Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
ACLS Now vs Royal Open College
ACLS Now
Higher score in this comparison
Royal Open College
Where ACLS Now and Royal Open College differ
| Compare | ACLS NowReviewVisitVisit | Royal Open CollegeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $14.95 | £19.99 |
| Certificate fee | $9.95 to $238 | £12.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Platform type | Curated | Subscription |
| Access period | 2 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Price per year | Not confirmed | £49 |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 6,431 |
| Course languages | English, Spanish | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- ACLS Now scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Money-back period is higher at ACLS Now: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Access period is higher at Royal Open College: 12 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Royal Open College offers Help centre.
Our verdict on each
ACLS Now
ACLS Now, operated by American Health Care Academy, suits budget learners who want a CPR certificate studied alone online in English or Spanish. The course runs 4 hours of content, opens 2 months of access, and includes the exam fee with tutor support.
Royal Open College
Royal Open College suits UK learners who want business CPD at a low subscription price and will accept pay per course. The annual plan runs at £49 and the money back period stands at 14 days. Treat the certificate fee as a separate line when you budget.
Score breakdown
| Area | ACLS Now | Royal Open College |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherCost is carried by the low entry fee $14.95 and a 30 days refund window, though a certificate adds $9.95 to $238. | 9.2Course entry at £19.99, subscription at £49, certificate at £12.99. |
| Offer | 9.0Offer rests on 2 months of access, 4 hours of content, email, chat and phone support, tutor support and both language options. | 9.3HigherA free tier, 6,431 courses and 12 months of access per subscription. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.8CPD credit recognition and a 14 day money back window. |
By the numbers
| Fact | ACLS Now | Royal Open College |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 30 days | 14 days |
| Access period | 2 months | 12 months |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ACLS Now | Royal Open College |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | ACLS Now | Royal Open College |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 16 of 349 | 191 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 8 of 95 | 45 of 95 |
What we checked
ACLS Now
- cpraedcourse.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Royal Open College
- royalopencollege.org: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ACLS Now | Royal Open College |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Business |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional | Completion, Professional |
| Credit recognition | Not confirmed | Cpd |
| Legal entity | American Health Care Academy | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ACLS Now | Royal Open College | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per year | Not confirmed | £49lowest quarter | £59.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysabove the median | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 6,431highest quarter | 250 |
| Access period | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
Median across 172 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ACLS Now
Pros
- Entry price of $14.95 puts the brand at 4 of 87 on price from across the category
- The exam fee is included, so the course price covers the assessment as well as the material
- Access lasts 2 months from purchase, giving a clear window to finish the work and sit the test
Cons
- There is no practicum, so the course carries no supervised hands on skills session
- Course length is 4 hours, shorter than the 3 hours run by American BLS online
- A certificate costs $9.95 to $238 depending on the option chosen, on top of the course price
Royal Open College
Pros
- The subscription plan is priced at £49 for the year, well under the €71.91 site median.
- Individual courses start at £19.99, so buying one topic costs less than a year of access.
- CPD credit recognition is in place, which matters for UK professional development.
Cons
- A certificate costs £12.99 on top of study, so the all in figure is higher than the subscription line suggests.
- Catalogue size is the strength and the weakness: 6,431 courses covers a lot but the single listed subject is business.
- The money back window of 14 days is shorter than the 30-day upper quartile of money back periods across the site.
Who each suits
ACLS Now
Who it suits
- Learners on a tight budget who need a CPR certificate quickly
- Households and teams that need both English and Spanish materials
- Solo study at your own pace with tutor support on hand
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners wanting more course time, since American BLS runs 3 hours online against 4 hours here
- Shoppers who prefer a higher priced option, since Advanced Medical Certification starts at $59
Royal Open College
Who it suits
- UK professionals who need CPD credit and can finish a course quickly
- Employers buying a single subscription for staff training
- Learners who prefer paying per course over a yearly commitment
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners wanting university credit, since the only credit recognition listed is CPD
- Anyone comparing cheapest entry, where Hotmart lists a lower starting price
- Fitness and health specialists who need regulated certificates, an area where DRCertifications sits
Questions about each
ACLS Now
How much does ACLS Now cost to start?+
The CPR course starts at $14.95, and the exam fee is included in that figure, so there is no separate assessment charge to budget for. A certificate costs $9.95 to $238 depending on the option chosen, and paid purchases sit inside a money back period of 30 days.
What certificate do I get and how long does it last?+
The certification type is CPR, and both completion and professional certificate types are offered. Recertification falls due every 2 years, which sets a fixed renewal date. Access of 2 months from purchase gives the window for working through 4 hours of content and sitting the assessment.
Royal Open College
How much does a course cost at Royal Open College?+
Individual courses start at £19.99, and that is the entry figure readers compare. Some courses sit above it, so the cheapest option is not representative of everything. The catalogue holds 6,431 courses, so prices vary by topic. Business is the single subject area listed.
What does the annual subscription cost?+
The subscription plan lists at £49 for the year and gives 12 months of access. That figure puts Royal Open College at 11 of 78 brands, one of the stronger subscription positions on the site. The annual line is the cheapest way to reach several courses if you study regularly.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
ACLS Now
Royal Open College