Medical Guardian Alert System

At-A-Glance: What You Need to Know About Medical Guardian

✔ Landline and cellular options
✔ Cellular coverage through AT&T network
✔ 24/7 professional monitoring included in all packages
✔ U.S.-based monitoring centers
✔ Two-way communication with every base station
✔ Waterproof, wearable pendants
✔ Month-to-month contracts (no long-term contracts)
✔ Complimentary activation for each product
✔ Customizable packages to fit every lifestyle
✔ Companion mobile app available with select systems
✔ Lifetime Warranty

The Fast Facts: Medical Guardian’s Packages & Pricing

The Breakdown: Medical Guardian’s Systems & Packages

As seen above, Medical Guardian provides a diversified lineup of alert systems and packages that vary in costs and features. Except for the Family Guardian system, the at-home systems are slightly cheaper as they don't have on-the-go capabilities or mobile-friendly features like GPS location tracking. However, it's important to note that they all come with 24/7 monitoring, which means the user, at any time, has immediate access to professional help with a click of a button. With month-to-month contract options, you can pay anywhere from $29.95 to $79.95 per month.

You won't have to worry about extra monthly monitoring or equipment fees—minus Freedom Guardian which requires a one-time equipment fee of $249.95. Add-on equipment is fairly cheap, but your costs can add up pretty quickly for additional items that charge by the month. We'll get into what features are offered with each alert system and package below.

At-Home Alert Systems for the Homebodies

Classic Guardian

Classic Guardian

At $29.95 per month, Classic Guardian is Medical Guardian's lowest-priced package. If you live in a rural area with poor cell reception or you're just looking for the cheapest option, we'd recommend Classic Guardian. This is the company's only landline option, and it's best for in-home use. The system comes with a base station and a waterproof, wearable help pendant. You or your loved one can call for help by pressing the button on the base station or pendant, and Medical Guardian's monitoring center will be there to help in under a minute. Just use the two-way talk feature to let them know what you need. Nothing special here as these features are pretty standard across the industry. Though, we are big fans of the system's long-range capabilities—up to 1,300 square feet—from the base station equipped with a 32-hour backup battery.

Home Guardian

Editor Jeff Hoyt testing Home Guardian

A great option for homebodies everywhere, Home Guardian is an in-home alert system that's similar to Classic Guardian, except it costs $34.95 per month ($5 more)—for a necklace pendant, easy-to-install base station, and two bracelets with prominent help buttons—and it runs on AT&T's cellular service rather than a landline. As long as you live in an area with solid AT&T coverage1, you'll be good to go. Home Guardian's base station comes with a 30-hour backup battery, an LED screen that displays the date, time, and temperature, and a two-way talk speaker. However, it's important to note that the rangeability from the base station is almost cut in half, at 600 feet, compared to the Classic Guardian.

Family Guardian

Family Guardian App

Family Guardian is the most advanced at-home option offered by Medical Guardian, and it has the price tag to match; this system costs $79.95 per month, which is more than double the price compared to the Home Guardian and Classic Guardian. Here's why: along with a base station, wearable pendant, and three safety sensors that detect motion and doors opening/closing, family members and caregivers have access to a Family Guardian app which connects to the system to provide instant updates via email or smartphone on the user's health level and activities. We recommend setting up the sensors in locations where the user typically spends their time or in high fall risk areas; that way, through the app, you'll be able to tell if they have unusually low activity during the day or you'll be immediately notified if they leave the front door open in the middle of the night.

Family Guardian may cost a pretty penny, but if you have a loved one with serious health conditions or memory loss, then the added layer of security and protection offered by the system is totally worth it. However, if your loved one is fairly strong and healthy, you can save a boatload of money by opting for one of the other at-home (or on-the-go) options.

Mobile Alert Systems for On-the-Go Users

Active Guardian

Editor Jeff Hoyt testing Active Guardian

For less than $2 a day, at the monthly rate of $44.95, the Active Guardian is a portable medical alert device that's equipped with mobile features—like GPS tracking and WiFi location—that provides the user around-the-clock protection both at home and on the go. Though it's a bit bulky, the waterproof device can be worn around your neck as it's lightweight and has a built-in two-way speaker and help button. Access to professional help is always one press of a button away; at any time, the monitoring center will be able to send help to the user's exact location, even if they don't know where they are.

