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Working as a standalone, all-in-one device with accurate fall detection, Bay Alarm Medical earned our top choice.
Updated August 21, 2025
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Our top choice for portable medical alert systems, Bay Alarm Medical brings you 24/7 emergency response, optional GPS tracking, and a battery that lasts 72 hours on one charge. Add on the most accurate fall detection we’ve tested for an extra $10 per month.
Medical Guardian’s packages include reliable AT&T cellular network service for all portable devices. Their all-in-one mobile device is one of the smallest we’ve tested featuring two-way audio, a simple help button, and a battery that lasts five days.
With no equipment fees and fall detection starting at $5.50 per month, MobileHelp offers some of the most affordable mobile medical alert systems on the market. Plus, their prorated refunds means you can take advantage of their annual plan deals risk-free.
Just because you or your loved one needs a medical alert system does not mean you want to be stuck at home all the time. The main reason 77 percent of adults want to age in place is so they can retain their freedom, not be trapped at home.1
That’s why mobile systems are quickly becoming the best medical alert systems. Almost every provider offers one, but they’re not equally reliable. Based on tests we ran, Bay Alarm Medical offers the best mobile medical alert devices. They are reliable and have fall detection. Medical Guardian is a close second with its smartwatch, and MobileHelp comes in third with its affordable systems. Keep reading to learn more.
>> Check Out: Medical Alert Systems 2025 Buying Guide
| System | Bay Alarm Medical | Medical Guardian | MobileHelp | ADT Medical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| SecureScore™ | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Monthly Cost for Mobile System | Starts at $34.95 | Starts at $39.95 | Starts at $34.95 | Starts at $36.99 |
| Equipment / Activation Fees for Mobile Systems | Starts at $149 | Starts at $149.95 | No equipment fees | Starts at $99 |
| Cellular Network | AT&T or Verizon | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T |
| Read Review | Bay Alarm Medical Review | Medical Guardian Review | MobileHelp Review | ADT Medical Review |
Bay Alarm Medical offers the most reliable medical alert systems we’ve tested. They offer above average response times, quality customer support, and features that work consistently, including fall detection. That’s exactly what we look for from mobile systems – reliable protection for when you’re away from home.
Here we are taking a look at the SOS button on our Bay Alarm SOS Smartwatch mobile medical alert system.
Whether you want one of the best medical alert smartwatches or a simple mobile system, Bay Alarm delivers. Both systems offer bundle options that include at-home systems, too.
All of Bay Alarm’s mobile systems include caregiver tracking via an app, which we found intuitive. Google Maps powers the map with location data, which makes it easy to pinpoint the wearer’s location. Just note that location data is updated hourly; during tests, Bay Alarm could only send real-time location data when the SOS button is pressed.
Did You Know? While most mobile medical alert systems offer a cellular connection through one network, Bay Alarm offers the option between Verizon and AT&T. To figure out the best carrier for your area, we recommend using the FCC’s broadband map.2
Unfortunately, Bay Alarm charges an equipment fee for all of their mobile medical alert systems. But, that brings down their monthly price to compete with the most affordable options on this list. Here’s an overview of Bay Alarm Medical’s pricing for their mobile systems:
| System | SOS All-In-One 2 | SOS Micro | SOS SmartWatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Costs | $149 | $149 | $199 |
| 360° Bundle (incl. at-home system) | +$10 per month | +$10 per month | +$10 per month |
| Fall Detection | +$10 per Month | +$10 per Month | +$10 per Month |
| Base Price Per Month | $34.95 | $34.95 | $39.95 |
FYI: If you compare Bay Alarm’s pricing to its closest competitor, Medical Guardian, you’ll find that base prices are typically lower with Bay Alarm. See our Bay Alarm vs Medical Guardian comparison for more.
The Bay Alarm SOS All-In-One 2 can use the same in-home pendants that came with our SOS Home system.
The only thing that’s industry standard about Bay Alarm Medical’s fall detection is their price at $10 per month. Other than that, they stand out as offering one of the best fall detection medical alert systems in the industry. All of their mobile devices have built-in fall detection. You just have to activate it by paying the extra fee.
In testing, we also found it very accurate, scoring an 8 out of 10 in our simulated fall tests. We also found their GPS accurate, which would allow emergency responders to track down the wearer wherever the fall might occur.
| 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 |
Although Medical Guardian does not boast an 80-year history like Bay Alarm Medical does, they offer high-tech features and premium products. They’re not the most affordable, but we still find their products well worth the price and their mobile offerings are no exception. We particularly liked using the MGMove smartwatch with GPS and optional fall detection, Reminders, and Messages apps.
