LifeLine Hands-On Review in 2025

When choosing a medical alert system, is it better to go with an older, established brand or a more modern company using cutting-edge technology? For example, Lifeline was one of the first medical alert system providers in the industry. Has it kept up with the latest advancements or is it behind the times?

To find out, we tested a home system, mobile device, and smartwatch from Lifeline. While their smartwatch didn’t make our list of best medical alert watches, the home and mobile equipment get the basics right. Here’s what we learned.

Trying out the HomeSafe pendant, which comes with optional fall detection.

Expert Examined

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

“For a person who is physically unable to leave their home independently, the need for on-the-go capability is very low. If the person does leave the house, they’ll usually be accompanied by another person, who then assumes some responsibility for their safety. Cases that are this cut and dry are uncommon, as most people enjoy enough functionality to come and go as they please, so I typically steer people toward alert system options that have the versatility to match their lifestyle.” Read more about Christopher Norman →

Lifeline Background

Lifeline’s history dates back to 1972 when gerontologist Andrew Dibner, PhD imagined a device that could request help if an elderly or disabled person fell. Two years later, Dibner invented the personal emergency response system and founded the company Lifeline.

Today, the company is owned by Connect America, a health solution provider. Lifeline has over 2,500 business partners, fields more than three million calls a year, and services 7.5 million subscribers.

Lifeline Pricing and Packages

Lifeline offers five medical alert systems. Like Bay Alarm and most other medical alert system brands, it lets you bundle extra features with your package. Just note that once you start adding it all up, it pushes Lifeline’s pricing higher than some of our favorite medical alert systems like Medical Guardian.

>> Compare: Lifeline Vs. Medical Guardian

There are several add-ons available at checkout, including:

• Key lockbox: The lockbox is controlled by Lifeline and gives first responders access when you need help. It’s included at no extra charge with annual payments. For monthly and semi-annual payments, it’s an extra $2.95 per month.
• Protection plan: For $6.95 per month, you can get a one-time replacement of your main system and up to two buttons due to loss or damage within a 12-month period.
• Professional installation: We were surprised to see this offering with the On the Go and Smartwatch products. It’s a one-time fee of $99.00. We don’t know if someone comes and attaches the watch to your wrist and we didn’t want to find out.
• Fall detection: Lifeline offers fall detection for an extra $15 per month. It’s only available with HomeSafe and On the Go products. This add-on costs around $10 per month from top providers like Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian.

>> Find Out: The Best Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection

Our Experience With Lifeline

We asked for and got one of every type of Lifeline medical alert system available. We tested the HomeSafe cellular system, the On the Go pendant, and the Smartwatch. Here’s how they performed.

Checking the cellular signal on our Lifeline HomeSafe medical alert system.

HomeSafe

We set up our Lifeline HomeSafe in the living room. We made sure to choose a spot with good cellular coverage, using the indicator lights on the base station as reference. The device guided us through setting verbal commands, testing ranges with the pendant, and connecting to the Lifeline Response Center.

Once everything was set up, we tested our fall detection pendant. The device uses accelerometers, barometric sensors, and an algorithm to distinguish between falls and false alarms. We did a simulated fall and were connected to the response center within 30 seconds, which is on par with other medical alert systems.

The pendant is also waterproof, so you can wear it in the bath or shower. We also learned that it’s submersible in waters up to 1 meter deep, but for no more than 30 minutes. That’s better than the LifeStation’s portable devices we tested, which are water resistant but won’t survive underwater.

>> Learn More: The Best Waterproof Medical Alert Systems of 2025

On the Go

Lifeline offers two On the Go devices. We decided to test the Mini version, which you can wear as a pendant or wristband. It was a regrettable decision – our Mini pendant required daily charging, while the larger, standard pendant has a five-day battery life.

On the bright side, the On the Go Mini has fall detection. The feature responded similarly to the HomeSafe unit. We even timed the response from the monitoring center to see how quickly they respond. Here’s a video of how it played out.

One of the most important features of the On the Go device is GPS. More than 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year, and GPS technology can help pinpoint your location if you get lost.2 If you have cellular coverage, you can even speak to the response center using the two-way speaker.

>> Check Out: Best Medical Alert Systems with GPS

Smartwatch

The Lifeline Smartwatch also features GPS. The device is packed with multiple useful features like a heart rate monitor and step tracker. Its waterproof and easy-to-read interface stood out.

The most noticeable feature was the vibration and voice alerts. While testing the response time, the smartwatch vibrated and notified us that an emergency call was being made. It also told us when our battery was low and when it detected a fall. These vibrations can be useful to seniors who are hard of hearing.

Lifeline Vs. the Competition

While Lifeline was one of the first medical alert systems, multiple new companies have entered the market. How does Lifeline compare? Let’s find out.

We found our Lifeline pendant to be larger than competitors like Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian.

Lifeline Vs. Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical has a similar equipment range to Lifeline – home units, mobile pendant, and smartwatch. One major difference is that Bay Alarm Medical’s smartwatch has fall detection as an optional extra. Speaking of add-ons, Bay Alarm Medical’s prices are also cheaper.

For starters, fall detection is only $10 per month. Some of the devices are even cheaper. For example, the home unit has no fee and the mobile pendant is $89.40. Many of the features are identical to Lifeline, but you end up paying less overall.

>> Keep Reading: Bay Alarm Medical 2025 Review  

Lifeline Vs. Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian’s prices are in line with Lifeline. The equipment range is also similar. One of the main differences is the response centers. Both companies are HIPAA compliant, but only Medical Guardian is TMA Five-Diamond certified.

We tested the MGMove and other Medical Guardian devices and found they performed as well as Lifeline. The MGMove smartwatch gained a small advantage with its inclusion of the Reminders app (paid add-on), which we thought can be useful to seniors taking medication.

>> Learn More: Medical Guardian 2025 Review

Our Review Methodology

How We Test

We believe the best way to recommend medical alert systems is by trying them out ourselves. Our team spent months rigorously assessing devices on criteria like equipment range, reliability, and monitoring center response times.

What We Test

Our team considers multiple factors when reviewing medical alert systems. Some other criteria we looked at include:

• Affordability: We compare pricing of similar products to competitors, including add-on costs and any extra fees charged at checkout.
• Product features: Many devices offer fall detection and GPS, but not all of them do. We also try out the apps on smartwatches to see if they’re useful to our overall health.
• Battery life: We charge multiple devices overnight, so we prefer to have a medical alert pendant which has a battery that can last for days.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our team of senior care experts performs all medical alert system tests. They have over 50 years of combined experience in the industry and know exactly what to look for when testing this equipment. We also spoke to specialists in the field and real customers to learn how they use their products.

The Lifeline equipment we tested and the instruction guides which helped us set them up.

Why Choose Lifeline?

After decades in the industry, Lifeline continues to offer reliable medical alert systems. We recommend the HomeSafe and On The Go systems, which include vital features like fall detection. The smartwatch is a nice addition to the lineup, but it falls short compared to other brands.

Lifeline is not the most affordable option around, though. Setup fees are costly, and the fall detection add-on is more expensive than other popular brands. If Lifeline is within your budget and suits your needs, you’ll end up with a medical alert system you can trust in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions