The 3 Best Brands | |||
---|---|---|---|
Accolades | Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Mobile App |
Contract | No | No | No |
Monthly Plan Cost | Starts at $27.45 (with annual purchase) | Starts at $19.95 | Starts at $18.29 |
Fall Detection Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cellular Coverage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Activation Fees | No | No | No |
How to Order |
Call for best price:
855-919-4522 |
Call for best price:
844-946-1712 |
Call for best price:
855-583-3364 |
Provider | Medical Guardian | Bay Alarm Medical | LifeFone | Philips Lifeline | Medical Alert | GreatCall | MobileHelp | Alert1 | QMedic | LifeStation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prices Starting at | $27.45 per month | $19.95 per month | $24.95 per month | $29.95 per month | $18.29 per month | $37.49 per month | $19.95 per month | $16.95 per month | $30 per month | $21.95 per month |
Fall Detection | $10 per month | $10 per month | $5-$10 per month | $15 per month | $10 per month | $10 per month | $10 per month | $10-$11 per month | N/A | $5-$10 per month |
Activation Fees | No | No | No | Up to $50 | No | Up to $35 | No | Up to $50 | No | No |
Connection Type | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular | Landline or Cellular |
GPS Equipment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
In-Home Coverage Range | Up to 1,300 feet | Up to 1,000 feet | Up to 1,300 feet | Up to 400 feet | Up to 600 feet | No in-home systems | Up to 1,400 feet | Up to 600 feet | Up to 1,000 feet | Up to 600 feet |
Waterproof Help Buttons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Up to 1 year | Lifetime | 1 year | Limited Iifetime | Limited lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Money-Back Guarantee | None | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Long-Term Contracts | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Optional but not required | No | No |
Spouse Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
After more than 200 hours of research, testing, and group discussion of all the medical alert devices we could get our hands on, our team narrowed down the list to our top ten picks. We evaluated each system for quality, reliability, speed of emergency responses, price, aesthetics, extra perks, and overall value to create a well-rounded ranking for each product. We placed test calls to each response center and during the purchase process spoke to customer service representatives at each company.
In addition to evaluating every system based on our research and hands-on testing, every company had to meet the five standard requirements we find most important for all medical alert systems. Check out our requirements for making the cut below:
For more details on medical alert systems, jump down to our guide to choosing a medical alert system below. Without further ado, let’s get into our top ten medical alert systems of the year.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Classic Guardian | $29.95 per month | Landline | At-home use | $10 per month |
Home Guardian | $34.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home use | $10 per month |
Family Guardian | $79.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home use with Family Alerts & Activity Sensors | $10 per month |
Mini Guardian | $39.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | Discrete on-the-go use (all-in-one system) | $10 per month |
Active Guardian | $44.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go use (all-in-one system) | Included |
Mobile Guardian | $49.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go use | $10 per month |
Freedom Guardian | $44.95 per month (one-time equipment fee of $249.95) | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go smartwatch with family alerts | Not available |
Medical Guardian’s diverse product lineup is a great fit for all sorts of users. We’d highly recommend Medical Guardian for the following people:
Check out this year’s Medical Guardian review for more details on their offerings.
Call to speak with a Medical Guardian representative. Get your questions answered, products recommended, and ask about current deals and promotions.
Answer a few questions on Medical Guardian's website to get a quote on the best product and plan for you. This process is slower than calling a representative.
Bay Alarm Medical Product | Prices starting at | Best For | Connection Type |
---|---|---|---|
In-Home Medical Alert | $19.95 per month | At-home users; those without strong AT&T service | Landline or cellular AT&T connection |
GPS Help Button | $24.95 per month + $79 equipment fee | On-the-go use | AT&T cellular connection |
SOS Smartwatch | $24.95 per month + $149 equipment fee | Active, on-the-go users | AT&T cellular connection |
In-Car Medical Alert | $29.95 per month | In-car users; new drivers; those who travel frequently | AT&T cellular connection |
We’d recommend Bay Alarm Medical’s affordable, sleek systems for the following users:
For more details on this provider’s alert systems, take a look at our Bay Alarm Medical review.
Call to speak with a Bay Alarm Medical representative. Get your questions answered, products recommended, and ask about current deals and promotions.
Answer a few questions on Bay Alarm Medical's website to get a quote on the best product and plan for you. This process is slower than calling a representative.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
At-Home Landline | $24.95 per month | Landline | In-home use | $5 per month |
At-Home Cellular | $30.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | In-home use | $5 per month |
At-Home & On-the-Go GPS | $36.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | In-home & on-the-go use | $10 per month |
At-Home & On-the-Go GPS, Voice in Necklace | $39.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T or Verizon) | In-home & on-the-go use (all-in-one system) | $5 per month |
With easy-to-use systems, a top-of-the-line mobile app, and affordable monthly rates, we’d recommend Medical Alert for the following seniors:
If Medical Alert sounds like the right choice for you, see our full Medical Alert review here.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
At-Home Landline | $24.95 per month | Landline | In-home use | $5 per month |
At-Home Cellular | $30.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | In-home use | $5 per month |
At-Home & On-the-Go GPS | $36.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | In-home & on-the-go use | $10 per month |
At-Home & On-the-Go GPS, Voice in Necklace | $39.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T or Verizon) | In-home & on-the-go use (all-in-one system) | $5 per month |
LifeFone’s affordable and versatile at-home and on-the-go systems will be a great match for many different types of users in their golden years:
For more information, take a look at our full LifeFone review.
Product Name | Landline Prices Starting at | Cellular Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HomeSafe Standard | $29.95 per month | $43.95 per month | Landline or cellular (AT&T) | At-home use | Not Available |
HomeSafe with AutoAlert | $44.95 per month | $58.95 per month | Landline or cellular (AT&T) | At-home use for those at high risk of falling | Included |
GoSafe 2 | Not Available | $49.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go use | Included |
As an industry veteran with a lineup of high-quality alert systems, we recommend Philips Lifeline for several different users:
We tested out all of Philips Lifeline’s products in this year’s Philips Lifeline review, so check it out for more details.
Lively Wearable2 has an upfront equipment fee of $49.99, which is very inexpensive compared to other medical alert watches on the market. In addition to this one-time fee, you’ll also need to pay for a monthly subscription to one of GreatCall’s three Health & Safety Packages to access all of the features available. These packages range in price from $24.99 to $39.99 per month. Keep in mind that automatic fall detection only comes with the top-tier package, so you’ll be paying $39.99 per month if this feature is important to you. While this might sound a bit steep, it’s a great option for those who are prone to falls or struggle with mobility. Plus, some smartwatches don’t even offer fall detection, so we appreciate that it’s available with GreatCall.
Head over to our GreatCall review for more information on the Lively Wearable2.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
MobileHelp Classic | $19.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home use | $10 per month |
MobileHelp Wired Home | $24.95 per month | Landline | At-home use | $10 per month |
MobileHelp Duo | $41.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home & on-the-go for one or two users | $10 per month |
Mobile Duo | $44.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go for two users | $10 per month |
MobileHelp Solo | $37.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go for one user | $10 per month |
MobileHelp Touch | $299.70 semi-annually or $599.40 annually* | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home & on-the-go use with touchscreen and advanced health and safety features | $10 per month |
* MobileHelp Touch can only be paid on a semi-annual or annual basis
Whether you’re looking for a system for one person or two, there are several users that would benefit from a MobileHelp system:
If MobileHelp sounds like a good fit for you, check out this year’s MobileHelp review for more details.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Home | $16.95 per month | Landline | At-home use | Not available |
Home Fall Detection | $27.95 per month | Cellular (T-Mobile) | At-home use with fall detection | Included |
Kelsi: On-the-Go | $33.95 per month | Cellular (T-Mobile) | On-the-go use | Not available |
Kelsi: On-The-Go Fall Detection | $43.95 per month | Cellular (T-Mobile) | On-the-go use with fall detection | Included |
Alert1 offers affordable systems for all types of users. Here are the main seniors we’d recommend Alert1 for:
You can read our full Alert1 review here.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection | Activity and Compliance Monitoring |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Landline Medical Alert System | $30 per month | Landline | In-home use | Not available | Included |
Cellular Medical Alert System | $30 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home use | Not available | Included |
Mobile GPS Medical Alert System | $45 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go use | Not available | Included |
QMedic’s straightforward product lineup and top-of-the-line activity monitoring will be suitable for several different types of users:
We get into all the details of QMedic’s medical alert systems in this year’s QMedic review.
