EMS Guidebook vs EMS Pathfinder
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
EMS Pathfinder
Access free, offline EMS protocols, drug references, and clinical tools tailored for mobile use. Features include interactive flowcharts, AI-powered search, and customizable tools for field professionals. Updates are free and automatic when online.
- Offline access to EMS protocols
- Mobile-optimized protocol layouts
- Interactive flowcharts
- AI-enhanced search
- Medication and dosing calculator
- Pediatric length-based reference
- CPR and incident timers
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Free statewide and regional EMS protocols, with a drug reference and clinical tools, in one app that works without signal. No subscription, and protocol updates are free. Every protocol is rebuilt for your phone screen, so there's no pinching and zooming around a printed page or PDF. Pick your state, region or agency once and everything downloads to your device, ready for the basement, the back road or the dead zone. Updates arrive on their own the next time you're online. PROTOCOLS BUILT FOR YOUR PHONE • Native mobile layouts, color-coded by provider level • Enter your patient's details once and every dose in the protocol is worked out for them • Tap any medication, tool or linked protocol to jump straight to it • Step through interactive flowcharts one decision at a time • AI-enhanced search that understands what you mean, even offline • Favorites for the protocols, meds and tools you reach for most MEDICATIONS AND DOSING • Searchable drug reference with indications, contraindications, mechanism and dosing • Cross-linked both ways: open a drug from any protocol, or see every protocol that uses it • Dose, volume, infusion and gravity drip calculators built from your protocols • Weight in lb or kg, or ideal body weight from height • Clinically rounded results, with maximum-dose and patient-age checks CLINICAL TOOLS • Pediatric length-based reference: weights, doses and defibrillation energies by zone • Burn calculator with TBSA and Parkland fluid rates • Stroke scales (Cincinnati/FAST, BE-FAST, RACE, LAMS, VAN, FAST-ED), plus GCS, APGAR, Sgarbossa and COWS • Tidal volume, shock index, pediatric ET tube size, oxygen tank duration and common home meds • Hospital Finder with capability filters (in select states) • CPR and incident timers with event logs, with incident times in a Live Activity on your Lock Screen • Home Screen widget that opens your favorite tools in one tap BUILT FOR THE FIELD • Fully offline once downloaded, with no hunting for signal • Keep several states or agencies on your phone at once • Adjustable text size and dark mode • No ads, and no account needed for public protocols FREE PUBLIC PROTOCOLS Statewide and regional sets from across the US, plus the NASEMSO National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines, and we add new sets regularly. Open the app to see every set; no account needed. Don't see yours? Request it in the app or at emspathfinderapp.com. FOR EMS AGENCIES Give every crew member your own protocols, medications, dosing, tools, contacts, documents and forms, updated live from a web editor. You control who sees what: members get in with an account, single sign-on or an access code. Agencies can also add barcode medication administration (BCMA) scanning. Learn more at emspathfinderapp.com. A NOTE ON SAFETY EMS Pathfinder is a reference and educational tool. It does not replace medical direction, your agency's guidelines or your clinical judgment. Always check the concentration on the packaging and confirm doses against local protocol before you give them. Each public protocol set shows its source and when we last updated it. Confirm with your state or regional EMS authority and your medical director. Questions or feedback? Tap Support in the app or visit emspathfinderapp.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
EMS Guidebook and EMS Pathfinder both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of EMS Pathfinder's written reviews are positive against 33% of EMS Guidebook's. EMS Pathfinder also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). EMS Guidebook's advantage is ratings volume (116 vs 6). On price, rating, 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. EMS Pathfinder asks for nothing beyond the download.
EMS Pathfinder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMS Guidebook has 116 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of EMS Guidebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of EMS Pathfinder's.
EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, EMS Pathfinder every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EMS Guidebook | EMS Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (116 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 116 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Larry Owens | FullCode LLC |
Customer experience
EMS Guidebook
EMS Pathfinder
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
EMS Pathfinder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EMS Guidebook free?
Is EMS Pathfinder free?
Which has better reviews, EMS Guidebook or EMS Pathfinder?
Do EMS Guidebook or EMS Pathfinder have ads?
Which is updated more often, EMS Guidebook or EMS Pathfinder?
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