Comparison

EMS Guidebook vs Vitals

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Vitals

This medical app helps healthcare professionals easily measure patient pulse rates by tapping along to the palpated beat. It also provides a persistent timer and a chart of vital signs by age group, accessible directly from a watch complication.

Highlights
  • Pulse measurement by tapping
  • Persistent timer
  • Vitals chart by age
  • Watch complication support
  • Offline functionality
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The easiest way to get your patient's pulse: - Feel your patient's pulse (as you would normally) with your non-watch hand - Tap your index finger and thumb to each palpated pulse - The app will calculate the beats per minute based on your taps The app also includes a second counter that will not turn off, even if you tilt your wrist downward. Inside you'll also find a chart of vitals summary information by patient age bracket, from infant to adult. Launch the app from the built-in complication.

Screenshots

EMS Guidebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EMS Guidebook at Free against Vitals's $4.99. EMS Guidebook also leads on ratings volume (90 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Vitals's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 months). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

EMS Guidebook is free to download; Vitals costs $4.99 up front. EMS Guidebook sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Vitals asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Vitals holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMS Guidebook has 90 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, Vitals every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
EMS Guidebook versus Vitals: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMS GuidebookVitals
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.8 (90 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings90 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#143 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB1 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperLarry OwensIan George Gillespie

Customer experience

EMS Guidebook

All ratings90 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative55.6%

Vitals

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

EMS Guidebook

One-time7
  • 2009 Utah EMS for Children Off-Line Protocols$1.99
  • District 2B Protocols$2.99
  • 2009 West Virginia EMT Basic Protocols$3.99
Show 4 more
  • 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
None

Vitals

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EMS Guidebook free?
EMS Guidebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Vitals free?
Vitals costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EMS Guidebook or Vitals?
Vitals is rated higher. EMS Guidebook averages 4.8 out of 5 from 90 ratings, while Vitals averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do EMS Guidebook or Vitals have ads?
Neither EMS Guidebook nor Vitals shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EMS Guidebook or Vitals?
EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, and Vitals every 3 days. Most recently, EMS Guidebook was updated on October 14, 2026 and Vitals on October 10, 2026.

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