Key Similarities
- Emergency response: You’ll get 24/7 emergency monitoring services with both companies.
- Device options: Both companies have options for in-home and on-the-go systems, including wearables such as smartwatches.
- Customer support: Both companies offer help via phone, live chat, email, and help guides.
Key Differences
- Advanced features: Medical Guardian offers more advanced options, such as automatic fall detection, GPS location tracking, health monitoring, activity tracking, and more.
- Technology and innovation: Medical Guardian has more advanced technology, allowing it to offer features such as built-in fall detection.
- Customization and add-ons: Medical Guardian provides more flexibility and customization than LifeStation’s no-frills plans.
LifeStation and Medical Guardian are both standout medical alert system providers. They’re both reliable and have excellent reputations. After extensive testing, however, we found some big differences in user experience, response times, customer support, and technology.
We spent hours researching, reviewing, and testing their products to give you a more well-rounded overview of each company. In this article, we compared them across several categories, including pricing, plans, accessories, features, privacy, and customer service. Let’s dive deeper to see which company is better suited to your needs.
Pro Tip: Check out our guide to the best medical alert systems to find out how LifeStation and Medical Guardian stack up against some of the top brands in the industry.
LifeStation vs. Medical Guardian: Company Overviews
We reviewed and tested products from both LifeStation and Medical Guardian. Both companies offered solid systems and plans, but Medical Guardian came out on top in a few more areas than LifeStation.
User Experience
When we grade user experience, we cover all aspects of a company and its products. We like to start this section with first impressions, which begin with each company’s website.
Medical Guardian homepage
If you’ve read any of our other reviews of Medical Guardian, this will come as no surprise: It has a superior website that’s not just modern and aesthetically pleasing, but also informative and easy to use. Buying from the company is easy and straightforward, and the same goes for finding out more about each product.
The same applies to using its devices. The setup is always seamless and takes only a few minutes, if not less. We could go on about how much we enjoy using the mobile app and all its features, but we don’t want to spoil things (more on that below). All you need to know is that the user experience, from start to finish, gets five stars from us.
Pro Tip: Medical Guardian’s quiz can help you quickly find out which of its devices is best for you. You can find it in the top menu bar on the homepage.
LifeStation homepage
LifeStation, on the other hand, is known for being reliable, straightforward, and a lot more basic. That’s also how we describe everything from the website to the purchasing process. Every step of the way feels unfussy and bare-bones.
We had to do a little extra digging to find out more information on what its plans and products include. It can be really overwhelming for some people, especially those who consider themselves less tech-savvy.
LifeStation provides a simple and effective user experience, which is what counts at the end of the day. It may not offer the same amount of features or modern touches as Medical Guardian, but it delivers on its promises.
>> Read More: Life Alert vs. Apple Watch Comparison
Privacy Policies
Privacy policies may be the last thing on your reading list, but they should never be overlooked. That’s especially true when you put so much of your medical history and personal information on the line using services like LifeStation and Medical Guardian.
Fortunately, both companies take your privacy and data seriously.
When we examined Medical Guardian’s privacy policy, we found that it collects your personally identifiable information, including your name, phone number, email, and address. It also may share that information with third parties, including its business partners, affiliates, and service providers.
LifeStation also collects your data, but its privacy policy notes that it does not share any of your information with third parties. It promises never to share, sell, lease, or trade your personally identifiable information with third parties for commercial purposes. If you ask us, that makes LifeStation superior in protecting your data.
>> Read More: Exploring Public Sentiment on the Balance Between Privacy and Safety in the Modern Era
Customer Support
using MGMove smartwatch
LifeStation and Medical Guardian customer-support agents do a great job of being helpful, but there are a few differences we noted when we got in touch with agents at both companies.
When we contacted Medical Guardian’s support (and we have several times for many reasons), we were never disappointed. Whether you’re setting up your device for the first time or you have a billing issue, the support staff is patient, professional, and eager to help.
FYI: Medical Guardian’s resources extend beyond just human interaction. The company has an online resource center filled with video tutorials, FAQs, and detailed guides that make it easy to get the most out of your device.
LifeStation makes for tough competition, though, considering it also provides 24/7 customer support. The company has earned a reputation for friendly and attentive customer support, and its team is known for being friendly, personable, and overly patient.
Of course, we put that to the test. When we got in touch with a sales rep, we didn’t feel pressured into buying anything, and when we had a question about something other than pricing, they did their best to answer it.
LifeStation vs. Medical Guardian: Detailed Comparison
Pricing and Plans
LifeStation and Medical Guardian have reasonably priced systems and plans in place. Medical Guardian is the pricier of the two, but we think its more complex technology makes it worth the extra cash.
Medical Guardian mobile devices
Medical Guardian
| System | Device purchase | Cost | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGClassic | n/a | $32.95 per month |
|
| MGHome Cellular | $149.95 | $37.95 per month |
|
| MGMini | $149.95 | $39.95 per month |
|
| MGMini Lite | $149.95 | $44.95 per month |
|
| MGMove | $199.95 per month | $39.95 per month |
|
LifeStation products list
Pro Tip: If fall detection is a must for your medical alert system and you don’t want to pay extra for it, you may want to check out our guide to the best medical alert systems with fall detection.
| System | Device purchase | Cost | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidekick Home Standard |
$12.50 | $35.95 per month |
|
| Sidekick Home Select |
$12.50 | $43.90 per month |
|
| Sidekick Home Supreme |
$12.50 | $51.85 per month |
|
| Sidekick Mobile Standard |
$12.50 | $39.95 per month |
|
| Sidekick Mobile Select |
$12.50 | $47.90 per month |
|
| Sidekick Mobile Supreme |
$12.50 | $55.85 per month |
|
| Sidekick Smart Wearable Medical Alert |
$12.50 | $47.90 per month plus a one-time $99.95 activation fee |
|
Current Discounts
Medical Guardian offers great savings with its 12 Days of Deals, during which you can score various discounts. You may also find a promo code available through Groupon. LifeStation is currently offering $100 off select systems.
