What’s the Real Cost of Life Alert?

Founded in 1987, Life Alert is one of the oldest and most well-known brands in the industry thanks to the unforgettable “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials. While Life Alert has been around for nearly 40 years, its policies and sales tactics haven’t changed much since the 80s. You can't purchase products online, and you must call the company for any pricing information. 

So if you're wondering what the real cost of Life Alert is, don’t worry, we did the hard work for you. We sat on a 45-minute sales call with Life Alert to get the most recent pricing, policy, and product information. 

Life Alert’s lowest starting price is $69.95 per month for the main unit, an at-home landline or cellular base station that pairs with a wearable help button with up to a 1,000-foot range. That’s more than double the price for most at-home medical alert systems. 

The standard wearable help button doesn't contain a speaker or microphone. You can only communicate through the main unit's speaker. For easier communication, you can upgrade the help button to either a necklace or wristband with two-way talk. Known as the Micro Voice Pendant or Wristband Button, this upgrade raises the price to $89.90 per month.

If you prefer on-the-go monitoring, the mobile system costs $89.90 per month.

You can add a wall button with two-way talk to any device for an additional $20 per month. 

No matter which equipment package you choose, you’ll be charged a $248 one-time equipment fee.

With prices ranging from about $70/mo. to $109/mo., Life Alert is the most expensive medical alert system on the market. Other brands cost $25/mo. to $70/mo. per month. Life Alert's up-front equipment fee of $248 also costs more than what other brands charge, which typically falls between $0 and $200.

See our picks for the most affordable medical alert systems to find options within your budget. 

Life Alert requires a three-year minimum contract, meaning you’ll be paying at least $2,700 for those first three years of service.

While the Life Alert sales rep assured us that the monthly price never goes up after you’ve purchased your equipment, this seems like a small consolation for a strict three-year contract and such high monthly costs.

Life Alert is pricey, but is there a good reason for the higher cost? After weighing the pros and cons, we don't think so. 

1. No battery charging: Pendants, help buttons, and even mobile systems have a 10-year battery life, which means you never have to worry about charging them.
2. Fast shipping: You'll receive your Life Alert system within two business days at no extra cost.
3. Waterproof devices: All Life Alert equipment is fully waterproof and bath-friendly, including the two-way-talk wall button.
4. Industry experience: Life Alert has decades of experience fine-tuning its products and its monitoring service. It's unlikely to go out of business and leave you without service.

1. Lengthy contract: Life Alert requires a minimum three-year contract that's difficult to cancel.
2. No trial period: If you try out Life Alert and don't like it, you're still locked into a three-year contract.
3. No fall detection: None of Life Alert’s devices offer fall detection, even though this is a common medical alert feature. 
4. High-pressure sales tactics: You can’t purchase or learn about Life Alert systems without talking to a sales representative. Be prepared to listen to a lengthy sales pitch and receive multiple follow-up calls (and texts!) pressuring you to purchase.
5. No caregiver app: Caregiver apps allow loved ones to remotely monitor device status, battery life, and more. Life Alert doesn’t offer an app. 
6. No location tracking for caregivers: Caregivers can't see the location of the Life Alert mobile device, only monitoring center agents can. While this protects your privacy, it offers less peace of mind for caregivers. 

Like, "Kleenex" or "Post-It's", Life Alert is just one brand in a whole industry of products. There are better, more affordable medical alert systems that don’t require a contract commitment. In fact, all our top alternatives to Life Alert offer a 15- to 30-day trial period. 

If you’re looking for an established company with a long history of quality products and reliable monitoring, then Life Alert may be right for you. It does cost significantly more than competitors, but some may find the name recognition and experience worth it.

Personally, we think Life Alert's high cost and three-year contract outweigh any benefits. There are plenty reputable medical alert systems for half the price with actual trial periods and more robust features.

Check out our list of best medical alert systems to explore our favorite brands.