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Life Alert vs. Lifeline
While Life Alert’s mobile systems have slightly longer average battery life, Lifeline offers faster response times, a wider variety of on-the-go systems, more features, and the benefit of no long-term contracts.
Long-standing reputation
24/7 emergency monitoring
Three-step response system
Great reputation
Professional installation option
GPS with five location technologies
Updated:
At a glance:
- Lifeline systems offer lower prices ($28–$45/month on average) and the benefit of no long-term contracts, while Life Alert requires a three-year contract and costs between $50–$70, depending on the device. Both typically require one-time equipment fees.
- Lifeline devices have an impressive average response time of 12 seconds, compared to Life Alert’s much longer average of 68 seconds.
- Life Alert and Lifeline medical alert systems have similar battery life, with Life Alert systems lasting up to 72 hours, and Lifeline systems lasting 48–72 hours.
If you’re an older adult searching for the best mobile or in-home medical alert system, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by your options. The best systems not only connect you with emergency responders but also include clear monthly fees and an ease of use that gives your family members and other loved ones peace of mind.
Luckily, our team has done the research, so you don’t have to. In this article, we compare two popular medical alert device brands: Life Alert and Philips Lifeline. From automatic fall detection and other important add-ons to calculating set-up fees, discover which brand you should invest in.
Life Alert Vs. Lifeline: Side-By-Side Comparison
| Pricing and features | Life Alert | Lifeline |
|---|---|---|
| In-home base unit starting price | $49.95/month (landline) $69.95/month (cellular) | $27.95/month (landline) $34.95/month (cellular) |
| Mobile device starting price | $69.95/month | $34.95/month |
| Fall detection price | Not Available | $15/month |
| Minimum contract required | Three-year | No contract required |
| Average response time | 68 seconds | 12 seconds |
| Smartwatch option | No | Yes |
Comparing Life Alert and Lifeline Functions and Features
Choosing the best medical alert system for your situation is about more than just month-to-month costs. From upfront costs to each individual on-the-go or landline system, every medical alert company is different. Below, we compare both Life Alert and Lifeline systems:
Activation Fees and Monthly Costs
- Lifeline: Offers more affordable prices, with landline-based, in-home systems starting at $27.95/month and mobile devices starting at $34.95/month. You also benefit from no long-term contracts or activation fees, but keep in mind that equipment fees can add $0–$200 to the total cost, depending on the device.
- Life Alert: Requires heavy upfront investment, with monthly fees starting at $49.95 for the landline-based in-home system. You’ll also need to sign a three-year contract and spend $197 for professional installation.
Emergency Response Speed
- Lifeline: Provides industry-leading response times averaging at 12 seconds to connect with the call center. If you’re a senior that has severe health conditions or just go out of surgery, Lifeline provides much faster emergency services.
- Life Alert: Users report highly-variable response times, with some hearing back from responders within 15 seconds, and others waiting for up to 120 seconds (two minutes). Combined, real-time responses take 68 seconds on average.
Battery Life and Reliability
- Lifeline: Mobile devices have a rechargeable battery that lasts 48–72—just slightly less than Life Alert. In-home systems include a useful 30-hour backup battery for power outages, but this is less than half the backup battery time provided by Life Alert.
- Life Alert: The mobile device can last up to 72 hours on a single charge, while the in-home base unit’s backup battery can also last 72 hours in the event of a power outage. This gives Life Alert a slight advantage when it comes to battery life.
Mobile App Integration
- Lifeline: The Lifeline Cares app provides additional monitoring services, giving seniors and their caregivers useful battery life status updates, alerts, and other important notifications.
- Life Alert: Does not offer mobile app compatibility, with all location tracking and monitoring services integrated directly with the base unit or wearable device.
Customer Support and Privacy Policies
- Lifeline: Users report a compassionate and professional support from Lifeline’s US-based. 24/7 monitoring centers. The company also has transparent data sharing practices, allowing you to better safeguard your personal information.
