The 5 Best Medical Alert Systems of 2025, Tested by Caregivers

Bay Alarm Medical has long been the gold standard among medical alert systems, and its current lineup does not disappoint. Among the company’s home and mobile systems, we found fast response times, conscientious customer support, and a plethora of extra features for caregivers, making it a good option for someone caring for a loved one.

Across their various devices, we found that Bay Alarm Medical’s systems consistently gave us quick access to help. In our tests, the monitoring center answered our calls in an average of 16 seconds. Each distress call also alerted our designated caregivers through the Bay Alarm Medical app. The app also allowed us to track the location of our mobile systems when they were used outside the home. The majority of caregivers we consulted say that among our top picks, they recommend Bay Alarm Medical to people caring for loved ones who cannot be there in person.

We were pleased with the help buttons’ water resistance, which allowed us to take them into the shower without damaging them. Since the shower is a frequent site of falls, the feature would come in handy for many users, especially for users that live alone and have mobility issues. The automatic fall detection also worked well across Bay Alarm Medical’s systems. We were particularly impressed by the SOS Smartwatch’s fall detection, which detected 15 of 20 test falls.

Bay Alarm Medical starts at $27.95 per month for the in-home systems and $34.95 for the cellular and mobile systems. That puts the company’s prices at slightly below average. Here are the five main packages:

You can add fall detection to any of those packages, except SOS Home Landline, for $10 per month. For the mobile systems, you can also bundle in-home cellular equipment for an additional $20 to $25 per month with the 360° bundles plans (no additional equipment fee). That’s cheaper than buying an SOS Home Cellular system separately. For instance, the SOS Smartwatch 360° bundle (SOS Smartwatch + Home Cellular) costs $64.95 per month. Getting those two systems separately would cost you $74.90 per month.

It’s also worth noting that we didn’t have to sign a long-term contract with Bay Alarm. After testing our systems, we shipped our devices back and called the company to cancel our service. To learn more, see our Bay Alarm Medical pricing guide.

>> Read More: SOS Micro Review

The one downside of Bay Alarm Medical is the extra costs for some bonus features. Even though fall detection is built into most of Bay Alarm Medical’s devices, for example, we had to pay an extra $10 per month to activate it, the same cost as Medical Guardian.

We also appreciated that Bay Alarm Medical includes free access to a caregiver app, through which loved ones can keep track of a device’s location and usage. However, the app doesn’t have the communication features of other caregiving apps we tested, such as that from Medical Guardian. That’s why Medical Guardian may be an even better option for caregivers than Bay Alarm Medical.

>>Read more: SOS All-In-One 2 Review

During our tests of Medical Guardian’s five systems, the company’s response agents answered our test calls faster than any other company. Their prices may be higher than the competition’s, but it may be worth the entry cost.

>> Read more: MGMove Watch Review

No matter which system we tested, Medical Guardian gave us nearly instantaneous access to help. In our tests, our distress calls were answered in an average of eight seconds, which gave Medical Guardian the fastest response times.

Medical Guardian’s fall detection was slightly more accurate than Bay Alarm. It detected 18 of our 20 test falls. That’s why we recommend Medical Guardian more to seniors who are at higher risk of accidental falls. Most of the senior care experts we consulted also agreed with that recommendation.

Another unique feature of Medical Guardian is the MyMedicalGuardian app. Many companies, such as ADT, now offer companion apps with their medical alert systems, but MyMedicalGuardian is by far the best. With the app, the company notifies caregivers when a loved one’s system sends a distress call.

For mobile systems, caregivers can also track the system in real time. With the MGMove watch, we could even use the app to send messages and reminders directly to the watch—something we haven’t seen with any other medical alert system.

To learn more about our experience with the MyMedicalGuardian App, read our MGMini review and MGMini Lite review.

One downside of Medical Guardian is its high costs. The systems start at $27.95 per month for the MGHome Landline or $34.95 for the MGCellular. However, these prices are only available if you pay in one lump sum for the next 12 months. Monthly costs are a bit higher. For something slightly more affordable, we recommend checking out MobileHelp, which offers in-home systems for $24.95 per month.

>>Read more: MobileHelp Micro Review

None of Medical Guardian’s systems require long-term contracts. When we finished testing each system, we returned our equipment, stopped making monthly payments, and received a prorated refund for the remainder of the month.

To learn more about pricing, read our guide to Medical Guardian costs.

Apart from the higher-than-average costs, Medical Guardian also charges you additional monthly fees for accessories. Many medical alert companies, like MobileHelp, include a free lockbox if you sign up for an annual package. A lockbox allows first responders to enter your home without breaking the door. Medical Guardian, however, charges $2.99 per month for a lockbox, even with a yearly payment.

Widely known for its home security systems, ADT also offers medical alert systems that can keep users safe both in and outside their homes. You won’t find much groundbreaking technology here, but ADT medical alerts deliver exceptional performance with durable equipment and speedy emergency response times.

