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With its 1,000-foot range and reliability, we recommend Bay Alarm Medical if you need an at-home system that reaches through your entire house.
Updated February 25, 2026
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With 70+ years in business, Bay Alarm Medical offers an award-winning service you can count on in your times of need. They offer all of the core features we look for like optional fall detection and waterproof help buttons.
The Medical Guardian alert system provides one of the longest ranges in the industry at 1,400 feet which keeps you protected anywhere on your property. They also feature a high-quality mobile app that’s perfect for people with caregivers.
With no equipment or activation fees, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, LifeFone makes it risk-free to try their systems. They also feature a 1,300-foot range, almost as far as Medical Guardian’s industry-leading 1,400-foot range.
Over half of older adults wish to age in place1 That means staying independent for as long as possible, and to do that, most need support in the event of medical emergencies. That’s where high-quality medical alert systems come in.
We particularly tested medical alert systems that offer long-range help buttons. That way, you can continue to enjoy your outdoor hobbies such as gardening or tinkering in the garage without being tied down. We selected four systems in particular that offer wireless ranges of more than 1,000 feet, headed by Bay Alarm Medical. Let’s dig in.
>> Check Out: Best Home Security Systems for Seniors in 2026
| System | Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | LifeFone | MobileHelp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| SecureScore™ | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| At-Home Range | 1,000 Feet | 1,400 Feet | 1,300 Feet | Up to 1,400 Feet |
| Equipment/Activation Fee | $0 Down Options | Starts at $149.95 | $0 Down Options | $0 Down Options |
| Monthly Costs | Starts at $27.95 | Starts at $27.95 | Starts at $24.95 | Starts at $24.95 |
| Read Review | Bay Alarm Medical Review | Medical Guardian Review | MobileHelp Review |
When reliability matters most, Bay Alarm Medical delivers. With over 75 years of trusted service and a solid reputation built on ethical practices, they've earned their spot at the top of our list. All their at-home systems feature an impressive 1,000-foot range, giving you freedom to move around your property while staying protected.
We bought an extra pendant for our Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home system to take advantage of their free spousal monitoring program
Both of Bay Alarm Medical’s at-home systems offer a 1,000 foot range. To put that into perspective, that means the area of the base station’s range is about 72 acres.
Of course, reality is different from theory. Everything from walls to trees impact the range of your medical alert system. Plus, your property is most likely not a perfect circle. Based on our experience, the range of Bay Alarm’s at-home systems is sufficient for most two acre properties.
FYI: If you need more range than an at-home medical alert system can provide, you can always opt for a mobile or smartwatch medical alert system. Those types of systems can work in any area with cellular coverage.
While Bay Alarm Medical’s prices are not the lowest in the industry, they’re competitive. Their systems start at $27.95 per month, and they don’t charge equipment fees for either at-home system. Here’s the current breakdown:
| System | SOS Home | SOS All-In-One 2 | SOS Micro | SOS SmartWatch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Costs | None | $149 | $149 | $199 |
| Extra Alert Button | $40 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 360° Bundle | Not Available | +$20 per Month | +$25 per Month | +$25 per Month |
| Fall Detection | +$10 per Month | +$10 per Month | +$10 per Month | +$10 per Month |
| Cellular Support | +$7 per Month | Included in Base Price | Included in Base Price | Included in Base Price |
| Base Price Per Month | $27.95 | $34.95 | $34.95 | $39.95 |
Despite Bay Alarm Medical’s old age, they’ve kept up with their times and it shows with the quality of their mobile app. It allows a professional caregiver or loved one to check in remotely whenever needed.
They can view the GPS location of a connected device, help manage subscriptions, and monitor the battery life of devices. That last one came in handy for us as our grandparents forget to charge their battery frequently.
| 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 | 15-day |
After testing the MGMove, we saw why people like Medical Guardian products so much. It's packed with features, easy to use, and stylish. Those same aspects translate to their at-home medical alert systems. Even better, they feature the longest range in the industry at 1,400 feet — perfect for larger homes or properties where you need extended coverage.
Here’s a look at the Medical Guardian Home base station that supports a 1,400 foot range
We’ve yet to test an at-home medical alert system with a longer range than Medical Guardian. All of their at-home systems feature a 1,400-foot range — significantly more than most competitors. Sure, MobileHelp’s cellular system matches that 1,400-foot range, but their landline system only has a 600-foot range.
Did You Know? Even though Medical Guardian’s range is only 400 feet longer than Bay Alarm, it covers almost double the area. It provided enough coverage to work anywhere on our five acre property. Learn about more of their differences in our Medical Guardian vs Bay Alarm comparison.
