Comparison

AHA PALS vs ACLS AI

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
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

ACLS AI

Features
Read full description

The ACLS AI App is a next-generation training and education tool designed to help healthcare professionals, students, and first responders master Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) skills. By combining AI-powered ECG rhythm recognition with real-time, scenario-based guidance, this app makes ACLS practice interactive, accurate, and stress-free. Whether you’re preparing for certification, running mock codes, or sharpening your emergency response skills, ACLS AI provides a safe learning environment that mimics real-world scenarios. Key Features AI Rhythm Recognition (Training Mode) • Upload or simulate ECG rhythms to practice identifying VF, VT, PEA, asystole, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, and more. • Visual waveform display plus instant rhythm labels to support faster learning. Step-by-Step ACLS Simulation • Adaptive training prompts based on the chosen rhythm and scenario. • Covers adult cardiac arrest, bradycardia, tachycardia, and post–cardiac arrest care. Drug Dose Practice • Auto-calculated ACLS drug dosages for common scenarios (epinephrine, amiodarone, atropine, adenosine, magnesium, etc.). • Designed for learning and memorization, not clinical prescribing. Timers & Cycle Tracking • CPR cycle timers, shock reminders, and drug trackers to help users practice real-time decision-making. Voice Command Simulation • Hands-free interaction for training in high-intensity scenarios. Team Training Prompts • Suggested role assignments and communication cues to simulate code team coordination. Offline Learning • Works anywhere—even without internet. Perfect for classrooms, skills labs, rural training, or self-study. Automated Case Logs • Review your training sessions, track performance, and improve with every practice run. Why ACLS AI is Different ACLS can feel overwhelming in real emergencies. ACLS AI reduces cognitive overload during practice by combining instant rhythm feedback with guided ACLS scenarios—so learners build confidence and muscle memory before stepping into real clinical environments. From medical students to paramedics to experienced ICU staff, ACLS AI is your AI-powered training partner. Designed For ACLS learners & certification candidates Emergency medicine & critical care trainees Nursing and paramedic students Educators running mock codes and skills labs Any healthcare professional looking to practice ACLS guidelines Compliance & Safety • All training content is based on the latest American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS Guidelines. • ACLS AI is strictly for educational and training use only. • This app is not a medical device and must not be used for real patient care or decision-making. Disclaimer: This app is intended only for education, training, and simulation purposes. It does not provide medical diagnoses or treatment. Do not use ACLS AI in actual medical emergencies. Always follow your local resuscitation protocols and seek guidance from qualified healthcare professionals. EULA: Apple Standard EULA https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

AHA PALS4 screens
ACLS AI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ACLS AI at none against AHA PALS's 1. ACLS AI also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, ACLS AI every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AHA PALS versus ACLS AI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAHA PALSACLS AI
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (56 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings56 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB27 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperMassachusetts General HospitalVitals AI Innovation

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AHA PALS

Subscriptions1
  • PALS3 Days trial$3.991 Year
None

ACLS AI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AHA PALS free?
AHA PALS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ACLS AI free?
ACLS AI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do AHA PALS or ACLS AI have ads?
Neither AHA PALS nor ACLS AI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AHA PALS or ACLS AI?
AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, and ACLS AI every 3 days. Most recently, AHA PALS was updated on November 7, 2026 and ACLS AI on October 30, 2026.

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