LifeStation vs ResponseNow

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

For aging seniors and their loved ones, medical alert systems can make a powerful difference in minimizing stress and enhancing peace of mind. As individuals age, falling, medical emergencies and accidents such as burns or fires become an increased risk. For the estimated 25% of seniors who fall each year and for those who experience an injury or illness, immediate access to an emergency alert system is vital to ensure they quickly receive the help they need.

These alert systems equip seniors with wearable wristbands or pendants as well as optional wall-units that connect them to live emergency monitoring centers at the quick press of a button. Some devices also come with automatic fall detection, GPS location tracking and medication reminders. These systems can be linked to landlines for homebound seniors or cellular devices for those who are more mobile.

Choosing a Medical Alert System

With ever-increasing advancements in technology, medical alert systems come with a growing number of pricing and service options. Because wading through the dozens of available market offerings can be a challenge, we’ve created side-by-side, in-depth comparisons of the most reputable medical alert system companies to help you select the best one to meet your needs.

Below, we compare offerings from LifeStation and ResponseNow. These companies each provide reasonably priced landline and mobile-based systems. While both offer a range of service options, we found that LifeStation is best for seniors looking for a more affordable, easy setup and ResponseNow may offer better returns for mobile seniors ready to invest long-term in a system geared toward a more active lifestyle.

LifeStation Overview

Founded in 1977, LifeStation provides 24/7 monitoring services to clients located throughout Canada and the U.S. The company stands out for its personalized system that ensures seniors can connect with a person rather than a machine any time they push a button for an emergency, customer support or a technical issue. Employees are CSAA-certified care specialists who receive six weeks of intensive training and boast the quickest response time in the medical alert field.

With a simple, five-minute setup, free activation for all but one plan and no shipping costs, LifeStation service packages are easy and affordable options. Married couples and roommates can greatly lessen costs by sharing a plan and purchasing an extra, low-priced personal help button. The company’s month-to-month policy means seniors can cancel at any time without penalty.

Pros of LifeStation:

Free shipping with all service plans and zero activation costs for most plans
No long-term contracts and no penalties for canceling
UL-listed, U.S.-based call centers
Impressive 20-second average response time
Available GPS and Wi-Fi location tracking
The option of additional personal and mountable help buttons
Device protection plan included with Select and Supreme packages

Cons of LifeStation:

Customers may incur shipping costs for device returns
Exact pricing can be more complicated and difficult to determine due to multiple tiers offered
$50 activation fee for the standard Mobile with GPS plan
Costlier add-on features than most competitors (lockboxes and wall-mounted buttons)
No price-lock guarantee

ResponseNow Overview

ResponseNow is based in the U.S. and offers AT&T cellular users options for mobile services with a quick 30- to 60-second response time. The company’s management team has over 30 years of industry experience, and a wide network of authorized response agents provide a robust regional presence.

Seniors enrolled with ResponseNow enjoy the option of monthly, quarterly or annual plans that offer perks for longer-term upfront payments, and each plan comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. When making an emergency call, seniors can ask to speak to emergency personnel or a personal emergency contact, such as a family member or neighbor.

Pros of ResponseNow:

Care(+) Protection Plan that provides device coverage even if the user is at fault
Long mobile device 30-day battery life and short three-hour charge time
Price-lock guarantee
Discounts with quarterly and annual plans
Texting service available for loved ones who wish to know a user’s exact location
Free repairs for faulty equipment and complimentary battery replacement

Cons of ResponseNow:

Activation fees charged with mobile plans
Above average cost for mobile device monthly plan
Higher-than-average lockbox and fall detection charges
Month-to-month users must pay an initial device shipping fee
Fall detection unavailable with lower-tier Belle mobile device service plan

Pricing Comparison

As one of the lowest-priced medical alert system offerings on the market, LifeStation beats ResponseNow by a notable margin for ongoing monthly service fees and initial setup costs on all but one plan. The most affordable ResponseNow plan is the discounted annual at-home package, which is still $5 more than LifeStation’s $19.95 monthly at-home plan with a 1,000-foot range that’s double that of ResponseNow.

Most of LifeStation’s plans include free shipping and zero activation costs, and only LifeStation’s standard Mobile with GPS plan’s $50 activation fee costs more than ResponseNow’s $35 mobile plan activation fee. Even in this comparison, however, LifeStation’s monthly prices are lower. Additionally, ResponseNow users must pay for the highest level Belle+ plan if they wish to have both GPS tracking and fall detection, whereas optional fall detection is available with any LifeStation plan.

For active, mobile seniors who value the freedom of a low-hassle, exceptionally long battery life and don’t desire fall detection, ResponseNow’s base mobile package may be the best choice. Those willing to invest long-term in the Belle or Belle+ packages can sign up for an annual plan to save on monthly service and enjoy the lifetime price lock guarantee. Additionally, those who add a ResponseNow Care(+) device protection plan will never have to pay for device repairs or replacement.

Our Pick

Ultimately, LifeStation offers more affordable and flexible options for seniors looking for a reliable medical alert system. ResponseNow’s mobile devices are better suited for active seniors and those who want to take advantage of the company’s lifetime price-lock guarantee.

Compare More Medical Alert Systems

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