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County Jails Comparison
GettingOut
vs
Securus Technologies

GettingOut vs Securus Technologies

GettingOut and Securus serve overlapping county jail markets with different strengths — GettingOut on video, Securus on breadth of services — so the facility contract determines which one applies.

6.6
GettingOut Score
5.7
Securus Technologies Score

Quick Verdict: GettingOut vs Securus Technologies

A quick summary to help you decide before reading the full comparison.

  • GettingOut and Securus serve overlapping markets at county jails.
  • GettingOut has a stronger focus on video visitation while Securus has a broader product range.
  • The facility contract determines which you use.
  • Neither can be chosen over the other.
  • Both have significant consumer complaints but remain the dominant options at their contracted facilities.

Comparison Snapshot

A high-level summary across the four most important categories.

Overall Winner

Tie

Messaging

Tie

Coverage

GettingOut

Pricing

Tie

GettingOut vs Securus Technologies: Full Comparison

GettingOut by Telmate and Securus Technologies both serve county jails for video visits and phone calls. GettingOut focuses primarily on video visitation at county jails and is used at over 2,200 facilities. Securus has a broader range of services including phone calls, video visits, and digital mail. Which you need depends on which provider your specific county jail has contracted with.

GettingOut is operated by Telmate, a subsidiary of GTL ViaPath Technologies. It specializes in county jail video visitation and is used at over 2,200 county jails across 45 states. Securus Technologies is owned by Aventiv and serves over 1,200 facilities across 45 states with a broader product range. Both companies hold exclusive contracts at their facilities.

GettingOut has a well-reviewed mobile app available for iOS and Android with a focus on user experience for video visits. Securus also has a mobile app. Both providers have low overall consumer ratings due to billing issues and technical problems with video visits. GettingOut has a 1.4 star rating based on over 135 reviews. Common complaints for both include failed visits without refunds and slow customer service.

Feature Scores

Scores are based on service availability, quality, and user experience across both platforms.

CategoryGettingOutSecurus Technologies
Messaging
6
6
Video Visits
8
6
Photo Sharing
7
3
Phone Calls
5
8
Money Transfer
6
6
Coverage
8
6
Ease of Use
6
5
Overall
6.6
5.7

Service Comparison

How GettingOut and Securus Technologies compare across every major communication service.

Messaging

Tie
GettingOut

GettingOut offers messaging at some county jail facilities alongside its core video visitation service.

Securus Technologies

Securus offers e-messaging at some county jail facilities as a secondary service to its phone and video products.

Messaging is a secondary feature on both platforms, which primarily compete on video and phone.

Video Visits

GettingOut wins
GettingOut

GettingOut is built around remote video visitation, with sessions typically costing $7.50 to $15 for 20 to 30 minutes and a well-reviewed dedicated app.

Securus Technologies

Securus also offers remote video visits, with pricing and session length varying by facility contract.

Video visitation is GettingOut's core product, giving it an edge in features and app quality for this specific service.

Photo Sharing

GettingOut wins
GettingOut

GettingOut supports photo sharing at facilities where the feature is enabled.

Securus Technologies

Securus offers limited image sharing through features like Snap n Send but does not make photo sharing a central feature.

GettingOut's photo support is more consistently available across its network.

Phone Calls

Securus Technologies wins
GettingOut

GettingOut offers phone calls at contracted facilities, though this is secondary to its video visitation focus.

Securus Technologies

Securus is a leading phone call provider with AdvancePay and Securus Debit account options and deep calling infrastructure.

Phone calls are a stronger, more central part of the Securus product than the GettingOut product.

Money Transfer

Tie
GettingOut

GettingOut offers money transfer services at county jail facilities where it is enabled.

Securus Technologies

Securus also offers money transfer services to trust and phone accounts at its contracted facilities.

Both platforms provide comparable money transfer options where enabled by the facility.

Pros and Cons

An honest look at the strengths and limitations of both GettingOut and Securus Technologies.

GettingOut

Strengths
  • Strong focus on remote video visitation with a well-reviewed app.
  • Serves over 2,200 county jails across 45 states, the largest network among county jail specialists.
  • Supports photo sharing at most participating facilities.
Limitations
  • Phone service is secondary to its video visitation focus.
  • Low overall consumer rating around 1.4 stars based on over 135 reviews.
  • Common complaints about failed visits without refunds.

Securus Technologies

Strengths
  • Deep, established phone call infrastructure.
  • Broader overall product range including phone, video, and messaging.
  • Serves both county jails and some state prisons.
Limitations
  • Video visitation is less central than on GettingOut.
  • Limited photo-sharing capability compared to GettingOut.
  • Low overall consumer ratings tied to billing and technical issues.

Which Is Better For...

Choosing the right platform depends on your specific situation.

Scheduling remote video visits from home

Video visitation is GettingOut's core focus, with a more polished dedicated app experience.

GettingOut

Receiving regular phone calls from a county jail

Securus has deeper, more established phone call infrastructure.

Securus Technologies

Sending photos to a loved one at a county jail

GettingOut more consistently supports photo sharing across its network than Securus.

GettingOut

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from families comparing GettingOut and Securus Technologies.

Is GettingOut or Securus better for video visits?
Both offer similar video visit services. GettingOut has a stronger focus on video visitation and a better-reviewed app. Securus has a broader product range. The facility contract determines which you use.
Can I use GettingOut and Securus at the same jail?
Generally no. County jails hold exclusive contracts. However, some jails may use different providers for different services such as GettingOut for video and Securus for phone calls. Check the specific facility.
What do I do if a GettingOut or Securus video visit fails?
Contact customer service immediately with your confirmation number and a description of what failed. Keep records of all communication. If unresolved, file a BBB complaint. Avoid bank chargebacks as they may result in account restrictions.

Ready to Get Started?

Review both provider pages for full details on features, facility coverage, and pricing before creating your account.