# AHA ACLS vs Extra Hands CPR Assistant

The clearest difference is chart position: AHA ACLS at #56 against Extra Hands CPR Assistant's unranked. Extra Hands CPR Assistant's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year and Extra Hands CPR Assistant sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, Extra Hands CPR Assistant every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AHA ACLS | Extra Hands CPR Assistant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **277** | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) | [iHarig LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031755527) |

## What reviewers say

### AHA ACLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ACLS Pro | $3.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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)

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load information despite subscription payment
- Users locked out of app mid-code
- Unexpected app crashes during critical moments

**Requested features**

- 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


### Extra Hands CPR Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/extra-hands-cpr-assistant/id1559975452)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AHA ACLS free?

AHA ACLS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Extra Hands CPR Assistant free?

Extra Hands CPR Assistant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do AHA ACLS or Extra Hands CPR Assistant have ads?

Neither AHA ACLS nor Extra Hands CPR Assistant shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AHA ACLS or Extra Hands CPR Assistant?

AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, and Extra Hands CPR Assistant every 3 months. Most recently, AHA ACLS was updated on September 29, 2026 and Extra Hands CPR Assistant on September 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*