Best Medical Alert Systems Comparison Chart
Compare the best medical alert systems for seniors today. Comparison areas (click to skip ahead): Types of Medical Alert Systems, Monitoring Center Standards, Mobile Alert Buttons Comparison, In-Home Medical Alert Systems, Pricing & Terms.Downloadable PDF version available Sign Up Here
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | Lifestation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toll-Free Number (Click to Call)  | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
Types of Medical Alert Systems | |||||||
| In-Home Landline (at home use) | From $24.95/ month | From $29.95/ month | From $29.95/ month | From $34.95/ month (non-landline) | From $24.95/ month | From $49.95/ month | From $29.95/ month |
| In-Home Cellular (No Landline needed) | From $29.95/ month | From $34.95/ month | From $34.95/ month | From $34.95/ month | From $19.95/ month | From $49.95/ month | From $43.95/ month |
| Mobile Button Unit (for at home and on-the-go use) | From $29.95/ month & $99 for the unit | From $39.95/ month & $124.95 for the unit | From $39.95/ month | From $39.95/ month | From $37.95/ month | From $69.90/ month (bundled with in-home) | From $49.95/ month & $99.95 for the unit |
| Water-Resistant Buttons | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options | In-home only | Yes, in-home and on-the-go options |
| Fall Detection Add-on (In-Home and Mobile) | Yes, add $10/ month | Yes, add $10/ month | Yes, add $5 to $10/ month | Yes, add $10/ month | Yes, add $10/ month | Not available | Yes, add $15/ month |
| Medical Alert Smartwatch | From $34.95/ month & $159 for the watch | From $39.95/ month & $200 for the watch | From $45.95/ month | From $46.95/ month | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
| Toll-Free Number (Click to Call) | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
| Website Link | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Monitoring Center Standards | |||||||
| 24/7 Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In-House or Outsourced Monitoring | Outsourced, US Based | Outsourced, US Based | In-house & Outsourced, US Based | In-house, US Based | Outsourced, US Based | In-house, US Based | In-house, US Based |
| Monitoring Center Standards | UL Listed & TMA Five Diamond Certified | UL Listed & TMA Five Diamond Certified | Self-managed standards; UL Listed & TMA Five Diamond | UL Listed & TMA Five Diamond Certified | UL Listed & SIA Certified | UL Listed & TMA Five Diamond Certified | Self-managed standards |
| Toll-Free Number (Click to Call) | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
| Review Link | Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Philips Lifeline |
| Website Link | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Mobile Alert Buttons(for in-home and on-the-go use) | |||||||
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
| Mobile Button Cellular Network | AT&T or Verizon | AT&T or Verizon | AT&T or Verizon | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T |
| Speakerphone in Mobile Button Unit? | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit | Yes, speakerphone in mobile unit |
| Mobile Unit Max. Standby Battery Life | 5 days | 5 to 7 days | 5 to 10 days | 5 days | 3 days | 10 years | 2 to 3 days |
| Mobile button device weight | 1.3 oz | From 1.3 oz (Mini Guardian) | From 1.3 oz (VIPx) | 1.5 oz | 1.8 oz | 2.3 oz | 2 oz |
| GPS Location services | Yes | Yes | Yes, GPS with VIPx (wifi locations with VIP) | Yes | Yes | Yes, manual refresh | Yes |
| Locate Mobile Unit by Text or App | Free locations info access on Caregivers app | Free hourly updates with Mobile 2.0 and MyGuardian app | Available for VIPx | Free Text-to-Locate, Alexa app | Free Location Detection (30 pings/ mo.) | Not available | Not available |
| Toll-Free Number (Click to Call) | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
| Website Link | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
In-Home Medical Alert Systems | |||||||
In-Home Coverage | |||||||
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
| Coverage for 2,500 sq ft home? | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home | Yes, coverage for 2,500 sq ft home |
| Max. Range - Maximum distance for In-Home Button to remotely activate call on In-Home Base Unit. More info. | |||||||
