We ranked the 9 current public-access AED models we evaluated against the same criteria, then named the two that win most decisions. No manufacturer money, no paid placements, no invented star ratings.
Best overall: Philips HeartStart FRx, listed at $2,099 when checked on July 28, 2026. It is simple, rugged (IP55), carries an 8-year warranty, and adds pediatric use with one inserted key instead of a second set of pads, so a single unit covers more people. Best budget: HeartSine 350P, listed at $1,411 on the same date, the lowest-priced model in this evaluation.
All nine models below are FDA-approved through Premarket Approval (PMA), so any of them will analyze a rhythm and deliver a shock. The differences are ease of use, CPR feedback, durability, warranty, and total cost over the service life. Match the model to where it will be deployed, and a recertified unit of the same model can lower the entry price without changing the FDA approval that model holds.
Why it wins: the simplest capable unit. Rugged IP55 housing, clear voice coaching, and pediatric capability from a single inserted Infant/Child Key rather than a second pad set, so one device covers adults and children without a second SKU on the shelf.
Trade-off: not the cheapest, and no color screen. If budget is the deciding factor, see the best-budget pick.
View the FRxWhy it wins: the lowest entry cost of the nine models here, with an IP56 rating and a single Pad-Pak that combines the battery and pads into one dated cartridge, so there is one expiry date to track instead of two.
Trade-off: no CPR feedback and a smaller feature set than the premium units. For tight budgets it is the most defensible buy.
View the 350PHow we ranked them
AED Best Brands is an editorial AED-review publication, independent of manufacturers, with no paid placements. We do not run a testing lab, so we do not invent scores. We rank on documented, checkable attributes and say plainly what each model trades away.
- FDA approval status, confirmed as PMA
- Ease of use for an untrained bystander
- Real-time CPR feedback
- Pediatric capability
- Durability and IP rating
- Warranty length and self-test
- Total cost over 8 to 10 years
- Support and parts availability
Speed is why the ranking matters. Sudden cardiac arrest is assessed by EMS in more than 350,000 people outside hospitals in the United States each year, and survival falls sharply for every minute defibrillation is delayed.[1][2] The best AED is the one your responders will actually reach and use in time.
The 9 models we evaluated, ranked
Prices are 2026 US list at authorized distributors and warranty terms are the manufacturer's standard device warranty as published on our model reviews; confirm both before ordering. Each model links to its full review and specs.
| # | Model | Best for | Key strength | Warranty | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philips HeartStart FRx Best overall | All-round, mixed crowds | Pediatric key, IP55, simple | 8 years | $2,099 |
| 2 | HeartSine 350P Best budget | Tight budgets, home | Lowest cost here, IP56, Pad-Pak | 8 years | $1,411 |
| 3 | Philips HeartStart OnSite | Home and small office | Over-the-counter labeling, step-by-step coaching | 8 years | $1,589 |
| 4 | ZOLL AED Plus | CPR-quality priority | Real-time CPR depth and rate feedback | 7 years | $2,082 |
| 5 | ZOLL AED 3 | Guided rescuers | Touchscreen CPR dashboard, one universal pad set | 7 years | $2,399 |
| 6 | LIFEPAK CR2 | Connected programs | cprINSIGHT analysis during CPR, optional Wi-Fi | 8 years | $2,256 |
| 7 | Powerheart G5 | Low-maintenance fleets | Fully automatic option, daily self-test | 8 years | $2,157 |
| 8 | Defibtech Lifeline VIEW | Visual learners | Full-color video instructions, under 3 lb | 8 years | $2,024.95 |
| 9 | HeartSine 450P | CPR rate coaching on a budget | CPR Rate Advisor metronome, IP56 | 8 years | $1,761 |
Ranking positions reflect our published criteria applied to documented product attributes, not laboratory testing and not sales volume. Position 1 and position 2 are the two award winners named above; positions 3 to 9 are ordered by how often each model is the correct answer for a typical public-access buyer, not by price.
Choose one over another when
Price and size the decision before you buy
The sticker is not the real number. Run these before you commit to a model or a count, so the choice is decided by math.
