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9 min readCathy has been researching and writing about safe aging since 2021. She holds a certificate in gerontology and is one of the internet's most knowledgeable voices in senior safety tech. Her work takes a hands-on, empathetic approach.
Lifeline sells medical alert systems that make it easy to call for help at home or on the go. The brand is highly rated with more than 6,000 customer reviews, but is it right for you?
In this guide, we'll explain how much Lifeline costs, who should consider specific products, and how Lifeline compares to other medical alert companies. We'll also share some insider tips for understanding Lifeline's contract, return policy, and price lock guarantee.
Fall detection (optional)
Free caregiver app with location tracking
Free at-home help button battery replacement
Free 1-year price lock guarantee
Smartwatch option 
No wall buttons
No landline system Lifeline medical alert systems connect you to a 24/7 monitoring center any time you press the help button or trigger the optional fall detection sensor. The monitoring agents talk to you through a speaker on the base station (at-home system) or wearable device (mobile system). They find out what kind of help you need and call the best people to respond. For example, if you've fallen but you're okay, Lifeline might call your neighbor to give you a hand. But if you're hurt, they'll call an ambulance.
With Lifeline, you can choose between a traditional at-home system or three on-the-go systems. Here's a quick look at the company's main features and services:
Note that some of these features may cost an additional monthly fee, and some may only be available in specific products. We'll share more details below to help you choose the best one for you.
Lifeline costs vary based on which device you choose and how often you want to be billed, but they're typically about $35 to $50 per month. AARP members get 15% off.
We'll share specific details in a moment, but here's a quick overview for now:
All Lifeline customers receive a free price lock guarantee for the first 12 months of service. You can buy a lifetime price lock guarantee to protect yourself from rate increases, but you'll need to call Lifeline to get it. It's $5/mo. to lock-in the price for one year, or $10/mo. for a lifetime price lock. You can purchase the price lock guarantee at any time, even if you've already bought a Lifeline system.
In the tables below, you can compare costs across devices and view optional add-on fees. Click each header to expand the table.
Scroll or swipe right to view full table.
Package | One-time fee | Monitoring fees paid monthly | Monitoring fees paid every 6 months | Monitoring fees paid annually | Best for | Learn more |
| $99.95 | $39.95/mo. | $239.70/six mos. ($39.95/mo.) | $419.40/yr. ($34.95/mo.) | People who usually don't leave the house alone | View Plans | |
| $99.95 | $44.95/mo. | $269.70/six mos. ($44.95/mo.) | $479.40/yr. ($39.95/mo.) | People who want a longer battery life in a mobile device | View Plans | |
| $99.95 | $49.95/mo. | $299.70/qtr. ($49.95/mo.) | $539.40/yr. ($44.95/mo.) | People interested in the smallest, most discreet mobile option | View Plans | |
| $159.00 | $39.95/mo. | $227.70/six mos. ($37.95/mo.) | $419.40/yr. ($34.95/mo.) | People looking for a budget-friendly on-the-go device | View Plans |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
To my knowledge, Lifeline is the only medical alert company that offers professional installation. This service may be useful if you're getting the in-home system and aren't comfortable with technology or don't have anyone to help you set it up.
The Lifeline representative can make sure your base station is set up in the best location for easy communication and cellular reception. They can also make sure there are no "dead spots" in your home where the button doesn't activate the base station.
Because Lifeline's mobile devices work as soon as you take them out of the box, there's no need to buy professional installation for them. Simply charge them and press the button to test the connection to the monitoring service. (Tell the agent you're just testing the device when they answer.)
You may owe some money when cancelling Lifeline. Here's what you should know:
Lifeline sticks to the basics for an uncomplicated experience. If you want accessories like wall-mounted buttons or fashionable button covers, you'll need to shop elsewhere.
An app is included with your purchase, and it allows caregivers to share notes and photos, receive emergency alerts, check battery status, and check the location of mobile devices. We appreciate that the app is free, as some companies charge extra for an app or don't offer one at all.
