You Can Trust Our Reviews
Medical alert systems, also known as personal emergency response systems, offer a fast and easy way to get help during an emergency, whether for a medical issue, a fall, a fire, or something else. Broadly, these systems all have a help button that dials up an emergency response center and connects you to a live agent.
The most basic systems use a landline; they consist of a base unit and a portable help button you can wear around the house. But there are cellular options and GPS-based mobile solutions for people on the go, as well as options that automatically send an alarm when they detect a fall. Some services even call you to remind you to take your medications. Read on for the top medical alert systems we’ve tested, followed by everything you need to know about choosing the right one for you.
WellBe Medical Alert Plus
Most Features
Why We Picked It
The WellBe Medical Alert Plus is one of the most feature-rich medical alert systems we’ve reviewed. The package includes a smartwatch with an emergency call button and a smart speaker that provides medication, appointment, and prescription refill reminders (it has an emergency call button as well). Both the smartwatch and the speaker are very quick to get you help when you need it.
Who It’s For
The WellBe system is an excellent choice if you need a medical alert system that does more than connect you to an emergency response agent. The smartwatch, which you can wear in the shower, does almost everything that the speaker does, plus has a built-in heart rate monitor and a pedometer. Caregivers and family members should also appreciate the system’s GPS and Wi-Fi tracking abilities. The watch doesn’t offer fall detection but it does let you make hands-free calls to people in your contact list.
PROS
- Includes multi-function smart speaker and smartwatch
- Fast response times in testing
- GPS tracking
- Mobile app
- Lots of caregiver features
- Home automation capabilities (to come)
CONS
- Pricey
- Lacks fall detection
Aloe Care Health
Best for Air Quality and Temperature Monitoring
Why We Picked It
More than just an emergency response device, the Aloe Care Health system is an in-home system that includes a smart hub with an emergency call button and a call button pendant with a 200-foot range. The hub monitors air quality, motion, and room temperature, plus enables hands-free communications with family members and caregivers. The system is easy to set up and response times were relatively quick in our tests.
Who It’s For
The Aloe Care system is ideal for people who require a hands-free emergency response system that keeps family members and caregivers in the loop about your current status and the environmental conditions in your home. You can request a check-in call from anybody in your Care Circle, while the user-friendly companion app lets you create a health profile that informs emergency responders what medications you use and whether you have any medical issues or allergies.
PROS
- Easy to set up
- Quick response times
- Voice activation
- Excellent caregiver app
- Smart hub monitors air quality, motion, and room temperature
CONS
- No add-on medical services
Bay Alarm Medical In-Home Medical Alert
Best Overall Value
Why We Picked It
Easy installation, fast response times, and a reasonable monthly subscription price earned the Bay Alarm Medical In-Home system our Editors’ Choice award for in-home medical alert systems. You don’t get a lot of extras with this system but it has an oversized help button and comes with a waterproof call button pendant. You can also order it with an optional fall detection pendant and wireless wall buttons that you can place around the house.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a basic in-home medical alert system that can connect you with an emergency response agent within seconds, the Bay Alarm Medical In-Home system is for you. Granted, it lacks many of the features that you get with more expensive systems such as medicine reminders, environmental sensors, and a mobile app, but it performed wonderfully in testing. When you order it, you can even specify whether you use a landline or cell phone.
PROS
- Easy to install.
- Quick response.
- Long-range help pendant.
CONS
- Additional spouse pendant costs extra.
- Small reset button.
LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go GPS Voice-in-Necklace
Longest Battery Life
Why We Picked It
The LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go GPS Voice-in-Necklace earned high marks for its ability to last up to 30 days between battery charges as well as for its fast response times in testing. It uses Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS radios to pinpoint your exact location and offers excellent caregiver options including the LifeFone Location Service, which provides medicine reminders and lets authorized caregivers track your whereabouts on a map.
