Medical Guardian Review, Our Hands-On Test (2025)
Unfortunately, it’s a fact that over one in four older adults in the U.S. falls every year, less than half of whom actually tell their doctors, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Falls can result in hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and deaths. But for seniors aging in place, especially the 22 percent of adults who either are or will be alone as they age, according to data from the Delaware Journal of Public Health, medical alert systems can help you get the help you need quickly in the event of a fall.
Medical Guardian offers five medical alert systems: three portable, two at-home, all of which we’ve tested personally for their reliability, ease of use, and setup process. We’ll also give you the pricing information you need to decide if any of its systems are right for you. While we had the quickest response times from the company’s monitoring center, Medical Guardian is certainly not the cheapest option on the market, so we’ll go over who we think it’s good for.
Pro Tip: To find medical alert systems starting at $20 per month, read our rundown of this year’s best medical alert systems.
Why Trust Us?
Our team of caregivers, experts, and healthcare professionals conducted over 5,000 hours of in-depth research and testing. The results helped us recommend the most reliable brands and devices. In this process, our team:
- Tested 50 medical alert devices from 15 different brands.
- Surveyed 1,250 seniors and caregivers on medical alert system usage.
- Consulted with nurses, EMTs, and caregivers who are experts at caring for older adults.
- Published dozens of videos that demonstrate our medical alert system testing.
- Evaluated verified customer reviews of medical alert companies from the Better Business Bureau.
- Continues to monitor developments in the world of medical alert systems and revises our findings accordingly.
Medical Guardian Video Review
If you prefer watching instead of reading, check out our updated Medical Guardian video review, in which our Managing Editor, Ryan Molloy, tests out the MGHome Cellular.
Medical Guardian Pros and Cons
Medical Guardian Pros
- Lightning-fast emergency response times: In our test calls, Medical Guardian’s urgent response agents answered in an average of eight seconds. That’s faster than any other system we’ve tested.
- Equipment for all needs: Boasting five medical alert systems, including in-home, mobile, and even a smartwatch, Medical Guardian can suit all types of lifestyles.
- Wide detection range: Medical Guardian’s MG Home Cellular system has one of the largest detection ranges on the market. We could be 1,400 feet away from the base station and still communicate an emergency. This is more than adequate for most homes, especially our small city apartments.
- Bracelet and pendant included: Instead of offering only a medical alert bracelet or a pendant, Medical Guardian’s home systems include a help button with both bracelet and pendant attachments, so we could decide how we wanted to wear them on a day-to-day basis.
- Power outage backup: Our home systems had 32-hour backup batteries, which helped our medical alert system stay on even during a power outage one summer evening.
Medical Guardian Cons
- Higher monthly costs: Medical Guardian’s portable systems start at $36.95 a month, while its at-home systems start at $27.95 a month. Compare this to MobileHelp prices, which start at $24.95 per month for a home cellular system, and it’s clear that Medical Guardian is far from the cheapest option we’ve bought, especially if you can’t pay for a year upfront.
- Equipment costs: Medical Guardian now charges a separate cost for equipment, which starts at around $150. Previously, customers didn’t have to pay anything for the equipment, just the subscription.
- Fall detection not included: Much to our surprise, fall detection wasn’t included in our monthly subscription with any of the systems. Rather, we had to pay $10 more per month to get this feature, which we consider essential to any medical alert system.
New to the ins and outs of medical alert systems? Read our guide to medical alert devices to learn more.
Medical Guardian Systems Overview
Medical Guardian has five distinct medical alert systems, each geared toward different customer types. While some systems are designed for use in the home, others are made for on-the-go use. Regardless of the system you choose, you’ll still be connected to Medical Guardian’s monitoring center, where a trained agent will answer your call and coordinate the proper response, whether that’s contacting EMS or a neighbor for a wellness check. In our experience with Medical Guardian, we had an average response time of eight seconds, the fastest of any other medical alert system we tested.
Medical Guardian System Comparison
Learn each system’s features and starting costs in the chart below. Or, read on to learn about our experiences testing each device.
| Name of system | MGMini | MGMini Lite | MGMove | MGHome Cellular | MGClassic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment cost | $149.95 | $149.95 | $199.95 | $149.95 | $149.95 |
| Minimum price per month (annual contract) | $36.95 | $42.95 | $38.95 | $34.95 | $27.95 |
| At-home or portable? | Portable | Portable | Portable | At-home, within 1,400 feet of base station | At-home, within 1,300 feet of base station |
| Device type | Pendant necklace | Watch | Watch | Base station, wristband, pendant necklace | Base station, wristband, pendant necklace |
| Connection type | Cellular | Cellular | Cellular | Cellular | Landline |
| Maximum battery life | 5 days | 3 days | 1 day | 1 day, 6 hours | 1 day, 6 hours |
| Weight in pounds | 0.08 | 0.004 | 0.13 | 1.27 | 1.23 |
| Fall detection | Optional, $10 more per month | Optional, $10 more per month | Optional, $10 more per month | Optional, $10 more per month | Optional, $10 more per month |
| Water-resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Caregiver tracking | Included | Optional, $2.99 more per month | Optional, $2.99 more per month | Optional, $2.99 more per month | Optional, $2.99 more per month |
| Colors | Rose gold, silver, pearl, black | Black | Black | Black, white | Black |
Every system is compatible with the MyGuardian caregiver portal, and all of the systems are compatible with fall detection.
