# AHA ACLS vs MKSAP 19

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MKSAP 19 at 71% against AHA ACLS's 26%. MKSAP 19 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). AHA ACLS's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (377 vs 38). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. MKSAP 19 asks for nothing beyond the download.

AHA ACLS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA ACLS has 377 ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of AHA ACLS's written reviews are positive against 71% of MKSAP 19's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AHA ACLS | MKSAP 19 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (377 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443/reviews)** | [4.1 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mksap-19/id1577787036/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **377** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 423 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) | [American College of Physicians](https://appshunter.io/developer/371090673) |

## What reviewers say

### AHA ACLS

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

**Currently charting:** #43 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


### MKSAP 19

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mksap-19/id1577787036)

This medical education app provides access to current information in internal medicine and subspecialties. It includes exam-like questions and patient-based clinical scenarios to help physicians assess and update their knowledge. Offline access to content is available for subscribers.

**Highlights:** Current internal medicine information, 1,200 exam-like multiple-choice questions, Patient-based clinical scenarios, Offline content access, Syncs with online version, Enhances learning with figures, charts, and tables

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AHA ACLS free?

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

### Is MKSAP 19 free?

MKSAP 19 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AHA ACLS or MKSAP 19?

AHA ACLS is rated higher. AHA ACLS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 377 ratings, while MKSAP 19 averages 4.1 from 38 ratings.

### Do AHA ACLS or MKSAP 19 have ads?

Neither AHA ACLS nor MKSAP 19 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AHA ACLS or MKSAP 19?

AHA ACLS ships an update every 2 months, and MKSAP 19 every 2 months. Most recently, AHA ACLS was updated on October 29, 2026 and MKSAP 19 on October 21, 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.*