Pro Tip: If you’re simply looking to get the best device for as little money as possible, take a look at our guide to the most affordable medical alert systems. You’ll be sure to get the most bang for your buck.
| Feature/Plan | Medical Guardian | LifeStation |
|---|---|---|
| Device options | In-home and on-the-go devices, including smartwatches and wearables | In-home and on-the-go devices, including smartwatches and wearables |
| Fall detection | Available on most devices as an add-on | Available on most devices as an add-on |
| GPS tracking | Yes, included in mobile devices | Yes, included in mobile devices |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes, depending on the plan | Yes, depending on the plan |
| Battery life | 32 hours to 5 days, depending on the device and usage | 32 hours to 5 days, depending on the device and usage |
| Water resistance | All devices are waterproof | All devices are waterproof |
| Range (in-home systems) | Up to 1,400 feet from the base station | Up to 500 feet from the base station |
| Smartwatch option | Yes | Yes |
| Voice-activated help | No voice-activated help option | Alexa integration for voice-activated help |
| Mobile app | Yes, MyGuardian | Find My Loved One, which is strictly for sharing locations |
| Medication reminders | Available as an add-on | Not available |
| Health monitoring | Available with select plans | Not available |
FYI: Medical Guardian has some of the best fall-detection services on the market, with one exception. When we tested fall detection on the MGMini, it worked only one out of every 10 or 11 times. For some reason, fall detection doesn’t work that well on the MGMini, so keep that in mind.
Response Times and Reliability
When it comes to response times, Medical Guardian and LifeStation are quick and dependable. In our experience, Medical Guardian has a slight edge. Based on user reviews and our hours of testing, speaking to a real person and getting help takes an average of 20 seconds. In our tests, the longest we ever waited was 25 seconds, which is impressive.
Unfortunately, LifeStation doesn’t have that same reputation. Most tests come back in the 25- to 30-second range, but some people have reported waiting upwards of 60 seconds before getting in touch with a real human. That could be detrimental in an emergency, when every second counts.
MGMove add messaging
Accessories and Add-Ons
Both companies offer a range of accessories and add-ons to customize your system, but Medical Guardian offers a larger selection suited to many different needs. Whether you need a smartwatch with built-in fall detection, health monitoring, or a billing portal, Medical Guardian has you covered.
LifeStation offers the basics, such as fall detection and GPS tracking, but it lacks customization and a range of options. Medical Guardian’s Premium Plan, for instance, includes a smartwatch option, but that’s not the case with LifeStation.
Mobile App
We are big fans of Medical Guardian’s MyGuardian mobile app, because it lets us do a lot without leaving us overwhelmed. It may not match up to other true smartwatches, like ones from Apple and Samsung, but it’s still impressive for a medical alert device. The MyGuardian app lets users share their location, send messages, manage reminders, set alerts, pay bills, and monitor their activity levels.
LifeStation, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a mobile app in its truest form, which feels like a missed opportunity. Since it offers more high-tech device options, including a smartwatch, it’s really surprising that it still doesn’t have a fully functioning mobile app. It does, however, have an app called Find My Loved One that’s comparable to the Find My Friends app on most iPhones. We hate to call it an app, but it is one — just don’t expect much from it other than location sharing.
Recap: LifeStation vs. Medical Guardian
LifeStation has been in the medical alert industry for over four decades, making it reliable and credible. It’s known for its superior customer service and for always delivering on its promises.
Medical Guardian has been around for half that time, but it has quickly managed to outrank most of its competitors in technology, features, and device options. After extensive testing, we can say that Medical Guardian is the better choice.
Pick LifeStation if you’d like…
- A straightforward, easy-to-use system
- Integration with Alexa for voice-activated help
- No long-term contracts and transparent pricing
- A system that is simple and effective without needing advanced features
Pick Medical Guardian if you’d like…
- A system with advanced features like GPS tracking and health monitoring
- The option to customize your plan with various add-ons and accessories
- A dedicated mobile app for real-time monitoring
- The option to use a smartwatch as your medical alert device
LifeStation vs Medical Guardian FAQs
- What is the main difference between LifeStation and Medical Guardian?
LifeStation is simpler and more straightforward, while Medical Guardian offers more advanced features and customization options.
- Do both companies offer mobile apps for caregivers?
Medical Guardian offers a dedicated mobile app that allows caregivers to monitor location, receive alerts, and manage device settings remotely. LifeStation does not currently offer a mobile app, which could be a drawback for users who want the convenience of remote management and real-time updates.
- Can I use a smartwatch with Medical Guardian?
Yes, Medical Guardian offers a smartwatch option as part of its Premium Plan.
- Which company has better customer support?
Both companies are known for their excellent customer support, but Medical Guardian offers more resources, such as online guides and tutorials.
- Is there a contract required for these services?
No, neither LifeStation nor Medical Guardian requires a long-term contract.
