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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 September 23, 2025
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With Bay Alarm Medical, there are no monthly contracts, hidden fees, or extra charges. They have something for everyone’s budget, and you can try them out risk free for 30 days. Choose between in-home, Mobile GPS, and In-Car Medical Alert Systems.
Medical Guardian offers affordable landline, cellular-based, and on-the-go medical monitoring systems. Prices start at just $27.95 per month and come with 24/7 professional monitoring, free self-installation, optional fall detection, and water-resistant buttons.
Lively offers several medical alert systems. The Lively Mobile Medical Alert button is just $79.99 for activation plus the first month’s monitoring plan. Lively’s medical alert system includes cellular monitoring, GPS and fall detection. Most basic medical alert systems do not include all of these features.
A medical alert system can be an amazing tool for older adults. There’s nothing quite like knowing that you’re protected from harm in virtually any situation. But cost is a big consideration, since many seniors live on a fixed income.
With that in mind, we put together a page ranking the most affordable systems out there. We’ve tested and researched every option on this list. We made sure they are dependable, offering a blend of reliable equipment and responsive monitoring.
Right up front, we don’t mind saying that our favorite affordable system is from Bay Medical Alarm. No system is right for everyone, but Bay Medical offers all the best features on the market at a price that won’t break the bank. Is Bay Medical not right for you? Check out some of the other systems on this list from Medical Guardian, Lively, and Mobile Help. In the end, we’re sure one of these will be the right fit.
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.
Let’s ballpark it all, though.
Generally speaking, equipment costs range from free to $200. In-home systems typically cost less, and many of these systems actually provide base units for no cost whatsoever. On the other hand, if you’re willing to pay $200, you usually get a high-tech mobile 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.
In recent years, several companies have begun offering telehealth as another option. Others have expanded their use of AI technology. These days, you can purchase everything from simple virtual assistant add-ons to complex programs that can actually predict medical emergencies. Be careful, though. It’s easy to get caught up in the lure of technology and forget about your bottom line. Any bonus features you invest in should be genuinely useful. Don’t purchase extras you don’t actually need.
Bay Alarm Medical offers their high-quality in-home equipment for free and mobile equipment for a low flat fee. All systems require monitoring, but that’s affordable with prices ranging from $27.95 to $39.95 per month. You can also add a spouse to any plan for free. Despite Bay Alarm’s great prices, they still offer industry-leading services with fast response times.
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 $27.95 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 $27.95 per month ($37.95 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 $34.95 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 | Equipment Price | Monitoring Price |
|---|---|---|
| SOS Home | Free | $27.95 Per Month |
| SOS All-In-One 2 | $149.00 | $34.95 Per Month |
| SOS Micro | $149.00 | $34.95 Per Month |
| SOS Smartwatch | $199.00 | $39.95 Per Month |
Note that the prices listed above reflect Bay Alarm’s everyday retail prices. Right now, however, the company is running a sale, and all equipment is up to 40 percent off, bringing the price of the SOS All-In-One 2 down to $89.40.
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 fees – no activation or initiation charges. Some packages require you pay shipping costs, but that’s 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 couple provides spousal coverage for its at-home system for free. All you have to do is buy an additional pendant – a one-time fee of $40. Then, you save $25 to $30 per month on monitoring, a significant chunk of change over the long haul.
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 1,000 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 32 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 16-day |
Like Bay Alarm, Medical Guardian offers in-home, mobile, and smart watch systems, although all systems require an equipment fee. As we note in our Medical Guardian review, Medical Guardian justifies those fees with some of the most advanced equipment in the industry and options to customize your system to your needs.
If you’re in the market for a home system, Medical Guardian offers two options – the MGHome Landline and the MGHome Cellular. As the names suggest, the primary difference between the two is in how they communicate. Most city dwellers will prefer the cellular system, since it provides the most reliable protection. If you live in a rural area, though, you may need a system that runs through a landline.
In either case, the system includes a base station and your choice of a wristband or pendant help button with a range of up to 1,400 feet. Both packages cost $149.95 up front with monitoring fees that range from $27.95 to $38.95 per month. You can also add fall detection for an extra $10 per month.
MGClassic from Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian also offers on-the-go medical alert systems at a reasonable price. The MGMini and MGMini Lite both cost the same as the MGHome system: $149.95. The MGMove costs and additional $50, but for that price you get a smartwatch. As for monitoring, prices range from $39.95 to $46.95 per month. Each monitoring plan comes with GPS location tracking, two-way talk, and cellular backup. Here’s a breakdown of the three systems’ features:
| Medical Guardian Equipment | Features | Equipment Cost | Monthly Monitoring Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG Move |
|
$199.95 | $42.95 |
| MGMini Lite |
|
$149.95 | $46.95 |
| MGMini |
|
$149.95 | $43.95 |
| MG Home Landline |
|
$149.95 | $31.95 |
| MG Home Cellular |
|
$149.95 | $38.95 |
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.
| Connectivity | Landline, cellular, and Wi-fi |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,300 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 76 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | None |
If you want an in-home system, you’d be better off with Bay Alarm or Medical Guardian than Lively. The thing is, Lively only offers mobile systems. We’re not mad about that, either, since their mobile systems are a good deal with an $80 equipment fee and monitoring that starts at $24.99 per month. Plus, they offer one of the most advanced mobile apps in the industry.
FYI: Lively’s monitoring fee includes 24/7 access to help. You can call them anytime to ask questions about your system or your health. The premium plan extends this help, giving you access to care advocates and on-call nurses..
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 let us choose between two phones – the Jitterbug Smart 3 and the Jitterbug Flip 2. The Smart 3 is an Android-based Samsung device and costs $149.99. That’s not nothing, but it’s well below what you’d pay for the average cell phone. The Flip 2 is a folding cell phone, and it’s even cheaper, at just $99.99. If, at any point, you decide to cancel your Lively plan, you will still have the phones.
Then we chose between two monitoring plans. The Basic package ($24.99 per month) features access to professional monitoring and a caregiver app so friends and family can keep track of your movements. The Preferred package costs a little 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
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 and Wi-Fi |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $9.99 per month |
| In-home Range | N/A |
| Battery Backup | Up to 40 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
MobileHelp is one of the most affordable systems on this list, and there’s a lot to like about both the company’s equipment and its monitoring plans. Monthly fees are low, and equipment is free. Plus, MobileHelp is one of the only companies out there that covers spouses for as little as five dollars a month. You need to know going in that options are limited, but MobileHelp offers great protection at a great price.
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 if you select a Classic Cellular system. And even monitoring for a mobile system is cheaper than Medical Guardian’s cheapest plan. Plus, for just five dollars extra a month, MobileHelp lets you add a second person to your plan – perfect for couples.
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
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 or Cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $5.50/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 30 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | None |
A medical alert system can be a lifesaver – quite literally. The right system can protect you from
In fact, there’s really no limit to the ways medical alert systems can protect you.
We get it: none of us is made of money. If you’ve already retired, your finances may be especially tight. There are so many affordable systems out there these days, though, that there’s really no excuse anymore for going without protection. No system is right for everyone, but we feel reasonably certain that somewhere on this list is a system that meets both your needs and your budget.
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.
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/