Medical alert systems with the longest range come with a premium price. And that applies directly to Medical Guardian. The monthly price of their at-home systems is among the highest of any provider on this list and they charge an equipment fee for all systems. Here’s an overview of Medical Guardian’s current pricing:
| Medical Alert System | MGHome Landline | MGHome Cellular | MGMini | MGMini Lite | MGMove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment Fee | $149.95 | $149.95 | $149.95 | $149.95 | $199.95 |
| Shipping Fee | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 |
| Additional Pendant | +$2.99 per month | +$2.99 per month | +$2.99 per month | Not Available | Not Available |
| Fall Detection | +$10 per month | +$10 per month | +$10 per month | +$10 per month | +$10 per month |
| Price per Month | Starts at $27.95 | Starts at $34.95 | Starts at $39.95 | Starts at $42.95 | Starts at $38.95 |
>> Read About: Medical Guardian MGMini Review 2026
Medical Guardian’s mobile app felt cluttered and did not provide an intuitive interface
As much as we like Medical Guardian for their advanced features, we’re not big fans of the app. It offers all of the same features as Bay Alarm, which we like. But, we don’t like the interface or layout of the Medical Guardian app. This makes it difficult to put all of their features to use. Plus, the app just feels clunky. All the features are there, though, so it is still useful once you or your loved one learns how to use it.
| Connectivity | Landline, cellular, and Wi-fi |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 36 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | None |
Fall detection is a crucial feature for medical alert systems, but most providers charge a premium for it. LifeFone stands out by offering fall detection for just $5 per month — half the typical industry rate of $10. They also provide customer-friendly policies including a 30-day money-back guarantee and a price lock guarantee for as long as you stay subscribed.>> Alternate Options: Best Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection
Here we are wearing the LifeFone X mobile medical alert system on our belt
While LifeFone doesn’t stack up against Medical Guardian’s industry leading range, they’re a close second with a 1,300-foot range on all at-home systems. We prefer LifeFone’s 1,300-foot range that’s across the board over MobileHelp’s 1,400-foot range on their mobile system but only a 600-foot range on their landline systems.
Expert's Note: We believe buying a medical alert system should be easy and having different ranges on each at-home system can easily confuse seniors and result in them buying a system that doesn’t work for their needs.
LifeFone offers competitive pricing and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee — longer than most competitors. Bay Alarm provides only a 15-day money-back guarantee, and Medical Guardian doesn’t offer one at all. Here’s an overview of LifeFone’s current pricing:
| LifeFone System | At-Home Landline | At-Home Cellular | VIP X | VIP Active | VIP Flex | Safe Watch Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activation/Equipment Fees | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Fall Detection | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month |
| Protection Plan | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month | +$5 per month |
| Daily Check-In | +$19 per month | +$19 per month | +$19 per month | +$19 per month | +$19 per month | +$19 per month |
| Extra Help Buttons | Starts at $39.95 | Starts at $39.95 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Lock Box | Starts at $29.95 | Starts at $29.95 | Starts at $29.95 | Starts at $29.95 | Starts at $29.95 | Starts at $29.95 |
| Caregiver App | Not Available | Not Available | +$8 per month | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Monthly Subscription | Starts at $24.95 | Starts at $30.95 | Starts at $39.95 | Starts at $37.95 | Starts at $39.95 | Starts at $43.95 |
Pro Tip: With LifeFone’s VIP X mobile medical alert system, you can choose whether you want to connect it through the AT&T or Verizon mobile network. We recommend checking the FCC’s mobile LTE coverage map to find out which network has the best coverage in your area.2
Here’s where our praises for LifeFone come to an end. They only offer a caregiver app with their VIP X mobile medical alert system. Even worse, they charge $8 per month for access to the app. We expect free mobile apps for every medical alert system like most of the industry offers.
| Connectivity | Landline or cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $5/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,300 feet |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
While most providers try to entice you to subscribe to an annual plan with a discounted rate, MobileHelp offers the same price for all plan lengths. Instead, they offer free shipping and a complimentary lockbox with an annual plan. This keeps their month-to-month rates low, making MobileHelp an excellent choice for those who want to avoid a long-term commitment.
We wore our MobileHelp on-the-go pendant everywhere we went so we could get help in case of a medical emergency
The range of MobileHelp’s at-home systems depends on whether you get the cellular or landline version, and it’s a big difference. MobileHelp’s cellular at-home system features a 1,400-foot range whereas the landline system only has a 600-foot range. So, make sure you get the cellular version if you’re looking for a long-range medical alert system.
>> Read More: Medical Guardian vs MobileHelp Comparison
MobileHelp’s cellular and landline systems are priced identically, which is noteworthy since most competitors charge premium rates for cellular connectivity due to the required mobile plan. This pricing strategy positions MobileHelp as one of the most affordable medical alert systems with cellular capability. Here’s an updated look at MobileHelp’s current pricing:
| Medical Alert System | Classic Landline | Classic Cellular | Solo | Micro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Fee | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Shipping Cost | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 |
| Extra Pendant | +$2.99 per month | +$2.99 per month | +$2.99 per month | Not Available |
| Add a MobileHelp Micro | Not Available | +$20 per month | Not Available | +$15 per month |
| Fall Detection | Not Available | +$5.50 per month | +$5.50 per month | +$5.50 per month |
| Base Monthly Rate | $24.95 | $24.95 | $34.95 | $34.95 |
Overall, we like MobileHelp’s caregiver app. It has a basic layout that’s easy to navigate and all the features we look for in a mobile app for medical alert systems. However, they limit the amount of times you can check the GPS coordinates of a device to 30 times per month. After that, you have to pay for additional requests which is a major drawback.
