Professional medical alert monitoring services range from $20 to $90 per month. So who has the best deal? We looked at factors like equipment packages, add-ons like fall detection, and overall value to find out. Our research showed that MobileHelp has the lowest price for a basic system, but GetSafe offers more equipment for a package in the same price range.
February 23, 2023
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Is a life alert and a medical alert the same thing?
Some folks mistakenly use "life alert" as a generic name for medical alerts—much like Kleenex for tissue. Life Alert is one of many medical alert systems on the market—and also the most expensive. Medical Guardian is more affordable and among the top medical alert companies we recommend.
Most affordable medical alert systems
- : Best overall value
- : Best for price lock guarantee
- : Best for couples
- : Most affordable cellular system
- : Most affordable fall detection
Compare the most affordable medical alert systems
Company | Best for | Minimum monthly price | Equipment price | Fall detection | Payment schedule | Learn more | Read review |
| Best overall value | $27.95 | $79+ | $10/mo. | Monthly | View Packages | Read review | |
| Best for price lock guarantee | $24.95 | $0–$159 | $10/mo. | Monthly or semiannually | View Packages | Read review | |
| Best for couples | $29.95 | $0–$199 | $10/mo. | Monthly, quarterly, or annually | View Packages | Read review | |
| Most affordable cellular system | $19.95 | $0 | $11/mo. | Monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually | View Packages | Read review | |
| Most affordable fall detection | $24.99 | $24.99 | $0–$10/mo. | Monthly | View Packages | Read review |
Data as of post date. Offers and availability subject to change.
How much do medical alert systems cost?
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Most affordable medical alert system reviews
1. GetSafe: Best overall value
Best overall value
GetSafe started as a home security system, so its monitoring professionals have a background in stressful situations. The Starter package requires a one-time fee of around $80, and then it’s only $27.95 every month after. While it’s not the cheapest system, you get much more equipment for only a few dollars more than competitors if you can swing the up-front equipment cost.
Pros
Flat monthly rate
No landline required
Voice-activated help button
Most equipment for starting price 
Cons
Steep initial cost
No bilingual services Same monthly cost for (most) in-home equipment
We like that GetSafe's monitoring plans are always $27.95 per month, no matter which of the three in-home equipment packages you choose.
Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
The starting package comes with four unique buttons that connect you to GetSafe’s UL-listed professional monitoring center:
- 4G LTE cellular base station
- Voice-activated wall button
- Standard wall button
- A traditional wearable button
Each device connects to the base station via cellular technology, which means it’s easier to install and place throughout your home.
Some premium perks do exist
There are a few extras that will bump the monthly cost up:
- Mobile GPS device monitoring (extra $20/mo.)
- Fall detection (extra $10/mo.)
- Caregiver app (extra $5/mo.)
- Extended warranty (extra $5/mo.)
Learn more about our hands-on testing experience in our full GetSafe review. Or compare GetSafe to other brands we love:
2. Bay Alarm Medical: Best for price lock guarantee
Bay Alarm Medical’s landline system used to be the most affordable medical alert system on our list, but an ever-so-slight price hike lands it in runner-up territory. It's one of the few medical alert companies to offer a price lock guarantee, however, so you can do some long-term budgeting even with a fixed income.
Pros
Lowest price for a basic package
Bundled packages
Discounts for ASA, AMAC, and USAA members
Free spouse coverage
170 languages supported
Price lock guarantee Cons
Basic Protection plan requires a landline
No price drop for paying semiannually Basic equipment
Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
The Basic plan comes with a landline base station and a wearable alert button. You can choose between a wristband or lanyard, or you can upgrade to a wearable with automatic fall detection for an additional $10 per month. Wall buttons are available for around $35 each.
Discounts available
There are several discounts available through Bay Alarm Medical to sweeten the deal. Members of the ASA (American Seniors Association), AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens), and USAA (United Services Automobile Association) are also eligible for discounts.
Bay Alarm Medical’s home and GPS equipment can be bundled together for a discount too. The right combination depends on where you spend most of your time, but having options makes this system much more accessible for anyone on a strict budget.
Learn more about our hands-on testing experience in our full review of Bay Alarm Medical.
3. Medical Guardian: Best for couples
Best for couples
Medical Guardian starts at $29.95 but includes discounted spouse coverage for the Mobile 2.0 and Home 2.0 systems.