MGClassic
Starting at $32.95 per month, the Classic Guardian is Medical Guardian’s most affordable and basic medical alert system. It’s also its only non-cellular system, meaning it required us to have a landline. Fortunately, we do, but that may not be the case for all seniors.
Assuming you have a landline like us, you’ll appreciate the fact that we could use our pendant up to 1,300 feet away from the base station, more than enough for our one-bedroom apartments, although it may not work for very large homes. Additionally, when we had a power outage, we were delighted to see that our system stayed on due to its backup battery.
MGHome Cellular
The MGHome Cellular functions exactly like the MGClassic; however, instead of using an existing landline, it runs on AT&T’s cellular network, which is likely why it cost us $34.95 per month, admittedly only $2 per month more than the landline version. In our tests, the speakerphone on this system was especially loud, allowing us to communicate with response agents from multiple rooms away from the system’s base unit. Plus, this version has an even wider range, 1,400 feet away from the base station compared to 1,300 feet with the MG Classic.
MGMini
The first portable system we tested from Medical Guardian was the MGMini, a pendant we wore around our necks on lanyards. The MGMini lasted the longest of any of the portable systems, five days without us needing to recharge. Like all of the portable systems, it’s water-resistant and still worked even after we wore it while bathing. But the biggest perk of the MGMini is the fact that the price included caregiver tracking, meaning our proverbial caregivers could easily see our locations, set up reminders, like to take medications, and call us through the My Guardian app. With every other system, we had to pay $2.99 extra for this feature, so it was nice that the MGMini included it for free.
Check out our MGMini video review for a closer look at this system, or, if you prefer, read our MGMini review.
MGMini Lite
The main advantage of the MGMini Lite is, as you can imagine, how light it is. It weighs in at just 0.004 pounds, half the weight of the MGMini, which meant that we didn’t even feel these portable watches on our wrists. Of course, the small size comes with a shorter battery life, only three days compared to five, and unlike the MGMini, we had to pay extra for caregiver tracking with the MGMini Lite.
Watch our MGMini Lite review for more details, or read our MGMini Lite review.
MGMove
The last system from Medical Guardian is the MGMove, the company’s only smartwatch. It had all the features of the other pendants, but we also used it to count our steps, send voice texts to loved ones, get medication reminders, and check the weather, making it somewhere between an Apple Watch and a medical alert system.
Of course, these advanced features come with drawbacks. Not only did the MGMove have the shortest battery life of any of the devices, but it also weighed the most at 0.13 pounds, and it cost the most, starting at $38.95 per month.
Head to our MGMove video review for all the details, or read our MGMove review.
MyGuardian App and Portal
Available on both smartphones and computers, the MyGuardian App allowed us to keep track of our monthly billing and emergency contacts. It also allowed us to track our systems’ battery lives and signal strengths. With these metrics, our caregivers could ensure that our devices were working from afar. For example, using this platform, we added contacts who would receive notifications whenever we placed emergency calls with any of the systems.
Medical Guardian Pricing
We paid for Medical Guardian on a recurring basis, after paying for the equipment itself. The monthly cost depended on the length of our contract. We saved the most money by signing up for annual contracts. Of course, that required the most money upfront, but it had the lower prices once we did the math, comparing it to the monthly/quarterly contract pricing.
| Term length vs. cost per month | Monthly | Quarterly | Annually |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGMini | $39.95 | $38.95 | $36.95 |
| MGMini Lite | $46.95 | $44.95 | $42.95 |
| MGMove | $42.95 | $40.95 | $38.95 |
| MGHome Cellular | $38.95 | $36.95 | $34.95 |
| MGClassic | $31.95 | $29.95 | $27.95 |
Of course, as we mentioned, our costs didn’t end there. Each system required an additional $10 per month for fall detection, and every system except the MGMini required an additional $2.99 for caregiver tracking. To learn more about Medical Guardian’s many devices and their prices, take a look at our article on Medical Guardian costs.
Medical Guardian vs. Bay Alarm Medical
In terms of medical alert companies, both Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical are among our favorites. Both providers offer a variety of systems that we could use both in the home and on the go; however, in our tests, we found two key differences:
- Response time: With Medical Guardian, we found that monitoring agents answered our calls in an average of eight seconds, while Bay Alarm Medical agents answered in an average of 16 seconds. While both of these response times are better than average, Medical Guardian consistently answered our emergency calls more quickly.