Even with that charge for location checks, we still prefer MobileHelp’s pricing to Life Alert’s pricing. They hide even the base price of their system forcing you to call them to inquire about pricing.
| 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 |
Of course, we prioritized the range of each medical alert system when coming up with this list. We didn’t just trust what each brand advertises, though. Our team bought each system and measured how far away from the base station our help button would work. On top of the range of the system, we also used the following criteria to identify the best options:
Every system we recommend is thoroughly tested by our team of senior care experts who each have years of experience in the industry. We also consult with third-party industry professionals and current customers to verify our findings and ensure our recommendations reflect real-world performance.
The importance of range in a medical alert device depends on your lifestyle and how your medical alert device will be used.
If you are one of the growing number of Americans losing a desire to leave the house, you probably won’t need nationwide coverage or the GPS location tracking feature.3 However, if you frequently spend your time in your yard or garden or have a large home, you will want to find an at-home medical alert system that has the longest range possible. You will likely see ranges as high as 1,400 feet and as low as 300 feet, and everything in between.
Did You Know? A typical city block in Chicago is 660 feet in length. This means that if you lived in Chicago and used an at-home medical alert system with the highest range possible, you could walk nearly two blocks and still be covered with emergency protection.
On-the-go medical alert systems, also called mobile medical alert systems, use cellular signals to communicate. This gives them nationwide coverage with GPS location tracking. Learn more about those options in our list of the best medical alert watches.
If you have a mobile medical alert system, you can freely travel anywhere in the country, and you will have long range protection wherever your chosen brand has network coverage.
Our MobileHelp Solo came with a convenient charging dock we set up on our kitchen counter
With a long enough range, you could unknowingly be left without access to medical assistance if you are outside of the coverage area. You also don’t want your medical alert system’s range to be the reason you don’t go outside as often. Be sure to do your homework before purchasing. A great place to start is with our medical alert system buying guide.
The range of an at-home medical alert system is determined by the signal capability between the base station and the medical alert device itself. You can check the range of your medical alert system by wearing your device and walking directly away from the base station until the device no longer receives a signal.
Once you reach the max range, you can no longer use the help button on your medical alert device as the base station is what connects you to your provider’s monitoring center.
Here we are inspecting the SOS help button on our Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch.
While medical alert providers tell you the range you can expect from your system, that range is in a perfect environment meaning no interruptions for the signal. In the real world, there’s a lot of interruptions in the signal from the walls in your home to pollution in the air. Based on our tests, you can typically expect about 70 to 80 percent of the advertised range in real-world conditions.
At-home medical alert systems with a long range offer a good way to save money over an on-the-go system while still giving you the flexibility to enjoy your property’s outdoor areas. They keep you covered whether out working on your garden or going for a swim in your pool.
Even though Bay Alarm Medical does not offer the longest range in the industry, their strong reputation and easy-to-use caregiver app kept them in our top spot. 1,000 feet of coverage is more than enough for most people. But, if you want a longer range, consider our second pick, Medical Guardian, with its industry-leading 1,400-foot range.
For at-home systems, Medical Guardian offers the longest range at 1,400 feet. However, the real longest range comes from on-the-go systems that work anywhere with cell coverage.
Medical Guardian, the longest range medical alert system, does cost a bit more than the competition. Bay Alarm Medical, our favorite long-range medical alert system, though, offers some of the lowest rates in the industry.
Yes, in most cases, your at-home medical alert system will have a long enough range to reach your front and backyard. We recommend testing the range when you first get your system so you know exactly how far you can go before you’re out of range.
It depends on the type of cellular medical alert system. At-home systems that connect through cellular still have range limitations as your help button connects to monitoring centers using the base station. Cellular on-the-go systems, however, do not have range limitations.
Yes, you should expect to pay a monthly fee when you get a medical alert system. It’s a subscription for monitoring your device, and sometimes for the equipment itself as well.
UCHealth. (2024). Advice for aging in place: how to safely stay in your home as long as possible. https://www.uchealth.org/today/advice-for-aging-in-place-safely-stay-in-your-home-as-long-as-possible/
Federal Communications Commission. (Retrieved 2025). FCC National Broadband Map. https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/
Civic Science. (2025). The Desire To Stay at Home Surpasses Pandemic Levels, Here’s Why. https://civicscience.com/the-desire-to-stay-at-home-surpasses-pandemic-levels-heres-why/
