RescueNet® CodeWriter vs AHA ACLS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RescueNet® CodeWriter
This medical documentation tool simplifies code data capture for mobile devices. It integrates with a case review system to ensure accuracy, offering features like timers and vital sign buttons for efficient data entry.
- Code data documentation
- Integration with RescueNet CaseReview
- Timer functionality
- Vitals tracking
- Key event buttons
- Easy-to-use interface
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The ZOLL RescueNet CodeWriter documenter is an easy-to-use application for mobile phones or tablets that simplifies code data documentation. When used with RescueNet CaseReview, RescueNet CodeWriter not only captures essential code data, but also helps ensure documentation accuracy with options such as timer, vitals and key event buttons. Simply launch the app and tap the Start New Code button to get started.* *Requires paid subscription to RescueNet CaseReview.
AHA ACLS
This app provides clinicians with a digital tool to assist in running cardiac arrest codes and delivering advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at the bedside. It features the latest AHA recommendations and includes intuitive access to algorithms, drug dosing, and timers for efficient patient care.
- 4 ACLS algorithms (cardiac arrest, tachycardia, bradycardia, post-arrest)
- Latest 2025 AHA ACLS content
- Drug therapy and dosing
- Easy-to-read timers
- CPR and epinephrine logging
- Rapid transition to post-arrest care
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The AHA ACLS app is the American Heart Association's (AHA) officially endorsed digital health solution to assist clinicians in running codes and delivering bedside ACLS care with actual patients. The app was developed by Harvard-trained physicians, in collaboration with the AHA, to help fellow physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and EMTs deliver the highest level of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at the point-of-care. It began as a project to assist clinicians within Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital—and then expanded to have a global scope after significant positive impact was demonstrated. Importantly, real-time feedback from our clinician users continuously drives improvements in app design, features, and function so that you will have the best experience providing life-saving care at the bedside. The AHA ACLS app is the only one to have all content vetted by both the AHA science team and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians. It also features the latest 2025 release of AHA recommendations for ACLS. We owe it to our patients to use the best digital health tools to give them the highest chance of surviving acute life-threatening cardiac illnesses. To this end, we have developed a low cost, intuitive, and rigorously vetted mobile app to assist clinicians— including in all stages of training—and enhance ACLS care at the bedside. Features: - Intuitive design to rapidly access 4 ACLS algorithms (i.e. cardiac arrest, tachycardia with pulse, bradycardia with pulse, and post cardiac arrest care) - Includes all recently released 2025 ACLS content including drug therapy and dosing, reversible causes, etc. - Easy-to-read timers and ability to log rounds of CPR, epinephrine, and defibrillations - Button within cardiac arrest algorithm that allows for rapid transition to post cardiac arrest care pathway once patient achieves ROSC - All content rigorously vetted by AHA science team and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians We continue to iterate based on real-time clinician feedback, so that you will have the best experience providing life-saving care at the bedside. AHA ACLS offers an auto-renewing annual subscription at $3.99/year with a 3-day free trial. You will have unlimited access to all content while you maintain an active subscription. Payment will be charged to the credit card connected to your Apple ID Account when you confirm the initial subscription purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current subscription period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You may manage your subscription and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after the purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. You can read more about our terms and conditions in the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
RescueNet® CodeWriter and AHA ACLS both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of RescueNet® CodeWriter's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's. RescueNet® CodeWriter also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). AHA ACLS's advantage is ratings volume (277 vs 5) and chart position (#37 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. RescueNet® CodeWriter asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for RescueNet® CodeWriter against 4.9 for AHA ACLS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA ACLS has 277 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of RescueNet® CodeWriter's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's.
RescueNet® CodeWriter ships an update every 6 weeks, AHA ACLS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RescueNet® CodeWriter | AHA ACLS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better | 4.9 (277 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 26.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 277 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #37 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | ZOLL Data Systems, Inc. | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Customer experience
RescueNet® CodeWriter
AHA ACLS
Bugs and requests
RescueNet® CodeWriter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
AHA ACLS
Reported bugs
3 issues- App fails to load information despite subscription payment
- Users locked out of app mid-code
- Unexpected app crashes during critical moments
Requested features
10 requests- Multiple log storage with dates
- More detailed code logging with event documentation (IO access, medications, rhythms)
- End code button and pause compressions feature
- Real-time log tracking for back-charting
- LVAD algorithm inclusion
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- Additional medication counters (bicarbonate, calcium)
- One-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Free basic version with premium features behind paywall
- Voluntary donation model instead of mandatory subscription
- Actual time reflection in logs for accurate timekeeping
In-app purchases
RescueNet® CodeWriter
No in-app purchases
AHA ACLS
- ACLS Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Year
Questions
Is RescueNet® CodeWriter free?
Is AHA ACLS free?
Which has better reviews, RescueNet® CodeWriter or AHA ACLS?
Do RescueNet® CodeWriter or AHA ACLS have ads?
Which is updated more often, RescueNet® CodeWriter or AHA ACLS?
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