EMS Guidebook vs Vitals
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
Read full descriptionHide 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
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.
- Pulse measurement by tapping
- Persistent timer
- Vitals chart by age
- Watch complication support
- Offline functionality
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | EMS Guidebook | Vitals |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (90 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 90 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #143 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Larry Owens | Ian George Gillespie |
Customer experience
EMS Guidebook
Vitals
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
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- 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
Vitals
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EMS Guidebook free?
Is Vitals free?
Which has better reviews, EMS Guidebook or Vitals?
Do EMS Guidebook or Vitals have ads?
Which is updated more often, EMS Guidebook or Vitals?
Other comparisons















