Every major AED brand sold in the US compared side by side. Warranty terms, standout features, prescription status, and which brand actually fits your specific situation.
1. The Six Major AED Manufacturers
Six manufacturers make almost every AED sold in the United States today. Two of those six brands are now owned by larger medical device companies.
Stryker acquired Physio-Control in 2016 and HeartSine in 2015. ZOLL acquired Cardiac Science in 2019.
Those changes affect service, warranty, and parts sourcing, so we call out the current parent company for every brand below.
Since February 2022, every AED sold in the US must hold full FDA premarket approval, the agency's strictest device review pathway. All six brands in this guide meet that standard on their current models.
Most require a prescription for purchase.
Only three models are legally sold over the counter, and we flag each one specifically as we go through this guide.
2. ZOLL Medical (AED Plus, AED 3)
ZOLL built its reputation on Real CPR Help, the first AED feedback system to measure actual compression depth and rate during a rescue, not just count seconds.
Both current ZOLL models carry that technology forward, at different price points and with different feature sets.
ZOLL AED Plus Prescription Required
The AED Plus is ZOLL's original public-access model. It uses standard 123A lithium batteries rather than a proprietary rechargeable pack.
Warranty: 7 years on the device. CPR-D-padz electrodes carry a 5-year shelf life, the longest of any pad in this comparison. Most competing brands use a 2-year standard.
Shop the ZOLL AED Plus.
ZOLL AED 3 Prescription Required
The AED 3 is ZOLL's newer flagship. It adds a full-color touchscreen and a visual compression-depth bar gauge to the same Real CPR Help foundation.
Warranty: 8 years total, structured as 6 years standard plus 2 additional years when you register the device. WiFi-connected for remote readiness tracking.
Shop the ZOLL AED 3.
Need help deciding between them? Read our full ZOLL AED Plus vs AED 3 comparison.
3. Philips (OnSite, Home, FRx)
Philips holds a genuinely unique position in this comparison. Two of its three models are the only fully over-the-counter AEDs on the entire US market.
The HeartStart Home was the first defibrillator the FDA ever approved for sale without a prescription.
Philips HeartStart OnSite No Prescription Required
Built for workplaces, schools, and community spaces where the responder has no medical training at all.
Warranty: 8 years. Voice-guided, step-by-step instructions from pad placement through CPR.
Shop the Philips HeartStart OnSite.
Philips HeartStart Home No Prescription Required
Nearly identical hardware to the OnSite, marketed and packaged specifically for household use.
Warranty: 8 years. The device that opened the entire OTC AED category in the US.
Shop the Philips HeartStart Home.
Philips HeartStart FRx Prescription Required
The rugged option in the Philips lineup, built to survive a 1-meter drop onto concrete and a 500-pound load.
Warranty: 8 years. Uses an Infant/Child Key to convert the same adult pads for pediatric use, instead of a separate pediatric pad set.
Shop the Philips HeartStart FRx.
OnSite or Home, which one fits your setting? Read Philips OnSite vs Philips Home AED: Which Is Right for You?
4. Stryker / Physio-Control (LIFEPAK CR2, LIFEPAK 1000)
Physio-Control has built defibrillators since 1955. Stryker acquired the company in 2016.
Its current public-access model and its EMS-oriented model sit at very different points in the lineup, and the warranty terms reflect that difference directly.
LIFEPAK CR2 Prescription Required
The CR2 is built for lay responders. Its cprINSIGHT feature analyzes heart rhythm while compressions continue, instead of stopping CPR to check.
Warranty: 8 years. IP55-rated, with WiFi, USB, and cellular connectivity for readiness tracking. Uses a single QUIK-STEP electrode for both adult and pediatric patients.
Shop the LIFEPAK CR2.
LIFEPAK 1000 Prescription Required
Built for professional and EMS responders, with an available ECG display option the CR2 does not offer.
