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We stress-test the most affordable medical alert systems to find the ones that don't sacrifice critical features or reliability.
Updated February 20, 2025
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Let’s face it, none of us are getting any younger. Most Baby Boomers have begun settling into retirement, and Gen X is getting closer to 65 every day. So it’s never too early to start researching medical alert systems. Choosing the right one now means your loved ones are protected and can enjoy their golden years with grace and dignity. But with so many great systems available featuring incredible equipment at affordable prices, how do you pick the right one?
It’s all about knowing which medical alert system will give you the best bang for your buck. That’s why we decided to test the best low-cost medical alert systems that money can buy. Bay Medical Alarm came out on top, but we were also impressed with Medical Guardian, Lively, and Mobile Help. Let’s run through each system to find the right one for your family that won’t break the bank.
For the most part, purchasing a medical alert system involves two primary expenses. First, there’s the price of the equipment itself. Then, you have to invest in a monthly monitoring plan. Of course, different companies structure these costs differently. Some, like Bay Alarm Medical charge for the equipment but keep monitoring costs low. Others, like MobileHelp, provide customers with free equipment, but they charge more for monthly monitoring. As a result, you’ll find a range of prices across the industry and it can sometimes be difficult to sort out what kind of value a given system offers.
Generally speaking, though, equipment costs range between nothing and $200. In-home systems typically cost less. When you’re paying $200, you can usually expect a high-tech device in return, like a smartwatch.
Monitoring fees range from $20 to $60 per month, and often depend on what equipment and features you’re getting. On-the-go systems, for instance, usually cost more than in-home systems simply because they are more difficult to monitor. In either case, most companies offer discounted prices if you’re willing to sign a long-term contract.
There are other fees to consider as well, such as shipping costs. In addition, most companies offer a variety of add-on features. We particularly recommend comparing companies’ fall detection monitoring. This is usually optional, and it can cost an extra $5 to $10 per month, though a few systems, such as LifeLine, include fall detection in their monthly fees. You may not need this extra now, but you want a company that offers fall detection for a reasonable price in case the need for it should arise. Our list of the best medical alert systems with fall detection is a great place to start.
Pro Tip: For most at-home systems, fall detection is embedded within a pendant that also includes a help button and is worn around the neck. With on-the-go systems, fall detection is most often embedded within the mobile device.
As a final note, a few companies have begun offering telehealth options. Since COVID, there has been an increased demand for in-home healthcare, and that’s leading to changes in the industry that can benefit older adults. AI technology, for instance, has been put to a variety of uses, from simple virtual assistants to complex programs that can predict when medical emergencies might occur. You do want to be cautious when investing in extras like these. After all, they come with additional costs that can swell your bottom line.
Bay Alarm Medical provides a nice balance between high quality equipment and affordable prices. Sign up for an at-home system, and the company gives you equipment for free. All you pay is a low monthly monitoring fee of $24.95. No money down is perfect for seniors on a fixed income. In addition, you can add a spouse to your monitoring plan for free, a bonus that can save couples a ton of money over time.
Mobile on-the-go systems cost a bit more. There’s an equipment fee up front, and the monthly monitoring fee is $34.95. For mobile on-the-go systems, you have to pay an equipment fee upfront, but the monthly fee remains low even if you invest in a smartwatch. That price is well within industry averages, and it provides customers with medical emergency care no matter where they go.
You can find more information in our Bay Alarm Medical pricing guide, but the short of it is that Bay Alarm offers a wide range of options at below-market prices to fit most family’s needs.
FYI: Right now, Bay Alarm Medical is offering up to 50 percent off all select medical alert systems. They’ll even ship the equipment for free and throw in a free month of monitoring for qualifying orders.
We tested Bay Alarm’s lowest-priced system – the SOS Home – just to see what kind of care we’d get. The system came with an in-home base unit, a wearable button, and a Vial of Life. That last is a wearable plastic sleeve that contains your important medical information so it’s always available to emergency personnel. Monitoring with the SOS Home is $24.95 a month, but we added Fall Detection, which added an additional $10 to our monthly bill.
All-in-all, we found the equipment to be solid and reliable. Granted, it’s not the most high-tech. This at-home system isn’t for active seniors since it doesn’t offer any on-the-go monitoring features. But at $24.95 per month ($34.95 after we added fall detection) and with no equipment fees and long-term contracts, it’s hard to match Bay Alarm’s offer.
