Comparison

Houston Fire vs Massachusetts EMS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Houston Fire

Access Houston Fire Department's EMS protocols and supporting materials offline. Features quick indexed lookup, search functionality, and customizable notes. Stay updated with the latest protocols directly on your device.

Highlights
  • Offline protocol access
  • Indexed lookup
  • Search titles and text
  • Favorites tab
  • Customizable hospital contacts
  • Customizable notes
Read full description

Houston Fire: EMS Protocols is an app that provides quick offline access to the Houston Fire Department's EMS protocols and supporting materials. Features include: •Quick indexed lookup of protocols in a matter of seconds •Search titles and text •Favorites tab for quick access of what's important to you •Updated shortly after new protocols are posted online making it more up-to-date than most printed protocol manuals •Customizable hospital contact information and mapping •Customizable notes for each individual protocol entry •Always with you as long as you have your device and never fades or tears

About

Massachusetts EMS

Access prehospital EMS protocols for Massachusetts offline. Features searchable protocols, medication dosages, a pediatric tape, and a map to locate medical centers. Includes a phone list for quick contact.

Highlights
  • Searchable statewide protocols
  • Medication list with dosages
  • Pediatric weight-based dosing tape
  • Map to nearest trauma/stroke centers
  • Customizable phone list
  • Offline access
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This app was developed for anyone involved with EMS in Massachusetts. Massachusetts EMS is a universal app that will work on BOTH your iPhone and iPad. No internet required. No one can remember hundreds of pages of protocols especially in an emergency situation... that's what smart phones are for! ∙ Contains the MA OEMS 2026 prehospital statewide protocols broken down into individual sections which are searchable and hyperlinked for easy access. ∙ Contains medication list with dosages that actually reflect the statewide protocols. Also includes links back to their respective protocols. ∙ Contains a weight-based "pediatric tape" for quick dosing information for medications referenced in the protocols. ∙ Ability to bookmark commonly used protocols for quick reference. ∙ Map function allowing ability to find nearest trauma center, stroke center or Veterinary hospital ∙ Phone list with commonly used numbers. You also have the option to add person custom phone numbers. ∙ Supports dark mode and dynamic text. Starting in 2023 a paid subscription is required to use this app. You have the option when first opening the app to either choose an annual subscription (which comes with a 30 day free trial for new users) or instead choose lifetime access. Both offers provide access to all features of the app. App Subscription Options: ∙ Yearly (annual auto-renewable subscription) ∙ Lifetime access (one-time in-app purchase) The subscription period will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. To turn this function off, simply go to your iTunes account and turn off auto-renew. Renewal payments will differ depending on subscription and pricing at the time of renewal. Your iTunes account will be charged when the purchase is confirmed. Terms and Conditions: https://www.darkmedicalapps.com/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.darkmedicalapps.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Houston Fire4 screens
Massachusetts EMS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Massachusetts EMS at 59% against Houston Fire's 0%. Massachusetts EMS also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 4). Houston Fire's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (4.5 vs 4.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Massachusetts EMS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Houston Fire asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Houston Fire holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Massachusetts EMS has 42 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Houston Fire's written reviews are positive against 59% of Massachusetts EMS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Houston Fire ships an update every 5 months, Massachusetts EMS monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Houston Fire versus Massachusetts EMS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHouston FireMassachusetts EMS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings) — better4.0 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews58.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings442 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
Best chart rank—#176 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB38 MB
Age rating17++17
DeveloperAcid Remap LLCDark Medical Apps LLC

Customer experience

Houston Fire

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Massachusetts EMS

All ratings42 ratings
Positive73.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive58.8%
Neutral5.9%
Negative35.3%

In-app purchases

None

Houston Fire

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Massachusetts EMS

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Susbcription1 Month trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$99.99

Questions

Is Houston Fire free?
Houston Fire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Massachusetts EMS free?
Massachusetts EMS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Houston Fire or Massachusetts EMS?
Houston Fire is rated higher. Houston Fire averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Massachusetts EMS averages 4.0 from 42 ratings.
Do Houston Fire or Massachusetts EMS have ads?
Neither Houston Fire nor Massachusetts EMS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Houston Fire or Massachusetts EMS?
Houston Fire ships an update every 5 months, and Massachusetts EMS monthly. Most recently, Houston Fire was updated on November 3, 2026 and Massachusetts EMS on November 6, 2026.

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