Mini Guardian

Mini Guardian – One of Medical Guardian's affordable systems for seniors aging in place

Mini Guardian, priced at $39.95 per month, is the latest addition to Medical Guardian's product lineup. For those who don't want a bulky mobile system, this is the best solution. Just like Active Guardian, the Mini comes with built-in GPS, cellular, and WiFi technology, so you can take it with you anywhere and stay protected. This all-in-one mobile device weighs just over one ounce and is about half the width of their traditional GPS options, so it's discrete and sleek. We'd highly recommend Mini Guardian for minimalists who want to keep things as small, convenient, and simple as possible. Plus, the Mini is Medical Guardian's least expensive mobile option, so it's good for those on a budget.

Mobile Guardian

Editor Jeff Hoyt testing Mobile Guardian

Priced at $49.95 per month, Mobile Guardian is another personal emergency response device that runs on a cellular network and is designed for those who spend a lot of time away from home. With built-in GPS tracking and two-way talk feature, Mobile Guardian comes with a small portable base station that easily fits in a purse or pocket, along with a wearable emergency alert pendant with an emergency alert button. As long as the pendant is within 350 feet from the device, the wearer has 24/7 access to the monitoring center whether they're going for a grocery run or sprucing up the garden.

This option is more discreet than Active Guardian, as the Mobile Guardian wearable pendants come in both necklace and watch form and are smaller and less bulky. However, you do have to remember to bring two pieces of equipment every time you leave the house instead of one. While the wearable pendant is smaller than Mini Guardian, the mobile base station is still larger than the Mini. Price-wise, Mobile Guardian is only $5 more a month than Active Guardian and $10 more than Mini Guardian, so the Mini will be the most affordable mobile option. Along with the design, price, appearance factors, you'll need to decide if a two-piece on-the-go wearable option is more suited for your needs over a single device option.

Freedom Guardian

Freedom Guardian

If your grandma loves to stay active with daily jogs around the neighborhood or your dad frequently hits the trails to hike and bike, Freedom Guardian might be the option to consider. It's a medical alert smartwatch, with sleek and simplistic designs, that helps the user stay connected and monitored at all times. The watch comes with easy-to-read touchscreen icons, weather notifications, a help button, and a voice texting feature. It's not bulky and it actually reminds us a lot of an Apple Watch. As mentioned earlier, on top of the monthly fee of $44.95, Freedom Guardian is the company's only model that requires an equipment fee—a one-time cost of $249.95 for the watch. Compatible with the Medical Guardian mobile app, you can track the wearer's activity, send texts back and forth, and set reminders and calendar events for your loved one.

Costs for Medical Guardian Add-Ons

How to Get the Best Deal with Medical Guardian

Another way to get the most bang for your buck is to opt for the semi-annual or annual payment options. In this year's review of Medical Guardian, we found that you can save up to $80 every year by paying annually, depending on the package you pick. Medical Guardian also offers perks with the semi-annual and annual payment options like free shipping, extra equipment, and a free month of service. If you're worried about committing to Medical Guardian for that length of time, don't stress it! You can cancel your service at any time. If you've paid for services up front that you haven't used yet, you'll receive a prorated refund. For example, if you paid for a full year of service but decide to cancel after five months, you'll receive a refund for the seven remaining months of service.

Our Final Thoughts: Pricing and Value of Medical Guardian

We grade the overall value of Medical Guardian with high rates. While Medical Guardian prices are slightly more expensive when compared to similar companies like Bay Alarm Medical and LifeStation—typically $5 to $15 more per month—we found that the price for their mobile alert systems matches the high quality and advanced features that you'll receive. In other words, you get what you pay for. However, if you require a landline option, from our experience, you're better off looking elsewhere as the rate for the Classic Guardian is a bit too expensive for what you're getting.

All in all, Medical Guardian's equipment is durable, sleek, and takes advantage of the latest high-tech innovations in the industry. To top it off, the company's monitoring center and emergency response agents were recently awarded the Silver Stevie® Award for Customer Service Department of the Year2. If you're willing to pay a little extra, the alert system solutions offered by Medical Guardian will go a long way for you and your family.