MediCode vs AHA ACLS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MediCode
Access essential emergency medical algorithms and practice tests on your mobile device. This app provides quick access to ILCOR algorithms for ACLS, PALS, BLS, CPR, and more, helping healthcare professionals make critical decisions in emergency situations.
- Access ILCOR algorithms
- ACLS, PALS, BLS, CPR, NR skills
- ECG rhythms and interpretations
- Multiple-choice practice tests
- Downloadable ebooks
- Easy navigation
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Tired of carrying a set of expandable CPR cards all the time for algorithms? Flipping through the cards to find the right one wastes valuable time in emergency health care situations such as cardiac arrest and pediatric urgent care. MediCode gives you easy access to all of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) algorithms from the palm of your hand and includes multiple-choice practice tests for you to test your skills. This Algorithms, Practice Tests, Megacodes, and ebooks app makes it easy for physicians, paramedics, and nurses to care and save lives. Download this health care professional’s app for free. As health care professionals - critical care physicians, nurses, medical students, paramedics, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), you save lives every day. In times of emergency, others turn to you and trust that you will take the right steps to save them or their loved ones. But no emergency situation is the same. Having a set of tools in your pocket can make all the difference. The MediCode app is a simple, easy-to-use resource for all of your ACLS (including core ECG rhythms), BLS, PALS and NR skills needs, including CPR and first aid. As our gift to you, we are making this health care app, along with downloadable ebooks, available to you for free! At Save a Life by Advanced Medical Certification (AMC), the premier provider for online certification and recertification courses, we believe that improvements can be made through providing exceptional education and resources. Save a Life by Advanced Medical Certification has compiled a list of the vital Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation (NR) and CPR and first aid algorithms, all of which can be viewed and navigated with the touch of your finger. Test your ACLS, BLS, CPR, PALS, first aid and ECG knowledge and skills with our free practice tests. Each skills test consists of 10 multiple-choice questions that are derived from our provider ebooks and adhere to the latest guidelines. Download MediCode and our lifesaving ebooks now and start saving lives! Review our newest ECG rhythms and interpretations resource in our ACLS ebook. Also, check out our CertAlert+ app to conveniently access all your licenses and certifications in one place anytime, anywhere. The individual algorithms included in MediCode are: • BLS - Adult BLS Algorithm - Pediatric BLS Algorithm • ACLS - Cardiac Arrest Algorithm - Details for Cardiac Arrest - Immediate Post Cardiac-Arrest Care Algorithm - Bradycardia with Pulse Algorithm - Tachycardia with Pulse Algorithm • PALS - Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm - Details for Pediatric Cardiac Arrest - Immediate Post for Cardiac Arrest - Pediatric Bradycardia with Pulse/Poor Perfusion Algorithm - Pediatric Tachycardia Algorithm • NR - Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm • CPR and First Aid - Adult BLS Algorithm - Simple Adult BLS Algorithm MediCode is a well-organized, polished, and easy-to-use health care professional’s app that walks you through the many algorithms and practice tests - ACLS, BLS, PALS, NR, and CPR and First Aid. MediCode also provides ebooks, including our newest ECG rhythms and interpretations section of our ACLS handbook, to enhance your skills in emergencies.
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
MediCode and AHA ACLS both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of MediCode's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's. MediCode also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). AHA ACLS's advantage is chart position (#43 vs unranked). 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. AHA ACLS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. MediCode asks for nothing beyond the download.
AHA ACLS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MediCode has 4.3K ratings behind it against 377, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of MediCode's written reviews are positive against 26% of AHA ACLS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
MediCode ships an update every 3 weeks, AHA ACLS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MediCode | AHA ACLS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (4.3K ratings) | 4.9 (377 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews — better | 26.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K — better | 377 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #43 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Advanced Medical Certification Ltd | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Customer experience
MediCode
AHA ACLS
User reviews
MediCode
From 4.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for quick reference
- 💡 Useful for ACLS/PALS review
- 🚀 Convenient app for emergency situations
Room to improve
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in the app
- ⚠️ Outdated information not aligned with latest guidelines
- ⚠️ Lack of drug dosage information
- ⚠️ Errors in the decision trees and algorithms
AHA ACLS
From 377 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
MediCode
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to progress through Mega Codes
- Crashes and freezes on newer devices
- Incorrect information in the algorithms
Requested features
4 requests- Update to 2020 AHA guidelines
- Add drug dosage information
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Provide more practice tests and scenarios
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
MediCode
No in-app purchases
AHA ACLS
- ACLS Pro3 Days trial$3.991 Year








