# AHA PALS vs PREP Self

The clearest difference is rating: AHA PALS at 4.5 against PREP Self's 3.7. AHA PALS also leads on chart position (#152 vs unranked) and ratings volume (53 vs 9). PREP Self's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

AHA PALS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA PALS has 53 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of AHA PALS's written reviews are positive against 67% of PREP Self's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, PREP Self daily. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AHA PALS | PREP Self |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-pals/id1577470913/reviews)** | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prep-self-assessments-program/id6756599702/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#152** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) | [American Academy of Pediatrics](https://appshunter.io/developer/409863343) |

## What reviewers say

### AHA PALS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-pals/id1577470913)

**Currently charting:** #152 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PALS | $3.99 | per year |


### PREP Self

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prep-self-assessments-program/id6756599702)

Access trusted pediatric learning content through a new mobile app. Build a personalized question bank by selecting blocks from various content areas to fit your learning style and schedule. Earn CME credits and MOC points with each block.

**Highlights:** Trusted PREP content, Customizable question bank, Case-based questions, Earn CME credits, Earn MOC points, Modern user interface

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AHA PALS free?

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

### Is PREP Self free?

PREP Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AHA PALS or PREP Self?

AHA PALS is rated higher. AHA PALS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while PREP Self averages 3.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do AHA PALS or PREP Self have ads?

Neither AHA PALS nor PREP Self shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AHA PALS or PREP Self?

AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, and PREP Self daily. Most recently, AHA PALS was updated on October 14, 2026 and PREP Self on October 9, 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.*