# Read by QxMD vs AHA ACLS

Read by QxMD and AHA ACLS both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of Read by QxMD's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's. Read by QxMD also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (6K vs 391). AHA ACLS's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#46 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Read by QxMD asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Read by QxMD against 4.9 for AHA ACLS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Read by QxMD has 6K ratings behind it against 391, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Read by QxMD's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's.

Read by QxMD ships an update monthly, AHA ACLS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read by QxMD | AHA ACLS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839/reviews) | **[4.9 (391 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 391 |
| Positive reviews | **89.0% of reviews** | 26.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#46** |
| Size | 205 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WebMD](https://appshunter.io/developer/295076332) | [Massachusetts General Hospital](https://appshunter.io/developer/376928206) |

## What reviewers say

### Read by QxMD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-by-qxmd/id574041839)

Access and organize the latest medical research and topic reviews in a personalized digital journal. Stay updated with new scientific findings and easily retrieve full-text PDFs from PubMed and other sources.

**Highlights:** Personalized digital medical journal, Access latest medical research, Read topic reviews, Search PubMed, Full-text PDF access, Organize article collection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient access to latest research
- 👍 Customizable journal and keyword tracking
- 🔒 Institutional access integration
- 💡 Convenient PDF downloads
- 👍 Helpful for staying up-to-date

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Institutional access issues
- 💻 Lack of desktop/web version
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 📤 Difficulty sharing articles

**Reported bugs**

- Login and authentication problems
- Inconsistent app performance after updates
- Inability to access full-text articles
- Syncing issues between devices
- Unreliable article refresh functionality

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to annotate and highlight PDFs
- Improved article organization and collections
- Integration with reference managers (e.g. Zotero, Mendeley)
- Enhanced search and filtering capabilities


### AHA ACLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-acls/id1506944443)

**Currently charting:** #46 Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store)

This app provides clinicians with a digital tool to assist in running cardiac arrest codes and delivering advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at the bedside. It features the latest AHA recommendations and includes intuitive access to algorithms, drug dosing, and timers for efficient patient care.

**Highlights:** 4 ACLS algorithms (cardiac arrest, tachycardia, bradycardia, post-arrest), Latest 2025 AHA ACLS content, Drug therapy and dosing, Easy-to-read timers, CPR and epinephrine logging, Rapid transition to post-arrest care

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ACLS Pro | $3.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Accurate, up-to-date AHA ACLS algorithms
- ⏱️ Built-in timers and counters for code management
- 👍 User-friendly, intuitive interface
- 🏥 Trusted by Harvard/MGH and American Heart Association
- 📋 Helpful for documentation and PCR completion

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription paywall on previously free app
- 🚨 Dangerous surprise paywall during active codes
- ⚠️ No warning before transition to paid model
- 🔐 Requires payment even for basic ACLS information
- 😤 Perceived greed from wealthy organizations (MGH/AHA)

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to load information despite subscription payment
- Users locked out of app mid-code
- Unexpected app crashes during critical moments

**Requested features**

- Multiple log storage with dates
- More detailed code logging with event documentation (IO access, medications, rhythms)
- End code button and pause compressions feature
- Real-time log tracking for back-charting
- LVAD algorithm inclusion


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read by QxMD free?

Read by QxMD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AHA ACLS free?

AHA ACLS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Read by QxMD or AHA ACLS?

AHA ACLS is rated higher. Read by QxMD averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while AHA ACLS averages 4.9 from 391 ratings.

### Do Read by QxMD or AHA ACLS have ads?

Read by QxMD shows ads; AHA ACLS does not.

### Which is updated more often, Read by QxMD or AHA ACLS?

Read by QxMD ships an update monthly, and AHA ACLS every 2 months. Most recently, Read by QxMD was updated on November 6, 2026 and AHA ACLS on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*