The buttons come with necklace and bracelet inserts so you can be comfortable and protected. You just pay about $3/mo. for the extra button for your spouse, and they get all the perks of being registered with Medical Guardian's pro monitoring center.
Pros
Affordable spouse coverage
Tons of equipment options
Five Diamond certified monitoring center
Caregiver app Cons
Equipment can get pricey
Add-ons can get pricey
No trial period And Medical Guardian gives discounts if you choose to pay quarterly or annually.
The landline-enabled Classic Guardian is the cheapest of the bunch, but Medical Guardian has plenty of other product packages to explore.
Your final price will depend on the payment schedule and equipment package you choose, so it’s best to do your research first. Medical Guardian has no trial period and can take up to 30 days to return money for refunds.
Read our full review of Medical Guardian to learn more.
4. MobileHelp: Most affordable in-home cellular system
The MobileHelp Classic is an in-home cellular medical alert system with your choice of a wearable button or wall button. It's a simple but effective system with the lowest monthly monitoring fee we could find: nearly $20 per month.
Just beware the one-time processing fee (around $50) if you sign up for the monthly payment plan. This fee is waived if you pay quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Pros
Lowest price for a basic package
30 day trial
Caregiver app Cons
Processing fee for Classic monthly plan
No price drop for paying semiannually
Price lock guarantee costs extra Plenty of add-ons
It's easy to create a customized medical monitoring plan with MobileHelp thanks to add-on services:
- Fall detection
- MDLive (telehealth)
- MobileHelp Connect (caregiver app)
- Medication reminders
- Activity tracking
Some of these services require particular equipment, which may cost extra. Each service also requires an extra monthly fee, so it can turn into an expensive plan if you're not careful.
Learn more in our full MobileHelp review.
5. Lively: Most affordable fall detection
Lively sells an affordable mobile medical alert device called the Mobile+. It costs about $25 upfront and another $25 a month for basic monitoring. Fall detection brings the total monthly cost to about $35, which is a steal—especially for an on-the-go device.
Pros
Low monthly monitoring fee
GPS location tracking
Caregiver app Cons
Must pay for equipment upfront
Cellular data coverage not available everywhere Add-on services
Upgrading from the Basic Package to the Premium Package (about $35 per month) gives you 24/7 access to a registered nurse or a doctor for any and all health questions. You can even get prescriptions over the phone.
Lively can also monitor fall detection through your Apple Watch. Without Lively, the Apple Watch calls the nearest 911 center if it detects a fall—which can be an affordable alternative if you'd rather pay upfront for a watch than pay a monthly fee.
Read more in our Lively (formerly GreatCall) review or check out the best medical alert systems for fall detection.
QMedic
If you can pay for an annual plan, consider QMedic. The in-home cellular system costs $300 per year ($25 per month), putting it on par with our other recommendations.
For $400 per year ($33.33 per month) you can get a mobile GPS device. In fact, QMedic is one of the few medical alert companies that leases mobile equipment rather than requiring an up-front purchase.
The main drawback of a QMedic system is a lack of customization. QMedic offers no fall detection, wall buttons, or voice activation. But it's worth considering if you want a simple system with a simple payment structure.
Aloe Care Health
The Aloe Care Health Mobile Companion includes fall detection monitoring at no extra charge. The unit costs about $100 upfront and around $30 a month to monitor.
You also get a caregiver app and GPS tracking for this price. It's a great deal but the device itself is much larger than other wearable medical alerts and can't be worn in the shower.
Check out our testing experience in our full Aloe Care Health review.
Lifeline On the Go
The Lifeline On the Go is a small system with a big bill. It’s packed with five forms of location technology to pinpoint the wearer anywhere in the world. If you do press the help button, the clear two-way talk feature ensures the right kind of help arrives.
Counting the equipment fee, self-installation fee, and monthly monitoring, you’ll drop over $650 on Lifeline after a year. If you’re active, travel often, or have a wandering loved one, this medical alert system may be worth the price.
Read our full review of Lifeline to learn more.
LifeFone
LifeFone recently increased their base price, so they're no longer as affordable as the other brands we've mentioned above.
But you can still get an in-home system with a wearable fall detection pendant for around $35 a month with no equipment fees, and that's still an excellent rate for the industry.