In our 10 test calls with ADT devices, the company’s response agents answered in an average of 14 seconds. That gave ADT the third-fastest response time on this list, surpassed by only Medical Guardian and Lively.

The buttons worked even when we made calls from the shower. Fall detection on our ADT systems also worked well, detecting 14 out of our 20 test falls. If you’re worried about your loved one slipping in the shower, you’ll appreciate ADT’s fall detection capabilities.

The GPS capabilities of our On-the-Go system also impressed us. When we made a test call from a local train station, the response agents reported our exact location down to the fact that we were standing on the outbound platform.

ADT’s prices fall in the middle of the pack, starting at $26.99 per month for the landline system, with higher pricing for its cellular home and mobile systems. You’ll note its costs are roughly average for a medical alert system.

>> Read more: The Most Affordable Medical Alert Systems

Like the other companies on this list, including Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian, ADT did not lock us in to a long-term contract. When we finished testing, we canceled our service and stopped making monthly payments. However, you can save money by choosing a quarterly or annual contract, although you’ll have to pay your entire cost upfront.

To learn more pricing, read our guide to ADT medical alert costs.

ADT requires a $99.99 activation fee, while companies such as Medical Guardian forgo activation fees completely. We were also disappointed that Medical Alert Basic does not include fall detection as an option.

MobileHelp offers several systems that quickly give you or your loved one access to emergency help. Best of all, they cost as little as $24.95 per month, making it the most affordable option on this list.

>> Read more: The Best GPS Medical Alert Systems

We found consistently solid performance across MobileHelp’s systems. In our test calls, MobileHelp agents answered the call in an average of 26 seconds. That’s longer than the prior two entries on this list, but it’s still better than the 30-second average across the industry. In our opinion, it’s fast enough to keep our loved ones safe.

Another MobileHelp feature that impressed us was the loud volume on its in-home systems. Even when making a test call from multiple rooms away, the Classic system’s speakerphone could handle the call between us and the operators. The Classic system is a good option for someone with hearing impairments, according to our resident audiologists.

MobileHelp’s most significant advantage is its low cost. Its basic in-home system, the Classic Cellular, costs $24.95 a month, while a similar system from Medical Guardian starts at $34.95 a month if you pay annually or $38.95 if you pay monthly.

Like all of the other companies on this list, MobileHelp requires no long-term contracts, although you can choose to pay every quarter or every year. There’s no discount on the subscription for signing up for a long term period, but you will get a free lockbox, normally $2.99 per month, plus free ground shipping. After testing our MobileHelp systems, we returned our devices and canceled our service.

To learn more about pricing, read our guide to MobileHelp costs.

Our main gripe with MobileHelp is its approach to caregiver portals. Other companies, such as Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian, include access to their apps at no extra charge, but MobileHelp charges extra to unlock certain features.

For our contacts to be alerted during an alarm, for example, we had to pay an extra $2.99 per month. That isn’t a huge amount, but it made us feel nickel-and-dimed. If you want caregiver tracking included, MobileHelp isn’t for you.

The Lively Mobile2 combines the portability of a cell phone with the safety features of a personal emergency response system. It’s a completely cellular medical alert system that includes features such as fall detection and a dedicated nurse hotline. There’s also an app, Lively Link, that allows families and caregivers to tune in to a user’s health and safety.

The Lively Mobile2 is a completely cellular medical alert system that includes features such as fall detection and a dedicated nurse hotline. There’s also an app, Lively Link, that allows families and caregivers to tune in to a user’s health and safety.

>> Read more: Jitterbug Smart4 Review

What impressed us most about the Lively Mobile2 was how quickly its agents answered each of our calls. In our 10 test calls, Lively connected us to help in an average of 13 seconds, the second-fastest average on this list, behind Medical Guardian’s eight seconds.

Lively bills the Mobile2 as a truly waterproof device, whereas other mobile systems on this list are simply water-resistant. To test that, we dunked the device into a glass of water. After pulling it out, it made another test call with crystal-clear audio. If you’ve ever dropped your phone in the toilet accidentally, the Mobile2 may be a good option for you.

By logging in to the Lively Link app, loved ones could keep track of our device’s location even when we left the house. They also received notifications each time we made a test call. Lively would be a good option for someone with caregivers who want alerts on their loved one’s locations.

Lively prices start at a mere $24.99 per month with no long-term contracts or cancellation fees.

For an additional $10 a month, the Premium package includes a care advocate who can help you meet your health goals, as well as an on-call nurse who is available for prescriptions and medical advice.

Finally, you can add fall detection to either plan for an additional $9.99 a month, bringing the maximum cost up to $44.98 per month.

To learn more about pricing, read our guide to Lively medical alert costs.

The biggest drawback to the Lively Mobile2 is that it’s a bit large. In our team’s experience providing care to older adults, we’ve found that it’s very difficult to get a loved one to wear any medical alert device, let alone one that’s large and made of plastic. If you’re looking for something a bit smaller, then we’d recommend Medical Guardian’s MGMini.