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Personal Living Alert vs. Lively
Lively is a more affordable medical alert company, offering lower monthly fees and compatibility for Apple Watches or Amazon Alexa devices, while Personal Living Alert’s wide variety of medical alert devices offer better battery life and advanced features at a higher monthly cost.
Great in-home range
Flexible prices
2,000-square-foot range
Great for tech-savvy seniors
Nurse on-call
Compatible with Alexa and Apple Watch
Updated:
At a glance:
- Compared to Lively, which ranges from $25–$35/month, Personal Living Alert (PLA) has higher monthly costs ($30–$55/month). However, PLA devices require no equipment or activation fees, while Lively systems require both.
- Lively and PLA have similar response times, with the former connecting to the monitoring center in 17 seconds on average, while the latter connects in 18 seconds.
- PLA offers superior battery life: devices last up to 5 days on a single charge, and in-home systems have a 60-hour backup battery. Lively’s help buttons can hold a charge for up to 3 days (32–80 hours).
When seniors experience medical emergencies, medical alert systems play a key role in quickly accessing emergency responders. Both Lively and Personal Living Alert (PLA) are well-reviewed medical alert companies that offer a variety of systems to help older adults and their loved ones connect with a 24/7 emergency response center when needed.
However, whether you’re looking into in-home or mobile medical alert systems, each company has unique pros and cons you should be aware of. Below, we’ve compared both brands on essential functionality: cost, battery life, response time, and add-ons like automatic fall detection, GPS location tracking, and more. Read on to find the best medical alert system for your situation.
Personal Living Alert vs. Lively: Side-By-Side Comparison
| Pricing and features | Personal Living Alert | Lively |
|---|---|---|
| In-home base unit starting price | $29.99/month (cellular) | N/A |
| Mobile device starting price | $39.99/month | $24.99/month |
| Automatic Fall detection price | $10/month | $10/month |
| Minimum contract required | No long-term contracts | No long-term contracts |
| Average response time | 18 seconds | 17 seconds |
| Smartwatch option | Yes | No |
Comparing PLA and Lively Key Features and Functions
Both Personal Living Alert and Lively offer devices with 24/7 monitoring services, giving peace of mind to seniors aging in place. However, each company’s emergency response systems have unique pros and cons. Below, we’ve compared both companies.
Upfront Fees and Monthly Costs
- Personal Living Alert: In-home systems start at $29.99/month and use a cellular network, rather than a landline, to connect to the urgent response center. Mobile help buttons and smartwatches range in price from $40–$55/month. There are no equipment or activation fees.
- Lively: Monthly fees are generally affordable compared to other medical alert companies, with on-the-go systems starting at $24.99/month. However, you will need to pay between $80–$120 in equipment fees and a $35 activation fee to use them. Similar to PLA, all available devices use a cellular network to connect to the monitoring center.
Emergency Response Speed
- Personal Living Alert: Responds to medical emergencies in 18 seconds on average, faster than many medical alert companies and similar to Lively’s average response times.
- Lively: Emergency responders answer calls in 17 seconds on average.
Battery Life and Reliability
- Personal Living Alert: Most devices can last up to 5 days on a full charge, giving them exceptional battery life compared to other brands. In-home base units also include a 60-hour backup battery that triggers during power outages.
- Lively: The all-in-one systems can last up to 3 days on a full charge (32–80 hours). The corresponding app provides low-battery notifications when needed.
Mobile App Integration
- Personal Living Alert: Does not offer a caregiver app for seniors or their caregivers and family members; instead, it integrates features such as fall detection and GPS tracking directly into the medical alert watch or pendant.
- Lively: Use the Lively Link® app to add emergency contacts, manage alerts, track activity, and receive notifications in real time. The app is also highly compatible with the company’s Jitterbug cell phones, Apple Watches, and Amazon Alexa devices. Just note that it may not be intuitive for seniors unfamiliar with tech.
Customer Support and Privacy Policies
- Personal Living Alert: Users report that the 24/7 US-based monitoring center is staffed with highly trained, helpful emergency responders. These responders will answer questions and guide you through medical emergencies. Data is not typically shared with third parties.
- Lively: Also operates a 24/7 US-based monitoring center with helpful responders, though users report a lack of self-service options. Privacy policies are transparent, and personal data is not broadly shared.
Personal Living Alert
Great in-home range
Flexible prices
2,000-square-foot range
Lively
Great for tech-savvy seniors
Nurse on-call
Compatible with Alexa and Apple Watch
In-Home and Wearable Device Options
| Device type | Personal Living Alert | Lively |
|---|---|---|
| In-home systems | Yes | No |
| Pendants | Yes | Yes |
| Bracelets | Yes | Yes |
| Smartwatches | Yes | No |
Available Features and Add-ons
| Additional feature | Personal Living Alert | Lively |
|---|---|---|
| Fall detection | Select devices | Select devices |
| GPS location tracking | Select devices have advanced tracking | Advanced tracking with pinpoint accuracy |
| Health tracking | Available on smartwatches | Select devices |
| Mobile app features | N/A | Lively Link® |
| Two-way communication | All devices | All devices |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Available for select devices | Not available |
| Wall button | Available for select devices | Not Available |
Examples of Personal Living Alert Systems
While Personal Living Alert does not offer cell phones, its broader range of medical alert devices includes in-home systems, pendants, and smartwatches. Like Lively, all systems use a cellular connection, but unlike Lively, there are no equipment or activation fees. Smartwatches, in particular, have additional wellness features like vitals monitoring and fitness tracking built in.
Great in-home range
Personal Living Alert
- Flexible prices
- 2,000-square-foot range
| PLA system | Monthly starting cost | Device type | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA In-Home System | $29.99 | In-home (cellular) | Fall detection, 2,000 sq ft range, 60-hour battery backup, water resistant, lockbox |
| PLA On-The-Go | $39.99 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, nationwide coverage, two-way communication, lockbox |
| Belle + LTE | $44.99 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, Wi-Fi & GPS tracking, 5-day battery life, two-way communication, lockbox |
| Champion Smart Watch | $49.99 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, GPS tracking, two-way communication, water resistant, health tracking, lockbox |
| Independence Smart Watch | $55.00 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, GPS tracking, health tracking, water resistant, two-way communication, lockbox |
Examples of Lively Systems
Instead of wristbands or smartwatches, Lively offers mobile units in the form of either a wearable pendant or a simplified cell phone. Upfront equipment fees for these systems range between $80 and $120, and there’s a $35 activation fee to start using them. Please also note that as of 2026, products like the Lively Mobile Plus and Wearable 2 have been discontinued in favor of the newly updated Lively Mobile2 All-in-One Medical Alert.
Great for tech-savvy seniors
Lively
- Nurse on-call
- Compatible with Alexa and Apple Watch
| Lively system | Monthly starting cost | Device type | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lively Mobile2 | $24.99 | Mobile (cellular) | GPS tracking, two-way communication, optional fall detection, water-resistant design |
| Jitterbug Flip2 | $24.99 | Mobile flip phone with a help button | Urgent response button for emergencies, senior-friendly interface, two-way communication, and GPS tracking |
| Jitterbug Smart4 | $24.99 | Mobile smartphone with a help button | Urgent response button for emergencies, senior-friendly interface, two-way communication, and GPS tracking |
Our Takeaway: Personal Living Alert Offers Flexibility, While Lively Stands Out for Affordability
Personal Living Alert and Lively are both well-reviewed medical alert systems, but depending on your budget and mobility needs, one may be more beneficial than the other. For instance, seniors with limited savings may find it easier to invest in PLA systems, as there are no upfront equipment or activation fees, while those on fixed incomes may prefer Lively’s lower monthly fees.
Both companies have similar response times and add-ons like automatic fall detection available on select devices. PLA offers everything from in-home systems to smartwatches. Lively focuses on their mobile pendant and Jitterbug cell phones.
Ultimately, it’s important to compare and contrast both brands so you can choose your new medical alert system with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Personal Living Alert vs. Lively
Personal Living Alert offers optional fall detection on all devices, with some plans even including it as part of the package. The Lively Mobile2 offers fall detection as well, but the Jitterbug phones do not. For both companies, fall detection is $10/month as an add-on.
Lively and Personal Living Alert offer similar response times, with the former responding in an average of 17 seconds and the latter in 18 seconds. This makes both brands significantly faster than Life Alert, but slower than Medical Guardian.
Yes, PLA systems boast some of the best battery life in the industry, with devices lasting up to 5 days on a full charge. This is nearly twice as long as Lively systems, which have an average battery life of 32–80 hours (up to 3 days).
Neither Lively nor PLA devices require long-term contracts, and can be terminated at any time without cancellation fees.
No, neither Personal Living Alert nor Lively sells landline-based systems. All devices, including PLA’s in-home systems, use a cellular network to connect to the monitoring center.
Medical Guardian’s MGMove and MGMini are also highly rated medical alert systems, with fast response times and affordable monthly fees. Other trusted brands include Bay Alarm Medical, MobileHelp, Lifeline, and more. Explore our reviews for more details.