# EMS Guidebook vs First on Scene

The clearest difference is rating: EMS Guidebook at 4.8 against First on Scene's 4.0. EMS Guidebook also leads on ratings volume (90 vs 4). First on Scene's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EMS Guidebook sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. First on Scene asks for nothing beyond the download.

EMS Guidebook holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMS Guidebook has 90 ratings behind it against 4, 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 First on Scene'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, First on Scene weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and August 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EMS Guidebook | First on Scene |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (90 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ems-guidebook/id527102213/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-on-scene/id1630830742/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **90** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 3 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Larry Owens](https://appshunter.io/developer/496138296) | [Kirti Patel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630830744) |

## What reviewers say

### EMS Guidebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ems-guidebook/id527102213)

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.

**Highlights:** Digital EMS agency protocols, Replacement for physical guidebooks, Pediatric vital signs charts, Burn and c-spine clearance guides, Cardiac rhythm examples, AHA guidelines

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2009 Utah EMS for Children Off-Line Protocols | $1.99 | one-time |
| District 2B Protocols | $2.99 | one-time |
| 2009 West Virginia EMT Basic Protocols | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2012 North Carolina EMS Protocols | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2009 North Carolina EMS Protocols | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2010 Hawaii EMS Standing Orders | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2011-2013 St John New Zealand Protocols | $4.99 | one-time |


### First on Scene

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-on-scene/id1630830742)

This application provides educational information and recommendations about AEDs and medical emergencies. It is designed for learning purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice from a physician or Emergency Medical Services.

**Highlights:** AED information, Medical recommendations, Educational purposes, Emergency preparedness

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EMS Guidebook free?

EMS Guidebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is First on Scene free?

First on Scene is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, EMS Guidebook or First on Scene?

EMS Guidebook is rated higher. EMS Guidebook averages 4.8 out of 5 from 90 ratings, while First on Scene averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do EMS Guidebook or First on Scene have ads?

Neither EMS Guidebook nor First on Scene shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EMS Guidebook or First on Scene?

EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, and First on Scene weekly. Most recently, EMS Guidebook was updated on September 10, 2026 and First on Scene on August 6, 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.*