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From base stations and buttons that use a landline to pendant fall detectors to smartwatches you can bring anywhere, there are many different options to consider when choosing a medical alert system. We’ve been testing medical alert systems for more than 10 years, and we go much deeper than just looking at a list of features. We assess ease of use and decode pricing, including up-front costs, subscription fees, and contract requirements. Most important, though, is how quickly you or your loved one can get help when it’s needed. You can bet we test that, too, and can tell you whether the wait is measured in seconds or minutes. With fast response times and versatile devices, the WellBe Medical Alert Plus is the best medical alert system we’ve tested, but our list below includes a range of strong alternatives for all needs and budgets.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Overall
WellBe Medical Alert Plus
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$44.95
Fall Detection
N/A
Connectivity
Cellular
Battery Life
48 hours speaker; 24 hours watch
Rated Pendant Range
N/A
Learn More
Best Indoor Environment Monitoring
Aloe Care Health
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$29.99
Fall Detection
Additional Cost
Connectivity
Base Station, Cellular
Battery Life
3 years
Rated Pendant Range
200 feet
Learn More
Best Basic In-Home System
Bay Alarm Medical In-Home Medical Alert
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$19.95
Fall Detection
$9.95
Connectivity
Base Station
Battery Life
36 hours
Rated Pendant Range
400 feet
Fastest Response Times
Lively Mobile Plus
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$24.99
Fall Detection
$5
Connectivity
Cellular
Battery Life
80 hours
Rated Pendant Range
N/A
Learn More
Best Watch Overall
Medical Guardian MGMove Smartwatch
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 HandsFree Health WellBe smartwatch.
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.
Price Per Month
$39.95
Fall Detection
N/A
Connectivity
Cellular
Battery Life
24 hours
Rated Pendant Range
N/A
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Easiest to Read
MobileHelp Classic
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$29.95
Fall Detection
$10
Connectivity
Base Station
Battery Life
30 hours
Rated Pendant Range
200 feet
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Most Stylish Design
WellCare Today Samsung Galaxy 4 LTE Smartwatch With HealthAssist
This versatile medical alert device is based on the Editors’ Choice-winning Samsung Galaxy Watch4 smartwatch, but the real star here is WellCare Today’s HealthAssist software. Besides connecting you with an emergency response agent when you fall or otherwise need help, it monitors vital health statistics and reports real-time data to your doctor. It also offers numerous caregiver features including medicine and appointment reminders, messaging, and hands-free two-way calling.
The WellCare Today Samsung Galaxy 4 LTE Smartwatch With HealthAssist is a top choice if you’re in search of a mobile medical alert device that doesn’t look like one. Its stylish design and robust feature set make it an excellent alternative to a mobile medical alert device that you attach to your belt or wear around your neck.
Price Per Month
Starting at $34.95
Fall Detection
Included in subscription
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, Cellular
Battery Life
40 hours
Rated Pendant Range
N/A
Longest Pendant Range
LifeStation In Home No Landline Medical Alert System
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$32.95
Fall Detection
$9.95
Connectivity
Base Station, Cellular
Battery Life
N/A
Rated Pendant Range
600 feet
Largest Watch Display
LifeStation Sidekick Smart
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.
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.
Price Per Month
$43.95
Fall Detection
N/A
Connectivity
Cellular
Battery Life
24 hours
Rated Pendant Range
N/A
Learn More
Best Affordable Watch With Fall Detection
HandsFree Health WellBe Medical Alert Watch Round
The WellBe Medical Alert Watch Round looks like any other smartwatch and offers fall detection, a heart rate monitor, medicine and appointment reminders, and a pedometer. It supports GPS and cellular connectivity with location tracking and works with an intuitive companion app to let loved ones easily find you.
This is an excellent option if you want a reliable medical alert device with fall detection and a classic round watch design, but don’t want to spend too much. It doesn’t have all of the fitness and health functions of the WellCare Today Samsung Galaxy LTE smartwatch, but it’s less expensive month to month.
Price Per Month
$29.99
Fall Detection
$10
Connectivity
Cellular
Battery Life
32 hours
Buying Guide: The Best Medical Alert Systems for 2024
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.
Base units look somewhat like speakerphones and actually do double duty as one, but their main purpose is to connect you to a live emergency response agent without requiring you to pick up a phone. They likely have 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.
WellBe Medical Alert Plus (Credit: HandsFree Health)
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 portable help buttons as a pendant necklace or on your wrist like a watch. They are 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 contacting 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 you can typically pay extra for fall detection sensors.
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 also 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 be dispatched 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 can be vital during 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 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 so they can open your door instead of knocking it down.