Product Name | Prices Starting at | Connection Type | Designed for | Fall Detection |
---|---|---|---|---|
In-Home | $21.95 per month | Landline | At-home use | $10 per month |
In-Home No Landline | $30.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | At-home use | $10 per month |
Mobile LTE | $37.95 per month | Cellular (AT&T) | On-the-go use | $10 per month |
With built-in smart home technology, affordable monthly rates, and extra perks like Uber Health, we think LifeStation is a good fit for the following users:
You can find our full review of full review of LifeStation’s offerings here.
So what exactly is a medical alert system and why do you need one? Personal medical alert systems are designed to keep seniors safe and prevent life-threatening injuries from falls and other health emergencies that become more common as we age. Systems typically come with a base unit equipped with a help button and two-way speaker, and a wearable help pendant or bracelet.
During an emergency, all the user has to do is press the help button on the base station or pendant and they’ll be connected to the company’s 24/7 monitoring center. A live operator will help the user get the assistance they need based on the situation, whether it’s a family member, neighbor, or first responders. If the operator is unable to get a response from the user, they’ll send help straight away. Some systems are designed for in-home or on-the-go, while others are a hybrid of the two, so users can stay protected whether they’re at home or traveling. Learn more about medical alert systems in our “Introduction to Medical Alert Systems” video below.
One-in-four seniors experience a fall every single year, which is also the leading cause of life-threatening injuries for older adults. Plus, once a senior has one fall, they’re twice as likely to fall again. Because falls are a very prevalent and serious danger to older adults, it’s important to be prepared for them even before they happen. That’s where medical alert systems come in. They can literally save the user’s life by sending help immediately after a fall. These systems give both seniors and their loved ones an added layer of peace of mind and protection, especially for older adults who live alone or away from family.
There are several types of medical alert systems tailored to meet the needs of different users. To decide which system is best for you and feel confident in your choice, here are the main topics to consider.
In-home alert systems will either run on a landline or cellular connection. If you live in an area with spotty cellular coverage, a landline system will be ideal for a steady and reliable connection. However, if you don’t have a landline or would rather not have to connect your system to a phone jack, a cellular system is a great option. For those looking for an on-the-go system, essentially all mobile systems run on a cellular connection, so again, you’ll want to ensure that the provider you choose uses a cellular network that’s reliable in your area.
If you want a system that can be used on the go, you’ll need to decide how you want to carry or wear the system, as there are a few different options on the market. The first option is an all-in-one wearable system that can be put on like a necklace. These systems are great for those who don’t want to deal with keeping track of multiple pieces of equipment. However, they’re typically a bit bulkier than other options since everything is built into one piece of equipment.
The second option is a two-piece system that comes with a help button that can be worn as either a necklace or bracelet and a small, portable base station. For these systems, the base station is typically small enough to be thrown in a purse or put in a pocket, and the pendant is small and lightweight. These two-piece systems are good for those who want a more discrete pendant. Just know that you’ll have to remember both pieces of equipment whenever you leave the house, and you’ll need to keep the portable base station close by.
The last option is an all-in-one smartwatch system. It functions similarly to an Apple Watch, as it tracks user activity and allows you to send and receive messages, but it also has medical alert features like a help button and 24/7 monitoring. Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical are currently the two major medical alert providers that offer a smartwatch option, so it’s pretty unique. If you’re looking for this high-tech option, you’ll want to consider Medical Guardian’s Freedom Guardian system or Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch.
Medical alert providers typically offer automatic fall detection pendants in certain packages or as an add-on feature. With fall detection, the user won’t even have to press a button after a fall. The pendant will detect the downward motion followed by inactivity and automatically connect to the monitoring center. This is a useful feature for any users, but especially for those more prone to falls due to health conditions or mobility issues. When choosing a system, look into the company’s fall detection options. Consider if the person you’re buying for will need, or feel more secure with, fall detection and determine whether or not this add on will fit in your budget.
Many providers, like Medical Alert and Bay Alarm Medical, offer companion mobile apps that pair up with your medical alert system. If you want to be able to keep track of your aging family member and receive real-time alerts to any incidents, you’ll want to make sure you choose a company and package that comes with mobile app access. Each app offers different features, but some of the most standard include GPS tracking, user call history, and real-time alerts for emergency calls.
