Lively Senior Phones & Medical Alert Systems Pricing 2025

Lively Devices and Pricing

The Lively phones – the Jitterbug Flip2 and Smart4 – aren’t actual medical alert devices, but you can still sign up for their medical response service. However, you’d need to call them from the phones instead of just pressing a button. Only the Lively Mobile2 is a medical alert device.

Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with each Lively device:

Lively Equipment Pricing

Lively Alert Systems and Packages

Prices only tell half the story. You need to know what you’re getting for your money to tell if it’s a good deal. We tested Lively’s medical alert systems, so we can share exactly what to expect from each of their devices and assess their overall value.

Lively Mobile Phones for Seniors

While we appreciate that Lively makes mobile phones tailored to seniors, a dedicated medical alert device is still better when it comes to receiving emergency medical help.

That’s because Lively’s phones are not waterproof. You can’t take them in the shower, where most medical emergencies occur.2 Still, a Lively phone is a better medical alert device than most other phones on the market.

>> Read About: Lively Jitterbug Phone Costs and Smartphone Pricing 2025

The Jitterbug Flip2

Our subscription to Lively Preferred included access to the Lively Link app we used to track our steps.

The Jitterbug Flip2 is a folding mobile phone made by Samsung. It’s easy to use and has a simple large-print menu and big keypad buttons, leaving room for a red emergency help button at the bottom of the number pad. That button is why we prefer it over the more advanced and expensive Jitterbug Smart4. It allows you to access help without any extra steps.

Of course, it can do a lot more than a traditional medical alert device such as dialing and texting by voice, taking pictures with an 8MP camera, playing Brain Games for mental sharpness, and using it as a reading light with a magnifier.

As long as you opt for the plan with medical alert monitoring, you’ll get unlimited texts and minutes for free. Otherwise, it costs $19.99 per month or $14.99 per month with limited texts and minutes.

Best for: The Jitterbug Flip2 is best for seniors who want a simple phone with a button that acts as a medical alert device.

Jitterbug Smart4

The large buttons for each app make it easy for seniors to navigate the Jitterbug Smart4.

To our surprise, the Jitterbug Smart4 is a capable smartphone. It’s not as powerful as the latest iPhone, but the latest iPhone doesn’t have an “Urgent Response” button. And that’s the type of functionality that can keep you safe.

Requesting help with the Jitterbug Smart4 takes an extra step compared to the Flip2. You need to turn the phone on before you can hit that “Urgent Response” button. We don’t find that a big issue, but if you have dexterity problems, that’s probably not the most ideal during emergencies.

The Jitterbug Smart4 includes unlimited talk and text in their Urgent Response plan. Without an Urgent Response plan, it costs $19.99 per month. All plans also include 1 GB of data for free or you can pay for extra data starting at $5 per month. Unlimited data costs $30 per month.

Best For: The Jitterbug Smart4 is best for seniors who want an easy-to-use smartphone with some medical alert capabilities.

Lively Wearable Alert Systems

When it comes to medical alert capabilities, the Lively Mobile2 is much better than Lively’s phones. It’s easier to use, you can take it everywhere, and it comes with extra safety features like enhanced GPS tracking for emergency responders.

Lively Mobile2

We bought a wristband for our Lively Mobile2 for $7.99 so we could wear it as a watch.

Compared to Lively’s phone options, the Mobile2 offers the easiest way to get medical support. There’s one button on the device. Pressing it immediately connects you with Lively’s Urgent Response team. It’s also the only device that’s waterproof, so we were able to take it with us swimming and in the shower.

We also recommend adding fall detection for $9.99 per month with the Mobile2. We consider it a must-have. After running a few simulated falls, though, we found out that this feature works best when it’s worn as a necklace with the included lanyard.

Best for: The Lively Mobile2 is best for folks who want a dedicated medical alert device that they can take anywhere.

>> Check Out: Best Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection

Lively Services

Special services, like Lively Rides, for instance, help set this brand apart from other cell phone and medical alert providers we’ve tested. Both of Lively’s phones come with three different service plans — basic, preferred, and premium — which include different services and prices.

Since the basic plan for their phones only includes talk and text, we recommend at least the preferred plan. The Lively Mobile2 only offers two plans, both of which include Lively’s medical alert functionality.

Beyond their Urgent Response feature and the Lively Link mobile app, the premium plan includes more advanced care capabilities such as an on-call nurse and care advocates. The on-call nurse feature even allows you to acquire necessary prescriptions. That’s something you should be able to get through your health insurance, though, so we mainly recommend the preferred plan for the phones or the basic plan for the Mobile2.

The Lively Link app allowed us to invite our caretaker and loved ones so they could see our location and receive our alerts.

