Before installing any embassy appointment app, check five things:

  1. Coverage: does it monitor your specific consulate and visa type? Generic coverage is a red flag.
  2. Price model: one-time fee or subscription? For a one-time appointment, subscriptions are a trap.
  3. Permissions: a slot alert needs notification permission. It does not need your contacts, location history, or portal password.
  4. Reviews: look for reviews mentioning actual booked appointments, not just "nice interface."
  5. The official portal test: can you accomplish the same thing on the official site? If yes, the app should be meaningfully faster or it is redundant.

Sources: U.S. State Department

Delete after the appointment. Appointment apps are single-purpose tools. Keeping them installed means keeping their notification permissions and data collection running for a problem you already solved.