EMS Guidebook vs Houston Fire
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
Houston Fire
Access Houston Fire Department's EMS protocols and supporting materials offline. Features quick indexed lookup, search functionality, and customizable notes. Stay updated with the latest protocols directly on your device.
- Offline protocol access
- Indexed lookup
- Search titles and text
- Favorites tab
- Customizable hospital contacts
- Customizable notes
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Houston Fire: EMS Protocols is an app that provides quick offline access to the Houston Fire Department's EMS protocols and supporting materials. Features include: •Quick indexed lookup of protocols in a matter of seconds •Search titles and text •Favorites tab for quick access of what's important to you •Updated shortly after new protocols are posted online making it more up-to-date than most printed protocol manuals •Customizable hospital contact information and mapping •Customizable notes for each individual protocol entry •Always with you as long as you have your device and never fades or tears
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Houston Fire at none against EMS Guidebook's 7. EMS Guidebook's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, 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. Houston Fire asks for nothing beyond the download.
EMS Guidebook holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. 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 point the same way: 33% of EMS Guidebook's written reviews are positive against 0% of Houston Fire's.
EMS Guidebook ships an update every 6 months, Houston Fire every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EMS Guidebook | Houston Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (90 ratings) — better | 4.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 90 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 months — 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 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Larry Owens | Acid Remap LLC |
Customer experience
EMS Guidebook
Houston Fire
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
Houston Fire
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EMS Guidebook free?
Is Houston Fire free?
Which has better reviews, EMS Guidebook or Houston Fire?
Do EMS Guidebook or Houston Fire have ads?
Which is updated more often, EMS Guidebook or Houston Fire?
Other comparisons
