Comparison

Pathophysiology Review vs AHA PALS

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

Head to head
About

Pathophysiology Review

This app offers a comprehensive review of pathophysiology for allied health students and those preparing for specific exams. It includes flashcards, topical questions, and simulated exams to deepen understanding of disease processes.

Highlights
  • 650 review items
  • Detailed rationale answers
  • 350 study cards
  • 200 topical review questions
  • Two 50-question simulated exams
  • 10 body system topics
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Pathophysiology Review is a comprehensive review app for anyone in an allied health pathophysiology course (e.g. nursing, paramedic) or those looking to challenge pathophysiology through Excelsior College Examinations. Comprehensive in nature with detailed rationale answers in flash cards and questions, each of this app's 650 items creates an opportunity to prepare for an exam--and to better understand disease processes as a clinical provider. Pathophysiology Review™ uses the Limmer Creative S-R-T approach to study and contains: Study: 350 Study cards Review: 200 Topical review questions Test: Two 50-question simulated final exams Pathophysiology Review is broken down into 10 topics by body system including: Cellular Immunity Hematologic Neurologic Cardiovascular Pulmonary Musculoskeletal Endocrine Gastrointestinal Renal and Urologic NOTE: Purchase of this app will not provide the user access to the lc-ready.com web site

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

Screenshots

Pathophysiology Review4 screens
AHA PALS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AHA PALS at Free against Pathophysiology Review's $7.99. AHA PALS also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 34 months). Pathophysiology Review's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, chart position and device support 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; Pathophysiology Review costs $7.99 up front. AHA PALS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Pathophysiology Review asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AHA PALS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AHA PALS has 54 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Pathophysiology Review's written reviews are positive against 55% of AHA PALS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pathophysiology Review ships an update every 34 months, AHA PALS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Pathophysiology Review versus AHA PALS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPathophysiology ReviewAHA PALS
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating2.3 (4 ratings)4.5 (54 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings454 — better
Update frequencyEvery 34 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#103 — better#146
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB48 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperLimmer CreativeMassachusetts General Hospital

Customer experience

Pathophysiology Review

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

AHA PALS

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

In-app purchases

None

Pathophysiology Review

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

AHA PALS

Subscriptions1
  • PALS3 Days trial$3.991 Year

Questions

Is Pathophysiology Review free?
Pathophysiology Review costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AHA PALS free?
AHA PALS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pathophysiology Review or AHA PALS?
AHA PALS is rated higher. Pathophysiology Review averages 2.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while AHA PALS averages 4.5 from 54 ratings.
Do Pathophysiology Review or AHA PALS have ads?
Neither Pathophysiology Review nor AHA PALS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pathophysiology Review or AHA PALS?
Pathophysiology Review ships an update every 34 months, and AHA PALS every 2 months. Most recently, Pathophysiology Review was updated on October 24, 2026 and AHA PALS on October 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Pathophysiology Review or AHA PALS?
Pathophysiology Review currently peaks at #103 in the App Store charts, and AHA PALS at #146. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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