For aging seniors who aren’t ready or interested in living with a caregiver or in an assisted living facility, a medical alert system may be the low-cost solution that lets them remain independent within their own homes. With these systems, seniors are equipped with personal or wall-mounted help buttons that, when pressed, quickly connect them with highly trained call center operators. These operators are then able to assess the situation, whether the senior is ill, feels unsafe or has experienced a fall or other type of emergency, and contact the best emergency service providers or personal contacts to assist with the event.

Thanks to cellular, GPS and motion sensor technologies, medical alert system companies often provide mobile options where seniors can still receive monitoring center protection while traveling outside the home. Some also include advanced fall detection technology that automatically alerts the call center and personal contacts when the user experiences a fall. For monthly rates sometimes starting at less than $30 per month, these services and features provide seniors and their loved ones with invaluable peace of mind.

Easy-to-Read Comparisons

With dozens of companies providing a range of service plans and a variety of valuable add-on features such as extra help buttons, lockboxes so emergency personnel can easily access the person’s home and GPS location tracking, we realize it can be difficult for seniors and their loved ones to find the best plan for the right price. To help you choose the system most suited to your needs, we’ve created side-by-side comparisons of some of the most well-respected and experienced medical alert companies.

Below, we look at MobileHelp and Medical Guardian, two innovative companies in business since 2006. Each offers monthly plans with a variety of in-home and mobile options including a smartwatch-style device that connects users directly with certified, U.S.-based monitoring centers from anywhere in the world.

Side By Side ComparisonMobileHelpMedical Guardian
COSTS
Up-Front Equipment$0 for Other Devices
Shipping Included with Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Plans (Users Must Pay Shipping Fees with Monthly Plans)
$0 - $39.95 per device
Monthly Monitoring$349.95 to Purchase Smartwatch Device
$0 for Other Devices
Shipping Included with Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Plans (Users Must Pay Shipping Fees with Monthly Plans)
$29.95 - $79.95
+$10/Month for Optional Fall Detection Monitoring with All But Mobile and Freedom Guardian Plans
Activation Fee$19.95 - $41.95
+$10/Month for Optional Fall Detection Monitoring with Classic, Solo and Duo Plans
$0
Contract$49.95 for Those Enrolling in Month-to-Month Payments for the Classic Plan
$0 with Free Shipping and Discount on First Bill for Quarterly and Up Payments
Month-to-Month with Prorated Refunds for Prepaid Fees
Optional Monthly Add-On ServicesMedication Reminders: $5 with Classic and Duo PlansWall-Mountable Help Buttons: $2
Voice-Activated Help Buttons: $5
Lockbox: $2 (Included with Annual Plan)
Fall Detection: $10
FEATURES
Water-Resistant Wearable DevicesPendant and WristbandPendant and Wristband
ConnectionCellular (AT&T Network)Landline or Cellular (AT&T Network)
2-Way Voice CommunicationThrough In-Home Base Station, Wearable Personal Help Button Devices or Smartwatch DevicesThrough In-Home Base or Wearable Mobile Device
Range (From In-Home base unit for landline service)Up to 600'Up to 600' for Home Guardian Plan--Up to 1300' for Classic and Family Guardian Plans
Battery life30-Hour Backup for In-Home System
24 Hours for Solo Mobile Device
48 Hours for Smartwatch Device
32-Hour Backup for Classic and Family Guardian Plans
30-Hour Backup for Home Guardian Plan
24 Hours for Mobile Guardian Plan
5 Days for Active Guardian Plan
2 Days for Freedom Guardian Plan
FALL DETECTION, LOCATION and RESPONSE SERVICE
Fall DetectionOptional $10 Monthly Add-on with Classic, Solo and Duo PlansOptional Monthly Add-on with All, but Mobile and Freedom Guardian Plans
GPS LocatorIncluded in Solo Portable Device and SmartwatchIncluded with Mobile, Active and Freedom Guardian Devices
Coverage Away From HomeIncluded with GoSafe DevicesIncluded with Mobile, Active and Freedom Guardian Devices
24/7 USA Call CenterYesYes
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Lockbox: $0
Wall-Mounted Help Button: $2/Month
Lockbox: $2/Month
Wall-Mounted Help Button: $2/Month
Voice Activated Wall Buttons: $5/Month
Lockboxes: $2/Month (Free with Annual Plan)