Best AED by setting
The overall winner is not automatically right for your space. Match the pick to the environment, then confirm the count.
| Setting | Typical pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Philips OnSite or HeartSine 350P | Over-the-counter coaching, or lowest cost |
| Office | Philips FRx or Powerheart G5 | All-round simplicity, or low maintenance |
| School | Philips FRx | Pediatric key covers younger students |
| Gym | ZOLL AED Plus | Real-time CPR feedback for exertion arrests |
Still unsure which model fits? Start with the Find Your Perfect AED quiz, then compare brands on the Philips, ZOLL, LIFEPAK, HeartSine, Cardiac Science, and Defibtech pages.
What does an AED actually cost over eight years?
Across the four models below, the device is 83 to 89 percent of the eight-year bill. The remaining 11 to 17 percent is pads and batteries that expire on a printed date whether or not the unit is ever used.
The table prices an eight-year deployment as device, plus three pad replacements (Philips pads carry a two-year shelf life), plus one battery replacement (four-year standby life). HeartSine is structurally different: its Pad-Pak combines battery and pads into one four-year cartridge, so it replaces once instead of four times.
| Model | Device | Consumables over 8 years | 8-year total | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeartSine 350P Lowest 8-year total | $1,411 | 1 Pad-Pak at ~$169 | ~$1,464 | ~$183 |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,589 | 3 pad sets at ~$75 + 1 battery at ~$89 | ~$1,843 | ~$230 |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | $2,099 | 3 pad sets at ~$75 + 1 battery at ~$89 | ~$2,258 | ~$282 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | 1 CPR-D-padz at ~$179 + 1 battery set at ~$60 | ~$2,260 | ~$283 |
Sourced calculation. Device prices are US list at authorized distributors, checked July 28, 2026.[5] Consumable prices are labeled estimates from the same distributors on the same date and move with stock. Totals exclude cabinet, signage, training, and the pads consumed if the unit is actually used. Run your own model in the AED cost calculator.
Two things flip in that table. The OnSite starts about $510 below the FRx at 2026 prices, so a buyer who does not need the pediatric key or the IP55 housing is paying that premium for capability they will never use.
The 350P also wins on total cost by a wider margin than it wins on sticker, because the Pad-Pak replaces once rather than four times. Sticker price ranks these models differently than service-life cost does.
Expired consumables, not device defects, are the predictable failure mode. Read how AED pads expire and how AED batteries are rated, then restock from the AED pads and AED batteries categories before the printed date, not after it.
Is a recertified AED the same model for less?
Yes, when it is done properly. A recertified unit is the same FDA-approved model with a new battery, new pads, and a passed self-test, sold at a lower entry price. What changes is not the FDA approval the model holds; it is who stands behind the unit.
| What you are comparing | New unit | Properly recertified unit |
|---|---|---|
| FDA status | PMA-approved model | Same PMA-approved model, unchanged |
| Battery and pads | New, dated | New and dated, ask for both dates in writing |
| Self-test | Passes out of the box | Must pass before shipment, ask for the recorded result |
| Warranty | Manufacturer, 7 to 8 years on these models | Seller warranty, generally not the manufacturer's |
| Entry price | $1,411 to $2,256 across this page | From about $875, checked July 28, 2026[6] |
The practical read: recertified is the fastest route to the CPR-feedback or pediatric-capable model you actually want, instead of the cheapest model you can afford new. A buyer weighing a new budget unit against a recertified Philips HeartStart OnSite is usually better served by the second.
Buy only from a seller that documents the battery date, the pad expiry, and the self-test result in writing. Start with the best refurbished AEDs shortlist, then browse recertified AEDs at AED Leader.
- Best overall is the Philips HeartStart FRx ($2,099): simplest capable unit, rugged, pediatric from one key, 8-year warranty.
- Best budget is the HeartSine 350P ($1,411), the lowest-priced of the nine models here.
- All nine models on this page are FDA-approved via PMA, so the real differences are ease of use, CPR feedback, durability, warranty, and total cost.
- For CPR quality, pick a ZOLL AED Plus, AED 3, or LIFEPAK CR2.