Pro Tip: For active seniors, we recommend the SOS Micro as an affordable alternative. It starts at $29.95 per month, but the wrist-worn medical alert button costs $149 upfront. That said, check out Bay Alarm Medical’s deals. It’s always one of the systems they offer at a discount, sometimes up to 50 percent off.
| Bay Alarm Medical Equipment | Monitoring Price |
|---|---|
| SOS Home | $24.95 Per Month |
| SOS All-In-One | $34.95 Per Month |
| SOS Micro | $29.95 Per Month |
| SOS Smartwatch | $39.95 Per Month |
Bay Alarm Medical Equipment
The thing is, Bay Alarm doesn’t just offer low prices. The company packs a ton of features into its equipment and plans. A great example of this is the new caregiver tracking app, available with both the SOS Mobile and SOS All-in-One systems. It lets caregivers keep up with their loved ones’ locations – with the loved ones’ permission, of course. And unlike a lot of other providers, Bay Alarm provides this service at absolutely no charge.
Another bonus is there are no hidden fees. For example, you won’t be charged for activation or initiation. Sure, there are shipping costs. But you only have to pay this once to receive your equipment, and some packages don’t even include it in the costs.
Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch Digital Face
We also think Bay Alarm Medical is a great choice for aging spouses, since monitoring for a second person is free for all at-home systems. That will save you around $30 per month, and the only thing you need to get started is a second medical alert button or pendant. That’s a $30 one-time fee.
Have we piqued your interest? Find out more in our Bay Alarm Medical review.
FYI: Bay Alarm Medical offers at-home systems that connect to landline or cellular signals. The latter is more reliable, but it’s also more expensive by about $5 to $10 per month depending on the system. We recommend investing in a cellular system if possible.
| Connectivity | Landline and cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 32 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
Like Bay Alarm, Medical Guardian offers two types of systems – one that’s home-based and one for seniors on the go. The home-based system is the cheaper of the two. Affordability isn’t always about raw numbers, though. As we note in our full Medical Guardian review, the company’s mobile systems – the MGMini, MGMini Lite, and MGMove offer great value. Plus, Bay Alarm offers discounted monthly monitoring plans for customers willing to sign up for a full year of service. Cut costs at the margins, and it’s easier to justify more expensive equipment.
Medical Guardian’s most popular system is the MGClassic. Makes sense, right? Why else would they call it Classic? One reason for this system’s popularity; no equipment fees. You pay a monthly monitoring fee of $36.95, but you can sign up with no money down. Sign a one-year contract, and that number drops to just $30.20 a month, though that means paying $362.45 up front.
The MGClassic includes a base station with a 1,400 foot range. That’s enough to cover you even if you happen to be out back in the garden. In addition, you have the choice between a pendant and a wristband button. Note that the MGClassic requires a landline. That can be an advantage for rural seniors who don’t have reliable cell coverage. Landlines have become increasingly rare, though, even among older adults. if you live in a rural area that doesn’t get cell coverage, but even among older adults, landlines are becoming rare.
If that’s your situation, you might want to consider the MGClassic’s more sophisticated cousin, the MGHome. The MGHome utilizes a cellular connection, the most reliable option. You pay a bit more – $38.95 a month – for this system, but in addition to a cellular connection, you get other advanced features not available with the Classic. For instance, the MGHome includes voice assist technology and a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours. These extra features cost you extra money. More features always mean higher costs, but you won’t find the same options at a lower price point than Medical Guardian. Plus, as with the Classic system, you can get a discount on this price by signing up for a year of monitoring.
MGClassic from Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian also offers on-the-go medical alert systems at a reasonable price. These start at $39.95 per month and include a variety of features, such as location tracking with GPS, clear-2-way communication and cellular backup. However, they do come with equipment fees. The MGMini Lite and the MGMini both cost $149.95 each. The MGMove costs $199.95.
Here’s a breakdown of the three’s features:
| Medical Guardian Equipment | Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MG Move |
|
$199.95 |
| MGMini Lite |
|
$149.95 |
| MG |
|
$149.95 |
Whichever monitoring package you choose, you can count on Medical Guardian to be upfront about its pricing. The company doesn’t charge any hidden fees. What we paid for on the website was exactly what we got. You don’t get honesty and solid customer service from a lot of companies these days, but it’s nice to know that when it comes to something as essential as medical alert protection, there are still a few companies out there who care about customers.
| Connectivity | Landline, cellular, and Wi-fi |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 32 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | None |
Unlike Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian, Lively doesn’t offer any free equipment packages. No matter which system you choose – the traditional button system, the smartphone system, or the hybrid system – you have to purchase the devices. However, Lively’s monthly fees are $10 cheaper than industry averages. Even its premium plan costs less than Medical Guardian’s monthly monitoring and it includes access to care advocates and on-call nurses.
