Best Medical Mobile Alert Systems of 2025
8.8
Most Popular Choice Among Readers
- Low Price
- Reliable Fall Detection
- Caregiver Tracking Portal
- Easy Returns / Refunds
Bottom Line
The SOS Mobile’s elegant design, reliable fall detection with few false alarms, excellent Caregiver Tracking portal and overall low cost combine to make it a winner. Bay Alarm Medical also offers a high level of customer service.
8.0
- Exceptional customer service
- Reliable fall detection
Bottom Line
Lifeline On The Go is a solid product. Its price is at the high-end of the industry and, while its features may be a step behind some other mobile medical alert systems, the company’s outstanding service more than makes up for this.
7.0
- Reliable Fall Detection
- Easy Setup
Bottom Line
MedicalAlert.com’s price was the highest among the systems we tested, yet our experience with the system was less than perfect. Our tests found problems with the system’s GPS location information. The return/refund process was also a challenge.
What Is a Mobile Medical Alert System?
A mobile medical alert system is a compact medical alert device that connects users to a helpline in case of a medical or other emergency via cellular service. Like a mobile phone, you can take the medical alert system with you wherever you go, so long as you stay in an area with good cell coverage.
Mobile medical alerts are a good choice for seniors who aren’t homebound. They provide an enhanced level of safety while you move around town, walk around the neighborhood, or simplyspend time in your yard. They work anywhere in the United States that has cellular coverage.
Mobile medical alerts are standalone systems designed to work without an existing mobile phone. This makes them different from many of the “no fee” medical alerts on the market. A true mobile medical alert system includes a monthly service fee that pays for both cellular service and 24/7 emergency operators who monitor your device and respond in case of an emergency.
Why Choose a Mobile Medical Alert?
According to a survey by AARP, it is getting harder for families to manage care for aging relatives. Mobile medical alert systems may help. Besides their compact size and mobility, mobile medical alert systems typically include three features that aren’t found in traditional in-home medical alert systems:
- Automatic Fall Detection
- GPS Tracking
- Caregiver Tracking
These features may make it possible for older adults to stay independent longer and help caregivers keep their loved ones safe.
Automatic fall detection is a key feature of a mobile medical alert systems.Traditional medical alert devices require the wearer to push a button in an emergency. But that may not be possible if a fall incapacitates the wearer due to a head injury or other issue. Automatic fall detection is an important safeguard against this. Note the fall detection is typically an optional feature for a small extra monthly fee. We think this feature is well worth it.
GPS tracking allows your medical alert monitoring company to know your location and communicate that to emergency responders. Emergency operators can give your exact address or latitude and longitude coordinates if you are in a park or other location without a street address.
Caregiver tracking allows people you trust to log into an online portal and view your location at any time, whether during an emergency or in daily life. This can be helpful if the person wearing the medical alert is prone to wandering due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Mobile Medical Alerts vs. Medical Alert Watches
Mobile medical alerts are the second generation of medical alert systems. The first generation of personal emergency response systems (PERS) were in-home medical alerts that worked through your existing telephone line. Mobile systems break free of the home landline and work anywhere you might go in your daily life.
Today there is a growing trend toward a third generation of medical alert systems: medical alert smartwatches. If smartwatches are the newest breed of medical alert, why would you want a second-generation mobile medical alert?
The reasons are simple: price and automatic fall detection.
Medical alert watches are generally more expensive than mobile systems. In addition, mobile medical alerts have a mature implementation of automatic fall detection whereas medical alert watches still face challenges with fall detection. Indeed, at the time of writing, only Bay Alarm Medical has a smartwatch that is advanced enough to offer automatic fall detection.
We see compelling advantages to mobile medical alerts. We think this type of system is the best fit for most people seeking a medical alert system.
How We Chose the Best Mobile Medical Alert
To choose the best medical alert systems, our team performed over 350 hours of research and hands-on testing. We purchased all the medical alerts included in this review and evaluated all steps of the experience: from buying the system, to setting it up, and real-life testing, including simulating falls.