Lifeline's at-home system has a shorter button range than most, and its backup battery also has a slightly shorter lifespan. It also stands out as having one of the highest starting prices in the industry, but this is because Lifeline doesn't offer a landline system. If you compare other cellular home systems to Lifeline's, its price seems more reasonable. You'll get a more competitive price by paying for a full year upfront.
Lifeline's optional fall detection costs a whopping $15 per month, which is the highest cost in the industry. But if you're looking for a medical alert watch, Lifeline's ends up being one of the most affordable options on the market, with or without fall detection.
Lifeline is nearly identical to the company Medical Alert. You may notice they have similar-looking equipment and similar cancellation policies. That's because they're owned by the same company, Connect America. However, only Lifeline offers a discount to AARP members.
Medical Guardian is one of our favorite medical alert companies, so let's see how it compares to Lifeline.
You can get similar types of equipment from both brands, but Lifeline no longer offers its landline at-home system. Medical Guardian still does. Medical Guardian's at-home buttons work with 1,400 feet of the base station compared to 800 feet for Lifeline. That makes Medical Guardian the better choice for larger homes and yards.
Both brands offer free caregiver apps, but some features (medication reminders and messaging, both of which only work with the MGMove smartwatch) cost extra from Medical Guardian.
Medical Guardian offers a wide variety of accessories, including wall buttons and a voice-activated unit. With Lifeline, your add-ons are limited to fall detection and a lockbox. Although it's nice to have so many options with Medical Guardian, note that every accessory increases your monthly bill.
Both brands have the same trial period and cancellation fees and charge about the same for an optional protection plan. Customers tend to prefer Lifeline, rating it an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Medical Guardian's average rating is 3.8 out of 5 stars.
15-day trial period
$50 restocking fee (outside free return window)
$350 missing or damaged equipment fee (when cancelling)
Smartwatch, mobile devices, and cellular at-home system
Paid protection plan
Lockbox available for monthly fee
Optional fall detection
Caregiver app
No landline system with Lifeline
No wall buttons with Lifeline
Medical Guardian's smartwatch has optional extra features
No voice-activated option with Lifeline
Medical Guardian's in-home system has a longer range and battery life
Lifeline has a higher customer rating Brand | Lowest monthly price | In-home range | Backup battery | Learn more |
| $34.95/mo. | 800 ft. | 30 hrs. | Visit Website | |
| $27.95/mo. | 1000 ft. | 32 hrs. | Visit Website | |
| $31.95/mo. | 1400 ft. | 32 hrs. | Visit Website | |
| $29.95/mo. | 800 ft. | 30 hrs. | Visit Website | |
| $29.95/mo. | 1,300 ft. | 32 hrs. | Visit Website |
*Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Lifeline sells one at-home system and three on-the-go systems. Which one makes sense for you? Let's take a closer look at what each one can do.
🏠 = At-home device, 🌞= On-the-go device
Image: Lifeline
The Lifeline HomeBase is an at-home medical alert system. It consists of a base station with a large wraparound speaker and a wearable button. The button comes with two holders: a wristband and a pendant.
The base station plugs into the wall and has a 30-hour backup battery to keep it going during a power outage. The base station uses cell towers to communicate with the monitoring center. If you live in an area with poor cellular reception, consider a landline base station from another brand. (Lifeline no longer sells a landline system.)
The wearable button communicates with the base station through radio waves. It only triggers an emergency call when it's pressed within about 800 feet of the base station. This is considered a relatively small range for an in-home medical alert system, but it should provide plenty of coverage for smaller homes and yards. For comparison, other brands offer at-home systems that work up to 1,000 feet, 1,300 feet, and 1,400 feet from the base station.
The wearable button is water-resistant and safe to wear in the shower. Lifeline will automatically send you a new one when the battery gets low.
For an extra $15 per month, you can get a fall detection pendant instead.
Image: Lifeline
The Lifeline On the Go Standard is a mobile medical alert system that's worn around the neck. It includes a speaker and a microphone for easy two-way communication with the monitoring center.
Because it's a mobile device, it includes GPS technology. Monitoring center agents and people who have access to the caregiver app can see the device's current location.