- Cost: Medical Guardian systems start at $32.95 per month, while Bay Alarm Medical Systems cost $24.95 per month.
To read our full comparison of these two providers, check out our Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical comparison. Or, to learn more about Bay Alarm, read our Bay Alarm Medical review.
Compare Medical Guardian to Other Brands
Final Thoughts on Medical Guardian
There’s a reason we chose Medical Guardian as one of the best medical alert systems: the company offers many unique systems for every lifestyle, from homebound users to older adults who travel and go outside every day. Medical Guardian is the peak of what a medical alert system can be. The MGClassic is a simple, affordable system that does the basics flawlessly. We were blown away by its 1,400-foot range, as well as how easy it was for us to set it up and communicate with caregivers through the base station.
We’d recommend Medical Guardian if you want:
- An affordable landline system: Starting at $27.95 per month, the MGClassic is a well-built, reliable system that communicates with professional monitoring via an existing landline connection.
- An all-in-one mobile system: Unlike most mobile medical alert systems, which require additional buttons for fall detection, the MGMini had everything in one compact device, so we didn’t have to lug around extra help buttons, making it one of our favorite cellular medical alerts.
- Reliable monitoring: It was apparent in each of our test calls that we were dealing with a team of professionals, with super-fast responses.
- Additional buttons: From additional help buttons to voice-activated medical alerts, Medical Guardian offered a full range of accessories so we could tailor our systems to our specific needs.
- Month-to-month contracts: While Medical Guardian offers discounts for annual subscriptions, the company only requires monthly commitments.
We wouldn’t recommend Medical Guardian if you want:
- No monthly fees: Medical Guardian costs a minimum of $32.95 per month (or $34.95 per month for the cellular system). While this is about average for in-home medical alerts, some medical alerts require no monthly charge. To learn more, read our guide to medical alerts with no monthly fee.
- Fall detection included: Unfortunately, none of the systems’ monthly costs include fall detection, bringing costs up by $10 per month. Since falls can lead to not only death and injury, but also a loss of independence, according to the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, we think fall detection is a necessary cost.
How We Tested Medical Guardian
We evaluated each Medical Guardian system based on the following criteria:
- Response times: We placed 10 test calls with each Medical Guardian system and calculated the average response time.
- Ease of use: Through testing and design analysis, we ensured that each device was easy to use, particularly for those with visual impairments and manual dexterity issues.
- Customer care: We conducted extensive interactions with Medical Guardian’s customer care teams and monitoring agents, ensuring they offered adequate support.
- Affordable pricing: We examined the costs of our Medical Guardian systems and compared them to similar systems from other companies.
- Flexible contracts: We read the fine print of our Medical Guardian service agreement, ensuring there were no unexpected fees or obligations.
- Extra features: Apart from conducting test calls, we also tested out Medical Guardian’s fall detection, water-resistance, in-home range, GPS, and caregiver connectivity features.
Medical Guardian Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Medical Guardian a good company?
Medical Guardian is a good company that offers, in our experience, durable equipment, quick response times, and easy-to-use devices. With 20 years in business, it has over 615,000 customers and is accredited with the Better Business Bureau, where it has an A+ rating and a 3.52 out of five-star customer rating, very high compared to its competitors.
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How much is Medical Guardian per month?
Medical Guardian in-home systems start at $27.95 per month, paid on an annual basis as $335.40. There are also monthly and quarterly offers available, although they cost more monthly.
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How do I cancel Medical Guardian service?
To cancel service with Medical Guardian:
- Call 1-800-313-1191.
- Select the cancellation option.
- Return the equipment and accessories to the company.
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Does Medical Guardian offer spousal monitoring on all traditional devices?
Yes, Medical Guardian offers spousal monitoring on its traditional MGClassic cellular system. Monitoring is free, but you’ll have to purchase a second pendant for an additional $2.99 per month. Spousal monitoring is also available on the following traditional Medical Guardian devices, which are no longer available for new purchase:
- Mobile 2.0
- Home 2.0
- Home Guardian
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Are all Medical Guardian devices waterproof?
No, no Medical Guardian devices are waterproof, so you can’t immerse them in water for extended periods. However, they are water-resistant and safe to take in the shower.
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Is there an app for all Medical Guardian devices?
Yes, all Medical Guardian systems are compatible with the MyGuardian app. The mobile systems allow loved ones to view a system’s location and battery life in real time.
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Do I need Wi-Fi in my home for Medical Guardian devices to work?
No, you do not need Wi-Fi in your home for Medical Guardian devices to work. Rather, they work using cellular networks, save for the MGClassic, which uses your landline.