Medical alerts compared by first-year cost
Answer four questions and we'll rank the plans that fit, priced for the whole first year with equipment and fall detection included. No sign-up to see matches.
- First-year cost, all-inMonthly fee times twelve, plus equipment, fees and fall detection if it's needed.
- 12 plans from 4 companiesIn-home, mobile with GPS and smartwatches, with or without a landline.
- Ranked by your answersNever by commission. Every plan shows when we last checked its price.
Who are you looking for help for?
Every plan we compare
First-year cost on monthly billing, cheapest first. The matcher above picks from these based on where help is needed, falls, the landline and what matters most to you.
| Company and plan | Type | Per month | Equipment and fees | First year | First year with fall detection | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home Landline | In-home system, landline | $27.95 | Included | $335.40 | Not offered | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| LifeFone At-Home Landline | In-home system, landline | $29.95 | Included | $359.40 | $419.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| MobileHelp Classic Cellular | In-home system, cellular | $29.95 | Included | $359.40 | $479.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home Cellular | In-home system, cellular | $34.95 | Included | $419.40 | $569.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| LifeFone At-Home Cellular | In-home system, cellular | $34.95 | Included | $419.40 | $479.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| LifeFone VIPx2 | Mobile with GPS | $43.95 | Included | $527.40 | $587.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Medical Guardian MGHome Landline | In-home system, landline | $31.95 | $162.45 | $545.85 | $665.85 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS All-In-One 2 | Mobile with GPS | $34.95 | $149.00 | $568.40 | $688.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Micro | Mobile with GPS | $34.95 | $149.00 | $568.40 | $688.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Medical Guardian MGHome Cellular | In-home system, cellular | $38.95 | $162.45 | $629.85 | $749.85 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch | Smartwatch with GPS | $39.95 | $199.00 | $678.40 | $798.40 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Medical Guardian Guardian Flex | Mobile with GPS | $44.95 | $162.45 | $701.85 | $821.85 | Oct. 13, 2026 |
Prices from each company's own website, at regular prices (not sales). Confirm the final price at checkout.
What fall detection does, and doesn't do
Fall detection uses motion sensors to call for help when your parent falls, even if they can't press the button. It's worth considering if your parent has fallen, worries about falling or lives alone. But it misses some falls, especially slow slides to the floor, it sometimes goes off by mistake, and it only works if the device is worn and charged. The button still matters. See what fall detection can and can't do.
Landline or cellular
An in-home system plugs into a landline or uses a cellular signal; mobile devices and smartwatches use cellular service wherever there's coverage. A landline system is often the cheapest, but if the phone line has moved to an internet or fiber service, check with the company that the alert will work on it and has backup power in an outage.
How we compare medical alerts
We add up what the first year costs: the monthly fee on monthly billing times twelve, the one-time equipment charge and any activation or shipping fee, and fall detection when your parent has fallen or you worry about it. That number is easier to compare than a monthly price with a large device fee on top. We check each price on the company's own website at the start of every month and show the date we last confirmed it.
- Help needed mostly at home: only in-home systems. Away from home too: only mobile systems and smartwatches.
- Landline systems appear only when there's a working landline.
- Each company shows its best-fitting plan, so you see a real choice of companies.
- Order comes from your answers. Commission never moves a plan up or down.
More help
If daily tasks are getting harder too, a few hours of help at home covers what a device can't. Comparing longer-term care? See Medicare's ratings for nursing homes and home health agencies.
Common questions
How much does a medical alert system cost?
Of the 12 plans we compare, the first year costs from $335.40 to $701.85 on monthly billing, with equipment and fees included. Fall detection adds $5 to $10 a month. Annual billing is usually cheaper per month.
Does my parent need a landline?
No. Cellular systems work without one. If your parent still has a working landline, a landline system is often the cheapest option.
Is fall detection worth it?
Fall detection can call for help even when the button isn't pressed, which matters if a fall leaves someone unable to reach it. No device catches every fall, so the button still matters. If your parent has fallen in the past year or you worry about it, we add fall detection to every price.
In-home or mobile?
An in-home system covers the house and yard through a base unit. A mobile system or smartwatch works anywhere with cell service and can share location. Smartwatches need charging every day or two, so we rank them last when simplicity matters most.
Does Medicare pay for a medical alert?
Original Medicare doesn't cover medical alert systems. Some Medicare Advantage plans and state Medicaid programs do, so it's worth asking the plan before you buy.
Why it's free
ParentNextStep is free for families. Medical alert companies may pay us a commission when you buy through our links, and our care partner pays us when you request a call from an advisor through our link. What we suggest comes from your answers, not from what we earn. More about how we're paid.