The On the Go Standard's battery lasts up to four days, which is the longest battery life of any Lifeline product. However, if having a really long battery life is important to you, consider looking at the LifeFone VIPx2. Its battery lasts up to 18 days.
Image: Lifeline
The Lifeline On the Go Mini can be purchased as a bracelet or pendant. It's a square-shaped device with a built-in speaker and microphone. It's Lifeline's smallest and most lightweight on-the-go system, designed to be barely noticeable by the wearer or passersby.
The main difference between the On the Go Standard and the On the Go Mini is battery life. The Mini should be charged once per day, while the Standard can last up to four days on a single charge.
Image: Lifeline
The Lifeline Smartwatch functions as a watch, medical alert device, step counter, and heart rate monitor. Like all other Lifeline devices, the Smartwatch is waterproof, so it can be worn in the shower, bath, or rain.
It needs to be charged daily.
Yes, Lifeline has very good customer service. Lifeline has earned an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 6,200 customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. That makes it one of the highest-rated medical alert companies on the market.
Positive reviews tend to mention Lifeline's friendly customer service agents and monitoring agents. They say Lifeline reacts quickly during an emergency and is gracious during false alarms.
Negative reviews sometimes mention problems with device quality. Some people have experienced false alarms while not wearing the device, and some have been disappointed by poor speaker quality.
Other unhappy customers cite cancelation problems as the reason for their one-star review. Cancelation is a common pain point in the medical alert industry. With Lifeline, you don't own the equipment. It must be returned in order for your cancellation to be processed. If you don't return the equipment, you will be charged a replacement fee if $350. Still, that doesn't excuse ongoing charges that continue for months or years, as some people claim.
Although some people experience issues with Lifeline, the vast majority are happy with its devices and service.
Lifeline doesn't advertise this very well, but you commit to paying for at least three months of monitoring when you complete your purchase. This is true even if you pay month to month.
However, Lifeline's website outlines a 15-day trial period. You get a refund if you cancel within 15 days of ordering. It may not be a full refund due to the $50 restocking fee. You're also expected to send all the equipment back in excellent condition. Failing to do so could result in a charge of $350.
Yes, you may be eligible for a free medical alert system from Lifeline if you're enrolled in one of the following Medicare plans:
Check your Medicare plan's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) document to see if you have coverage for a Lifeline alert.
Yes, AARP members get a 15% discount on Lifeline's monthly monitoring fee. The activation fee ($50 value, often combined with the $49.95 programming fee to create a $99.95 "setup fee") and shipping fees are also waived.
The Medical Alert brand is almost identical to the Lifeline brand. They are owned by the same parent company (Connect America) and sell the same mobile devices. Their home systems have the same specs but feature a slightly different base design. Medical Alert tends to be the more affordable choice, but Lifeline is the only option with an AARP discount.
Lifeline has an in-depth website with information about its equipment, policies, and pricing. So we read all of it. We combed through product manuals, customer reviews, fine print, and more to get a complete picture of what it’s like to be a Lifeline customer before creating this review.
We’ve also done the same with Lifeline's competitors like Bay Alarm Medical and Life Alert. Learning more about these other companies gave us a frame of reference to how Lifeline’ prices and product packages compare to similar services.
We also spoke directly to Lifeline to make sure we provided accurate information about its policies. We read customer reviews on Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs, and Better Business Bureau.
Hands-on testing is in progress as of April 2026. We'll have more to share about device reliability and quality in the coming weeks.
To learn more about our policies for reviews and articles like this one, read our full methodology.
Lifeline has a long-standing reputation (52 years, to be exact) as a high quality medical alert company with helpful customer service, responsive and kind monitoring center agents, and well-designed devices. Its services are competitively priced, but if you're on a tight budget, you may get a better deal elsewhere. In that case, consider Lifeline's sister company, Medical Alert.
Weighted averages: To calculate the weighted average for customer reviews, we use the following formula:
[(R1×N1)+(R2×N2)+(R3×N3)]/(N1+N2+N3)
R = Avg. star rating from review site
N = Total number of reviews
This calculation only includes reviews appearing on third-party sites (not the brand's website) because they're less likely to be fabricated.
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