Best GPS Medical Alert Systems, Tested and Reviewed in 2025

Plans, Pricing, and Features

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R

In my professional opinion, the two most important features in a medical alert system are a waterproof design and fall detection. The number one place people fall is exiting the shower, precisely where one doesn't have their phone. It does not make sense to have to take off a medical alert bracelet for such a high-risk activity. I have also seen fall detection save many lives.

GPS Accuracy

Not only does Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile offer very accurate GPS tracking, but it also makes it easier for caregivers to track their loved ones' locations from their smartphones. With the companion mobile app, I could see exactly where my grandma was at any given time. I could see her while she was on the move (headed to the pharmacy), as well as when she was resting at home. The app has lots of other great features too, like step tracking, the status of the device’s battery life, and more.

Navigating Bay Alarm Medical's companion mobile app

My favorite app feature is the Locate My Device option. If I misplaced my system, all I had to do was press “Ring Device” in the app. Then, the SOS Mobile started ringing through its two-way speaker. As someone notorious for misplacing my devices, I loved this! If your loved one is forgetful like me, it’s a great feature.

You can ring a lost device in the Bay Alarm Medical app

Response Times

Bay Alarm Medical has solid response times. I tested out the response times on the SOS Smartwatch by pressing the watch’s help button on the side of the watch. After holding down the button for five seconds, I connected to an agent in around five seconds. I let the agent know I was just making a test call, and she confirmed and verified my identity. These response times are very similar to Medical Guardian’s times for the MGMove smartwatch.

Testing out Bay Alarm Medical's SOS Smartwatch

Battery Life

Similar to most of the other companies on our list, the battery life will vary by system. The SOS All-in-One 2 has the best battery life of up to three days. During my testing, the device lasted for about three days, so that’s pretty accurate. When my device hit 10 percent battery life, the system’s help button started flashing red every 26 seconds. I appreciate this reminder to charge your device. No one wants to walk around wearing a system with a dead battery!

Charging Bay Alarm Medical's SOS All-in-One2 system

The SOS Smartwatch lasts up to 12 hours, according to Bay Alarm Medical, which is pretty short for a medical alert system. I was able to get a full day of use out of my watch before it was time to recharge. I set my watch on its charging station, and it took about two hours to fully recharge, which is pretty typical for mobile devices.

Watch our full video review of the SOS Smartwatch below to learn more about this GPS system.

Plans, Pricing, and Features

*You can save up to 16 percent on your monthly premiums by paying annually.

GPS Accuracy

I’ve tested out all three of Medical Guardian’s GPS systems and had a good experience overall with the location tracking accuracy. When testing the MGMini Lite, Medical Guardian’s wrist-worn system, I tried out the location detection using the MyGuardian mobile app. This app shows you the system’s location, along with other useful information like its status and alert history. I wore the MGMini at home and while running errands. During that time, I frequently checked the mobile app to see if my location was indicated correctly. It always pinpointed me on a map right where I was!

Checking my system's location in Medical Guardian's MyGuardian mobile app

My grandma and I also put the MGMove to the test. Using Medical Guardian’s OnGuard caregiver notification feature, I had it set so that I would get a text alert if my grandma had an emergency. She initiated three separate “test” emergencies, and I was promptly texted with her location. I was able to use my phone’s built-in navigation to locate her, but in two of the three tests, the feature gave me more of a general idea of where my grandmother was located. That said, I was able to locate my grandma within minutes each time.

Testing out Medical Guardian's MGMove

Response Times

My grandma and I tested out the MGMove to see just how fast we could get an emergency response agent on the line. We held multiple tests by pressing the red button on the side of the watch and holding it down for five seconds, as the instructions say.

After that five seconds, a friendly agent answered our call in just four seconds, so it took us a total of nine seconds to get on the line with a real person. This was incredibly fast, especially compared to some of the other providers we tested, like MobileHelp.

» You Might Like: 2025 MGMove Review

I will say, I had a slightly slower experience with the MGMini when I was at home. To test the system’s emergency response, I pressed the button in the center of the device, and it turned blue. It took a full minute for me to connect with an operator. However, I had faster response times of around 20 seconds when I tested the system away from home. I’m assuming this long wait time was due to poor cell service in my area at the time.

» Related Reading: Medical Guardian Review

Battery Life

The battery life for Medical Guardian’s systems varies by device. It ranges from around 24 hours for the MGMove to five days for the MGMini. When trying out the systems for myself, I experienced a similar battery life to what Medical Guardian advertises. This is pretty solid, though the battery doesn’t last as long as systems from some of the other providers on our list. For comparison, one of Bay Alarm Medical’s systems has a battery life of up to three days.

My grandma and I were most impressed with the MGMini’s five-day battery life, especially since I’m pretty forgetful when it comes to charging my devices. For the other two systems, I just got in the habit of charging the device by my bed each night. However, if an emergency were to happen at night, this wouldn’t be very helpful. You can also try charging your device when you’re not moving around as much. Just make sure to keep the device within arm’s reach so you can grab it if you need to!

Line up the gold pins on the MGMove with the gold pins on the charging cradle for a successful charge.

Plans, Pricing, and Features

*You can save up to $5 on your monthly premiums by paying annually, plus free two-day shipping and a free lockbox.