You’ll need to make sure that the medical alert system you choose fits in your budget. The cost of a medical alert system varies greatly by the provider and type of system you choose. You’ll find that the most affordable systems on the market start at around $20 per month. For mobile GPS systems or more advanced in-home systems with activity monitoring or other unique features, prices typically jump to about $30 to $45 per month.
In addition to monthly monitoring fees, you’ll also need to consider the cost of any add-on equipment or features. Fall detection, the most common add-on feature, typically costs around $10 per month, while some providers offer it for a few bucks more or less. Other add ons like protection plans, jewelry accessories, and additional equipment can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 per month, or you may just pay a one-time fee for extra equipment. Once you’ve chosen your ideal system, be sure to do the math and add up all of your monthly costs along with any upfront fees so you know what to expect on your bill.
Medical alert systems are built to be durable and last for years to come, so typically there isn’t a lot of required maintenance. Most help pendants have batteries that last for a few years, and providers will usually replace them when they die at no extra cost. If your system is malfunctioning and it’s not due to user error or intentional damage, most providers will fix or replace the equipment for free.
When choosing a system, be sure to check the company’s warranty and what exactly it covers. Some providers offer a lifetime warranty that will cover all maintenance, while others are more limited or short term. Many companies that don’t have lifetime warranties offer monthly protection plans instead for around $5 per month that will cover expensive equipment replacements.
A medical alert system usually comes with one or more devices that helps the user stay safe. The device comes in the form of a bracelet, necklace or pendant. It is connected to a speaker that allows the user to come into contact with a trained operator with the simple press of a button. The trained operator can determine whether to send emergency help.
It’s not uncommon for people to believe that seniors are the only ones to benefit from wearing a medical alert system. Truth is, though, anyone of any age can benefit from a medical alert system, particularly those who want peace of mind in knowing they will receive around-the-clock protection during medical emergencies, fires, and break-ins.
The most important aspect to look for in a medical alert system is reliability. No matter how well the medical alert system performs, unless it’s connected to a live agent who can instantly take your call, then the system will prove of little value. Beyond reliability, it’s important to look for a system that is easy to use and install. Always get a system that offers a backup battery, as well. With a backup battery, you obtain peace of mind in knowing the system will still operate during a power outage.
A medical alert system is worn by the user. Many systems also come with a base in which the medical alert device sends a signal to. All the user has to do to call for help is press the HELP button on the base or device being worn. Once the signal from the device reaches the base, it is immediately forwarded to the system’s monitoring center, which includes trained emergency response operators. The operator will answer your call and using two-way voice communication, you will hear the operator ask you questions. If you can speak, you tell the operator what type of help you need. If you can’t speak, you can simply stay on the line with the operator in silence. The operator will assess the situation and determine what type of emergency help to send.
You should shop for a medical alert system that comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a hassle-free return policy. Also, check the provider’s ranking with the Better Business Bureau.
Medical alert systems are available in many forms. Some connect to a home’s landline, some are wireless, and some are considered mobile. A landline medical alert system comes with a phone cord that connects from the base device to the phone jack on your wall. Wireless medical alert systems connect to a wall outlet and works off of a cellular network, meaning you don’t have to connect it to a landline. Mobile medical alert systems come with a mobile device that easily fits in your hand or is worn around the neck or wrist. You get a carrying pouch as well and a charging cradle along with a power cord. No matter the type of system that you choose, fall detection is usually optional. Please keep in mind that wireless systems usually work all throughout the United States. Mobile systems work all throughout the 50 states, however, they only work outside of the country when you are in an area that has cellular network coverage.
Yes, they do! And that’s another great reason you need one. You never know what situation you may find yourself in. Sometimes, GPS tracking may be the difference between saving your life and losing it. Anything from memory loss to a seizure can cause you to wander off to places where you aren’t safe, but with a medical alert system with GPS tracking, both you and your caregivers can keep track of your location. If you go missing, your caregivers will know to call your monitoring service provider to get your GPS coordinates.
Linda’s Acclaimed Career in Senior Care Linda Schlenker is a comforting voice for seniors and caregivers across the U.S. For nearly three decades, Linda has helped seniors remain safe in their own homes, while helping them to regain priceless independence and peace… Learn More About Linda Schlenker
Since graduating from Harvard with an honors degree in Statistics, Jeff has been creating content in print, online, and on television. Much of his work has been dedicated to informing seniors on how to live better lives. As Editor-in-Chief of the personal… Learn More About Jeff Hoyt