OK...well, here is what I came up with on each:
LifeRing: Uses the 3-S Philosophy (secularity, sobriety, self-help). Path to recovery is an individual matter; there is no program. SOS views sobriety as relying on human effort and motivation. Religious beliefs are kept private and not considered part of getting sober. Meetings are to reinforce the desire to quit drinking (online, email, F2F). Main book: “Empowering Your Sober Self” ($19.95).
SOS: Path to recovery is individual and there is no program. However, sobriety is the priority and uses “Suggested Guidelines for Sobriety” to maintain it. Life-long abstinence is the goal. Uses rational methods and eschews religious or spiritual approaches. Newsletters have featured the Orange Papers. Decidedly anti-AA. Has meetings but did not see description of purpose.
Rational Recovery: Uses the AVRT technique as the main tool to sobriety, which is a cognitive behavior technique. Involves making a Big Plan as a life-time commitment to sobriety. Secular by nature and decidedly anti-AA. No meetings. Main book: “The Art of AVRT” ($29.95).
SMART: Approach relies on self-empowerment and self-reliance. Uses 4 point SMART recovery program along with a set of tools and techniques to support efforts at sobriety. Has meetings both F2F and online. Many books shown on website.