| Max. Range, Landline system (in-home, not for on-the-go use) | 1,000 ft | 1,300 ft | 1,300 ft | 600 ft (Non-landline) | 1,300 ft | 800 ft | 800 ft |
| In-Home Neck and Wrist Button Options | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available | Yes, both options available |
| Speakerphone in In-Home Desktop Base Unit? | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit | Yes, speakerphone in Base Unit |
| Speakerphone in In-Home Neck or Wrist Button? | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button | No speakerphone in button |
Battery Life(In-Home Landline) | |||||||
| Button Max. Battery Life | 5 years | 3 - 5 years | 3 - 4 years | 3 - 4 years | 5 years | 7 years | 5 years |
| Base Unit Max. Backup Battery | 1.3 days (32 hours) | 1.3 days (32 hours) | 1.3 days (32 hours) | 1.3 days (32 hours) | 1.3 days (32 hours) | 3 days (72 hours) | 1.25 days (30 hours) |
| Toll-Free Number (Click to Call) | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
| Website Link | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Pricing & Terms | |||||||
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
| Monthly Fees | From $24.95/ month | From $29.95/ month | From $29.95/ month | From $34.95/ month | From $19.95/ month | From $49.95/ month | From $29.95/ month |
| Promo Codes & Special Offers | Free Month, Free Shipping (Select Plans) | Click here - Free Month & more (Annual plan) | Free Month & more (Quarterly, Annual plans) | Free Month, Free Shipping (Select Plans) | Free Lockbox, Free Shipping (Select Plans) | ||
| Long-Term Contract | None | None | None | None | None | 3 years | None |
| In-home Base Unit and Button Cost | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, covered by monthly fee, except Home 2.0 | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee |
| Mobile Unit Cost | $99 for GPS device (yours to keep) | $125 for Mini, Mobile 2.0, Home 2.0 (yours to keep) | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee | Leased, cost Included in monthly fee |
| Start-Up Fees | $12 Shipping, waived with select plans | $12.5 Shipping, waived with select plans | $15 Shipping, waived with select plans | $0 - $100 Activation, $12.5 Shipping, waived with select plans | $15 Shipping, waived with select plans; $49.95 fee for $19.95 plan | $98 to $198 required for programming, shipping etc. | $50 Activation, $50 Programming, $30 Shipping |
| Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | LifeStation | MobileHelp | Life Alert | Lifeline | |
| Toll-Free Number (Click to Call) | 1-855 397-9964 | 1-800 311-6142 | 1-877 352-1292 | 1-866 260-2696 | 1-800 992-0641 | ||
| Review Link | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| Website Link | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Review comparison areas: Types of Medical Alert Systems | Monitoring Center Standards | Mobile Alert Buttons Comparison | In-Home Medical Alert Systems | Pricing & Terms | Back to Top
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Helpful Resources
The following resources provide addition background information on the factors compared above. The information also help to provide a more complete picture so you can pick the best system for you or your parents needs.
All About Medical Alert Systems – What are Medical Alert Systems, Pricing, Best Systems, Where to Buy, Accessories. The factors explained in this guide allow consumers to determine the most important things to pay attention to when picking a good system. The information here works hand-in-hand with the information contained in the reviews section and comparison chart above.
Medical Alert Systems Reviews – A section that offers summary comparisons of different medical alert companies and access to full reviews for companies that you are most interested in.
Medical Alert Systems That Work Without A Home Phone Line – These are systems that contain a built-in wireless cellular/mobile connection. Some work only in-home, while others work in and out of the home. Check out the different systems here.
Mobile Medical Alert Systems with GPS Reviews – More and more people are looking for mobile medical alert systems with GPS that can be used both at home and when the users are out and about (eg. visiting friends, shopping, going out for a walk, etc). Check out our best mobile medical alert systems section here.
In a hurry? Leave us your email, we’ll follow-up with the best tips.