MobileHelp Overview

Founded in 2006, MobileHelp is one of the few medical alert companies that only uses cellular service and provides competitive, low in-home rates for seniors without landlines. The company works with U.S.-based Rapid Response monitoring centers with over 25 years of experience. Monitoring center employees are pre-screened and receive six-week trainings and certification from the Security Industry Association. MobileHelp reports that operators answer emergency calls within a quick 17 seconds.

Pros of MobileHelp:

  • Base in-home plan uses cellular service so seniors don’t need a landline
  • Low in-home monthly rate
  • Option to add fall detection with all but smartwatch-style device
  • Discounts for quarterly, semiannual and annual plans with Solo mobile device
  • Caregiver Connect app included with all plans provides activity and location monitoring

Cons of MobileHelp:

  • Activation and shipping fees with Classic in-home monthly plan
  • Smart plan users must purchase the smartwatch-style device, making upfront costs more expensive

Medical Guardian Overview

Medical Guardian offers seniors an array of premium features and in-home and mobile plan options. Also founded in 2006, it uses innovative technologies such as motion sensors to offer added levels of protection and activity monitoring within a user’s home. Monitoring center employees undergo a rigorous screening and training program and learn to respond to emergency and non-emergency calls. The center is Five-Diamond Certified, is Factory Mutual Approved and has a triple-redundant backup system to sustain power during area-wide emergencies.

Pros of Medical Guardian:

  • Caregiver app included with Family and Freedom Guardian plans
  • Option to add on
  • Smartwatch has voice-to-text SMS messaging
  • Discounts with annual plans
  • Voice-activated wall buttons available for in the home
  • Motion sensors included with Family Guardian plan provide extra activity tracking in the home

Cons of Medical Guardian:

  • Shipping fees with some plans
  • Higher monthly rates than some competitors
  • Caregiver app not available with in-home, Mobile or Active plans

Pricing Comparison

For seniors willing to pay for more than one month at a time, MobileHelp’s pricing beats Medical Guardian’s for all but its smartwatch-style device plan. While MobileHelp’s base in-home Classic plan requires a $49.95 activation fee, this fee is waived when users pay in quarterly or longer-term bundles. Otherwise, the $19.95 starting cost is well below Medical Guardian’s. Additionally, MobileHelp provides discounts with its Solo and Duo plans when users pay longer term. Each company offers fall detection as an optional $10 add-on with most plans.

One main difference between the two companies is how they price their similar smartwatch-style devices. Because MobileHelp requires users to buy its Smart device for $349.95, its starting costs for that plan are much higher than Medical Guardian’s, which charges a $99 fee plus a $44.95 monthly rate. While MobileHelp still requires users to pay service costs with the watch, its $24.95 monthly rates are significantly lower. For those who would prefer to own their smartwatch-style device or are willing to invest long-term, MobileHelp’s option may still win. It should be noted, however, that unlike Medical Guardian’s smartwatch, MobileHelp’s Smart device does not include texting.

Our Pick

While MobileHelp beats Medical Guardian in most areas in terms of pricing, a clear victor between the two companies is difficult to call and significantly depends on a senior’s unique needs and preferences. For those without a landline, MobileHelp’s Classic in-home option is nearly $15 cheaper per month than Medical Guardian’s comparable in-home cellular plan. For some, those savings may be a deciding factor along with the availability of a caregiver app with all of MobileHelp’s plans. Medical Guardian, however, offers unique add-on features such as in-home motion sensors and voice-activated help buttons that can be life-saving in the event of a true medical or home emergency. Additionally, unlike Medical Guardian, its smartwatch-style device includes convenient voice-to-text messaging.


Compare More Medical Alert Systems

Click on the links below to read about Medical Alert system comparisons.