EMS Guidebook vs SmartEMS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EMS Guidebook
This app provides a digital reference for emergency medical service protocols, replacing traditional physical guidebooks. It includes essential medical charts, guidelines, and rhythm examples, with agency-specific protocols accessible via password.
- Digital EMS agency protocols
- Replacement for physical guidebooks
- Pediatric vital signs charts
- Burn and c-spine clearance guides
- Cardiac rhythm examples
- AHA guidelines
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EMS Guidebook allows the user to view the medical protocols of specific EMS agencies. This guidebook is meant to be a replacement of the traditional flip book guides that EMTs and Paramedics carry for reference on emergency calls. The specific agencies protocols require passwords to download. Those passwords are available from the agency's Training Officer. The Generic Protocols are available without a password. As part of the base program, each set of protocols contain references such as pediatric vital signs, burn references, c-spine clearance charts, 12-lead guidelines, American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, START and JumpSTART triage guides. There are also guides to several common cardiac rhythms with examples. If you wish to have your protocols put into this system contact us through the app
SmartEMS
This app provides immediate assistance during medical emergencies by alerting an ambulance with a single touch. It allows users to select their preferred hospital and notify loved ones of their situation.
- One-touch ambulance alert
- Preferred hospital selection
- Loved one notification
- Intuitive emergency interface
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What is SmartEMS? SmartEMS is a proprietary new app providing the smartest way to get people the help they need. In the event of a medical emergency, an ambulance is alerted with the touch of a button. SmartEMS is a simple to use app that enables anyone to easily and intuitively choose the hospital they are taken to in the event of an emergency, while also notifying their loved ones. Watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmAYo93ou8I
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: EMS Guidebook at 4.8 against SmartEMS's 3.7. EMS Guidebook also leads on ratings volume (90 vs 3). SmartEMS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. EMS Guidebook sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. SmartEMS asks for nothing beyond the download.
EMS Guidebook holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMS Guidebook has 90 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of EMS Guidebook's written reviews are positive against 50% of SmartEMS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, SmartEMS every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EMS Guidebook | SmartEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (90 ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 90 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Larry Owens | Smart EMS LLC |
Customer experience
EMS Guidebook
SmartEMS
In-app purchases
EMS Guidebook
- 2009 Utah EMS for Children Off-Line Protocols$1.99
- District 2B Protocols$2.99
- 2009 West Virginia EMT Basic Protocols$3.99
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- 2012 North Carolina EMS Protocols$4.99
- 2009 North Carolina EMS Protocols$4.99
- 2010 Hawaii EMS Standing Orders$4.99
- 2011-2013 St John New Zealand Protocols$4.99
SmartEMS
No in-app purchases
