# AHA PALS vs HDFR Protocols

The clearest difference is rating: AHA PALS at 4.5 against HDFR Protocols's 4.0. AHA PALS also leads on ratings volume (53 vs 2) and chart position (#196 vs unranked). HDFR Protocols's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

AHA PALS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA PALS has 53 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AHA PALS | HDFR Protocols |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-pals/id1577470913/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdfr-protocols/id6761961236/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#196** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) | [City of Hampton](https://appshunter.io/developer/1738628082) |

## What reviewers say

### AHA PALS

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

**Currently charting:** #196 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 |


### HDFR Protocols

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdfr-protocols/id6761961236)

This clinical reference app provides Hampton EMS providers with offline access to all protocols, medications, and administrative policies. It features a dosage calculator, quick reference guides, and a comprehensive search function for immediate access to critical information in the field.

**Highlights:** Offline access to protocols, Medication dosage calculator, Quick reference strips, Full-text search, Direct calling of contacts, Pinch-to-zoom protocol viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AHA PALS free?

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

### Is HDFR Protocols free?

HDFR Protocols is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AHA PALS or HDFR Protocols?

AHA PALS is rated higher. AHA PALS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while HDFR Protocols averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do AHA PALS or HDFR Protocols have ads?

Neither AHA PALS nor HDFR Protocols shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AHA PALS or HDFR Protocols?

AHA PALS ships an update every 2 months, and HDFR Protocols every 2 months. Most recently, AHA PALS was updated on October 14, 2026 and HDFR Protocols on October 7, 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.*