Comparison

AHA PALS vs Quick PEDS EMS Guide

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

Head to head
About

AHA PALS

This app provides pediatric advanced life support (PALS) protocols and tools for healthcare professionals at the point-of-care. Developed by physicians and vetted by the American Heart Association, it offers intuitive access to algorithms, drug information, and timers for critical care situations.

Highlights
  • PALS pathways and algorithms
  • Drug therapy and dosing
  • CPR and intervention timers
  • Metronome for compression accuracy
  • Critical care references
  • Vetted by AHA and physicians
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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. The AHA PALS app was developed by Harvard-trained physicians, in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA), to help fellow physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and emergency medical technicians (EMT) deliver the highest level of pediatric advanced life support (PALS) at the point-of-care. This project was inspired by the tremendous success of our AHA ACLS app, which has thousands of clinician users in over 180 countries. Importantly, real-time feedback from our clinician users continuously drives improvements in app design, features, and function. AHA PALS is the only app to have all content vetted by both the American Heart Association (AHA) science team (with license to use PALS content) and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians. We owe it to our patients to use the best digital health tools to give them the highest chance of surviving acute life-threatening illnesses. To this end, we have developed an intuitive and rigorously vetted mobile app to assist healthcare clinicians—at any stage of training—navigate PALS at the bedside. You can purchase a yearly subscription which begins with a 3-day free trial. After completing the free trial, you will be charged for an annual subscription automatically. Features: - Intuitive design to rapidly access PALS pathways (i.e. cardiac arrest , tachycardia with pulse, bradycardia with pulse, post cardiac arrest care, and critical care references) - Includes all PALS content including drug therapy and dosing, reversible causes, etc. - Easy-to-read timers and ability to log rounds of CPR, epinephrine, and defibrillations. There are additional functionalities to log PALS Cardiac Arrest interventions beyond EPI, CPR , and shocks such as lidocaine and more. - We also added a new metronome feature to improve compression accuracy as well as a ROSC button. - Button within cardiac arrest algorithm that allows for rapid transition to post cardiac arrest care checklist once patient achieves ROSC - Relevant critical care references: (1) drugs used in PALS (i.e., medication names, indications, and doses); (2) vital signs in children; (3) pediatric color-coded length-based resuscitation tape (adapted from Breslow tape) ; (4) pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale - All content rigorously vetted by AHA science team and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians - Regularly updated with the most up-to-date PALS content

About

Quick PEDS EMS Guide

This medical reference app provides EMS professionals with quick access to pediatric care guidelines, including medication calculations, burn care, and airway management. It features color-coded, weight-based information for rapid treatment decisions and is a one-time purchase with no subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Pediatric EMS quick reference
  • Color-coded weight-based information
  • Medication administration guidance
  • Airway management adjunct sizing
  • Age-dependent burn care
  • Weight conversion calculator
Features
Read full description

Includes General info Resp care Weight conversion with calculator Color category ( use with length based or age or weight ) Formula Burn Care Medication calculation Overview: Are you an EMS professional looking for a reliable and comprehensive resource to assist you in the care of pediatric patients? Look no further! Our Pediatric EMS Quick Reference app is designed specifically for EMS professionals like you, providing quick and easy access to essential information right at your fingertips. -Quick Reference for Pediatric Care: This app is tailor-made for the EMS setting, offering concise and relevant information for the care of pediatric patients. -Color-Coded Weight-Based Information: We understand that every second counts in emergency situations. Our app utilizes color-coded weight-based information, making it easy for you to determine appropriate treatments and interventions quickly. -Length-Based Tapes Compatibility: Whether you use weight-based or length-based measurement tools, our color coding system remains consistent for ease of use and accuracy. -Medication Administration Guidance: Access a quick reference guide for medication administration specific to pediatric patients, ensuring you provide the right doses at the right time. -Airway Management Adjunct Sizing: Never struggle with airway management decisions again. Find information on endotracheal tube (ET) sizes and other rescue airway devices with ease. -Age-Dependent Burn Care: Get guidance on age-dependent burn care and the appropriate medications by weight, ensuring optimal care for pediatric burn patients. No Subscriptions Required: Unlike many other apps, we don't ask for recurring subscriptions. Purchase once, and the app is yours to use indefinitely. Share with Your Colleagues: Spread the word and share this app with fellow EMS providers who can benefit from having this valuable resource. Remember, while our app is a powerful tool, it's essential to consult with medical direction for specific cases. Pediatric care can be complex, and our app is here to assist, not replace, your professional judgment. For EMS by EMS, our Pediatric EMS Quick Reference app is designed to make your job easier, more efficient, and ultimately help you provide the best care for pediatric patients in critical moments. Don't waste time doing calculations on your fingers; have the information you need when it matters most. Download the app today and be better prepared to

Screenshots

AHA PALS4 screens
Quick PEDS EMS Guide3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Quick PEDS EMS Guide at 100% against AHA PALS's 55%. Quick PEDS EMS Guide also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). AHA PALS's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and ratings volume (53 vs 3). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

AHA PALS is free to download; Quick PEDS EMS Guide costs $3.99 up front. AHA PALS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Quick PEDS EMS Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Quick PEDS EMS Guide holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA PALS has 53 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of AHA PALS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Quick PEDS EMS Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
AHA PALS versus Quick PEDS EMS Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAHA PALSQuick PEDS EMS Guide
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.5 (53 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings53 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionPaid — better
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB75 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMassachusetts General HospitalNational Emergency Resource Group

Customer experience

AHA PALS

All ratings53 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative9.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative36.4%

Quick PEDS EMS Guide

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AHA PALS

Subscriptions1
  • PALS3 Days trial$3.991 Year
None

Quick PEDS EMS Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AHA PALS free?
AHA PALS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Quick PEDS EMS Guide free?
Quick PEDS EMS Guide costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AHA PALS or Quick PEDS EMS Guide?
Quick PEDS EMS Guide is rated higher. AHA PALS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while Quick PEDS EMS Guide averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do AHA PALS or Quick PEDS EMS Guide have ads?
Neither AHA PALS nor Quick PEDS EMS Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AHA PALS or Quick PEDS EMS Guide?
AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, and Quick PEDS EMS Guide every 2 months. Most recently, AHA PALS was updated on October 14, 2026 and Quick PEDS EMS Guide on October 21, 2026.

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