GPS Accuracy

Unlike Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, Lively, and MobileHelp, ADT doesn’t offer a companion app for caregivers. This is one of the provider's biggest drawbacks, since it means that caregivers can’t track their loved ones’ locations. Instead, I had to wait to get a text or email from ADT to know if my device had been activated. That said, I was still able to test the accuracy of the ADT’s GPS tracking system by initiating a test emergency call.

» Pricing Guide: ADT Medical Alert Systems: Pricing and Getting the Best Deal

I walked to a specific corner in my neighborhood and held down the help button. When the agent answered, I informed him that we were doing a test call and would like to know my current location. They were able to pinpoint my location down to the intersection. While ADT’s GPS tracking is highly accurate, I would love to see an app that caregivers could use to track devices on their own.

Response Times

After conducting five test calls, I recorded average response times of around 20 seconds. This was faster than the results I got with MobileHelp, but nearly twice as long as Bay Alarm Medical and Lively. Still, 20 seconds is not a long wait, especially when some other providers can take a minute or more to respond.

Battery Life

ADT’s On-The-Go system has a convenient charging cradle that plugs straight into the wall. I just set the mobile device in the charger and waited for the light to indicate that the battery was fully charged. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a pretty long wait, as it takes the battery about three hours to get from zero to 100 percent.

» You Might Like: ADT Home Security Systems for Seniors

With a full battery, the On-The-Go system can last for up to 40 hours. This is nearly twice as long as Medical Guardian’s MGMove, but far shorter than the MGMini. It’s also comparable to Lively’s Mobile2 and Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Micro. I was satisfied with the battery life, as it provided more than a day’s worth of protection. Even if I forgot to put it on the charging cradle overnight, I could still have protection for most of the following day. Just keep in mind that it’ll take a full three hours to charge the device, so you may need to plan accordingly before you head out the door!

Plans, Pricing, and Features

GPS Accuracy

We tested out the accuracy of Lively’s stand-alone medical alert system, Lively Mobile2, along with the Jitterbug Smart4 and Jitterbug Flip2. Our plan included Lively Link, which is a mobile app that lets me track my grandma’s location at any given time comparable to Bay Alarm Medical’s companion app. I could also see an emergency call history, the status of her device, and receive alerts if she called for help.

Tracking my grandmas location using the Lively Link mobile app

We were both surprised by the accuracy of the GPS when testing the Jitterbug Smart4 and Jitterbug Flip2. Anytime I clicked “view on map” in the Lively Link app, it would automatically bring up an accurate map pinpointing my grandma’s precise location. I could also refresh the map to see if there had been any changes since I last checked.

I will say there was a bit of an issue with identifying the Lively Mobile2’s location. The first time I placed a test call by pressing the system’s help button, the agent I spoke with had a hard time pinpointing my location and thought I was in a different place than I was. I didn’t have this issue when I placed additional test calls. However, knowing exactly where you are during an emergency is essential, so this is something worth noting.

Response Times

Based on the test emergencies my grandma and I initiated on Lively’s three devices, the average response time was 10 seconds. These response times were the same as they were for Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian. I thought it was funny that our three top medical alert companies had the same average times! During an emergency, every second counts, so I appreciate these speedy responses.

Placing a test call on the Lively Mobile2

Battery Life

The Jitterbug Smart4’s battery lasts up to 37 hours, which is pretty typical for a smartphone. My grandma and I noticed that the battery lasted much longer than the last iteration of this phone, the Jitterbug Smart3; I appreciate that Lively has improved the batteries of its devices over time. The Jitterbug Flip2 lasts up to 12 hours, so I just charged my device each night before bed.

» Related Reading: Jitterbug Smart4 Review and Jitterbug Flip2 Review

As for the Lively Mobile2, it lasts up to 40 hours. While that’s still pretty solid, Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS mobile has it beat with an extra 32 hours of battery life. As long as you remember to charge your device every day or two, it shouldn’t be an issue. Just something to keep in mind.

Charging the Lively Mobile2

Plans, Pricing, and Features

GPS Accuracy

When I went out for a walk, I tested the accuracy of the mobile unit’s GPS feature, and it was about as accurate as Medical Guardian’s MGMove. It would give me a general area (within about 30 feet), but it wasn’t always perfectly precise.

» Useful Resource: Best Cellular Medical Alert Systems

One potential drawback of MobileHelp’s system is the way that location tracking is tacked onto plans. I couldn’t just check my system’s location at any given moment. Instead, I had to “ping” my device’s location each time I wanted to check it, and I could only request the location 30 times per month.

If I needed to use it more often, I’d have to pay an extra $6 per month for another 30 location requests. I’m not a big fan of this limitation, as other companies like Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical let you check the device’s location as often as you want. This system is not ideal for caregivers or family members who like to check on their loved ones more than once per day.

Response Times

When I initiated multiple test emergencies, I recorded average response times of 25 to 30 seconds. This is slower than other providers on our list, like Lively and Bay Alarm Medical. While every second counts in a real emergency, it’s hard to complain about a GPS medical alert system that can have an agent on the line in less than a minute!

Wearing a MobileHelp button as a wristband

Battery Life

All of MobileHelp’s GPS systems have a battery life of about one day. There are options with longer battery lives from companies like Medical Guardian and Lively. I do wish MobileHelp had some systems that offered better battery life. However, as long as you remember to charge your device once a day, it shouldn’t be an issue. Plus, building a daily charge into your routine might be easier to remember than charging your device every three or four days!