Comparison

AHA ACLS vs PASS CEN!

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

PASS CEN!

Prepare for the Certification for Emergency Nurses exam with this comprehensive reference. It covers all exam content areas with interactive learning activities and realistic practice questions. Features include an outline format, case studies, and integrated pharmacology and anatomy content.

Highlights
  • Covers current CEN exam blueprint
  • Interactive learning activities
  • Realistic practice questions
  • Case studies with clinical reasoning
  • Outline format for clarity
  • Integrated pharmacology and A&P
Features
Read full description

"Try before you buy" - Download the FREE App, which includes sample content. In-App purchase required to unlock all content. Make sure you’re prepared for the Certification for Emergency Nurses examination with Pass CEN!. This comprehensive reference covers all of the content areas in the current exam, and includes fun, challenging learning activities and realistic practice questions. Every chapter features a full range of activities including matching, fill-in-the blank, comparisons, and crossword puzzles – all designed to improve your recall and comprehension skills. A clear, concise outline format and numerous illustrations make the material easy to read, understand, and remember. Key Features * An easy-to-follow outline format clearly delineates what you must know to pass the CEN exam. * Learning activities provide fun and stimulating ways to learn critical concepts, such as matching questions, essays, table completion exercises, and crossword puzzles. * Case studies include questions on clinical reasoning and decision-making. New to This Edition * NEW! Content follows the most current CEN blueprint, eliminating extraneous information that is not likely to be tested. * NEW! Updated learning activities and additional questions reinforces your retention of information. * NEW! Critical pharmacology information integrated into each chapter stresses it’s importance to effective treatment outcomes. * NEW! Integrated anatomy and physiology content reduces repetition of content. Content licensed from printed ISBN 10: 0323321828 Content licensed from printed ISBN 13: 9780323321822 SUBSCRIPTION : Please purchase a yearly auto-renewing subscription to receive content access and available updates. Yearly auto-renewing payments- $59.99 Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed by the user and auto-renewal can be disabled at any time by going to your device “Settings” and tapping “iTunes & App Store”. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. If you have any questions or comments, email us any time: customersupport@skyscape.com or call 508-299-3000 Privacy Policy - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/privacypolicy.aspx Terms and Conditions - https://www.skyscape.com/terms-of-service/licenseagreement.aspx Author: Robin Donohoe Dennison, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CEN, CNE; Jill Suzette Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CCRN, CEN, CFRN Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences Company

Screenshots

AHA ACLS4 screens
PASS CEN!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: PASS CEN! at free with in-app purchases against AHA ACLS's subscription. PASS CEN! also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). AHA ACLS's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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 and PASS CEN! sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $44.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AHA ACLS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA ACLS has 277 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, PASS CEN! every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
AHA ACLS versus PASS CEN!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAHA ACLSPASS CEN!
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (277 ratings) — better4.4 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews26.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings277 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#42 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB147 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMassachusetts General HospitalSkyscape Medpresso Inc

Customer experience

AHA ACLS

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

PASS CEN!

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

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

PASS CEN!

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AHA ACLS

Subscriptions1
  • ACLS Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Year
4 purchases

PASS CEN!

Subscriptions4
  • 25% Off - Limited Period Offer$44.991 Year
  • 20% Off - Limited Period Offer$47.991 Year
  • 15% Off - Limited Period Offer$50.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • PASS CCRN®! 1Y Sub.$59.991 Year

Questions

Is AHA ACLS free?
AHA ACLS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PASS CEN! free?
PASS CEN! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AHA ACLS or PASS CEN!?
AHA ACLS is rated higher. AHA ACLS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 277 ratings, while PASS CEN! averages 4.4 from 8 ratings.
Do AHA ACLS or PASS CEN! have ads?
PASS CEN! shows ads; AHA ACLS does not.
Which is updated more often, AHA ACLS or PASS CEN!?
AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, and PASS CEN! every 4 months. Most recently, AHA ACLS was updated on October 20, 2026 and PASS CEN! on October 7, 2026.

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