What dead man's switch apps do
These apps store sensitive payloads — passwords, documents, messages — and release them to recipients when you stop confirming activity or when a calendar condition is met. They are not interchangeable with password managers or legal will software.
Different technical approaches
- Email heartbeat: periodic link clicks reset a timer
- Mobile push check-ins: app-based confirmation
- Calendar release: fixed date regardless of activity
- Trusted-contact petition: human requests with delay
- Hybrid legal: attorney holds sealed instruction
Security tradeoffs
| Design choice | Benefit | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Server-side encryption | Automated delivery possible | Provider can decrypt |
| Zero-knowledge | Provider cannot read vault | Harder automated delivery |
| Short check-in interval | Fast incapacity detection | False triggers on vacation |
| Long grace period | Fewer false positives | Slower real emergency response |
Notification models
Before release, most services email warnings to you. After trigger, beneficiaries receive secure links. Some notify multiple tiers: first reminders to you, then optional emergency contacts, then full payload delivery.
Encryption approaches
Payloads should be encrypted before storage. TLS protects transit. Ask whether attachments are ever sent unencrypted and how long download links remain valid.
Comparison table
| Feature | Ever Legacy Heartbeat | Google IAM | CypherSafe | Manual / attorney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Full inheritance vault delivery | Google data only | Encrypted message release | Custom legal workflow |
| Trigger mechanism | Email heartbeat + grace | Google inactivity (3–18 mo) | Timer + check-in (verify) | Executor discretion |
| Encryption approach | Server-side vault encryption | Google infrastructure | Varies — verify product | Physical / offline |
| Crypto support | Document in vault | Not applicable | Possible payload | Possible in letter |
| Beneficiary delivery | Per-beneficiary asset links | Trusted contact download | Recipient email | Hand-delivered |
| Pricing (public, June 2025) | Free tier available | Free (Google account) | See cyphersafe.com | Attorney fees |
| Best suited for | Multi-account inheritance | Gmail/Drive/Photos only | Single encrypted message | Complex legal estates |
CypherSafe and similar niche tools — verify current features on their sites. Google IAM is not a full dead man's switch but serves overlapping inactivity release.
This comparison is for informational purposes. Features change — verify on each provider's website.