Who It’s For
The LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go is a smart choice for users that spend a good chunk of time away from home. It offers lots of add-on services from medicine reminders to a daily check-in service in which an agent will call at a specific time each day and dispatch emergency help if you do not respond. It also offers a fall detection option.
PROS
- Fast response times.
- Excellent battery life.
- Uses cellular, Wi-Fi, and GPS technologies.
- Robust optional caregiver features.
CONS
- Extra features can get pricey.
Read Our LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go GPS Voice-in-Necklace Review
Lively Mobile Plus
Fastest Response Times
Why We Picked It
With an average emergency response time of just 15 seconds, the Lively Mobile Plus is one of the fastest mobile medical alert devices we’ve tested. It delivered clean two-way audio in testing and correctly pinpointed my location when I was out on the road. The monthly subscription price is reasonable and we’re fans of the optional Lively Mobile app, too.
Who It’s For
If emergency response time is critical, this is an excellent option. Additionally, the device offers optional fall detection and 24/7 access to doctors and nurses for medical advice and prescription refills. In addition to location tracking, the companion app also lets family members and caregivers monitor changes in your daily activities and receive alerts whenever you press the emergency call button.
PROS
- Reasonably priced
- Fast response times
- Small, lightweight design
- Waterproof
- Excellent mobile app and urgent care services available
Medical Guardian MGMove Smartwatch
Best Watch Overall
Why We Picked It
The Medical Guardian MGMove Smartwatch’s sleek design, fast response times, and robust features all earn it high marks. In addition to an emergency call button, it has a pedometer and a handful of useful apps for messaging, reminders, and local weather conditions. You can wear this watch in the shower and out in the rain, but it doesn’t offer fall detection like the Unaliwear Kanega watch.
Who It’s For
The MGMove Smartwatch is an excellent choice for people who need a mobile medical alert device but don’t want to wear a help button pendant. Aside from offering speedy access to an emergency response agent, it also comes with a useful companion app that enables communications with friends, family, and caregivers in your Support Circle. The app also lets those in your Support Circle track your location and daily step activity.
PROS
- Fast response times in testing
- Counts steps
- Medicine and appointment reminders
- Caregiver app
MobileHelp Classic
Easiest to Read
Why We Picked It
Despite its affordable price, the MobileHelp Classic offers several advanced features including a wearable call button pendant; cellular connectivity; a backup battery that provides up to 30 hours of power; a display panel that shows the date, time, and current room temperature; and a cellular signal strength indicator. It was also very easy to install and got us in contact with emergency responders quickly in testing. The MobileHelp Connect suite (which is accessible via the web or a mobile app) offers medicine reminders, emergency and non-emergency push alerts, and system status alerts.
Who It’s For
Big, colorful backlit buttons make the MobileHelp Classic a smart choice for anyone with failing eyesight. It comes with a help button that you can wear around the house (including in the shower) and you can order a fall detection button if you need one.
PROS
- Quick response times.
- Easy to install.
- Status LCD.
- Large, colorful buttons.
- Medical reminder services available.
- Free web and mobile apps.
CONS
- Can’t dim backlit buttons.
LifeStation In Home No Landline Medical Alert System
Longest Pendant Range
Why We Picked It
We awarded the LifeStation In Home No Landline Medical Alert System high marks for its ability to quickly connect with an emergency response agent and for its long-range wearable help button. The base station, which uses cellular technology and does not require a landline, has a large Emergency Call button with Braille lettering and a backup battery that can power the device for up to 24 hours in the event of an outage.
Who It’s For
With a 600-foot range, the LifeStation’s waterproof pendant call button gives users more mobility than the average in-home pendant button and is particularly useful for people who frequently spend time in their garden or yard. You don’t get extras like a mobile app, caregiver tools, or medicine reminders with this system, but its average emergency response time of 12 seconds makes it one of the quickest systems we’ve tested for getting help.