We focused not just on the technical aspects of the system, but also the quality of service provided by the vendor. We called sales teams to ask a standard set of questions, evaluating both the quality of their answers and the level of sales pitch included (pushy, high pressure sales tactics are a no-no). During our simulated falls, we even evaluated the interaction with those emergency operators who called to check on us.
Finally, we returned all of the systems after testing, asking for a timely refund. That allowed us to evaluate the fairness of each vendor’s return policy. For more information, read our disclosure page.
What Should You Expect To Pay? What's Included?
When buying a medical alert system, you should expect to pay an initial startup cost followed by a monthly monitoring fee.
To accurately compare costs, you need to combine a system’s startup cost with 12 months of monitoring to get the true First Year Cost of Ownership.
Among the systems we review here, that First Year Cost of Ownership ranged from $469.75 to $909.30, with the average being $708.88.
The startup cost – which is sometimes called an activation fee or a programming fee – covers the cost of the medical alert device, plus shipping.
Your monthly monitoring fee covers 24/7 monitoring by the vendor’s emergency operators. While it may be tempting to skip this monthly cost and opt for a no-fee medical alert system, we strongly discourage this, especially for mobile medical alert systems. There is great value in having an emergency operator who knows your exact location and can communicate with emergency responders if you aren’t able to speak.
Your monthly monitoring cost may include additional fees for optional add-ons such as wall buttons, optional spouse monitoring, or extended warranty plans.
Because of different pricing structures, it can be difficult to compare the cost of different medical alert systems. Some companies have low start-up fees, but then charge more for monthly monitoring. As a rule, you should pay more attention to a company’s monthly fee and less to its startup cost.
Startup costs range from $0 to $162, with the average startup price for the systems we tested being $91.42.
Monthly monitoring with optional fall detection included ranges from $34.98 per month to $64.95 per month, with the average being $51.46 per month.
The table below shows what you should expect to pay for each mobile medical alert system we tested.
Price Comparison, First Year Cost of Ownership
| Company | System | Startup Cost | Monitoring | Fall Detection | First Year Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Alarm Medical | SOS Mobile | $69.30 | $34.95/month | $10.00/month | $620.70 |
| MedicalAlert.com | Mobile | $124.90 | $47.95/month | $10.00/month | $820.30 |
| Lifeline | On The Go | $129.90 | $49.95/month | $15.00/month | $909.30 |
2 - First Year Total Cost assumes a monthly subscription plan with fall detection.
How We Tested: Hands-On Testing + In-Depth Reviews
Our team dedicated 12,000 hours to researching 16 top medical alert brands to identify the best systems. After that, we spent more than 520 hours testing them firsthand. We secret-shopped each provider, purchased each system, and carefully assessed every stage of the experience: from buying and setup to real-world scenarios, countless button pushes, and testing auto fall detection,
We paid close attention to both the technical performance of the systems and the level of customer service provided by the companies. During consultations, we noted which brands offered honest assessments versus those focused on maximizing our monthly subscription costs. We also flagged companies with aggressive sales tactics, startup costs, restocking fees, and hard-to-manage return policies. While simulating falls, we evaluated how emergency operators responded and followed up with us.
Best Mobile Medical Alert Systems of 2025
Bay Alarm Medical SOS Mobile Medical Alert System Review Overview
The SOS Mobile system may be our favorite offering from Bay Alarm Medical—and it’s our top pick for the Best Mobile Medical Alert System. It delivers a strong mix of features at a competitive price, offering excellent overall value.
While the $99 upfront hardware fee isn’t ideal, Bay Alarm Medical keeps monitoring costs low at just $29.95 per month—about $20 less per month than many competitors for similar service. Adding optional fall detection (highly recommended) costs an additional $10 per month, bringing the first-year total to $578.40. Among the systems we tested, only the Lively Mobile+ offered a lower first-year cost.