Here’s a roundup of the special services, their required plan, and the Lively devices they’re available on:

Lively Service Options

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“I had a patient with Parkinson’s disease who would fall frequently and was often in the emergency department. Once she moved into a building with supportive assistive personnel and had a medical alert system, her falls were still frequent, but her device was connected directly to a home health aide. This allowed her to get help within minutes and avoid hospital visits that were not needed, which helped with her care. It reinforced my belief that these systems can provide essential, timely assistance.”

Lively Accessories and Costs

If it’s an accessory that you are looking for, Lively has plenty of those — in fact, they offer more accessories, add-ons, and upgrades than any other brand. So accessorize away, but watch out for the price creep that comes with it!

Here’s a helpful pricing chart of Lively accessories available for each of Lively’s products.

Roundup of Lively Accessories

We know it’s a lot to think about with different devices, service plans, and loads of accessories. To make things easier, decide whether you want a phone with some medical alert capabilities or a dedicated medical alert device.

Then, find out if your health insurance offers similar capabilities to the Premium plan. If so, we recommend the plan that supports Urgent Response. Finally, you can pick out a few accessories based on your budget.

Lively Current Deal

Save 50 percent: Lively’s current deal gives you half off any of their devices. You still need to pay full price for their subscriptions and accessories, though. They used to offer a $5 per month discount on subscriptions for AARP members, but that’s no longer available.

Note that shipping is always free, and you can avoid the activation fee, too, by calling Lively instead of activating your device in-store.

Overall Value of Lively

After activating fall detection on our Lively Mobile2, we started wearing it as a necklace for more accurate detection.

Choosing a Lively alert system can be smart if you’re on a budget. If you or your loved one needs cell phone service anyway, then a Lively phone wouldn’t cost you any extra per month. Mind you, Lively’s lowest advertised rate of $14.99 doesn’t include their Urgent Response feature so it won’t work as a medical alert device. And don’t forget that they charge for equipment, too.

As for the wearable, Lively offers one of the most affordable medical alert systems, starting at $24.99 per month, for an all-in-one device you can take anywhere. It’s a bit disappointing that the equipment isn’t free, unlike Bay Alarm Medical’s pricing structure. That said, LIvely’s equipment fees are lower than Medical Guardian’s prices.

All in all, you could spend slightly less per month with a home-only alternative from Bay Alarm Medical or a similar provider. But for a mobile medical alert system, Lively’s pricing is hard to beat.

>> Learn More: Bay Alarm Medical vs. Medical Guardian 2025

Lively Company Background

Lively began in 2005, founded by a southern California couple already known for revolutionizing mobile communications. Arlene Harris developed game-changing code for pagers, and Martin Cooper is considered the father of the cell phone.3

In founding Lively, the couple intended to showcase Harris’ new code, called SOS, for emergency communications. The first Lively phones with this technology hit the market in 2006. Well designed and built by Samsung, they were well received from the start. Within a few years, Lively added services such as Urgent Care for on-demand medical calls and MedCoach for text-based pill reminders.

Today, Best Buy owns the company and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Lively Vs. The Competition

Lively takes a slightly different approach than Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian, two big-name medical alert companies. Lively really offers only one medical alert device, but that one device is a good deal. Comparable devices from Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian cost $10 to $15 more per month with higher device fees.

With the limited product selection, however, don’t expect to get one of the best medical alert smartwatches like you can with Medical Guardian. Lively’s phones also have some limitations that prevent us from recommending them as medical alert devices such as a lack of water resistance. Lively provides good value, but we prefer the options and quality of products from Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian.

>> Read More: Medical Guardian MGMove Review 2025

Methodology: How We Assessed the Value of Lively

We thoroughly researched the prices and features of every Lively device and plan to fully understand the costs. We also bought Lively’s medical alert device to get hand-on experience so we could really understand its value. During our time testing Lively, we assessed the following criteria:

• Response Time: Fast responses are crucial for medical alert devices so we ran several emergency simulations and timed Lively’s response.
• Durability: We expect medical alert devices to go everywhere with us and that can involve a few drops on concrete floors or dips in a pool. Either way, the device should keep working.
• Wearable Comfort: Whether using the wristband or lanyard, it shouldn’t cause discomfort to wear your medical alert device all day long.
• Price: There are several expenses associated with a Lively device including the device itself, the subscription, accessories, and an activation fee. We looked for ways to reduce these costs as much as possible.

Final Thoughts: Is Lively Right For You?

If you’re currently in the market for a new phone or want an all-in-one mobile medical alert device on a budget, Lively offers good value as a budget option. Don’t expect a 16-second response time like with Bay Alarm Medical, or advanced smartwatch features like Medical Guardian.

That said, Lively offers round-the-clock protection starting at $24.99 per month. Their device fees are low, too, with regular discounts of up to 50 percent off. That makes Lively’s prices some of the lowest in the industry.

Lively FAQs