# AHA ACLS vs ACLS Assist

AHA ACLS and ACLS Assist both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of ACLS Assist's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's. ACLS Assist also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). AHA ACLS's advantage is ratings volume (370 vs 2) and chart position (#50 vs unranked). On price, rating, 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 ACLS Assist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for AHA ACLS against 5.0 for ACLS Assist. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA ACLS has 370 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of AHA ACLS's written reviews are positive against 100% of ACLS Assist's.

## The numbers

| Metric | AHA ACLS | ACLS Assist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (370 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acls-assist/id6762579327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **370** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) | [MDOptimus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894741760) |

## What reviewers say

### AHA ACLS

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

**Currently charting:** #50 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


### ACLS Assist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acls-assist/id6762579327)

This clinical decision-support tool assists healthcare professionals in managing cardiac arrest resuscitations in real time. It tracks critical timings, medications, and procedures, allowing teams to focus on patient care while automatically generating detailed reports.

**Highlights:** Live code timer with CPR cycle reminders, Medication and procedure logging, Timeline view with precise timestamps, Auto-generated session reports, AI-powered post-code debriefing, Session sharing via QR code

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro Plus | $19.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AHA ACLS free?

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

### Is ACLS Assist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AHA ACLS or ACLS Assist?

ACLS Assist is rated higher. AHA ACLS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 370 ratings, while ACLS Assist averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do AHA ACLS or ACLS Assist have ads?

Neither AHA ACLS nor ACLS Assist shows ads.

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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.*