Home AEDs: which defibrillators you can buy, and what they cost to keep (2026)

An AED (automated external defibrillator) is the device that can shock a heart back into rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest, and it talks the user through every step. This page compares the FDA-approved models sold for homes and small workplaces. The biggest difference for a household is paperwork: of the models here, only the Philips HeartStart Home is FDA-approved for sale over the counter. The next biggest is upkeep: pads and batteries expire on a schedule, whether or not the AED is ever used. Every spec is from the maker or the FDA, read on the date in each card's notes; we haven't used these ourselves.

By Tom Calder · Updated November 8, 2026 · 10 products, 6 of 10 price-tracked

Our picks

Best home AED without a prescription 4.5

FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale

Philips HeartStart Home

No: FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale (with adult pads) · Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture · Typically 4 years installed · Infant/child pads (prescription only) · 3.3 lb

A family that wants an AED at home without a prescription

Researched

Check price →

Best AED with a prescription 4.5

Need a prescription or medical authorization, or are approved for trained users

ZOLL AED Plus

Yes: prescription or medical authorization · 5 years (CPR-D-padz) · 5 years (10 x 123A lithium) · Separate Pedi-padz · 6.7 lb

A home or workplace that wants CPR feedback and 5-year pads

Researched

Check price →

Best AED add-on 4.0

Replacement pads and batteries, and a cabinet for shared spaces

Philips adult pads M5071A

No (adult pads are over-the-counter) · Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture · Adults over 55 lb

Replacing expired or used pads on a HeartStart Home or OnSite

Researched

Check price →

All 10 compared

Show

AED	Prescription needed?	Pad life (maker)	Battery life (maker)	Children	Weight	Price
1. Philips HeartStart Home AED (M5068A) with Slim Carry Case Best home AED without a prescription No: FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale (with adult pads) · Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture · Typically 4 years installed · Infant/child pads (prescription only) · 3.3 lb A family that wants an AED at home without a prescription 4.5	No: FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale (with adult pads)	Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture	Typically 4 years installed	Infant/child pads (prescription only)	3.3 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The one AED on this page that the FDA approved for over-the-counter sale, so you can buy it for your home without a prescription. It talks you through each step, with CPR guidance when you press the i-button, and weighs 3.3 lb. The running costs are the catch: the adult pads cartridge needs replacing by its use-by date (at least two years from manufacture) and the battery typically lasts about four years. Philips' US store lists them at $99 and $249. Best for A family that wants an AED at home without a prescription Good Over-the-counter: no prescription with adult pads Voice coaching step by step Light: 3.3 lb Worth knowing Infant/child pads need a prescription IP21: the least water-resistant here Pads and battery need replacing on a schedule Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if there's already a public AED close by and the real gap is that nobody at home knows CPR: a class comes first.
2. ZOLL AED Plus with CPR-D-padz Best AED with a prescription Yes: prescription or medical authorization · 5 years (CPR-D-padz) · 5 years (10 x 123A lithium) · Separate Pedi-padz · 6.7 lb A home or workplace that wants CPR feedback and 5-year pads 4.5	Yes: prescription or medical authorization	5 years (CPR-D-padz)	5 years (10 x 123A lithium)	Separate Pedi-padz	6.7 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched ZOLL's long-running AED, with pads rated for five years and a battery that ZOLL says typically lasts five, so maintenance comes round less often than on the Philips. Its standout is Real CPR Help, which tells you whether your chest compressions are fast and deep enough. It's bigger and heavier at 6.7 lb, and ZOLL says an AED needs a prescription or medical authorization at purchase; some sellers, such as North American Rescue for the AED 3, include one. Best for A home or workplace that wants CPR feedback and 5-year pads Good Real-time CPR rate and depth feedback 5-year pads and battery IP55 dust and water rating Worth knowing Needs a prescription or medical authorization 6.7 lb and bulky Child pads are a separate purchase Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want one without a prescription: the Philips HeartStart Home is the over-the-counter option.
3. ZOLL AED 3 Yes: prescription or medical authorization · 5 years (CPR Uni-padz) · 5 years installed · Same pads, child mode · 5.5 lb Households with children, if you can get the prescription 4.5	Yes: prescription or medical authorization	5 years (CPR Uni-padz)	5 years installed	Same pads, child mode	5.5 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched ZOLL's newer AED uses one set of pads for adults and children: you switch on child mode rather than swap pads, which removes a step in an emergency. The pads and battery are rated for five years, it has a color screen with pictures as well as voice, and it gives CPR feedback. Unlike the HeartStart Home, it needs a prescription or medical authorization, which ZOLL says applies to its AEDs. Best for Households with children, if you can get the prescription Good One pad set for adults and children 5-year pads and battery Color screen and CPR feedback Worth knowing Needs a prescription or medical authorization Amazon link is a search Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want to skip the prescription step: the HeartStart Home doesn't need one.
4. Philips HeartStart OnSite AED (M5066A) with Slim Carry Case Check with the seller (see notes) · Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture · Typically 4 years installed · Infant/child pads (prescription only) · 3.3 lb An office, church or club that wants the same machine as the Home 4.0	Check with the seller (see notes)	Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture	Typically 4 years installed	Infant/child pads (prescription only)	3.3 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The OnSite is the business version of the HeartStart Home: the same size, voice coaching, pads and battery. It's sold for workplaces and public spaces rather than homes, and Philips' manual designates only the Home for over-the-counter sale, so check with the seller whether you'll need a prescription. For a household, the Home is the simpler buy. Best for An office, church or club that wants the same machine as the Home Good Same pads and battery as the Home Voice coaching 3.3 lb Worth knowing Ask the seller about a prescription IP21 Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if it's for your home: buy the HeartStart Home instead.
5. HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P (semi-automatic) Yes: FDA approval is for trained users · Up to 4 years (maker data sheet; check the Pad-Pak's date) · In the Pad-Pak · Pediatric-Pak, ages 1 to 8 · 2.4 lb The lightest AED with the simplest upkeep 4.0	Yes: FDA approval is for trained users	Up to 4 years (maker data sheet; check the Pad-Pak's date)	In the Pad-Pak	Pediatric-Pak, ages 1 to 8	2.4 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The smallest and lightest AED here at 2.4 lb, with the simplest upkeep: the battery and pads come together in one Pad-Pak cartridge that you change every four years. It's semi-automatic, so you press the shock button when told. The FDA approval says it's for people trained to use it, so plan on a class, and ask the seller whether you'll need a prescription. Best for The lightest AED with the simplest upkeep Good 2.4 lb, the lightest here One cartridge holds pads and battery IP56, the best dust and water rating here Worth knowing FDA approval is for trained users No CPR depth feedback (metronome only) Amazon link is a search Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want real-time CPR feedback: the ZOLL models give it.
6. HeartSine samaritan PAD 360P (fully automatic) Yes: FDA approval is for trained users · Up to 4 years (maker data sheet; check the Pad-Pak's date) · In the Pad-Pak · Pediatric-Pak, ages 1 to 8 · 2.4 lb Anyone who'd hesitate to press a shock button 4.0	Yes: FDA approval is for trained users	Up to 4 years (maker data sheet; check the Pad-Pak's date)	In the Pad-Pak	Pediatric-Pak, ages 1 to 8	2.4 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The same small HeartSine as the 350P, but fully automatic: after warning everyone to stand clear, it delivers the shock itself, so nobody has to press a button. Some buyers prefer that for a home where a panicked family member may be the rescuer. Upkeep is the same single Pad-Pak every four years. Best for Anyone who'd hesitate to press a shock button Good Fully automatic shock 2.4 lb IP56 Worth knowing FDA approval is for trained users Metronome only, no CPR feedback Amazon link is a search Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you'd rather control the shock yourself: the 350P is the semi-automatic twin.
7. Philips HeartStart Adult SMART Pads Cartridge (M5071A) Best AED add-on No (adult pads are over-the-counter) · Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture · Adults over 55 lb Replacing expired or used pads on a HeartStart Home or OnSite 4.0	No (adult pads are over-the-counter)	Use-by at least 2 years from manufacture	—	Adults over 55 lb	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The replacement adult pads for the HeartStart Home and OnSite. Pads are single-use and carry a use-by date at least two years from manufacture, so budget for a new cartridge on that schedule. The FDA advises buying AED accessories from authorized retailers so you get an FDA-approved part. Best for Replacing expired or used pads on a HeartStart Home or OnSite Good Fits Home and OnSite Over-the-counter Worth knowing Single-use Needs replacing by its use-by date Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you have a different brand of AED: pads aren't interchangeable.
8. Philips HeartStart Home/OnSite Battery (M5070A) No · Typically 4 years installed; 5-year shelf life before Replacing the battery on a HeartStart Home or OnSite 4.0	No	—	Typically 4 years installed; 5-year shelf life before	—	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched The replacement battery for the HeartStart Home and OnSite. Philips says it typically lasts four years once installed and at least five years on the shelf before that. The AED's own self-test warns you when it's running low. Best for Replacing the battery on a HeartStart Home or OnSite Good Typically 4 years installed Fits Home and OnSite Worth knowing Not rechargeable A significant running cost Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your current battery is still well within its life: a spare on the shelf ages too.
9. Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 AED (now ZOLL) Ask the seller (not confirmed) · 2 years (Intellisense pads) · 4-year replacement guarantee · Pediatric pads and prompts · 5.7 lb Workplaces already standardized on Powerheart 3.5	Ask the seller (not confirmed)	2 years (Intellisense pads)	4-year replacement guarantee	Pediatric pads and prompts	5.7 lb	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A sturdy IP55 AED with an 8-year warranty and optional CPR feedback, now part of ZOLL. Its pads are rated for two years, against five on ZOLL's own models, so upkeep comes round more often. Most homes will find the ZOLL AED 3 or the HeartStart Home a better fit. Best for Workplaces already standardized on Powerheart Good 8-year warranty IP55 Optional CPR feedback Worth knowing 2-year pads Prescription status not confirmed Amazon link is a search Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want the longest gap between pad changes: ZOLL's AED Plus and AED 3 pads are rated for five years.
10. ZOLL AED Plus Standard Size Cabinet with Audible Alarm (8000-0855) No A shared space: a church, gym or apartment lobby 3.5	No	—	—	—	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A white metal wall cabinet made for the ZOLL AED Plus, with an alarm that sounds when the door opens so people nearby know someone has the AED. In a home, the AED's own carry case on a hook by the door is enough; a cabinet earns its place where the AED is shared. Best for A shared space: a church, gym or apartment lobby Good Made for the AED Plus Door alarm Worth knowing Not needed in most homes No maker dimensions found Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if the AED is for your own home: a visible hook near the main exit does the job.

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Who needs a home AED, and who doesn't

A home AED makes most sense where someone has a known heart condition, where the home is far from emergency services, or where a family, club or small business will share it. For most households the first step is to learn CPR. The Red Cross and the American Heart Association both run CPR and AED classes, and the Red Cross notes that unless you take actions to retain your skills, you're likely to forget how and when to use an AED. Find out whether there's a public AED near your home, school or gym. In a cardiac emergency, call 911 first.

Before you buy

Prescription: the FDA requires premarket approval (PMA) for every AED.

The Philips HeartStart Home's approval is for over-the-counter sale with adult pads; its infant/child pads are prescription-only. ZOLL says that as a Class III medical device an AED requires a prescription or medical authorization at purchase, and some sellers include one. HeartSine's FDA approval says its devices are for people trained in their use.

Running costs: pads and batteries expire.

Philips' pads carry a use-by date at least two years from manufacture and its battery typically lasts four years installed; its own US store lists them at $99 and $249 (9 Nov 2026). ZOLL rates the AED Plus and AED 3 pads and batteries for five years. HeartSine combines both in one Pad-Pak that it says lasts four years.

Children: Philips uses separate infant/child pads; HeartSine uses a separate Pediatric-Pak for ages 1 to 8; the ZOLL AED 3 uses the same pads for adults and children with a child-mode setting. If children live in the home, check how each one handles it.

Semi-automatic or fully automatic

A semi-automatic AED tells you to press the shock button; a fully automatic one warns everyone to stand clear and shocks by itself. Check each model's approval: HeartSine's says it is for people trained in its use.

CPR help: every AED here gives voice prompts.

The ZOLL models give real-time feedback on how fast and deep your compressions are; the Powerheart G5 offers it as an option; HeartSine's 350P and 360P use a metronome.

Buy from authorized sellers.

The FDA advises buying AED accessories from authorized retailers to make sure you get an FDA-approved device. Check pad and battery dates when the box arrives.

Keep it where people can find it: by the main exit or in the kitchen, not in a closet.

Everyone in the home should know where it is.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →

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Common questions

Can I buy an AED for my home without a prescription?

Of the AEDs here, one: the Philips HeartStart Home. The FDA approved it as an over-the-counter AED, and Philips designates it for over-the-counter sale with the adult pads cartridge. Its infant/child pads are prescription-only. Other AEDs, such as ZOLL's, need a prescription or medical authorization at purchase.

Do I need training to use an AED?

AEDs give step-by-step voice instructions and are designed for laypeople, but training makes a real difference. The Red Cross and American Heart Association run CPR and AED classes, and the Red Cross says that unless you take actions to retain your skills, you're likely to forget how and when to use an AED.

How often do AED pads and batteries need replacing?

It depends on the model. Philips pads carry a use-by date at least two years from manufacture and the battery typically lasts four years; ZOLL rates the AED Plus and AED 3 pads and battery for five years; HeartSine's Pad-Pak lasts four years. Replace pads after any use.

Can a home AED be used on a child?

Yes, with the right setup. Philips and HeartSine sell separate child pads (for Philips, prescription-only); the ZOLL AED 3 uses the same pads with a child-mode setting. Follow the AED's own instructions.

Is Philips still selling the HeartStart Home?

Yes. Philips sold its Emergency Care business, which completed in January 2026 and now trades as Heartstream under a Philips brand license. Philips' US AED store listed the HeartStart Home in stock on 9 Nov 2026.

Sources (6)