First Aid vs Direct Support Learning
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
First Aid
Access expert advice for common emergencies, including the latest First Aid and CPR techniques. This app provides step-by-step instructions, a hospital finder, and the ability to call emergency services directly. Stay prepared with lifesaving information available even without an internet connection.
- Step-by-step first aid instructions
- Integrated 9-1-1 calling
- Offline access to information
- Hospital finder
- CPR metronome
- Interactive quizzes and badges
- Spanish language translation
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**One of “8 New Apps You Don't Want To Miss” – Mashable** ** “First Aid By American Red Cross is a fix for what ails you.” - Appolicious** Accidents happen. That’s why it’s important to have lifesaving information at your fingertips so you can respond with confidence. The free First Aid mobile app by the American Red Cross puts expert advice for common emergencies in the palm of your hand—from the latest First Aid and CPR techniques to the nearest hospital location. Stay up to date on your lifesaving skills. Receive reminders to re-certify, as well as access to helpful videos, interactive quizzes and other lifesaving information. Features: • Easy to use Spanish language switch translation directly inside the app. • Simple step-by-step instructions guide you through everyday first aid scenarios. • Fully integrated with 9-1-1 so you can call EMS from the app at any time. • Preloaded content means you have instant access to all safety information at anytime, even without reception or an Internet connection. • App user and lifesaving award stories • Quick, intuitive access to first aid information and videos via a search bar which is Siri/Bixby enabled • Interactive functionality, such as Hospital finder to find an emergency center near you and Metronome for practicing CPR • Interactive quizzes allow you to earn badges that you can share with your friends and show off your lifesaving knowledge • Immediate, anywhere access so individuals can view their digital certificate, (if they took a blended learning course on the Red Cross Learning Center) and receive reminders to recertify.
Direct Support Learning
This app provides comprehensive training programs designed for Direct Support Professionals. It aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge for their roles in supporting others.
- Comprehensive training programs
- Designed for Direct Support Professionals
- Skill development
- Knowledge acquisition
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Direct Support Learning offers comprehensive training programs for Direct Support Professionals
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: First Aid at 4.7 against Direct Support Learning's 3.0. First Aid also leads on ratings volume (2.4K vs 2) and chart position (#178 vs unranked). Direct Support Learning's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
First Aid holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Aid has 2.4K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
First Aid ships an update every 3 months, Direct Support Learning every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | First Aid | Direct Support Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2.4K ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2.4K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #178 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 252 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | American Red Cross | Direct Support Learning |
Customer experience
First Aid
Direct Support Learning
Bugs and requests
First Aid
Reported bugs
6 issues- App won't work
- Doesn't show any information/ content after the update
- Update set home location wrongly with no way to change
- Maps are way off
- Wrong language
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- Not very good
Requested features
6 requests- Add Aquarium First Aid
- Needs a search function
- Needs a widget
- Searchable please!
- Longer quizzes
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- Add instructions for vomiting
Direct Support Learning
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
First Aid
No in-app purchases
Direct Support Learning
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is First Aid free?
Is Direct Support Learning free?
Which has better reviews, First Aid or Direct Support Learning?
Do First Aid or Direct Support Learning have ads?
Which is updated more often, First Aid or Direct Support Learning?
Other comparisons
