About GettingOut
When my brother was incarcerated, our family scrambled to figure out how to communicate. The prison’s phone system was expensive and chaotic. That’s when we found GettingOut by Viapath. I’ve been using this free app for about eight months now to send messages, schedule video visits, and add money to his account. It’s become our primary lifeline, but it’s far from perfect. This is my honest take as someone who relies on it weekly.
Features & Highlights
The core features are what keep us going. The messaging system is asynchronous, meaning I can send a note anytime, and he gets it when he has tablet access. I send photos of my dog or our garden, which he says really helps. Scheduling a video visit is straightforward through the app’s calendar, though slots fill up fast. I use the deposit feature every month to fund his phone account; it’s a direct replacement for the old, sketchy wire transfer services. The app also has an eCard section and offers some basic games and articles on his end, which he appreciates for passing time. For me, the standout is getting a notification when a message is delivered and read—it gives me peace of mind he’s okay.
User Experience
Logging in is simple, but the app itself feels dated. The dashboard is functional but not intuitive. I remember the first time I tried to find the visit scheduler; I had to tap around for a good five minutes. Sending a photo is easy, but the upload can be slow on my home Wi-Fi. The most real moment for me was during our first video call. The picture was pixelated and the audio lagged a few seconds, making conversation awkward. We ended up laughing about it, but for a paid service (the visits cost money), I expected better quality. On the flip side, getting a “Message Read” notification at 10 PM on a Tuesday instantly lifted my mood, knowing he was thinking of us.
Pricing
The app itself is free to download. However, almost every meaningful action costs money. Sending a message is about $0.25, a 20-minute video visit is around $3.50, and depositing money has a service fee (around $3 per transaction). Adding funds to his phone account is the biggest regular cost. Is it worth it? For maintaining a crucial connection, yes, absolutely. But it adds up quickly, and the fees on top of the deposits feel like kicking us while we’re down. Compared to the exorbitant rates of traditional prison phone systems, it’s a marginal improvement, but it’s still a significant financial burden for families.
Updates & Support
I haven’t noticed many visible updates to the app’s interface in the months I’ve used it. It feels static. When I had a payment fail to process (the money left my bank but didn’t show in his account), I had to contact support. I used the in-app chat and got a generic auto-reply. I finally called the helpline, was on hold for 22 minutes, but the agent who answered was surprisingly helpful and resolved the issue in about 10 minutes. So, support is there, but getting to a human is a test of patience you don’t need during a stressful situation.
Security & Privacy
I downloaded GettingOut from the official Google Play Store. Given it’s handling sensitive financial transactions and deeply personal communications, security is a major concern. The app requires login credentials and all messaging is monitored (which is expected in this context). I haven’t noticed any intrusive ads within the app, which is a relief. My biggest privacy worry is less about data tracking and more about the vulnerability of the system itself—what if there’s a data breach? The privacy policy is dense, but it clearly states they share data with correctional facilities. You have to trust the system, which is hard when you feel like a captive customer.