Generally speaking, we don’t recommend Lively’s in-home system since you aren’t getting a free base station. In that sense Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian are the better deals. But the smartphone and hybrid systems include cell phones, and even though you have to pay for them, they’re cheaper than most phones on the market.
FYI: Lively has an app on iPhones and Alexa devices that allows users to access Lively’s professional monitoring centers. The app also helps caregivers provide premium care to Lively customers.
Lively offered us a choice of two phones. The Jitterbug Smart3, a Samsung Android smartphone, costs $149.99. The Jitterbug Flip2, on the other hand, is a folding cellular phone that costs $99.99. Again, you have to pay for these devices, but you’re getting a cell phone. These cell phones aren’t stripped-down devices, either. You get everything you’d get in a normal smartphone, plus some special adaptations and features that are aimed specifically at older adults. Not bad for the price.
As for Lively’s monthly monitoring plans, they’re actually cheaper than other medical alert systems. Basic monitoring is $24.99 a month, while premium plans cost $34.99 a month. Add fall detection to either plan for an additional $9.99 per month. Plus, the company runs frequent sales on its monitoring plans. Right now, for example, new customers get five dollars off either plan for the first three months.
It also never hurts to ask sales representatives about any special promotions or discounts that you could tap into. If you’re an AARP member, for example, you can save $5 per month on select health and safety packages with the purchase of a Lively Wearable2 or a Lively Mobile Plus. And, with their Refer-a-Friend program, you can get a $25 credit any time someone you refer activates a Lively phone or device.
Lively Watch
That said, Lively does come with some extra costs. First, you can expect to pay a $35 activation fee if you purchase either phone. (The Lively Mobile Plus and Lively Wearable2 do not require activation fees.) In addition, you will be paying an additional monthly fee for talk, text, and data. However, this cost is something that you would pay anyway with any other cellular service.
We will say, though, that Lively’s monthly packages are really affordable, especially when you consider that you’re getting phone service and medical monitoring in one device. Lively offers two Health & Safety packages. The Basic package, costing $24.99 per month, includes access to professional monitoring and a caregivers app. The Preferred package costs a little more, $34.99 per month, but features a telehealth service. Fall detection can also be added to either Health & Safety Package for $9.99 per month with the Lively Mobile Plus or Lively Wearable only.
FYI: One thing to be aware of is that the Lively Wearable has been discontinued. However, while you can no longer purchase this device on the Lively website, you can still find it in some retail stores.
Read more about these affordable and comprehensive on-the-go systems in our in-depth Lively analysis.
| Connectivity | Cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | Included in some plans |
| In-home Range | N/A |
| Battery Backup | Up to 82 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
MobileHelp doesn’t offer as many features as the other companies on this list, but there’s no doubt that it offers solid, dependable medical alert coverage at an affordable price. Monthly fees are low, and MobileHelp provides equipment at no charge. Plus, the company offers two additional perks. You can get on-the-go for couples at one basic price, or you can purchase a low-cost hybrid system that provides at-home and on-the-go coverage. Finally, every package comes with MobileHelp Connect at no extra charge. It’s a nifty online portal that manages medication reminders, checks activity levels, and has several other tools that help caregivers stay involved in the user’s health.
MobileHelp offers seven – count em, seven – at-home and on-the-go systems. With that many to choose from, you’re bound to find one that suits your particular needs. In terms of affordability, MobileHelp charges no upfront costs whatsoever. You choose a monitoring plan and equipment is absolutely free. No saving up to afford base stations and lanyards. Of course, the company does charge if you need additional equipment. And it’s worth pointing out that MobileHelp charges a one-time connection fee of $49.95. So maybe equipment isn’t as free as it seems.
We should point out, though, that the company’s devices are clunky. The MobileHelp Solo, for instance, does a good job of advertising that you’re using a medical alert system. Still, it contains all of the important safety features we expect from such systems, like two-way talk, location detection, and optional fall detection for a $37.95 monthly fee. (Most mobile devices come with monthly fees between $37 and $40.)
In fact, MobileHelp’s monitoring is as affordable as any other system on the market. MobileHelp’s cheapest system, the MobileHelp Classic costs $19.95 a month, while the MobileHelp WiredHome plan costs $24.95. Affordable in this case doesn’t mean cut-rate. These are highly-rated at-home systems with excellent ranges of 1,300 to 1,400 feet.
MobileHelp MD 4 on Charger
Plus, MobileHelp goes the extra mile when it comes to bonus rewards. The Mobile Duo, for example, covers a user and spouse for $49.95 a month, a savings of $5 per month over investing in two separate plans. Or, you can sign up for the MobileHelp Duo, which includes both the Solo system and an in-home base unit. Here again, you get the best of two worlds for one low price of $41.95 per month.
