OnScene vs MedTerms
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
OnScene
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OnScene is your scenario-based study coach for the NREMT EMT cognitive certification exam ā designed to fit between calls, during shift changes, and in the moments when a textbook is too much. Master the exam blueprint: ⢠Scene Size-Up & Safety (15-19%) ⢠Primary Assessment (39-43%) ⢠Secondary Assessment (5-9%) ⢠Patient Treatment & Transport (20-24%) ⢠EMS Operations (10-14%) Inside OnScene: ⢠450 scenario-based questions across 11 study topics, weighted to the NREMT 5-domain blueprint ⢠140 spaced-repetition flashcards covering drug indications, dosages, age-banded vitals, and BLS algorithms ⢠Full 60-question practice exam that mirrors the real Pearson VUE adaptive test ⢠Detailed explanations on every question, grounded in the National EMS Education Standards 2021, Scope of Practice 2019, and 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC ⢠Streaks, XP, and 17 badges to keep your study habit on duty until test day Free vs. Full Access: Try the EMS Systems unit, 20 flashcards, and one practice topic for free. One-time unlock ($14.99) opens every topic, all 140 flashcards, and the full practice exam ā no subscriptions, no ads. Built for: EMT-Basic students, EMR-to-EMT bridges, IFT crews retaking after lapsed certification, and fire academies running NREMT prep blocks. Official sources ⢠NREMT EMT Examination Specifications: https://www.nremt.org/admin/getmedia/4cb170ab-35fa-4ec0-a76c-634847005bc4/EMT-Test-Plan_Public ⢠National EMS Education Standards 2021 (NHTSA, hosted by NAEMSE): https://cdn.ymaws.com/naemse.org/resource/resmgr/files/ems_education_standards_2021.pdf ⢠National EMS Scope of Practice Model 2019 incl. Change Notices 1.0 & 2.0 (NHTSA, hosted by NREMT): https://www.nremt.org/getmedia/d82edd97-1425-423f-954c-fdd63cf1daa3/National_EMS_Scope_of_Practice_Model_2019_Change_Notices_1_and-_2_August_2021 ⢠2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC (Highlights): https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Resuscitation-Science/252500_Hghlghts_2025ECCGuidelines.pdf Disclaimer OnScene is an independent study aid based on the NREMT EMT Examination Specifications (2023 Practice Analysis), the National EMS Education Standards 2021, the National EMS Scope of Practice Model 2019, and the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NREMT, NHTSA, the American Heart Association, or any other organization.
MedTerms
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Master medical terminology with a one-time $4.99 unlock ā no subscription, no ads, no sign-up. MedTerms breaks down 347 essential Greek and Latin word parts ā roots, prefixes, and suffixes ā so you can decode any medical term instead of memorizing thousands one by one. Whether you're a nursing student, pre-med, medical assistant, EMT, or a healthcare professional brushing up, MedTerms turns the language of medicine into something you can build from the ground up. FEATURES ⢠347 hand-picked medical word parts with clear meanings and real examples ⢠Study by word part (roots, prefixes, suffixes) or by body system ā cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and more ⢠Flashcards with a simple "Still learning / Got it" flow so you focus on what you don't know yet ⢠A free Quick Quiz plus focused word-part quizzes with MedTerms Pro ⢠Visual progress tracking so you can watch your mastery grow ⢠Core study content works offline ā no account, no sign-up, no ads, and no developer tracking. Your progress stays on your device. ⢠Easy-to-find citations link to authoritative medical terminology references FREE & PRO ⢠Free: 10-card previews in each study deck, Quick Quiz, and progress tracking ⢠MedTerms Pro: one optional, one-time purchase that unlocks all 347 terms, complete decks, and focused category quizzes ⢠No subscription WHY WORD PARTS? Learn that "cardi/o" means heart, "-itis" means inflammation, and "peri-" means around ā and suddenly "pericarditis" explains itself. Medical vocabulary stops being memorization and starts being logic. PERFECT FOR ⢠Nursing & pre-nursing students ⢠Pre-med and medical students ⢠EMTs, paramedics & medical assistants ⢠Anatomy & physiology courses ⢠Anyone preparing for healthcare exams Download MedTerms and start decoding medicine, one root at a time.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: MedTerms at every 2 weeks against OnScene's every 6 weeks. OnScene's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. OnScene sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and MedTerms sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OnScene ships an update every 6 weeks, MedTerms every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | OnScene | MedTerms |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 2 weeks ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod ā better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 ā better | 17.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fireside WiFi LLC | CHENG QIAO |
In-app purchases
OnScene
- Pro ā 20% Off$11.99
- Full Access Unlock$14.99
MedTerms
- MedTerms Pro$4.99
Questions
Is OnScene free?
Is MedTerms free?
Do OnScene or MedTerms have ads?
Which is updated more often, OnScene or MedTerms?
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