LifeFone advertises a slightly lower monthly price, but that's actually the discounted rate available if you pay for an entire year up front. Make sure you look at the final cart total when you checkout.
LifeFone's a good medical alert company in our book, but there are a ton of extra services that could increase the monthly total if you aren't careful to rein yourself in.
Learn more about what's available in our full LifeFone review.
Life Alert
Famous for its “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” campaign, Life Alert has been recognizable since the 1980s. Our research found that little has changed since then. Life Alert has a surprisingly outdated website with minimal information, so we called the company directly.
We needed to give personal information before getting any answers. Once we did speak to a customer rep, they greeted us with pushy sales tactics and little time to ask questions. The same rep gave us a steep initial quote of $89.85 a month ($1,078.20 a year) for a rudimentary system. If you aren’t afraid to haggle like we did, you might be able to talk the price down. We had to remove the shower button to get the price down to $69.90 per month.
But Life Alert’s equipment doesn’t bring much to the tech table that hasn’t already been served. The base station, shower button, GPS device, and necklace all have two-way talk, which is helpful, but not enough for the price. You’ll still have to face a 36-month contract, steep price, and potential hidden fees. Read our full Life Alert review to see if this system could work for you or check out the best Life Alert alternatives.
What to remember before buying a medical alert system
When it comes down to it, your medical alert system needs to be simple enough to operate in an emergency. Most devices follow the same design—a wearable button on your wrist or around your neck that connects to an intercom. The right system depends on the size of your home, your level of activity, and your level of independence.
If you’re out of the house often or a frequent traveler, you’ll need a GPS unit or other mobile device that won’t tie you down. Homebodies may also prefer a mobile system, or they may go with a simple pendant or wristband that connects to the base station.
You’ll also want enough equipment to fit your home. Add-ons like extra sensors can help, especially if you have multiple floors or a larger home. If you share a large house with others, you might not need as many sensors. But if more than one person needs a medical alert device, it’s smart to opt for more than one pendant or wristband to connect to the base station.
Add-ons like equipment warranties, automatic fall protection, and additional pendants or wristbands can also change the value and price of your medical alert system. While it’s smart to save money, you shouldn’t cheat yourself out of the help you may need. Extras like automatic fall detection don’t cost much and can save lives.
Final word
We recommend GetSafe for long-term affordability, but it's worth looking into other medical alert companies if you have specific equipment or monitoring needs.
If we're being literal, GetSafe's starting price isn't the cheapest on the market. But it's one of the few companies that doesn't nickel-and-dime customers for every feature or service.
Medical alert FAQ
Medical alert systems are commonly mislabeled as “life alert systems” because of the well-known company. While medical alert systems vary in price between providers, the company Life Alert gave us an initial quote of $89.85 per month.
This provider has no set prices, so this may vary from customer to customer. Overall, Life Alert can cost you anything between $45 to $95 dollars per month.
In some rare cases, yes. It depends on your insurance provider and the medical alert system. It’s best to speak with your insurance provider before signing on with any system.
Most companies charge customers month to month for service, so cancellation fees are rare. However, we found that Philips Lifeline and Life Alert may charge cancellation fees for canceled orders or contracts.
No matter what medical alert system you choose, be sure to read the fine print before making a purchase.
Medical alert companies often provide features like a Vial of Life or lockbox to make it easier for emergency responders to treat you and enter your home.
A Vial of Life is a folder with information such as allergies or current medications that makes it easier for EMTs or other responders to treat you.
A lockbox uses a unique code to keep spare keys or other valuables inside. This can help responders get into your house if you’re unresponsive.
Other simple accessories like medical ID bracelets can also help professionals treat you in an emergency.
How we reviewed the most affordable medical alert systems
To find the best cheap medical alert systems, we combed through websites, called companies, and read lots of fine print. In our research, we saw several companies with similar equipment, prices, and monitoring centers. So instead of focusing on cost alone, we looked deeper at the value of each system. We determined value by the amount of equipment in a basic package, extra fees, discounts, and company policies that may leave you paying more for fewer perks.
That’s why we gave GetSafe the top spot. Its starting package includes more equipment with unique features than the basic devices you get from other companies. While it isn’t the cheapest service, you’ll get a better system for under $10 more. Plus, the fixed monitoring rate means you won’t get any surprises on your bills. Learn more about how we researched this and our other rankings by reading our full methodology.
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