FYI: You can save more money with MobileHelp’s referral program. If you refer someone to MobileHelp, they reward both you and your friend with a $200 service discount after the friend purchases a system and remains enrolled for at least 60 days.
| Connectivity | Landline and cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 48 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s easy to dismiss medical alert systems as non-essential. However, medical alert systems save lives. They can alert emergency personnel immediately if you suffer from:
Speaking of falls, what happens if you take a tumble and can’t communicate? If you have fall detection on your device, an alert is sent to a call center regardless of whether you respond, and they will dispatch emergency services. We can’t know when an adverse medical event will happen, but if it does, having a medical alert system increases your survival odds significantly.
FYI: The length of time, or “lie time,” that someone who has fallen and is unable to get up on their own is significant. Researchers determined that a lie time of 72 hours or more increases mortality by 67 percent.1
After evaluating most systems out there, we can say with confidence that not all medical alert systems are priced the same. Some providers offer pricier-than-average plans, and we have steered clear of them in our discussion. But others offer economical plans. It is also important to point out that any one particular system can offer several packages of varying prices.
Before selecting a medical alert system, compare the various features available to determine which offers you the most features at the lowest price. Here are some things to look for when selecting an affordable alert system.
Affordable medical alert system providers offer 24/7 emergency response. This feature is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. After all, what good would an alert system be if the monitoring center closed at dinnertime? However, not all monitoring centers and emergency personnel are created equal. Look for a TMA Five Diamond certified monitoring center for the best service for you or your loved one.
“Cheap” and “low-quality” often go hand in hand — but not in the world of alert systems. The market abounds with high-quality, affordable systems that deliver reliable peace of mind for seniors. With that said, no system is perfect. That’s why some providers now offer a lifetime warranty. With this feature, you’ll get a free replacement should your alert system malfunction. Most warranties cover only normal wear and tear and exclude devices that are lost or stolen.
Get 24/7 monitoring from well-trained agents without breaking the bank. That’s the promise of many alert system providers. This, of course, is a good thing! Most aging adults live on a fixed income, so it’s nice to stretch dollars and save where they can. Thankfully, there are several affordable alert systems on the market that offer rock-bottom monitoring fees — some starting at $19.95 per month or less.
No English? No problem. You still have a range of affordable medical alerts to choose from. Multilingual support enables assistance in your mother tongue. Sometimes this means that a monitoring center agent who speaks a language other than English (usually Spanish) is available to provide assistance. More often, providers are outfitting their support departments with a translation service that can accommodate hundreds of languages — from German to Swahili. Chances are you’ll find help in your native language.
A money-back guarantee takes 100 percent of the risk off of your back by essentially allowing you to test their product. It’s not uncommon to find 30-day, money-back guarantees, also known as free trial periods. If you don’t love your alert, just send it back for a refund. Most often these refunds cover equipment and monthly fees, but some providers refund shipping costs, too. Look for this feature to protect your pocketbook and eliminate buyer’s remorse.
Several medical alert providers make it easy and affordable to add free or discounted coverage for your spouse. Most of these offers are for at-home systems, but we have seen one or two for on-the-go systems. It happens all the time that a loved one sees the value and peace of mind that alert systems deliver, and suddenly they desire one of their own. So look for this feature — one that offers seamless integration of a family member into your plan.
Affordable coverage matters. That’s why nationwide coverage is an important feature for seniors who desire low-cost, on-the-go cellular monitoring. Whether travelling across the state or the country, you don’t want to be caught in a dead spot during an emergency. These affordable medical alert companies are constantly expanding their coverage area. From Florida to Minnesota, and California to Maine — look for this feature to get the nationwide coverage you need and deserve.
Is it possible to find a low-cost alert system with no strings attached? You bet it is. No-contract monitoring plans are incredibly popular among seniors on fixed incomes. That’s why it is unusual for providers to require contracts. (Although we do still occasionally see it.) No-contract plans offer minimal commitment, with month-to-month coverage for those who value flexibility. Remember, you’re not married to your alert system. Don’t like it? Try a different system.
Don’t be too surprised if you come across a “free equipment” offer. This feature is commonly advertised by the cheapest alert system providers. Know that providers either rent or sell their equipment. So while an upfront cost may be eliminated with a rental agreement, the equipment isn’t actually free. The cost is often absorbed in the monthly fees. Still, cash-on-hand today is better than cash-on-hand at some future point in time.
Gurley, R J et al. (1996, Jun 27). Persons found in their homes helpless or dead. National Library of Medicine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8637517/