Warranty: 5 years, notably shorter than the CR2's 8-year term. That gap reflects its positioning toward professional use rather than long-term public access deployment.
Shop the LIFEPAK 1000.
Lay-responder AED or professional monitor-defibrillator? Read LIFEPAK CR2 vs LIFEPAK 1000: Generation Comparison.
5. Stryker / HeartSine (350P, 360P, 450P)
HeartSine built its reputation on small size and rugged environmental protection. Stryker acquired the company in 2015.
Every current HeartSine model carries an IP56 rating, the highest dust and water protection rating of any brand in this comparison.
Samaritan PAD 350P No Prescription Required
Semi-automatic, and the third of the three OTC AEDs sold in the US. At 2.4 pounds, it's the lightest device in this entire guide.
Warranty: 8 years on the AED. Pads and battery combine into a single 4-year Pad-Pak cartridge, eliminating separate battery replacement entirely.
Shop the Samaritan PAD 350P.
Samaritan PAD 360P Prescription Required
The fully automatic version of the 350P. Same size, same IP56 rating, same 4-year Pad-Pak system.
Warranty: 8 years. The only meaningful difference from the 350P is automatic versus manual shock delivery.
Shop the Samaritan PAD 360P.
Samaritan PAD 450P Prescription Required
Adds CPR Rate Advisor feedback on top of the same rugged, compact platform.
Warranty: 8 years, same 4-year Pad-Pak system as the 350P and 360P.
Shop the Samaritan PAD 450P.
Not sure which model fits your CPR feedback needs? Read HeartSine 350P vs 360P vs 450P: Which Has the Right CPR Feedback?
Curious how every brand stacks up on durability? Read AED IP Ratings Compared: Which AEDs Survive Dust and Water?
6. ZOLL / Cardiac Science (Powerheart G5, Powerheart G3 Legacy)
ZOLL acquired Cardiac Science in 2019. The Powerheart line is now sold and supported under ZOLL's ownership.
The current model, the Powerheart G5, replaced the older G3 platform, which is now legacy.
Powerheart G5 Prescription Required
Rescue Ready technology self-tests the battery and pads automatically, and gives a 30-day advance warning before pad expiration, a genuinely distinctive feature in this comparison.
Warranty: 8 years on the AED, 4-year guarantee on the battery. RescueCoach voice prompts adjust pace to the responder in real time, and energy escalates automatically if a second shock is needed.
Shop the Powerheart G5.
Want a deeper look before you buy? Read our full Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 review.
7. Defibtech (Lifeline, Lifeline VIEW)
Defibtech remains independently owned. Three of the other five brands in this guide are now owned by a larger parent company.
Its Lifeline VIEW model introduced a feature no other AED brand had offered before: full-color video walkthrough during an actual rescue.
Lifeline VIEW Prescription Required
The first and only AED that shows a rescuer what to do with full-motion video, not just voice prompts and icons.
Warranty: 8 years on the AED, 4 years on the battery. An optional ECG display is available for professional users.
Shop the Lifeline VIEW.
Lifeline (Original) Prescription Required
The standard, non-video Defibtech model. Simpler screen, same core reliability record.
Warranty: 8 years on the AED. Battery options range from 5 to 7 years depending on the specific pack selected.
Shop the Defibtech Lifeline.
Standard screen or full-color video? Read Defibtech Lifeline vs Lifeline VIEW: Comparison Guide.
8. Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix
Every model covered in this guide, compared on the details that actually affect a purchase decision.