- Life Alert: Though Life Alert does provide 24/7, US-based customer support for emergencies, typical customer service hours are limited. The brand also has less transparent privacy policies.
Life Alert
Long-standing reputation
24/7 emergency monitoring
Three-step response system
Lifeline
Great reputation
Professional installation option
GPS with five location technologies
Available Features and Add-ons
| Additional feature | Life Alert | Lifeline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall detection | Not available | Available for select devices |
| GPS location tracking | Basic tracking for mobile options | Full GPS tracking for mobile devices |
| Health tracking | Not available | Available for select devices |
| Mobile app features | Not available | Lifeline Cares app |
| Lockbox | Not available | All devices |
| Two-way communication | All devices | All devices |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Not Available | Limited Access |
| Wall button | Available for select devices | Available for select devices |
Examples of Lifeline Systems
Lifeline offers a unique lineup of both in-home help buttons and on-the-go mobile devices, including pendants and smartwatches. Some of these devices come with one-time equipment fees, but not all.
Great reputation
Lifeline
- Professional installation option
- GPS with five location technologies
| Lifeline system | Monthly starting cost | Device type | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeSafe Standard | $27.95 | At home (landline) | Waterproof help button, wall-mounted help button, 30-hour backup battery |
| HomeSafe Cellular | $34.95 | At home (cellular) | Waterproof help button, wall-mounted help button, 30-hour backup battery |
| HomeSafe with AutoAlert | $42.95 | At-home (landline or cellular) | Fall detection, waterproof help button, wall-mounted button, 30-hour backup battery |
| On the Go | $39.95 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, GPS location tracking, waterproof help button |
| On the Go Mini | $44.95 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | Fall detection, GPS location tracking, waterproof help button |
| On the Go Smartwatch | $34.95 | Mobile (cellular) | Fall detection, GPS tracking, step tracking, waterproof |
Examples of Life Alert Systems
Before you sign up for a three-year contract with Life Alert and commit to the $197 installation fee, it’s important to understand the different devices available. Here are all the options offered:
Long-standing reputation
Life Alert
- 24/7 emergency monitoring
- Three-step response system
| Life Alert system | Monthly starting cost | Device type | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Unit | $49.95 | At-home (landline) | Waterproof help button, 72-hour backup battery |
| Master Unit + Help Button | $69.95 | At-home (landline) | Waterproof wearable help button, wall button |
| Mobile + GPS Unit | $69.95 | Mobile and at-home (cellular) | GPS tracking, waterproof help button, 72-hour battery life |
| Help Button (Wall-Mounted) | $69.95 | At-home (landline) | Always-on connection to monitoring center |
Frequently Asked Questions
Both Life Alert and Lifeline alert systems work using either a landline or cellular network to connect to a 24/7 monitoring center. Push the help button at any time, and you’ll be in immediate contact with the center for assistance.
Many of Lifeline’s mobile device options offer fall detection as an add-on for $15 extra per month. Conversely, there are no Life Alert systems with optional fall detection.
Lifeline offers industry-leading average response times of only 12 seconds, while Life Alert has inconsistent response times, averaging at around 68 seconds.
Life Alert devices require three-year long-term contracts, including cancellation fees. On the other hand, Lifeline devices require no long-term contracts and have no cancellation fees.
Lifeline offers several waterproof help buttons, including wristbands and pendants. Both brands also offer water-resistant mobile devices and base stations, but these options are not fully waterproof. If you’re worried about wet surfaces, always read the device description before purchasing.
There are several other reliable medical alert companies you can choose from, including Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian, MobileHelp, and more.
Our Conclusion
Whether you’re on a budget or have a high risk of falling, Lifeline stands out as the better medical alert device company when compared to Life Alert. Seniors who choose the former will have access to faster response times, automatic fall detection, and mobile app integration without long-term contracts.
Life Alert does provide slightly better battery life, but falls behind in most other categories. Though, ultimately, the best device for you will depend on your unique financial and medical situation.
For comparisons with other medical alert systems, read: