Quick answer
For most homes the Philips HeartStart OnSite is the best AED: it is sold over the counter, its voice coaching is the easiest for an untrained spouse to follow, and it runs about $1,529 new or $875 recertified (Aug 2026). If weight and price matter more, the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P at $1,411 is the only sub-3-lb AED you can buy without a prescription. If lowest 10-year cost wins, the ZOLL AED Plus costs about $330 in consumables per decade, the cheapest of any home AED.
Why a home AED at all
Quick answer
Roughly 7 in 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home (AHA), survival falls about 10% per minute without defibrillation, and EMS response in most US suburbs is longer than the window. A home AED exists to cover the 6 to 10 minutes an ambulance cannot.
~70%
of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in homes and residences, per the American Heart Association. More than 356,000 out-of-hospital arrests happen in the US each year, and survival drops roughly 10% for every minute without a shock.
The uncomfortable math: if an arrest happens in your kitchen, the AED cabinet at the gym down the road is worth nothing. The device you own is the one that gets used inside the first five minutes. That is the entire case, and it is why the rest of this page is about which device an untrained family member can operate under the worst stress of their life, and what each option costs to keep rescue-ready for a decade.
The prescription question nobody answers
Quick answer
Every AED on this page is FDA-approved via Premarket Approval (PMA). But only two device families are approved for over-the-counter sale: the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P and the Philips OnSite/Home adult configuration. Everything else, including the Philips FRx and every ZOLL, is prescription-labeled. Dealers handle the prescription for you, but OTC means zero friction and no paperwork.
This is the single most useful fact for a home buyer, and not one top-ranking page on this search explains it. Here is the verified table, checked against the FDA PMA database and approved labeling:
| Model | FDA status for consumer sale | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P | Over the counter | PMA P160008, supplement S017, decided 23 Jun 2022 |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite (M5066A) / Home (M5068A) | Over the counter, adult configuration | FDA-approved labeling on PMA P160029; the Infant/Child pads cartridge (M5072A) is Rx-only |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | Prescription | PMA P180028, product code MKJ |
| ZOLL AED Plus / ZOLL AED 3 | Prescription | PMA P160015 |
| HeartSine 360P / 450P | Prescription | P160008; the S017 OTC change names the 350P alone |
| Powerheart G5, LIFEPAK CR2, Defibtech Lifeline | Prescription | P160033, P170018, P160032 |
Two practical notes. First, “prescription” does not block a home purchase: established dealers like AED Leader handle medical direction as part of the sale. Second, the FDA’s over-the-counter AED definition covers use on people greater than 8 years old or greater than 55 lbs, so households with small children should read the pediatric section below regardless of which model they pick.
How we ranked them
Five criteria, in the order a home actually experiences them: how well the device coaches an untrained, panicking adult; what the consumables cost over 10 years (our calculation, from dated part prices); pediatric coverage for families; whether you can buy it over the counter; and the purchase price new and recertified. We review devices across every brand (see the full comparison hub and best AEDs of 2026) and publish the part numbers and pad prices we use, so you can check our math.
The ranked picks
1
Philips HeartStart OnSite
Best home AED overall
$1,529 new · $875 recertified (AED Leader, Aug 2026) · OTC adult config · pads $99 / battery $249
The OnSite exists for exactly one user: a person who has never touched an AED and is currently terrified. Its voice coaching is the calmest and most granular in the industry, the pads cartridge clicks in without assembly, and it is the AED most often recommended for households. It is sold over the counter in the adult configuration. The honest downside is consumable cost: about $894 over 10 years, the second highest here, because pads last 2 years and the battery 4. Read the full OnSite review or the recertified OnSite breakdown.
2
HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P
Best compact + best OTC value
$1,411 new, $1,261.50 with in-cart discount (AED Leader, 17 Aug 2026) · $875 recertified · Pad-Pak $236
At 2.4 lbs it is the lightest AED sold in the US, it carries the best dust and water rating of any home pick (IP56), and it is the only compact AED approved for over-the-counter sale. Its killer feature is the Pad-Pak: pads and battery in one $236 cartridge, one expiry date to track instead of two. In September 2025 the FDA approved extending Pad-Pak shelf life to 5.25 years from manufacture, which improves the already-low ownership cost. One honesty note: the current 350P/360P/450P family has open FDA recalls, including one for shock delivery; we cover the details and the serial-number check in our full 350P review.
3
ZOLL AED Plus
Cheapest to own for 10 years
$2,082 new · $875 recertified (AED Leader, Aug 2026) · ~$330 consumables per decade
The AED Plus wins the long game: CPR-D-padz last 5 years ($230) and it runs on consumer lithium batteries (about $100 a set, 5 years), so a decade of readiness costs about $330, a quarter of what the Philips models cost to feed. It also has Real CPR Help, which measures your compression depth and coaches you to push harder, something neither Philips model does. It is prescription-labeled, which the dealer handles. Weakest point for homes: it is bigger and heavier than the 350P, and pediatric coverage needs separate Pedi-padz II ($155, 2-year life). Full analysis in the ZOLL AED Plus review and the ZOLL vs Philips OnSite comparison.
4
ZOLL AED 3
Best for homes with children
$1,895 to $2,399 new · $1,150 to $1,295 recertified (AED Leader, Aug 2026) · Uni-padz $234, cover children at no extra cost
The AED 3’s Uni-padz work on adults and children with a mode switch, so a family pays $0 extra for pediatric coverage while every other brand charges $139 to $775 for it over a decade. It adds a color CPR Dashboard on top of the same Real CPR Help as the AED Plus. It is the most future-proof pick here and the right answer if your buying trigger is kids at home. Details in the ZOLL AED 3 review, the AED 3 vs AED Plus comparison, and the recertified AED 3 breakdown.
5
The $875 recertified route
Best budget play, any model above
OnSite, FRx, ZOLL AED Plus, HeartSine: all $875 recertified with 3-year warranty (AED Leader, Aug 2026)
Not one page ranking home AEDs prices the recertified tier, which is strange, because it is how a $1,500 to $2,100 device becomes an $875 device (the recertified FRx is the same story) with new pads, a new battery, and a 3-year warranty. A recertified OnSite costs less than half a new one and saves the identical life. If the budget is the blocker, this is the answer: start with how to choose a refurbished AED, then the refurbished vs new cost math, and buy from a reconditioner that publishes serial-number history. The recertified ZOLL AED Plus at $875 with $330-a-decade consumables is the single cheapest path to 10 covered years on this page.
What 10 years actually costs
Quick answer
Purchase price is the smallest part of the story. Consumables over a decade range from $330 (ZOLL AED Plus) to $1,342 (Powerheart G5). Our cost-per-covered-year column is the number to compare.
Our calculation, from dated part prices published in our pads and batteries guide. FDA adverse-event data shows why this table matters: in a review of 40,787 reported AED failures, batteries and pads or connectors accounted for about 46.9% (DeLuca et al., Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2012). A dead battery is the most preventable way an AED fails.
| Model | New price (Aug 2026) | Recertified | 10-yr consumables | Cost per covered year* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | $875 | $330 | $121 / $33 |
| ZOLL AED 3 | $1,895 to $2,399 | $1,150 to $1,295 | $435 | $233 to $283 / $158 |
| HeartSine 350P | $1,411 | $875 | $472 | $188 / $135 |
| Philips FRx | $2,099 to $2,199 | $875 | $854 | $295 to $305 / $173 |
| Philips OnSite | $1,529 | $875 | $894 | $242 / $177 |
| Powerheart G5 | $2,157 | $1,225 | $1,342 | $350 / $257 |
*Cost per covered year = (purchase + 10-yr consumables) ÷ 10, shown new / recertified. Our calculation, prices from AED Leader Aug 2026. The ZOLL AED 3 new price prints as a range because the seller’s page currently shows two different prices.
The Pediatric Pad Trap, home edition
Quick answer
If children live in or visit your home, pediatric capability costs $0 extra on a ZOLL AED 3, about $139 one-time on a Philips (reusable key on FRx), and up to roughly $775 per decade on a ZOLL AED Plus (Pedi-padz II expire every 2 years). The AHA permits adult pads on a child if pediatric equipment is not available, so no AED is unusable on a child, but planned coverage is cheaper than improvised coverage.
This is the line item that flips rankings for families. The AED 3’s Uni-padz cover both populations in one $234 cartridge. The FRx uses a reusable Infant/Child key (about $139, one-time; note the Philips pediatric pads cartridge for the OnSite is prescription-only). The AED Plus needs separate pediatric pads at $155 every two years. Run the math for your household before you buy, not after. Full breakdown in each model review and in our schools guide, where the same trap decides purchases at institutional scale.
Where to buy, and what should be in the box
Buy from a dealer that sells the current-generation device, includes pads and battery, states the warranty in writing, and answers the phone. Our partner AED Leader carries every model on this page new and recertified, ships free, and backs recertified units with a 3-year warranty. A complete home setup is the device, a wall bracket or cabinet, and a spare set of pads; skip monitoring subscriptions for a home unit and put a battery-check reminder in your phone instead. If you want training to go with it, an AHA-certified CPR course through CPR1 takes an afternoon.
The one-line decision
Easiest for an untrained spouse: Philips OnSite, $1,529 or $875 recertified. Lightest and OTC: HeartSine 350P, $1,411. Cheapest decade: ZOLL AED Plus recertified, $875 plus $330 in consumables. Kids at home: ZOLL AED 3.
FAQ
Can I buy an AED without a prescription?
Two device families are FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale: the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P (PMA P160008, supplement S017, 2022) and the Philips OnSite/Home adult configuration (per the approved labeling on P160029). Every other AED is prescription-labeled, and established dealers handle that prescription as part of the sale, so any model on this page is realistically buyable for a home.
Is a recertified AED safe for a home?
A properly recertified AED passes the same self-tests as a new one and ships with new pads and battery. The device design keeps its FDA approval; what varies is the reconditioner. Buy from one that documents service history and check the serial number against FDA recall lists. Our refurbished buying guide walks through it.
What does a home AED cost per year?
Using Aug 2026 prices: from about $33 per covered year (recertified ZOLL AED Plus, our calculation) to about $350 (new Powerheart G5). A typical home pick lands between $120 and $250 per year including purchase and consumables.
Can adult pads be used on a child?
The AHA permits adult pads on a child if pediatric pads are not available; place one pad on the chest and one on the back. Planned pediatric coverage is still better, see the Pediatric Pad Trap section above.
Where should an AED live in a house?
Central, visible, and known to everyone: hallway closet shelf, kitchen wall, by the stairs. Not a car trunk (heat kills batteries and pads) and not a locked case. Everyone in the house should know the location the way they know the fire extinguisher’s.
Do I need training to use one?
No. Every device here is designed for untrained users and talks you through each step; the OnSite is the best coach of the group. Training raises confidence and CPR quality, and a one-afternoon AHA course through CPR1 is worth it, but never wait for training to buy the device.
References
- American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and home-location share; survival decline per minute without defibrillation.
- FDA Premarket Approval database: P160029 (Philips OnSite/Home), P180028 (FRx), P160015 (ZOLL AED Plus / AED 3), P160008 incl. supplement S017 (HeartSine 350P OTC, decided 23 Jun 2022) and S030 (Pad-Pak shelf-life extension, 2025), P160033 (Powerheart G5), P170018 (LIFEPAK CR2), P160032 (Defibtech).
- FDA product classification, product codes MKJ (prescription AED) and NSA (over-the-counter AED), 21 CFR 870.5310.
- DeLuca LA et al. Analysis of automated external defibrillator device failures reported to the FDA. Ann Emerg Med. 2012 (PMID 21872969): batteries 23.2% and pads/connectors 23.7% of 40,787 reported failures.
- Seller prices: AED Leader product pages, checked 16 to 17 Aug 2026. Consumable part numbers and prices as published in our pads and batteries guide.
Updated August 2026. Prices re-verified against seller pages on the date shown; tell us if a seller has since moved a price.