Warranty terms and prescription status are stated exactly as confirmed above, not rounded or simplified.
| Brand / Model | Warranty | Battery | Rx Status | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOLL AED Plus | 7 years | 5-year pads/battery | Prescription | Real CPR Help feedback |
| ZOLL AED 3 | 8 years (6+2 registered) | WiFi-tracked | Prescription | Touchscreen CPR gauge |
| Philips OnSite | 8 years | 4-year, 5-yr shelf | No Rx (OTC) | Simplest lay-rescuer design |
| Philips Home | 8 years | 4-year, 5-yr shelf | No Rx (OTC) | First FDA OTC defibrillator |
| Philips FRx | 8 years | 4-year, 5-yr shelf | Prescription | Drop and crush rated |
| LIFEPAK CR2 | 8 years | WiFi/cellular tracked | Prescription | CPR during rhythm analysis |
| LIFEPAK 1000 | 5 years | Standard | Prescription | Optional ECG display |
| Samaritan 350P | 8 years | 4-yr Pad-Pak combo | No Rx (OTC) | Lightest AED, 2.4 lbs |
| Samaritan 360P | 8 years | 4-yr Pad-Pak combo | Prescription | Fully automatic, IP56 |
| Samaritan 450P | 8 years | 4-yr Pad-Pak combo | Prescription | Built-in CPR Rate Advisor |
| Powerheart G5 | 8 years | 4-year guarantee | Prescription | 30-day pad expiration alert |
| Lifeline VIEW | 8 years | 4-year | Prescription | Full-color video walkthrough |
| Lifeline (original) | 8 years | 5 to 7-year options | Prescription | Simpler screen, proven record |
Prices vary by package and bundled accessories. See each product page above for current Total AEDs pricing. Looking for the most affordable option that still holds up? Read our budget AED breakdown.
9. Best Brand by Use Case
The right AED depends on who is likely to use it and where it will live. Here is our recommendation for six common situations.
Home / Family
No prescription needed, simplest setup, designed for untrained users.
Small Office
OTC purchase, no compliance overhead, minimal staff training required.
School / Childcare
Built-in CPR coaching plus IP56 durability for high-traffic hallways.
Gym / Athletic Facility
Real CPR Help feedback matters most where cardiac events are physically intense.
EMS / Clinical
ECG capability and professional-grade monitoring for trained responders.
Aviation / Rugged Use
Drop-tested, crush-rated, and built for aviation-certified accessory options.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Which AED brand is most reliable?
All six brands in this guide are FDA-regulated and widely deployed across the US. Reliability differences are more about maintenance discipline than brand.
A well-maintained budget model outperforms a neglected premium one every time. Pick the brand that fits your setting, then keep pads and batteries current.
Do all AEDs require a prescription?
No. Exactly three models sold in the US do not: the Philips HeartStart OnSite, the Philips HeartStart Home, and the HeartSine Samaritan PAD 350P.
Every other AED in this guide requires a prescription, though most dealers bundle a physician prescription service at checkout. See the full OTC AED comparison.
What's the difference between AED warranties?
Most current AEDs carry an 8-year manufacturer warranty. The LIFEPAK 1000 is the notable exception at 5 years, and the ZOLL AED Plus at 7 years.
Warranties typically cover the AED unit only, not disposable pads, which are separately warranted until their printed expiration date.
Which AED has the best CPR feedback?
ZOLL pioneered real-time compression depth and rate feedback with Real CPR Help, still considered the category benchmark.
Cardiac Science's Powerheart G5 and HeartSine's 450P both offer their own CPR coaching features as well. See the full brand-by-brand CPR feedback breakdown.
Can I use adult pads on a child with any of these brands?
Only as a last resort, and only if pediatric-specific pads or a pediatric key are genuinely unavailable in the moment.
Every brand in this guide has a specific pediatric solution, either separate pads or a device-level key. See each brand's product page for exact details.
Is a more expensive AED always a better choice?
Not necessarily. A LIFEPAK 1000 costs more than a HeartSine 350P because it serves a different purpose, professional ECG monitoring versus lay-rescuer simplicity.
Match the device to your actual use case using Section 9 above, rather than defaulting to the highest price point.
Still deciding between brands?
Kyle Nowack has helped hundreds of schools, businesses, and families pick the right AED for their exact situation. Call (855) 286-6384 or read the full AED Buyer's Guide for a deeper walkthrough of the decision process.