To access the MGMove’s full featureset, we needed to upgrade our subscription.
We tested two Medical Guardian mobile devices. Their dedicated mobile system called the MGMini is the smallest and lightest medical alert system we’ve tested, but it includes two-way audio and GPS, and has provision for fall detection.
The MGMove smartwatch we tested offers top-of-the-line features like messages, step tracking, and even a weather app. It may not be as good as a fitness smartwatch as the Apple Watch, but it has balanced features for a smartwatch that doubles as a medical alert device.
>> Read More: Medical Guardian MGMini Review 2025
Like we mentioned, Medical Guardian’s pricing matches their premium products. They charge slightly higher monthly fees and equipment fees for all of their systems. Here’s a look at the cost of Medical Guardian’s mobile alert systems:
| Medical Alert System | MGMini | MGMini Lite | MGMove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment Fee | $149.95 | $149.95 | $199.95 |
| Shipping Fee | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 |
| Additional Pendant | +$2.99 per month | Not Available | Not Available |
| Fall Detection | +$10 per month | +$10 per month | +$10 per month |
| Price per Month | Starts at $36.95 | Starts at $42.95 | Starts at $38.95 |
FYI: Looking for a low cost alternative to Medical Guardian? Check out our Lively price guide to see how you can get a mobile system for $24.99 per month. Then, read through our Lively review to find out if it’s the right option for you.
The Medical Guardian mobile app helped us manage our MGMove, although we think it could have used a more intuitive interface.
Medical Guardian’s fall detection is among the best in the industry and nearly on par with Bay Alarm. The MGMOve also scored 8 out of 10 in our simulated fall tests, which was no surprise given that it uses the same hardware as the SOS Smartwatch.
That said, the MGMini didn’t perform as well. It detected only seven of our simulated falls.
| 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 |
Both our top picks require equipment fees, so if you’re looking to buy a mobile medical alert system for as little money as possible, take a look at MobileHelp. Although their no-equipment-fee packages are the main reasons MobileHelp is on this list, they have high-quality equipment similar to Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm’s on-the-go systems. Just don’t expect to see a smartwatch yet.
Despite their name, MobileHelp offers fewer options for mobile medical alert systems than Bay Alarm or Medical Guardian. They do not offer smartwatches, but you can choose between the Solo or Micro, two mobile medical alert systems.
After we tested each, we recommend the Micro as it offers everything that the Solo does except as a standalone device in a smaller form factor. Best of all, they both cost the same.
>> Learn About: Medical Guardian vs MobileHelp Comparison
FYI: We prefer the Micro because it’s an all-in-one (pendant and base unit in one) device that has a five-day battery life. With the Solo, we had to let the mobile base unit sit on the charging cradle while at home and wear the pendant instead. The battery life is only 24 hours.
Both of MobileHelp’s medical alert systems cost the same, but if you’re buying a system for two people, the Solo lets you buy an extra pendant that they can use for only an extra $2.99 per month. With the Micro, you’d need to buy a Mobile Duo bundle (two Micro devices) for an extra $15 per month. Here’s how much each system costs and their options:
| Medical Alert System | Solo | Micro |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Fee | Free | Free |
| Shipping Cost | $12.50 | $12.50 |
| Extra Pendant | +$2.99 per month | Not Available |
| Add a MobileHelp Micro | Not Available | +$15 per month |
| Fall Detection | +$5.50 per month | +$5.50 per month |
| Base Monthly Rate | $34.95 | $34.95 |
Did You Know? MobileHelp charges the same monthly rate whether you sign up for a month-to-month or annual plan. The annual plan includes free shipping and a free lockbox, though, which adds up to a $48.38 value.
At just $5.50 per month, there’s no denying that MobileHelp’s fall detection is a good deal. It’s one of the main reasons they made our list of the most affordable medical alert systems.
Based on our tests, though, it’s not as accurate as Bay Alarm or Medical Guardian. They both detected 80 percent of our simulated falls, whereas MobileHelp detected about 70 percent of our simulated falls. That’s still really good for the price.
| 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 |
Since ADT makes our favorite home security system, we expect the same quality from their medical alert system. We could see how they transferred over what they could from their security systems, such as their high quality monitoring for both services. The equipment, however, is dated and lackluster. It’s still offers a good mobile medical alert system, just don’t expect features as advanced as our two top picks.
Similar to MobileHelp, ADT Medical does not offer a smartwatch alert system. They only offer one mobile system, which is most similar to MobileHelp’s Solo system. It has a mobile base unit you carry alongside a wearable help button. We recommend this setup if you’d rather wear a lightweight, button-only pendant instead of an all-in-one unit like the MobileHelp Micro.
