern, streamlined interface focused on wildfire and emergency alert specificity. - ✅ Target app's feature set is more curated toward public safety and wildfire awareness rather than general radio. - **Where Police Scanner Radio & Fire wins:** - ❌ Offers a vastly larger library of live radio feeds due to a decade of community growth. - ❌ Proven stability and reliability across millions of sessions provides a trust advantage for emergency monitoring. - **Verdict:** The target app must pivot toward specialized, high-value emergency data like wildfire mapping to differentiate from the broad, legacy-heavy radio dominance of this nemesis. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro)** by Smartest Apps LLC [Moat: Medium]: A direct niche competitor with a long history and consistent update cycle that maintains strong user engagement. - Provides a dedicated 'Pro' tier that likely captures power users willing to pay for ad-free experiences. - Long-standing market presence since 2009 builds significant trust for users seeking reliable emergency radio access. - **[Police Scanner +](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite)** by Rego Apps [Moat: Low]: A direct niche competitor that serves the same core audience, though with lower update frequency than the market leaders. - Uses a 'Lite' branding strategy that likely serves as a funnel for a premium, paid version. - Focuses on a simplified, lightweight radio interface that appeals to users who dislike feature-heavy bloat. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app)** by Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc.: While not a radio app, it is a direct threat in the wildfire and public safety information niche. - Provides professional-grade wildfire mapping and real-time incident reporting that radio apps cannot replicate. - High-frequency updates and specialized focus on wildfire data create a strong, defensible niche moat. - **[PulsePoint Respond](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/medical/org-pulsepoint-pulsepoint)** by PulsePoint Foundation: An adjacent medical and public safety app that competes for the same 'emergency awareness' user intent. - Integrates directly with local emergency dispatch systems to provide verified, life-saving alerts to citizens. - Focuses on community-based CPR and medical response rather than passive monitoring of police radio traffic. - **[NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-particlenews-newsbreak)** by Particle Media Inc.: A broad news aggregator that competes for the user's attention regarding local breaking news and safety alerts. - Uses AI-driven content aggregation to deliver hyper-local news alerts that go beyond just emergency radio. - Aggressive release cadence of 22 updates in six months shows a focus on rapid feature experimentation. ## App Momentum (Steady) {#momentum} - Ships regular bug fixes and improvements. - Maintains high chart visibility in US. > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 136 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Police Scanner: Fire Radio is an established news app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.74/5 rating from 159.9K reviews, it shows polarized user reception. > **Bottom Line:** The app maintains a strong category lead through broad feed access, but the high premium price point and ad-friction during emergencies drive users to specialized competitors, so the PM should prioritize mapping integration and pricing adjustments. **Best for:** Individuals seeking real-time information on local public safety, emergency services, and breaking news events. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] [HIGH IMPACT] Pivot premium pricing to a lower tier because $9.99/month is above category median → increase conversion rate — *Premium tier at $9.99/month exceeds category median, creating a barrier to paid conversion.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause the ad-inventory expansion sprint — conversion volume has higher revenue impact.)_ - [ ] [INVEST] [HIGH IMPACT] Ship integrated wildfire mapping because Watch Duty's specialized data is a high-utility threat → defend market share — *Watch Duty's specialized wildfire mapping creates a high-utility alternative that radio-only apps cannot match.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Deprioritize the UI refresh for the feed directory — mapping utility is the primary competitive gap.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Professional-grade wildfire mapping (available in Watch Duty) - Verified dispatch-level emergency alerts (available in PulsePoint Respond) ### Outlook: Mixed The public safety monitoring market is shifting toward high-utility, verified data as users move away from passive radio listening. This app remains exposed due to its reliance on ad-supported audio, so the PM must prioritize mapping and verified alerts to retain the user base. - 🔴 Ad-supported listening during critical events creates user frustration, which drives churn toward subscription-first, ad-free emergency information competitors. - 🟢 High chart visibility in the US market provides a massive top-of-funnel advantage for testing new high-utility features. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.74/5 | | Total Reviews | 159.9K | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 5 analyzed | | Trend | Mixed | | Outlook | Mixed | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Police Scanner: Fire Radio** (this app) | 4.74/5 | N/A | Guru Network Limited Inc. | | [Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app) | 4.9/5 | Thrilled | Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc. | | [Police Scanner +](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite) | 4.5/5 | Excited | Rego Apps | | [5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Smartest Apps LLC | | [PulsePoint Respond](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/medical/org-pulsepoint-pulsepoint) | 4.8/5 | N/A | PulsePoint Foundation | | [NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-particlenews-newsbreak) | 4.8/5 | Frustrated | Particle Media Inc. | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Guru Network Limited Inc. - **Website:** [https://www.policescanner.us](https://www.policescanner.us) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/police-scanner-fire-radio/id1477440076?uo=2) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.policescanner.us) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/org-watchduty-app) (Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc.) — 4.9/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Police Scanner +*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-regoapps-copradiolite) (Rego Apps) — 4.5/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-smartestapple-50radiopro) (Smartest Apps LLC) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*PulsePoint Respond*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/medical/org-pulsepoint-pulsepoint) (PulsePoint Foundation) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-particlenews-newsbreak) (Particle Media Inc.) — 4.8/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Police Scanner Radio & Fire*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/net-gordonedwards-scanner-radio-deluxe) (GordonEdwards.net LLC) — 4.6/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*The Press of Atlantic City*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/the-press-of-atlantic-city) (BH Media Group) — 4.3/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*PIX11 New York's Very Own*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/pix11-new-york-s-very-own) (Nexstar Broadcasting) — 3.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*KPRC 2 News*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/kprc-2-news) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*News4JAX+*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/news4jax) (Graham Media Group, Inc) — 3.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.35/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 0 - **Data Sources:** developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/news/com-radio-police-scanner-scanner) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.