WikEM vs AHA ACLS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WikEM
This app provides a continuously updated wiki and database of emergency medicine knowledge for physicians. Access key information offline for rapid reference during daily practice. An in-app subscription unlocks advanced AI-powered questions, favorites, and history features.
- Emergency medicine knowledge database
- Continuously updated content
- Offline access
- AI-powered questions (subscription)
- Favorites and history (subscription)
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WikEM is an online wiki and database of emergency medicine knowledge to assist physicians with their daily practice. The content is continuously updated from WikEM.org allowing for rapid reference of key information. The content is available offline with this mobile application. WikEM is intended for clinicians only and not directly for patients. In app subscription purchases: *The in-app purchase unlocks unlimited natural language questions using our AI and also favorites and history features • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable WikEM terms of use: wikem.org/wiki/WikEM:Terms_of_Use
AHA ACLS
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.
- 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
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The AHA ACLS app is the American Heart Association's (AHA) officially endorsed digital health solution to assist clinicians in running codes and delivering bedside ACLS care with actual patients. The app was developed by Harvard-trained physicians, in collaboration with the AHA, to help fellow physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and EMTs deliver the highest level of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) at the point-of-care. It began as a project to assist clinicians within Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital—and then expanded to have a global scope after significant positive impact was demonstrated. Importantly, real-time feedback from our clinician users continuously drives improvements in app design, features, and function so that you will have the best experience providing life-saving care at the bedside. The AHA ACLS app is the only one to have all content vetted by both the AHA science team and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians. It also features the latest 2025 release of AHA recommendations for ACLS. We owe it to our patients to use the best digital health tools to give them the highest chance of surviving acute life-threatening cardiac illnesses. To this end, we have developed a low cost, intuitive, and rigorously vetted mobile app to assist clinicians— including in all stages of training—and enhance ACLS care at the bedside. Features: - Intuitive design to rapidly access 4 ACLS algorithms (i.e. cardiac arrest, tachycardia with pulse, bradycardia with pulse, and post cardiac arrest care) - Includes all recently released 2025 ACLS content including drug therapy and dosing, reversible causes, etc. - Easy-to-read timers and ability to log rounds of CPR, epinephrine, and defibrillations - Button within cardiac arrest algorithm that allows for rapid transition to post cardiac arrest care pathway once patient achieves ROSC - All content rigorously vetted by AHA science team and practicing Harvard-affiliated physicians We continue to iterate based on real-time clinician feedback, so that you will have the best experience providing life-saving care at the bedside. AHA ACLS offers an auto-renewing annual subscription at $3.99/year with a 3-day free trial. You will have unlimited access to all content while you maintain an active subscription. Payment will be charged to the credit card connected to your Apple ID Account when you confirm the initial subscription purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current subscription period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You may manage your subscription and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after the purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. You can read more about our terms and conditions in the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: WikEM at free with in-app purchases against AHA ACLS's subscription. WikEM also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (54% vs 26%). AHA ACLS's advantage is chart position (#59 vs unranked). On price, rating, 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. WikEM sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for WikEM against 4.9 for AHA ACLS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WikEM has 4.7K ratings behind it against 277, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of WikEM's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's.
WikEM ships an update every 5 days, AHA ACLS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WikEM | AHA ACLS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (4.7K ratings) | 4.9 (277 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.1% of reviews — better | 26.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.7K — better | 277 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #59 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 157 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | OpenEM Foundation | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Customer experience
WikEM
AHA ACLS
User reviews
WikEM
From 4.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💡 Useful and concise information
- 🚀 Great resource for quick reference
- 👍 Helpful for medical professionals
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent login and account issues
- 🐛 App crashes and database loading problems
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔋 High battery consumption
AHA ACLS
From 277 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✅ 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
Room to improve
- 💰 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)
Bugs and requests
WikEM
Reported bugs
4 issues- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Broken hyperlinks and charts
- Search function not working as expected
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode support
- Ability to save favorites and customize the app
- Improved search functionality
- Regular content updates
AHA ACLS
Reported bugs
3 issues- App fails to load information despite subscription payment
- Users locked out of app mid-code
- Unexpected app crashes during critical moments
Requested features
10 requests- 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
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- Additional medication counters (bicarbonate, calcium)
- One-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Free basic version with premium features behind paywall
- Voluntary donation model instead of mandatory subscription
- Actual time reflection in logs for accurate timekeeping
In-app purchases
WikEM
- WikEM AI Search$1.991 Month
- Premium Features$4.991 Year
- Personal Notes$0.99
- Favorites and Lists$5.99
- History and Favorites$9.99
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- WikEM Russian Content$29.99
- WikEM Italian Content$29.99
- WikEM Polish Content$29.99
- WikEM Hindi Content$29.99
- WikEM Turkish Content$29.99
AHA ACLS
- ACLS Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Year