PROS
- Fast response times
- Excellent pendant range
- Clean two-way audio
CONS
- Pricey
- Lacks add-on caregiver services
- No mobile app
LifeStation Sidekick Smart
Most Traditional Watch Design
Why We Picked It
More than just a stylish medical alert watch, the LifeStation SideKick Smart has GPS and Wi-Fi radios that allow emergency response agents to pinpoint your location. Response times were impressive in testing and two-way audio came through loud and clear. Otherwise, the watch has a built-in pedometer and a heart rate monitor, plus uses a 4G cellular radio to connect you with an agent.
Who It’s For
If you want a mobile medical alert device that looks like a traditional watch, this is a smart choice. It sports a bright, colorful display that is easy to read, offers a convenient emergency call button, and is waterproof. Although medicine reminders, fall detection, and caregiver tools are not available, family members can still monitor your whereabouts using the free and real-time Find My Loved One feature.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Bright, colorful display
- GPS and Wi-Fi radios
- Built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor
CONS
- No fall detection
- Lacks mobile app
Philips Lifeline GoSafe 2
Best for Location Accuracy
Why We Picked It
Many mobile medical alert devices use GPS and Wi-Fi technology to track your location when you press the help button, but the Philips Lifeline GoSafe 2 goes several steps further to help responders find you. You pay a bit more for the GoSafe 2 than comparable mobile devices, but it comes standard with fall detection and delivered fast response times and clean two-way audio in our tests.
Who It’s For
The GoSafe 2 is best for people who live in an area with weak GPS signals. It uses audio beaconing to trigger a loud (123dB) siren in an emergency and employs breadcrumb tracking to lead responders to your location if you can’t provide details of your whereabouts. The main downsides are that Philips does not offer a mobile app or extra services, such as medicine reminders or medical advice.
PROS
- Clean audio quality.
- Good response times.
- Uses multiple locating technologies.
- Price includes fall detection.
CONS
- Pricey.
- No tracking portal or mobile app.
- No extra client services.
UnaliWear Kanega Watch
Best for Fall Detection
Why We Picked It
It’s not the most feature-rich medical alert device available, but the UnaliWear Kanega Watch has Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS radios that enable precise location tracking. Additionally, two-way communication with emergency response agents sounded clean and adequately loud.
Who It’s For
If you’re in the market for a discreet medical alert device with fall detection, this is worth a look. You can call for help with your voice or simply press the built-in help button. You can even change the batteries without removing the watch from your wrist. The Kanega doesn’t offer a mobile app or the caregiver tools that you get with the Medical Guardian MGMove watch but you can use a web portal to enter medicine reminders.
PROS
- Good response times in testing
- Includes fall detection
- Voice control support
- Medicine reminders
CONS
- Pricey subscription plans
- Lacks caregiver tracking app
- Slightly bulky design
Buying Guide: The Best Medical Alert Systems for 2023
What Equipment Do Medical Alert Systems Require?
As mentioned, the most basic medical alert systems use a landline telephone connection and consist of a base unit and a portable help button. They are incredibly easy to install; simply plug the unit into your phone jack and plug your phone into the secondary jack on the unit. Plug in the power cord and wait a few seconds while the system starts up, and when the LED indicator turns green, you are good to go. It’s a good idea (and something providers encourage) to run a test by pressing the help button on the base unit to make sure everything works. When you reach an agent, simply tell them that you are conducting a test. They will verify your name and make sure everything is OK.
The base unit looks somewhat like a speakerphone and actually pulls double duty as one, but its main purpose is to connect you to a live emergency response agent without requiring you to pick up a phone. It likely has an obvious help or emergency button. Other common features are a speaker and an embedded microphone for two-way hands-free communication, an LED status indicator, and a reset button that has several functions.
(Credit: UnaliWear)
On some systems, pressing the reset button completely cancels the call to the response center. On others, pressing it silences the beeping alarm but won’t cancel the call, which means you still have to speak to an agent to tell them that everything is OK. Emergency responders might also use it to let the response center know that help is on-site. Make sure your base unit has a built-in battery backup that allows it to operate in the event of a power outage.