>> Read About: Best Medical Alert Systems Worn as Necklaces
ADT does not charge an equipment fee for any of their systems, but they tack on a $99 activation fee. That’s still less than we paid up front for Bay Alarm Medical or Medical Guardian, but most medical alert systems these days no longer require an activation fee.
Here’s a look at the ADT’s price for their mobile medical alert system:
| Medical Alert System | On-The-Go |
|---|---|
| Activation Fee | $99 |
| Wall-Mount Button | +$2.99 per month |
| Additional Pendant | Not Available |
| Fall Detection | +$11 per month |
| Monitoring Fee | Starts at $ 36.99 per month |
Pro Tip: ADT Medical does not automatically apply their discounts. Before you order your system, make sure to look up their latest coupon codes to ensure you get the best deal.
If you opt in for ADT’s fall detection, you get a different pendant with fall detection capabilities. We opted in and found out that you do not get two pendants. Instead of sending a regular pendant and a fall detection pendant, we only go the latter.
We find ADT’s fall detection capabilities to be equivalent to MobileHelp. Their pendant’s a bit bulkier in size, although it weighs about the same. That makes it more difficult to hide, but just as comfortable to wear.
| Connectivity | Landline or Cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $11/month |
| In-home Range | 300 feet or 600 feet, depending on system |
| Battery Backup | Up to 20 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
To give you the most accurate rankings, we order and test every medical alert system we review. We pay full price without any special discounts or deals so we can remain unbiased and give you first-hand information you can count on. During our tests, we assessed the following criteria to find the best mobile medical alert systems:
All of our tests are completed by senior care experts with years of experience. After our own tests, we reach out to other industry experts to learn about their opinions on any product and then interview current customers for further insights.
We opted for the MGHome and MGMove smartwatch so we could stay protected while charging the MGMove.
There are still limitations to mobile medical alert systems even though many providers advertise them as systems that can go anywhere with you. The two biggest are battery life and cellular coverage.
Most mobile medical alert systems include batteries that last longer than 24 hours with some lasting as long as five days. However, some smartwatches can barely last a full day, and most require daily overnight charging.
Mobile alert systems also use a cellular network to send alerts. Most providers tend to use AT&T with some also offering service through Verizon. If you’re in an area without service from the carrier your provider uses, your system will not work.
After unboxing our SOS Smartwatch, we had to bring it to a full charge before activating it.
Mobile medical alert systems are great considering you can use them in your home and while out and about, but there are a few minor drawbacks that can make an at-home system better including:
With those drawbacks in mind, we still generally recommend mobile medical alert systems. They provide more flexibility which means you or your loved one will be more likely to actually use the system and keep it on you at all times.
Before choosing a provider, think about whether you want an all-in-one medical alert button or a smartwatch. That’s the first step to picking a system. After making that decision, figure out which cellular carriers have service in your area then narrow down which providers fit your needs.
We know Bay Alarm Medical can fit your needs since they offer smartwatches and all-in-one medical alert buttons. They also offer AT&T and Verizon connectivity, expanding their coverage beyond most providers.
However, if a feature-rich smartwatch is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with Medical Guardian. Finally, there’s MobileHelp and ADT Medical with MobileHelp offering affordable options and ADT Medical offering highly reliable monitoring.
Yes, mobile medical alert systems tend to cost $10 to $20 more per month than their at-home counterparts. They also tend to require an equipment or activation fee whereas there are plenty of at-home systems that only require a subscription.
The cellular carrier for your mobile medical alert system depends on your specific provider. However, most providers use AT&T with a few also offering systems that connect through Verizon. Very few use the T-Mobile network.
No, most providers include the cost of the cellular plan in your monthly monitoring fee.
Yes, you can use a mobile medical alert system at home just like you can use it when on-the-go. However, you will need to periodically charge the battery which leaves you unprotected until the battery finishes charging. Most providers offer an optional add-on pendant you can use while your main device charges.
In most cases, setting up a mobile medical alert system is easier than an at-home system. All you have to do is charge the device and then activate it according to your provider's instructions, usually involving a quick phone call. After activating the device, we recommend testing it by pressing the help button and wait for a response to ensure it works.
American Association of Retired Persons. (2022). Despite Pandemic, Percentage of Older Adults Who Want to Age in Place Stays Steady. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2021/home-and-community-preferences-survey.html
Federal Communications Commission. (Retrieved 2025). FCC National Broadband Map. https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/
