AED Comparison 2026: Every Major Model Side by Side
There is no single best AED ā there is the best AED for your setting. Every model sold in the US is FDA-approved and effective at treating sudden cardiac arrest, so the decision comes down to who will use it, where it lives, and what it costs to keep rescue-ready for a decade.
Most comparison charts stop at features. This one includes real prices and real ten-year cost of ownership, because that is where the rankings actually change.
The full comparison
Scroll sideways on mobile. Sorted by ten-year cost, lowest first.
| Model | Price | Pads | Battery | Pediatric | CPR feedback | 10-yr cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HeartSine 350P parts ā |
$1,411 | Pad-Pak ā pads + battery in one part, ~4 yr | Separate Pad-Pak | ā | $1,883 | |
|
Defibtech Lifeline parts ā |
$1,523 | $77 Ā· 2 yr | $236 Ā· 5 yr | Separate pads | ā | $2,069 |
|
ZOLL AED Plus parts ā |
$2,082 | $237 Ā· 5 yr | $103 Ā· 5 yr | Separate pads | Rate + depth | $2,422 |
|
Philips HeartStart OnSite parts ā |
$1,687 | $99 Ā· 2 yr | $249 Ā· 4 yr | Separate cartridge | Metronome | $2,482 |
|
ZOLL AED 3 parts ā |
$2,399 | $248 Ā· 5 yr | $207 Ā· 5 yr | None needed | Rate + depth | $2,854 |
|
Defibtech Lifeline VIEW parts ā |
$2,086 | $86 Ā· 2 yr | $248 Ā· 4 yr | Separate pads | Video + audio | $2,924 |
|
Philips HeartStart FRx parts ā |
$2,427 | $89 Ā· 2 yr | $249 Ā· 4 yr | Infant/Child Key | Voice | $3,281 |
|
LIFEPAK CR2 parts ā |
$2,256 | $188 Ā· 4 yr | $327 Ā· 4 yr | None needed | Coaching + cprINSIGHT | $3,286 |
|
Powerheart G5 parts ā |
$2,157 | $88 Ā· 2 yr | $495 Ā· 4 yr | Separate pads | Intellisense option | $3,499 |
Ten-year figures assume adult pads and one battery line at published August 2026 prices, no deployment, device retired at year 10. Excludes pediatric pads, cabinet, signage and training. Professional-responder units ā ZOLL AED Pro ($3,466) and LIFEPAK 1000 ($3,701) ā are configured to order; call for a quote. Full workings in how much does an AED cost in 2026.
Three things the table tells you that a feature list will not
The cheapest AED to buy is also the cheapest to own. The HeartSine 350P wins both, because its Pad-Pak bundles pads and battery into one part replaced twice a decade. If budget is the binding constraint, stop here.
Sticker price and lifetime cost can invert. The ZOLL AED Plus costs $395 more than the Philips OnSite and about $60 less over ten years ā five-year pads and a five-year battery mean one reorder instead of five. Same story against the CR2: the AED 3 costs $143 more up front and $432 less across a decade.
A cheap device with an expensive battery is a trap. The Powerheart G5 undercuts both the AED 3 and the CR2 on purchase price, then finishes as the most expensive of the group over ten years ā its battery alone is $495. The battery line is the one nobody checks before signing.
What actually matters when choosing
- Who will use it. If the answer is "whoever is nearest", prioritize CPR depth feedback. Untrained rescuers compress too shallow, and a metronome only fixes rate. The ZOLL units are alone in measuring depth.
- How many things you will have to remember. Reorder events per decade range from 1 (AED Plus, AED 3) to 6 (FRx, VIEW, G5). The most common cause of a dead AED is nobody remembering.
- Whether children may be treated. Three different approaches: separate pediatric pads, an Infant/Child Key with adult pads left on (FRx), or one universal electrode covering everyone (AED 3, CR2). The last removes the consumable most often found expired.
- Semi- vs fully-automatic. Equally effective. Fully-automatic shocks after a warning with no button press, which some find less intimidating.
- Durability. IP55 on the AED 3 and CR2 for dust and water. Matters for outdoor, industrial and sports use.
- Connectivity. The CR2 and AED 3 can report readiness remotely ā worth real money across many sites.