You can wear the portable help button as a pendant necklace or on your wrist like a watch. It is designed for use inside and around the home, although some have GPS technology that helps them track you everywhere else. If you are in the house or your backyard and need assistance, just press the button to initiate a call to the response center. If you can’t get close enough to the base unit to respond to the agent, the agent might try calling people on your contact list before calling 911.
Portable help buttons are almost always waterproof and safe for the shower. Most can communicate with the base unit from distances of up to 1,500 feet. You should test your help pendant by pressing the button from various locations in your house and yard so you know what kind of range to expect.
A fall-detection pendant does everything that a regular help button pendant does, but has built-in sensors that can detect if you take a spill. If it does, it initiates a call to the response center. These devices usually require an additional monthly fee, however.
Should You Choose an In-Home or Mobile Medical Alert System?
In-home systems are ideal for people who rarely leave the house, but if you maintain an active lifestyle, consider a mobile medical alert system. Mobile systems use GPS technology to pinpoint your location and cellular technology to connect you to a response center.
Mobile models are usually a bit larger and heavier than a standard portable help button, but are still small enough to wear comfortably. They contain a help button that initiates a call to the response center, and a speaker and microphone for two-way communication. Rechargeable batteries power most mobile pendants and typically you can pay extra for fall detection sensors.
(Credit: John Delaney)
If you don’t have a landline or simply don’t want to use it for a medical alert system, you can order a base unit with built-in cellular circuitry, but subscriptions for these systems are pricey. You don’t have to subscribe to a cellular service provider, however, because this is just part of your subscription. As with landline systems, cellular systems are very easy to install; just plug them in, wait for the LED to glow green, and conduct a test.
How Medical Alert Systems Work
To call for help, simply press the help button on the base unit or your wearable device. The base unit will automatically dial up your medical alert service provider’s response center. You might hear a series of loud beeps while the unit attempts to connect. After around 20 to 40 seconds, a live agent should answer the call and ask if everything is alright. The base unit acts as a hands-free speakerphone so all you have to do is tell the agent what your situation is and request help. Of course, if you pressed the button on accident, you can explain that to them as well.
If you request help, the agent will call 911 and an emergency responder will dispatch to your address. If you are unable to answer, the agent will start calling the numbers on your contact list, which you usually fill out online or via a mail-in form. If the agent can’t reach anybody on the list, they will then contact 911. Many services request that you include medical information when you fill out the initial contact form, including any existing conditions, medications, physician contacts, and allergies. This information goes into your account and is likely helpful for emergency responders.
Recommended by Our Editors
What Are the Monthly Fees for Medical Alert Systems?
Most medical alert systems offer no-contract monthly subscriptions, but some require a multi-year commitment. A landline-based in-home system can range in price from around $25 up to $35 per month. That price includes everything you need to get up and running in minutes. Cellular in-home subscriptions are a bit more expensive; expect to pay anywhere from $35 to $45 per month. Mobile systems can cost even more per month and might even require a one-time upfront fee. Regardless of the type of system you need, look for a company that offers a discount for committing to a quarterly or annual payment plan.
Most medical alert services won’t charge extra for monitoring a spouse, but in most cases, you have to pay an additional monthly fee for a second help pendant. Some services also offer daily wellness checks in which an agent will call in at a specified time to make sure everything is OK and remind you to take your medications.
What Medical Alert Accessories Do You Need?
If you live in a very large home with lots of backyard real estate, consider a service that offers a long-range pendant. Wireless wall-mounted help buttons are another common accessory that you can place around your home to expand coverage.
Finally, consider using a lockbox accessory that you hang on your outer doorknob. The box has a compartment where you stash a house key and can open with a combination. When help arrives, the response center can give the combination to the emergency responders. That way they can open your door instead of knocking it down.
Hits: 0