- A recertified unit buys the same model for less; run the cost calculator on total life cost before deciding.
Get your matched model in two minutes
Answer a few questions about your setting and budget, and the quiz returns the right AED to buy.
Frequently asked questions
Of the 9 models we evaluated, the Philips HeartStart FRx is the best overall for most buyers: FDA-approved via PMA, simple, rugged (IP55), pediatric-capable from one key rather than a second pad set, and covered by an 8-year warranty. The HeartSine 350P is the best budget pick at $1,411 (2026 list). The right choice depends on setting, so match the model to where it will be deployed.
Among the 9 models we evaluated, the HeartSine 350P is the lowest-priced at $1,411 (2026 US list, confirm before ordering). Its single Pad-Pak combines the battery and pads into one dated cartridge, which keeps both the entry cost and the maintenance simple. A recertified unit can lower the cost further while the model keeps the same FDA approval.
The Philips HeartStart OnSite is the common home choice because it was the first AED FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale to the public and it coaches the user step by step. The HeartSine 350P is a strong budget alternative for the home. For a guided match, use the Find Your Perfect AED quiz.
Yes. Every model on this page is FDA-approved through Premarket Approval, the pathway the FDA has required for AED systems since 2015.[3][4] Premarket Approval is the FDA's most demanding device pathway, and it is the only correct way to describe an AED's status. Confirm the exact model and its recall status in the FDA PMA database before buying, especially for a resold or recertified unit.
The ZOLL AED Plus and ZOLL AED 3 give real-time CPR depth and rate feedback, and the LIFEPAK CR2 analyzes the rhythm during compressions to reduce pauses. The HeartSine 450P coaches compression rate only, not depth. If bystander CPR quality is your priority, one of the first three is the stronger pick.
Yes. A properly recertified unit is the same FDA-approved model with a new battery and new pads and a passed self-test, at a lower entry cost. Ask the seller for the battery date, the pad expiry, and the self-test result in writing, and confirm what warranty the seller provides, because a recertified unit is generally not covered by the original manufacturer warranty. See our best refurbished AEDs shortlist before you buy.
Plan for the device plus at least one battery cycle and one or two pad replacements over a typical eight to ten year service life, so the total is meaningfully higher than the sticker. Use the AED cost calculator for your chosen model and the quantity calculator if you are covering a site.
Every set carries a printed expiry date, and that date is the schedule. Philips pads run about two years and the Philips battery about four years of standby life, while the HeartSine Pad-Pak combines both into one cartridge replaced about every four years. Read how AED pads expire and how AED batteries are rated, then order replacements from the AED pads and AED batteries categories ahead of the printed date, because an expired consumable is the most common reason a unit fails when it is needed.
The setting changes the answer more than the brand does. A pediatric-capable FRx suits schools, real-time CPR feedback from a ZOLL AED Plus or AED 3 suits gyms, and the lower-cost OnSite or the self-testing Powerheart G5 suits most offices. Every setting guide is indexed on the AED by industry hub.
Keep reading
Sources
- American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence (more than 350,000 EMS-assessed cases per year in the US). heart.org
- American Heart Association. Chain of Survival and early defibrillation; survival declines with each minute defibrillation is delayed. cpr.heart.org
- US Food and Drug Administration. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs); Premarket Approval requirement for AED systems. fda.gov
- Federal Register. Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Automated External Defibrillator Systems (effective February 3, 2015). federalregister.gov
- Prices and warranty terms shown are 2026 US list at authorized distributors, as published on our individual model reviews and verified on 28 July 2026. AED Best Brands methodology
- Recertified entry price observed in the recertified and used AED category at AED Leader, an authorized distributor in the same network, checked 28 July 2026. Recertified stock and pricing change frequently; confirm before ordering. aedleader.com
Editorial content only. Not medical advice. AED Best Brands is an editorial AED-review publication, independent of manufacturers, with no paid placements. Prices are 2026 US list at authorized distributors and can change; confirm the price, current model, PMA record, warranty terms, and recall status of your exact unit before ordering. Rankings reflect documented product attributes, not laboratory testing.
