Not Sure Which AED to Buy? Start Here.
An AED is a medical device that can restart a heart during sudden cardiac arrest. Most people have never used one. That's okay. Today's AEDs are designed for exactly that. Answer three questions below and we'll match you with the right device for your building, your team, and your budget. If you want to understand the differences before you decide, keep reading after the quiz.
Find the Right AED
for Your Situation
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll match you with the best options.
How to Choose the Right AED
There are more than a dozen AED models on the market. They all do the same fundamental thing: analyze a heart rhythm and deliver a shock when one is needed. The differences come down to three questions. Where will it be used? Who will most likely use it? And does it need to stay connected to a monitoring system?
Get those three things right and the rest takes care of itself. If you want a broader overview of what to consider before purchasing, including pricing, refurbished options, and program costs, see Buying an AED in the AED.US Knowledge Center.
Where it will be used
A device mounted in a school lobby has different needs than one carried by a wilderness first responder or sitting in a cabinet at a multi-site healthcare network. Public buildings need something reliable and simple. Outdoor and industrial environments need a device built to take a beating. Enterprise and multi-site programs need connectivity so administrators can confirm readiness across every location without physically checking each unit. Home use is a different category entirely: the right device needs no prescription, no training, and no complicated setup.
Who will use it
If the most likely user is a bystander who has never seen an AED before, simplicity is the priority. Open-lid power-on, voice-guided instructions, and a fully automatic shock option remove the hesitation that costs time. For users who are trained responders or medical professionals, CPR feedback, ECG display, and faster shock analysis become valuable. Most of the devices on this page work well for both. A few are built specifically for one or the other.
Connectivity and monitoring
A standalone AED requires someone to physically check it regularly. That works fine for small programs with disciplined staff. Wi-Fi- and cellular-connected devices automatically push readiness status, flag expired pads or low batteries before anyone notices, and maintain compliance record without manual effort. For any program with multiple devices or sites, connectivity is not a luxury. It shows you that the devices are actually ready.
Every AED We Carry, Explained in Plain English
Here is what you actually need to know about each device, without the spec-sheet jargon.
The AED Plus is one of the few devices that tells you whether your chest compressions are deep enough while CPR is in progress. Most AEDs coach rate. This one coaches depth with ZOLL's Real CPR Help® technology. That matters. It is a reliable, straightforward device for offices, schools, and public facilities. Available in semi-automatic and fully automatic versions.
Shop AED PlusThe AED 3 is ZOLL's most capable public-access device. It has a full-color touchscreen, universal pads that work on adults and children without swapping, built-in Wi-Fi, CPR depth coaching with Real CPR Help®, and a five-second shock analysis window. Cellular connectivity is available through the AEDtrax accessory, sold separately. The right choice when you want a full-featured device with program visibility across sites.
Shop AED 3The Powerheart G5 runs daily, weekly, and monthly self-tests automatically and carries an eight-year warranty. It is a durable, low-maintenance device for facilities that want reliable coverage without a complex program. Available in a dual-language SKU for bilingual environments.
Shop Powerheart G5The LIFEPAK CR2 is built around two technologies worth knowing: cprCOACH keeps your compression pace on track, and cprINSIGHT analyzes the heart rhythm while CPR is still in progress, which reduces the pause before a potential shock. One press of the Child Mode button adjusts the device for pediatric use, no extra pads required. Data transfers via USB to LIFELINKcentral for program records.
Shop CR2 USBSame device as the CR2 USB, with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi built in. Readiness status is automatically pushed to LIFELINKcentral, location alerts notify administrators when the device is moved, and software updates occur remotely. The best choice for multi-site programs, remote locations, or anywhere consistent manual inspection is not realistic.
Shop CR2 CellularThe OnSite is one of the simplest public-access AEDs available. It comes pre-loaded with a battery and pads, weighs 3.3 pounds, and guides the user entirely by voice. Open it and follow the instructions. Nothing else is required. The right device for any location where an untrained bystander is most likely to be the responder.
Shop HeartStart OnSiteThe HeartStart Home is FDA-approved specifically for over-the-counter home purchase. No prescription required. It comes pre-loaded and ready to use. If you are buying an AED for your home or a family member, this is the most direct path to having one on hand.
Shop HeartStart HomeThe FRx is built for environments that are not climate-controlled, clean, or predictable. It withstands 500-pound crush loads, operates in temperatures from freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and includes an Infant/Child Key that adjusts energy for pediatric use without a separate pad set. Trusted by EMS teams, industrial safety programs, and wilderness responders.
Shop HeartStart FRxAt 2.4 pounds, the 350P is the lightest device from any major AED manufacturer. The PAD-PAK combines the battery and electrode pads into a single cartridge, which means one expiry date to track and one replacement to order. FDA-approved for over-the-counter purchase with no prescription required. A practical choice for travel, sports programs, and homes where space is limited.
Shop Samaritan PAD 350PThe 360P is the fully automatic version of the 350P. It detects a shockable rhythm, charges, counts down, and delivers the shock without requiring the user to press a button. Same ultra-compact PAD-PAK design. The right choice for public locations where hesitation is a real concern and the user population is likely unfamiliar with AEDs.
Shop Samaritan PAD 360PThe 450P adds real-time feedback on CPR compression rate to the 350P platform. It is the lightest device from a major manufacturer that coaches compression pace. Everything else is the same: 2.4 pounds, PAD-PAK cartridge, and an eight-year warranty. A step up for facilities that want coaching without adding weight or complexity.
Shop Samaritan PAD 450PThe Lifeline Auto is fully automatic with no shock button, has pre-connected pads stored in the back of the device, and a seven-year battery option that delivers up to 300 shocks before replacement. Built to MIL-STD-810F drop standards. For facilities that want a durable, low-maintenance device with the longest battery life in this category.
Shop Lifeline AutoThe VIEW is the only mainstream AED with full-motion video CPR guidance on its display. It also shows a live ECG, which makes it useful in clinical settings where medical professionals want to see what they are treating. An FAA TSO-C142a certified aviation version is available for commercial aircraft. Under three pounds. The right device when the user wants to see, not just hear, what to do.
Shop Lifeline VIEW/ECGPair Any Device with AED Compliance and Readiness Management
The right AED is only part of the answer. Pads expire. Batteries die. Staff turns over. State requirements change. Without a program behind the device, readiness is an assumption, not a guarantee. AED Compliance and Readiness Management keeps every device inspection-ready, every record audit-ready, and every person on your team prepared, so the program works when it has to.