Updated · July 2026
Most buyer guides rank the OnSite on price and stop there. That misses the point. The reason this device sells more units than any other AED in its class is that a stranger can operate it correctly on the first try, and that is worth more than any spec on the sheet.
Our verdict
Philips HeartStart OnSite (HS1)
Buy it when the person most likely to grab it has never seen an AED. It is the only model here approved for over-the-counter sale with no prescription, and its voice guidance walks an untrained responder through the whole sequence in plain language. The pads live in one pre-connected SMART cartridge, so there is a single part to swap and one date to track.
Do not buy it on features. It does not measure compression depth or rate, it only prompts. The ZOLL AED Plus coaches CPR quality, and the ZOLL AED 3 adds fleet reporting. The OnSite wins on simplicity and reach, not on the feature count.
The one thing no competitor page explains: it needs no prescription
Every other AED in this comparison is sold under a physician prescription, even when the buyer never notices because the retailer handles it. The Philips HeartStart OnSite (HS1) is different. The FDA approved it for over-the-counter sale to the public without a prescription, the first AED to earn that status.[6]
That matters for two buyers. A homeowner can purchase directly, with no doctor’s sign-off and no medical-direction paperwork. A small business with no safety officer avoids the one administrative step that stalls most first AED purchases.
One limit to know before you buy. The over-the-counter status covers adult use with the standard SMART Pads Cartridge. The separate Infant/Child SMART Pads Cartridge (M5072A) remains a prescription item, so a site where children are the primary population should weigh the Philips FRx instead, which handles pediatric use through a physical key rather than a second prescribed cartridge.
Specification
| Attribute | HeartStart OnSite | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| FDA status | FDA-approved via Premarket Approval[1] | Verify PMA family for your variant in the FDA database[2] |
| Prescription | None required, over the counter | The only model here you can buy with no physician sign-off[6] |
| Guidance | Life Guidance voice prompts, step by step | Built for the untrained responder. Calm, plain-language coaching |
| CPR feedback | Voice prompts only, no depth or rate measurement | It tells you to compress. It does not tell you to push harder |
| Consumable | SMART Pads Cartridge, pads pre-connected | One cartridge to swap. Adult standard; Infant/Child cartridge is separate and prescription |
| Weight | ~3.3 lb | Among the lightest here. Easy to mount, carry and reach |
| Warranty | 8-year manufacturer warranty | Longest standard warranty of the Philips line |
| 2026 list | $1,589 | Lowest-priced Philips in this comparison |
Confirm the current PMA record and labeling for your exact variant in the FDA PMA database[2], and check the model against the FDA recall database[4] before purchase, particularly on a used unit.
New or recertified: where the real decision is
The OnSite is the most common AED sold in recertified condition, and for this device the used route is a legitimate way to cut the entry cost. A recertified unit is an inspected, tested device fitted with fresh consumables, not a private-sale gamble.
The math is straightforward. A new OnSite lists at $1,589. A recertified OnSite typically runs several hundred dollars less, which for a home or a single small site is the difference between buying one AED and buying none. The tradeoff is warranty length and consumable dating, which vary by seller, so the buyer’s checklist matters more here than on any new unit.
If you are weighing the used route, read the best refurbished AEDs guide first, then confirm what is replaced and how long the warranty runs before you buy. It is the single highest-value decision on this page.
The five-year cost
Device (2026 list) ……………… $1,589
SMART Pads Cartridge, ~2 yr life …. 2 replacements
Battery, ~4 yr life …………….. 1 replacement
Pediatric cartridge …………….. optional, prescription, only if children present
Consumable events over 5 years ….. 3
ZOLL AED Plus, same window
Device (2026 list) ……………… $2,082
CPR-D-padz + battery, ~5 yr ……… 0 scheduled replacements
Consumable events over 5 years ….. 0
Labeled estimate. Replacement counts use ceil(years ÷ component life) − 1 and assume no deployment. A real rescue consumes the pads immediately, so budget a spare cartridge regardless of model. Run your own numbers in the AED cost calculator. Ongoing parts: AED pads and AED batteries.
The OnSite wins the purchase price and loses the consumable cycle. It replaces pads more often than a ZOLL because the cartridge life is shorter. On a five-year view the two costs move toward each other, so decide on who is holding the device, not on the sticker alone.
Who should buy it, and who should not
Buy the OnSite if
- The responder is untrained. Voice guidance and a no-button pad cartridge make it the easiest here to use correctly the first time. See the home guide.
- You want to buy without paperwork. Over-the-counter status removes the prescription step that stalls first purchases.[6]
- Budget is the binding constraint on a Philips. Lowest-priced Philips here at $1,589, and lower still recertified.
- The site is small and indoor. Homes, small offices, churches, shops. Size it with the quantity calculator.
Buy something else if
- You want CPR depth coaching. ZOLL AED Plus measures compression depth and says push harder. The OnSite only prompts.
- Children are a primary population. The OnSite’s pediatric cartridge is a separate prescription item. The Philips FRx uses a physical Infant/Child Key on one pad set.
- You manage a fleet. No connectivity here. ZOLL AED 3 and the LIFEPAK CR2 report readiness remotely.
- The environment is harsh or outdoor. The OnSite is built for indoor placement. Choose a higher ingress rating and a rated cabinet.
How it compares
| Model | Prescription | CPR guidance | Pediatric method | 2026 list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips OnSite | None, OTC | Voice only | Separate Rx cartridge | $1,589 |
| Philips FRx | Standard Rx | Voice only | Infant/Child Key, one pad set | $2,099 |
| HeartSine 350P | Standard Rx | Metronome | Separate Pediatric-Pak | $1,411 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | Standard Rx | Depth + rate | Separate Pedi-padz II | $2,082 |
| ZOLL AED 3 | Standard Rx | Depth + rate | One Uni-padz set | $2,399 |
Cross-shopping Philips: OnSite vs FRx comes down to environment and pediatric need. Considering used: best refurbished AEDs. Full lineup: Philips brand hub and the AED brands hub. New to this: AED buyer’s guide. Environment picks: AEDs by industry and the churches guide.
Sources
- FDAUS Food and Drug Administration. “Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).” fda.gov
- FDAUS Food and Drug Administration. Premarket Approval (PMA) database. accessdata.fda.gov
- Federal Register“Effective Date of Requirement for Premarket Approval for Automated External Defibrillator Systems,” 2015. federalregister.gov
- FDAUS Food and Drug Administration. Medical Device Recalls database. accessdata.fda.gov
- AHAAmerican Heart Association. AED Implementation Guide. cpr.heart.org
- ManufacturerPhilips. HeartStart OnSite (HS1) product documentation and over-the-counter labeling. philips.com (manufacturer source)
Editorial content only. Not medical advice. Over-the-counter status, warranty and pad performance claims are the manufacturer’s own, cited above and labeled as manufacturer documentation. Specifications reflect manufacturer and distributor documentation current at publication; confirm the PMA record, labeling and recall status of your exact variant and package before purchase. Prices are 2026 US list at authorized distributors and change without notice. Cost figures are labeled estimates, not quotes.
