Alert1 vs Life Alert

Date Updated: July 28, 2025

Written by:

Rachel Lustbader

Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.

Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers

Medical alert devices are small, wearable emergency call buttons that connect users to an emergency call center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These devices can help seniors and adults living with disabilities remain independent in their homes and communities while ensuring that help is always close at hand.

The most basic medical alert systems pair a wireless pendant or wrist-worn button with a base unit that connects with a landline. When the medical alert button is pressed within range of the base unit, a call is placed to a medical alert monitoring center and an operator initiates a two-way call with the caller over a speakerphone. Some medical alert systems also offer mobile medical alert systems that work through cellular networks, while many systems have additional safety features, such as automatic fall detection, activity monitoring, location tracking and wellness check services.

Finding the right medical alert system can be difficult — that’s why our team of senior care specialists have carefully researched the dozens of medical alert companies and devices on the market today. In this guide we’re comparing the medical alert systems Alert1 and Life Alert. As you’ll see in this review, we find that Alert1 is a clear winner due to lower costs, no required contract and the availability of fall detection.

Alert1 Overview

Based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Alert1 consistently receives positive reviews from subscribers and caregivers. This medical alert company offers landline and cellular medical alert systems with fall detection and GPS locating, and it has two U.S. call monitoring centers.

Alert1 help buttons are all pendant-style and waterproof for use in the shower. There are no long-term contracts require;, however, in order to get the lowest prices on monthly monitoring, customers must prepay for 12 months of service.

Pros of Alert1:

Company headquarters and emergency call center located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Service can be canceled at any time, for any reason and without penalty
Subscribers can choose who the call center contacts in case of an emergency
No limit on the number of emergency button activation or talk time with emergency operators
Automatic fall detection available
Pendants and wristbands are shower-proof
Two U.S. call centers with service available in 190 languages
A second user in the same home can be added for a discounted price

Cons of Alert1:

Subscribers must sign up for one year of service in order to get the lowest monthly monitoring price and a free PIN-protected lockbox
Limited range of just 400′ from medical alert pendant to base unit for the in-home fall detection system and 600′ for the entry-level, landline-based home system
Cellular-enabled services provided through T-Mobile, which doesn’t offer service in all areas of the United States
No wrist worn option for medical alert button

Life Alert Overview

Life Alert is one of America’s oldest and most recognized medical alert companies. They offer in-home, landline connected devices as well as wireless medical alert buttons that operate using the AT&T cellular network, and all of their call buttons are waterproof.

Life Alert is CSAA-certified and their UL-certified monitoring center answers approximately 2 million calls each year. The emergency pendants are equipped with a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery that’s designed to last up to 7 years.

Pros of Life Alert:

Family-owned medical alert company established in 1987
Medical alert devices can be worn on the wrist or as a pendant
Services and products endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Kopp
All wearable and wall-mounted call devices are waterproof
Offers GPS tracking on cellular-enabled devices
Spouse/roommate coverage available at a discount

Cons of Life Alert:

Pricing and service terms are not posted online by Life Alert — customers must call a sales center for information and speak with a commissioned salesperson
Life Alert doesn’t offer automatic fall detection service — subscribers must be able to activate their medical alert device in order to call for help
Subscribers must sign up for a 3-year contract that can only be cancelled if the subscriber passes away, is placed in a nursing facility or needs 24/7 care

Pricing Comparison

Monthly monitoring prices for Life Alert start at $49.95 per month for basic in-home landline based service, which is notably higher than the $19.95 monthly fee charged by Alert1 for its home medical alert system when subscribers pay for 12 months of service in advance. Alert1 subscribers who prefer to pay on a semiannual basis pay $22.95 for basic service and $25.95 when paid quarterly.

The monthly cost of Alert1’s premium package, On-the-Go + Home Fall Detection, is $52.95 when paid annually. By comparison, Life Alert’s most expensive monthly package is $68, and subscribers must pay between $98 and $198 in up-front equipment costs.

Our Pick

Alert1 and Life Alert offer similar emergency call answering services through either an in-home base station activated by a wireless button or a standalone cellular-enabled medical alert button, and both companies have call centers located in the United States. Both also offer GPS locating; however, fall detection is not available through Life Alert.

Life Alert uses the AT&T network for mobile services, while Alert1’s mobile services are provided through T-Mobile, which has a slightly smaller coverage area than AT&T. Before purchasing any medical alert system that uses a cellular connection, customers should verify carrier coverage in their region.

Alert1 and Life Alert are accredited through the Better Business Bureau. It’s worth noting that despite maintaining an A+ BBB rating, more BBB consumer complaints have been filed against Life Alert than against any other U.S.-based medical alert company. Many of these complaints are related to the long contract that is required, difficulties cancelling the service and high-pressure sales tactics.

When choosing between Alert1 and Life Alert, we prefer Alert1 because their prices are much lower than Life Alert and readily available on their company website. We also appreciate that Alert1 offers in-home and mobile devices with integrated fall-detection technology, and subscribers don’t need to sign a three-year contract as they do with Life Alert.

Compare More Medical Alert Systems

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