The SOS Mobile device features a compact, modern design that can be worn around the neck or clipped to the hip. We appreciate that automatic fall detection is built directly into the device, eliminating the need for an extra pendant. During testing, the fall detection feature performed well, accurately triggering alarms for hard falls without frequent false alerts from minor bumps.
Although we encountered some minor setup hiccups, the system overall was intuitive and easy to operate. GPS location tracking was responsive and generally accurate, though we would have liked it to display street addresses in addition to latitude and longitude coordinates.
The Caregiver Tracking portal, while a bit hidden within the company’s online account dashboard, provides helpful location updates. In our tests, the GPS consistently reported our position within about 100 feet of our actual location.
Lifeline “On The Go” Mobile Medical Alert System Review Overview
Lifeline On The Go is a GPS-enabled mobile medical alert device with built-in automatic fall detection. As the first company to bring medical alert technology to the U.S. in 1974, Lifeline continues to innovate in mobile safety. Now part of ConnectAmerica, Lifeline benefits from the backing of a major player in senior-focused services.
The initial cost is on the higher side: a $129.90 startup fee, $49.95 monthly monitoring, and an additional $15/month for fall detection, totaling $909.30 for the first year.
Despite the premium pricing, Lifeline On The Go delivered excellent performance during our testing, with reliable fall detection and responsive customer support. We were especially impressed with the sales team, who helped us navigate AARP discounts with ease.
For those in search of a trustworthy, mobile medical alert solution backed by a well-established brand and exceptional support, Lifeline On The Go is a compelling option.
Read our full review of Lifeline On-The-Go.
ConnectAmerica MedicalAlert.com Mobile System Review Overview
MedicalAlert.com’s Mobile System, once known for its affordability, now ranks among the more expensive options available in 2025.
The Mobile System with Fall Detection costs $47.95 per month on a monthly plan or $39.95 per month with annual billing. Fall detection adds another $10 per month. There’s also a $99.95 programming fee and $24.95 shipping charge, bringing the total first-year cost to $820.30. This is roughly 20% more than the average of the six mobile systems we evaluated this year. While there are no long-term contracts, discounts apply to longer billing cycles.
Key features include two-way communication, a mobile app for account management, and reliable fall detection. Users can wear the device as a pendant or wristband, but fall detection requires the pendant.
However, our tests revealed concerns with GPS accuracy. In one case, the system took nearly eight minutes to pinpoint our location. When GPS worked, it was precise, but it only locked in about 50% of the time. This is a significant issue for a mobile alert device designed to protect users away from home – accurate location tracking is critical during emergencies.
The return and refund process also leaves much to be desired. Customers are responsible for ensuring the return is received and must actively follow up to receive a refund, which may take weeks. We recommend closely monitoring your credit card statements if you return the system.
In summary, while MedicalAlert.com’s Mobile System offers useful features and strong fall detection, its high cost, inconsistent GPS performance, and complex return process may be drawbacks for some users.
Read our full review of ConnectAmerica’s MedicalAlert.com Mobile System.
Frequently Asked Medical Alert Questions
While especially beneficial for seniors living alone or individuals with medical conditions, medical alert systems are suitable for anyone desiring quick access to help during emergencies.
Unfortunately, these types of systems are not covered by either Part A or Part B Medicare plans. However, some private insurance companies and Medicare Advantage plans do provide coverage or discounts for medical alert systems. This means that you must check the details of your coverage because there is no industry standard. To get more information, see Does Medicare Cover Medical Alert Systems.
While AARP as an organization strongly recommends that seniors use medical alert systems, it does not specifically endorse any one particular product. The organization does recognize that these systems can be lifesaving for seniors. And some PERS providers even offer discounts for AARP members. See Medical Alert System Discounts for AARP members.
The fees for Life Alert service can be between $49.95 and $89.95 per month. These costly fees are similar to other providers at the higher end of service. Yet at the lower end, there are providers with services for much less; some offer medical alert services for around $20/month. Monthly costs are not the only consideration when selecting a provider. You also need to look at the cost of the hardware and the length of the contract. More information can be found here at Life Alert Medical Alert System.
