Comparison

AHA ACLS vs AMSConnect

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

About

AMSConnect

This HIPAA-compliant app enables secure text messaging for critical communications. It integrates with specialized devices, offers team messaging, and allows for message forwarding and availability status updates. Access messages on mobile or web with read receipts and advanced sharing options.

Highlights
  • HIPAA compliant secure messaging
  • Pager integration for redundancy
  • Service team and group messaging
  • Critical alert override
  • Message forwarding
  • Availability status updates
  • Mobile and web accessibility
Features
Read full description

AMS Connect is a HIPAA compliant mobile application for critical and secure text messaging. Enhancing critical messaging workflows AMS Connect also integrates with American Messaging’s suite of critical messaging devices, providing reliable, secure, and redundant messaging. Key Features: - Send and receive secure text messages in compliance with HIPAA standards. - Pager Integration – Messages arrive on your pager, smartphone or both for redundancy and convenience. - Service Teams – Send a page to a service team or group. Adds backup and redundancy to the traditional “hand-off” or “pass around” pager with easy opt-in and opt-out of on-call pagers at any time. - Silent/Do Not Disturb Override – AMS Connect notifications can override “Silent” and “Do Not Disturb” phone settings when Critical Alerts are “Allowed” by the end-user. - Message Forwarding – Let your colleagues know who is covering you when off-duty and have your messages automatically forwarded to that person. - Availability Status – Set your status to let contacts know if you are available, bust or off duty and view the status of others. - Mobile & Web Accessibility – Access AMS Connect anytime, anywhere with device sync. - Read Receipts – See exactly if, and when your colleagues have read your messages with receipts. - Quick Messages - Quickly send commonly used messages by selecting from a list of pre-populated phrases or create your own. - Voice Notes – Record a voice message and send it securely within a conversation thread. - Photo & File Share – Safely send up to 5 photo and file attachments including PDF, Word, and Excel documents up to 28MB at a time. - Archived Messaging History – Ability to archive single, multiple or all messages (according to your organization’s retention policy). - Searchable Directory – Access a listing of professionals from your organization and message them directly. - Urgent Message – Alert your care team to critical information and events by sending an urgent message with a unique tone. - Critical Group Messaging – Privately and securely message individuals, teams, and other distribution groups. - Secure External Messaging – (enhanced feature) Send a HIPAA secure message or photo to anyone with a mobile phone. Secure external messages are encrypted conversations between an American Messaging user and an external user with a mobile device. No need to sign up and remember usernames and passwords. Just quick, easy secure communication.

Screenshots

AHA ACLS4 screens
AMSConnect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AHA ACLS at 4.9 against AMSConnect's 2.2. AHA ACLS also leads on chart position (#47 vs unranked) and review sentiment (26% vs 18%). AMSConnect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. AMSConnect asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AHA ACLS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 277 and 285 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of AHA ACLS's written reviews are positive against 18% of AMSConnect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, AMSConnect monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
AHA ACLS versus AMSConnect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAHA ACLSAMSConnect
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (277 ratings) — better2.2 (285 ratings)
Positive reviews26.3% of reviews — better17.9% of reviews
Number of ratings277285 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
Best chart rank#47 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB70 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMassachusetts General HospitalAmerican Messaging, LLC

Customer experience

AHA ACLS

All ratings277 ratings
Positive99.3%
Neutral0.4%
Negative0.4%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive26.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative70.0%

AMSConnect

All ratings285 ratings
Positive26.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative68.8%
Written reviews140 reviews
Positive17.9%
Neutral8.6%
Negative73.6%

User reviews

AHA ACLS

From 277 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ Accurate, up-to-date AHA ACLS algorithms
  • ⏱️ Built-in timers and counters for code management
  • 👍 User-friendly, intuitive interface
  • 🏥 Trusted by Harvard/MGH and American Heart Association
  • 📋 Helpful for documentation and PCR completion

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription paywall on previously free app
  • 🚨 Dangerous surprise paywall during active codes
  • ⚠️ No warning before transition to paid model
  • 🔐 Requires payment even for basic ACLS information
  • 😤 Perceived greed from wealthy organizations (MGH/AHA)

AMSConnect

From 285 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Efficient messaging workflow
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Secure communication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable notifications
  • 🔍 Poor search and archiving features
  • 🔊 Lack of volume control for alerts
  • 🔒 Security concerns with message access
  • ⚠️ Frequent login issues

Bugs and 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
Show 5 more
  • 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

AMSConnect

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inconsistent page delivery
  • Unexpected logout and data loss
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 16
  • Glitches with service team management

Requested features

5 requests
  • Scheduling and on-call routing
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Customizable alert sounds
  • Ability to delete messages
  • Improved CarPlay support

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AHA ACLS

Subscriptions1
  • ACLS Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Year
None

AMSConnect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AHA ACLS free?
AHA ACLS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AMSConnect free?
AMSConnect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AHA ACLS or AMSConnect?
AHA ACLS is rated higher. AHA ACLS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 277 ratings, while AMSConnect averages 2.2 from 285 ratings.
Do AHA ACLS or AMSConnect have ads?
Neither AHA ACLS nor AMSConnect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AHA ACLS or AMSConnect?
AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, and AMSConnect monthly. Most recently, AHA ACLS was updated on September 24, 2026 and AMSConnect on September 1, 2026.

Other comparisons