Head-to-head comparisons
- Philips HeartStart OnSite vs ZOLL AED Plus ā the two most common first AEDs
- ZOLL AED 3 vs LIFEPAK CR2 ā the two premium units that need no pediatric pads
Best AED by use case
| Setting | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Philips OnSite or HeartSine 350P | Simplest to operate, lowest maintenance, smallest footprint |
| Office / business | ZOLL AED Plus | Depth feedback for untrained staff, one reorder per decade |
| School / sports | ZOLL AED 3 or LIFEPAK CR2 | No pediatric pads to expire ā removes the most common inspection failure |
| Place of worship | Philips OnSite or ZOLL AED Plus | Volunteer responders, infrequent checks |
| Multi-site program | LIFEPAK CR2 (connected) | Remote readiness reporting across every device |
| Outdoor / industrial | ZOLL AED 3 or LIFEPAK CR2 | IP55 rating; pair with a temperature-controlled enclosure |
| Tight budget | HeartSine 350P | Cheapest to buy and cheapest to own |
| EMS / first responder | ZOLL AED Pro or LIFEPAK 1000 | Rugged, professional feature sets, CPR feedback pad options |
Brand by brand
ZOLL
Known for Real CPR Help, which coaches compression depth and rate in real time ā the only brand here measuring depth. The AED Plus uses a one-piece CPR-D electrode with a five-year shelf life; the AED 3 adds a touchscreen, WiFi readiness reporting and a universal electrode covering adults and children. Browse ZOLL AEDs.
Philips
About as simple as an AED gets, with calm paced voice prompts and an information button that speaks any fault aloud ā genuinely useful where a non-clinical administrator minds the device. The OnSite is a perennial favorite for homes and worship; the FRx is built for rugged settings and uses an Infant/Child Key rather than separate pads. Browse Philips AEDs.
Physio-Control / Stryker LIFEPAK
The CR2 brings cprINSIGHT ā analyzing heart rhythm while compressions continue, reducing hands-off time ā plus connectivity options and an eight-year warranty, the longest in the category. One universal electrode covers every patient. Browse Physio-Control/Stryker AEDs.
Defibtech
The Lifeline VIEW is distinctive for its full-color video screen showing rescuers what to do step by step. The standard Lifeline offers dependable performance at an accessible price and a low ten-year cost. Note VIEW parts do not fit a standard Lifeline. Browse Defibtech AEDs.
HeartSine
The most compact units here, and the simplest to maintain: a single Pad-Pak combines pads and battery under one expiration date. The 450P adds a CPR rate advisor. Browse HeartSine AEDs.
Cardiac Science
The Powerheart G5 pairs fast shock delivery with an optional Intellisense CPR feedback pad and dual-language operation. Worth knowing: the earlier Powerheart G3 is discontinued ā see what to replace a G3 with. Browse Cardiac Science AEDs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AED in 2026?
There is no single best model. For an office where untrained staff may respond, the ZOLL AED Plus is our default because it coaches compression depth and needs only one consumable reorder per decade. On a fixed budget the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P is both the cheapest to buy and the cheapest to own. For schools, the ZOLL AED 3 or LIFEPAK CR2 remove pediatric pads entirely.
Which AED is cheapest over ten years?
The HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P at roughly $1,883, followed by the Defibtech Lifeline at about $2,069 and the ZOLL AED Plus at about $2,422. The Powerheart G5 is the most expensive of the group at about $3,499, largely because its battery costs $495.
What is the easiest AED to use?
The Philips HeartStart OnSite and the video-guided Defibtech Lifeline VIEW are most often cited as the most approachable, though every modern AED is designed for laypeople with clear voice prompts.
Should I get a semi-automatic or fully-automatic AED?
Both are equally effective. Fully-automatic delivers the shock automatically after a warning, which some rescuers find less intimidating; semi-automatic keeps the final step with the rescuer.
Which AED has the best CPR feedback?
ZOLL's Real CPR Help measures both compression rate and depth, which matters because untrained rescuers typically compress too shallow. The LIFEPAK CR2 adds cprINSIGHT, which analyzes rhythm during compressions to reduce pauses. Cardiac Science offers Intellisense feedback pads and the HeartSine 450P a rate advisor.
Which AEDs do not need separate pediatric pads?
The ZOLL AED 3 and LIFEPAK CR2 use one universal electrode set for all patients, with a child mode selected on the device. The Philips FRx uses an Infant/Child Key with the adult pads left in place. All other models here require separate pediatric pads.
We will narrow it to two
Tell us the setting, who responds, whether children may be treated and your budget. We will name the two models worth considering and run the ten-year numbers for both ā including when the cheaper device is the more expensive choice.
Shop all AEDs ā | Consumables by model ā | Call 888-541-2337
Related
- How much does an AED cost in 2026?
- AED pads & batteries by model
- Recertified vs refurbished vs new AEDs
- Is my AED discontinued?
- How to set up an AED program
Last reviewed: 20 August 2026. Prices are starting configurations at published rates and change ā check product pages for current pricing. Ten-year figures are modeled estimates, not quotations. For general education only, not medical advice.
