Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical alert services are designed to offer a sense of security––whether you’re at home or away. On the surface, both of these companies are quite similar. Each of them offers a variety of systems and devices that allow subscribers to obtain help quickly in an emergency. They also offer automatic fall detection, no-contract service agreements, and medical alert watches.
With that said, there are some key differences between Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical. Before you go ahead and purchase a system from one of these companies, you should take a closer look at each of them, ultimately helping you find which one has the right solution for your needs.
Pro Tip: Looking to purchase a medical alert system? Be sure to check out my guide to medical alert devices.
Medical Guardian Overview
Founded in 2006, Medical Guardian is one of the newer players in the world of medical alert systems. In this short time, it has quickly become one of the most popular ways to protect yourself, both in and outside your home. Their Freedom Guardian smartwatch also offers a modern way to stay protected on the go.
With support for over 200 languages, Medical Guardian will monitor your system with compassion and attention, offering support in the event of an emergency. As an added feature, they offer medication reminders and a lockbox.
Extra Help Buttons: In addition to push-activated wall-mounted help buttons, Medical Guardian also offers voice-activated help buttons.
Medical Guardian Systems
| System | Monthly Starting Cost | Connection | For Use | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Guardian | $29.95 | Landline | In-Home | Someone who spends most of their time at home and has a landline. |
| Home Guardian | $34.95 | Cellular | In-Home | Those who spend much of their time at home. |
| Mobile Guardian | $44.95 | Cellular | On-the-Go | A person who wants a mobile medical alert system with GPS. |
| Active Guardian | $44.95 | Cellular, WiFi, and GPS | On-the-Go | A person who wants a mobile medical alert system with fall detection. |
| Freedom Guardian | $44.95 (plus $299.95 one-time equipment cost) | Cellular, WiFi, and GPS | On-the-Go | Someone who wants a discreet mobile medical alert system. |
| Mini Guardian | $39.95 (plus $124.95 one-time equipment cost) | Cellular, WiFi, and GPS | On-the-Go | Those who want a discreet medical alert with the option of fall detection. |
What We Love About Medical Guardian
- Impressive 1,300 feet in-home range
- 24/7 professional monitoring based in the U.S.
- Wide range of systems, both in-home and on-the-go
- Affordable options
- No contracts required
- Caregiver features for non-emergency communication
- Voice-controlled help buttons
- Discounts for annual plans
What We Don’t Love
- Add-ons generally come with monthly charges
- Subscription prices not guaranteed
FYI: To learn more about this company, read my Medical Guardian review.
Bay Alarm Medical Overview
Founded in 1946, Bay Alarm Medical is a leader in the world of medical alert systems. Their professional monitoring centers support over 170 languages, and they are known for their quick and courteous responses to distress calls.
Both in and outside the home, Bay Alarm’s line of medical alert systems provides location tracking, caregiver access, and automatic fall detection––all powered by super-fast 4G LTE service, which is included in your monthly subscription.
FYI: Before contacting emergency responders, Bay Alarm Medical will automatically alert friends, family members, and caregivers, allowing them to help in non-life-threatening situations.
Bay Alarm Medical Systems
| System | Monthly Starting Cost | Connection | For Use | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In The Home | $19.95 | Landline or Cellular | In-Home | Someone who spends most of their time at home. |
| GPS Button | $24.95 (plus $70 one-time equipment charge) | Cellular | On-the-Go | Those who want a mobile medical alert system with the option of fall detection. |
| SOS Smartwatch | $24.95 (plus $179 one-time equipment charge) | Cellular | On-the-Go | Someone who wants a discreet, mobile medical alert system. |
| In-Car Alert | $29.95 | Cellular | In-the-Car | Frequent drivers who already have an in-home medical alert system. |
What We Love About Bay Alarm Medical
- Professional monitoring for as low as $19.95 per month
- Unique in-the-car medical alert system
- Free spouse coverage
- Savings through bundled systems
- No contracts required
- 24/7 professional monitoring based in the U.S.
- Low startup costs
- AARP, AAA, and USAA discounts
What We Don’t Love
- No guarantee on subscription costs
- Monthly fee for full app access
- Less affordable smartwatch
Pro Tip: To learn more about my experience with Bay Alarm Medical, read my hands-on Bay Alarm Medical review.
Bay Alarm Medical vs. Medical Guardian Similarities
Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm are similar in both their response times and the level of protection they offer in their “at home” and away packages. Both companies have proven response rates of less than 45 seconds, and both companies have earned five-diamond certifications from TMA, the highest standard in the world of monitoring centers.
Some other similarities include:
- No long-term contracts required
- No startup costs for most systems
- Fall detection option
- GPS medical alerts
- In-Home landline systems
- Free activation
- Optional wall-mounted help buttons
- Availability of additional help buttons
- Smartwatch medical alert systems
- Caregiver apps for smartphones
- Simple and quick installation
- UL-certified, water-resistant help buttons
Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical Differences
The main differences between Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical come down to the actual devices offered, in addition to their pricing.
With their in-home systems starting as low as $19.95 per month, Bay Alarm Medical has one of the most affordable medical alert systems on the market. Additionally, their mobile medical alert, the GPS button, starts at $24.95 per month. Of course, you’ll still have to pay the $79 fee to purchase the equipment, but after a year of use, this will make up for the costly subscriptions you’d find with other companies. On top of this, Bay Alarm Medical is known for offering discounts through AARP, AAA, and USAA.
Medical Guardian, on the other hand, charges significantly more for similar features. Their landline in-home system starts at $29.95 per month, and their mobile units start at $39.95 per month for the Mini Guardian and $44.95 for the Active Guardian.
Systems & Devices
Medical Guardian offers a medical alert bracelet or a waterproof necklace device. All equipment is UL-certified and their in-home systems have up to 32 hours of battery backup. Help button batteries can last anywhere from three to five years, and your system will notify you when its batteries need replacement. Their in-home systems have an approximate range of 1,300 feet from the base, and they’ll test themselves on a monthly basis to ensure proper function.
Bay Alarm Medical offers equipment that is UL-Certified. Both the necklace and the wrist button are water-resistant, and they have a range of up to 1,000 feet from the base station. Batteries can last up to five years and have at least 32 hours of backup if needed. Similar to those of Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical’s systems perform self-tests on a weekly basis. Bay Alarm does not offer 24-hour technical support.
Emergency Response & Call Centers
Medical Guardian uses cellular service to maintain contact with their Five Diamond Certified call center. It can take staff at the monitoring center anywhere from 30 – 45 seconds to respond to an emergency.
Bay Alarm Medical uses AT&T or T-Mobile cellular service to maintain emergency connectivity with their call center. Their call center is Five Diamond Certified and has a 45-second response time if an alert is received.
Our Favorite
When it comes down to it, there’s no wrong choice between Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian, two of the top medical alert systems. Each of them provides durable equipment, excellent customer service, and a wide range of devices that can protect you both in and out of the home, not to mention that neither company requires long-term contracts.
The differences, however small, lie in the minute details, ultimately making your choice a matter of personal preference. Bay Alarm Medical offers systems with slightly lower monthly costs, making them an excellent option for the budget-minded. Medical Guardian, however, offers in-home systems with a greater range of connectivity, making them preferable for those with larger homes.