Yes, many systems offer mobile options with GPS tracking, allowing users to access help both at home and on the go. These mobile systems can pinpoint the user’s location during an emergency.
If the help button is pressed unintentionally, simply inform the operator when they respond that it was a false alarm. Accidental activations are common, and operators are trained to handle them.
Many medical alert buttons are designed to be waterproof, allowing users to wear them in the shower or bath—common sites for falls. However, it’s essential to verify the waterproof capabilities of specific devices with the provider.
Not necessarily. While some systems operate via landlines, many modern medical alert systems use cellular networks, eliminating the need for a landline. It’s important to confirm that the cellular service used by the system has adequate coverage in your area.
Battery life varies by device. Wearable buttons often have long-lasting batteries (up to several years) and may require periodic replacement. Mobile systems typically need recharging every 1–3 days.
Most base units have backup batteries that allow the system to function for several hours during a power outage. Mobile units, which are battery-operated, are unaffected as long as their battery is charged.
Monitored systems connect users to a 24/7 call center staffed by trained operators who can dispatch emergency services or contact family members. Unmonitored systems typically alert a list of pre-programmed contacts directly when the help button is pressed.
We are strongly in favor of monitored medical alert systems. Professional monitoring means that trained operator with your medical history on-file who can communicate with emergency responders when you may not be able to speak.
To learn more, read our reviews and assessments of top “no fee” medical alert systems.
Yes, Walmart does offer these products. There you can find both systems that are monitored or unmonitored. However, it’s a good suggestion to shop around for the best products for you at the best prices. This includes shopping and gathering information online. For more help, consider this article: Buyers Guide to Walmart Medical Alert Systems.
This is an option that many medical alert providers offer. And it is one that most subscribers need. Every 19 minutes, someone dies as a result of a fall. Falls can be serious—and costly. In fact, the expected healthcare cost related to falls in 2020 was $67 billion.
Picking the right one for you depends on the options you are looking for. Understand the reliability of the system and the likelihood of false alarms. Also consider the type of response that happens when there is a fall or an emergency arises. This means determining who should be contacted when there is an alert, and what the response level will be if a fall is detected. For more information on selecting fall detection systems, look here Compare the Best Medical Alerts with Fall Detection.
You’ll find Medical Guardian listed in many other comparison sites as a top rated medical alert provider. Simply put, Medical Guardian charges a very high premium for servies that aren’t any better or worse than our top five providers. In fact, many of Medical Guardian’s products can be found from other brands for far less. Both the equipment and monitoring center are identical so paying more won’t get you anything extra.
Some providers allow multiple users to connect to a single system by adding extra wearable devices. However, this may involve additional fees. It’s best to confirm this option with the provider.
Most medical alert companies offer their services without long-term contracts, allowing cancellation at any time. Among the leading companies, only Life Alert requires you to sign a lock-in contract. That’s one of the main reasons we don’t recommend Life Alert.
It’s crucial to review the terms and inquire about any potential setup, activation, or cancellation fees before committing.
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499195/
- https://www.visn8.va.gov/VISN8/PatientSafetyCenter/research.asp
- https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/health/risks-costs-senior-fall-injuries
- https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data/falls-by-state.html
- https://tma.us/programs/fivediamond/
- https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5699193/
- https://www.performancehealth.com/articles/the-impact-of-falls-on-the-elderly-infographic
Table of Contents:
- What Is a Mobile Medical Alert System?
- Why Choose a Mobile Medical Alert?
- Mobile Medical Alerts vs. Medical Alert Watches
- How We Chose the Best Mobile Medical Alert
- What Should You Expect To Pay? What's Included?
- Price Comparison, First Year Cost of Ownership
- How We Tested: Hands-On Testing + In-Depth Reviews
- Best Mobile Medical Alert Systems of 2025
- Frequently Asked Medical Alert Questions
- Sources