Best Affordable Medical Alert Systems

We tested Bay Alarm’s SOS Home system, which includes a cellular base unit with a 1,000-foot range, a waterproof help button (available as either a pendant or wristband), and a Vial of Life for storing critical medical information. Monthly fees are $27.95 for landline or $34.95 for cellular service, with optional fall detection available for an extra $10. For older adults who primarily stay at home and need dependable coverage, this system delivers excellent bang for your buck.

During our testing, the equipment was reliable with crisp two-way communication and a stable connection. While it doesn’t include advanced features like activity tracking or health monitoring, it excels at what matters most: providing fast, dependable emergency response. Our monitoring tests showed an average response time of 35 seconds—well below the industry standard of 45 seconds.

At $27.95 per month ($34.95 with fall detection), with no equipment fees or long-term contracts required, Bay Alarm delivers exceptional value for older adults who prioritize home safety.

Bay Alarm Medical Pricing

Note that the prices listed above reflect Bay Alarm’s standard retail prices. The company frequently runs promotions, with equipment discounts of up to 40 percent off, bringing the SOS All-In-One down to approximately $89.

Bay Alarm Medical Equipment

You can only learn so much from the bottom line. What really matters is value and Bay Alarm delivers there, too. They pack a lot of features into their packages that competitors charge for. The mobile app, for instance, lets caregivers make unlimited location requests, with your permission of course, whereas MobileHelp charges an extra fee for over 30 requests in a month.

Bay Alarm charges no hidden, activation, or initiation fees. Some packages require you to pay shipping costs, which is standard across the industry.

Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch Digital Face

If you’re looking to cover a spouse as well, Bay Alarm looks even better. The company provides free spousal coverage for its at-home system. Simply purchase an additional pendant – a one-time fee of $40. This arrangement saves couples $25 to $30 per month on monitoring, adding up to big savings over time.

Have we piqued your interest? Find out more in our Bay Alarm Medical review.

Medical Guardian offers a comprehensive lineup of feature-rich systems. Their MGHome Landline and MGHome Cellular systems offer an industry-best 1,400-foot range for their help buttons. The cellular system even features 4G LTE connectivity for a faster connection.

These high-tech features come with slightly higher equipment costs than Bay Alarm Medical. Most of its systems require equipment fees ranging from $149.95 to $199.95. Monthly monitoring costs range from $27.95 to $46.95, depending on the system and features selected. Fall detection follows industry standards at $10 per month.

MGClassic from Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian also offers on-the-go medical alert systems at competitive prices. The MGMini and MGMini Lite both require equipment fees starting at $149.95. The MGMove costs an extra $50, but for that price you get a smartwatch with advanced health tracking features. Monthly monitoring for mobile systems ranges from $39.95 to $46.95. Each monitoring plan comes with GPS location tracking, two-way communication, and cellular backup. Here’s a breakdown of the systems’ features:

Medical Guardian Equipment Breakdown

All of Medical Guardian’s pricing is what you’ll actually pay. They’re upfront about their prices and never charge hidden fees. You’ll only get charged extra if you purchase their add-ons. They also charge a shipping fee unless you opt for an annual subscription.

If you’re in the market for an in-home system, we’d recommend either Bay Alarm or Medical Guardian over Lively. Both companies offer in-home equipment for free. Even if you purchase a traditional button system, Lively’s going to charge you. On the other hand, Lively’s monthly monitoring plans are $10 better than the industry average, and if you invest in a mobile, on-the-go system, you’re getting a cell phone for your money.

Lively offers two phone options – the Jitterbug Smart4 and the Jitterbug Flip2. The Smart3 is an Android-based device costing $119.99, significantly less than typical smartphones. The Flip2 is a traditional flip phone that’s even more affordable at $79.99. Since you pay upfront for the phones, you keep the phones if you cancel your subscription.

After picking our phone, we chose between two monitoring plans. The Basic package ($24.99 per month) features professional monitoring and a caregiver app so friends and family can track your location. The Preferred package costs more ($34.99 per month), but includes telehealth services.

Note that Lively charges a $35 activation fee when you sign up for service. That’s a little unusual. The company offers lots of deals and discounts, though, so price usually averages out. 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

On top of the activation fee, you’ll also need a phone plan with any Jitterbug device. It comes with limited talk and text for free. Unlimited costs $5 per month. If you opt for the Smart4, you’ll also need to consider data costs. 1 GB per month is free, 5 GB costs $5 per month, 10 GB costs $15 per month, and unlimited costs $30 per month.

Read more about these affordable and comprehensive on-the-go systems in our in-depth Lively analysis.

MobileHelp makes things simple. The company offers one home unit, one mobile unit, or you can combine the two in a Home Duo Bundle. No matter what you choose, standard equipment is 100 percent free. You only pay for monitoring and any extra devices you might want.

As for monthly monitoring, MobileHelp offers some of the most affordable plans in the industry. 24/7 emergency monitoring starts at $24.95 for their Classic systems. Mobile system monitoring remains competitive at $34.95 per month. Plus, you can add a second person to your plan for $5 more per month – ideal for couples looking to save money.

Of course, the downside to MobileHelp is that you don’t get a lot of choice. Systems come with all the necessary safety features, from two-way talk and location detection to optional fall detection. In addition, every device relies on cellular communication, so you never have to worry that you’ll be at risk because your Wi-Fi went out. If you’re looking for a smart watch option, though, or a smartphone-based service, you’re going to be disappointed. If you want genuine protection at a low price, though, MobileHelp may be exactly what you’re looking for.

MobileHelp MD 4 on Charger

When it comes to bonus rewards, MobileHelp goes the extra mile. The Duo system, for example, covers a main user and spouse for $44.95 a month, saving $4.95 per month compared to two separate plans. If you both need on-the-go coverage, the MobileHelp Duo plan only costs $49.95.