When you’re at Oktoberfest, you expect vibrant music, great food, and unforgettable impressions. But with tens of thousands of people packed into beer tents, on crowded grounds, and moving between events, safety becomes more than just a footnote—it matters. With SafeNow, a safety app for smartphones ist is easy to summon help quickly, discreetly, and effectively. The app is increasingly used at Munich’s Oktoberfest and also inside of beer tents.
What is SafeNow?
SafeNow is a free mobile app developed by a Munich-based startup whose mission is “to put safety in everyone’s hands, free of charge.” The app lets users send alerts to their predefined groups—friends, family, etc.—and, when inside certain designated areas (so called “SafeNow Zones”) like beer tents, to local security staff. The location is shared live, and the alert overrides silent or “Do Not Disturb” phone modes so it won’t go unnoticed.
How SafeNow Works
ou install the app (available for both iOS and Android) and set up your “helper” group. In case of emergency or feeling unsafe, you:
Press and hold the SafeNow button when you need help. If you release the button, the critical alert is sent.
The alert includes your live location and phone number. In zones where SafeNow is integrated (many Oktoberfest beer tents have SafeNow Zones), the alert also goes to on-site security staff.
There is also an “Always-Loud Mode” which ensures alerts are audible even when your phone is muted or in Do Not Disturb mode.
SafeNow at Oktoberfest
At Oktoberfest, SafeNow has begun to be implemented in several beer tents and venues, so visitors can alert security directly via the app. Many Oktoberfest beer tents have joined SafeNow. The idea is to give people—guests and staff alike—a fast way to call for assistance when needed, whether it’s for crowd-related stress, harassment, medical issues, or just feeling unsafe.
These Oktoberfest beer tents support SafeNow (as of 2025):
- Armbrustschützenzelt
- Schottenhamel
- Hofbräu Festzelt
- Ochsenbraterei
Schottenhamel and Hofbräu tent are the beer tents, many tourists go to. So it can be a good idea to have this app installed on your phone.
Benefits & Limitations
Benefits:
Speed: The app sends your location immediately, helping security reach you faster—important when thousands are moving around.
Discreetness: Since it overrides silent modes, it works even if your phone is muted.
Control: You pick who’s in your helper group; you’re not forced to alert large numbers.
Free: No subscription, no ads, and no upsells. It’s funded by venues and institutions that become SafeNow partners like the beer tents.
Limitations:
Needs internet/data: It requires mobile data or Wi-Fi. In very crowded or poorly connected spots, that may be unreliable. Beer tents usually have sufficient Wi-Fi routers to handle up to 8.000 people, but there might be some corners with slow or no connection.
Not a replacement for emergency services: The app alerts security personnel and your group, not directly the police or ambulance. If it is a urgent medical emergency, you’ll still need traditional emergency contact methods.
Zone coverage: Only locations designated as SafeNow Zones have local security staff alerted. Outside these zones (for example in the subway station), only your defined helper group (friends, parents, or whoever you define) receives the alarm.
Tips for Using SafeNow During Oktoberfest
- Download and set up beforehand: Don’t wait until you arrive. Create your helper group so everyone is ready.
Add trusted helpers: Friends, family, or people you’re traveling (or going to the Oktoberfest) with make sense. Make sure they have the app installed.
Enable Always-Loud Mode: Especially useful in loud tents, when music is loud, or if you set your phone to silent.
Know which tents are SafeNow Zones: See above or look for signage/ask staff. If you’re inside an eligible tent, you’ll have access to local security via SafeNow.
Use Test Mode: The app has a test mode—try it out at home so you’re comfortable with triggering and cancelling alarms.
Should You Use It?
Yes. While no app can guarantee safety, SafeNow is a useful, free tool to add to your festival safety plan. It gives extra reassurance, particularly in crowded spaces like beer tents, train stations, or late-night walks back to your hotel. If you follow basic precautions (stay with friends, know your way, know your drinking limits, do not trust strangers), then SafeNow adds an extra layer of security.