Medical Guardian vs. LifeFone, Hands-On Comparison
|
December 18, 2024
|
Key Findings
- Medical Guardian systems answered our test calls in an average of eight seconds, while LifeFone systems did so in 25.
- LifeFone systems start at $34.95 for a cellular device, while Medical Guardian’s start at $37.95.
- Both companies offer useful caregiver apps, fall detection, and medical alert watches.
FYI: LifeFone and Medical Guardian performed well in our tests, but both companies are on the pricier side. Check out our list of the top-rated medical alerts
Why Trust TheSeniorList?
Our team of caregivers, experts, and health-care professionals conducted over 5,000 hours of in-depth research and testing to 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.
How We Test Medical Alert Systems
Most medical alert companies sell a variety of systems, including smartwatches and in-home and mobile systems. Each device has its own unique features, but they all offer the same basic function: connecting users to help in an emergency. With this in mind, we evaluate every medical alert system on the following criteria:
- Response times: The faster a medical alert system connects you to help, the better. For each system, we performed 10 test calls, counted how long it took to receive a response, and calculated an average.
- Ease of use: In an emergency, it's important that a user can successfully activate their system. So, we carefully evaluated each device's design — with simplicity at the forefront.
- Customer care: A human touch is key to caregiving. With this in mind, medical alert companies must offer impeccable customer service — from their agents at monitoring centers to their support personnel.
- Pricing and contracts: We analyze device costs, subscription costs, contract requirements, and other fees associated with a medical alert system purchase.
- Extra features: We test out voice commands, caregiver apps, fall detection, activity monitoring, and any other features included with a medical alert system.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Editor's Ratings | ||
| Starting Price (Home System) |
|
|
| Starting Price (Mobile System) | $41.95 per month | $39.95 per month |
| Minimum Contract Requirement | 1 month | 1 month |
| Average Response Times | 25 seconds | 8 seconds |
| Fall Detection | $5 per month | $10 per month |
| Caregiver App | $8 per month | Included |
| Smartwatch Option | Yes | Yes |
| Contact | ||
| Phone Number |
Call for best price:
877-947-4512 |
Call for best price:
844-996-2846 |
| Website | View Packages Links to Medical Guardian | View Packages Links to LifeFone |
LifeFone Overview
LifeFone currently offers two in-home systems (a cellular and landline version), three mobile systems, and a medical alert smartwatch.
In our tests with LifeFone systems, their monitoring agents answered our calls in an average of 25 seconds, which is roughly average for medical alert systems. The company’s response agents were helpful, and, in the mobile systems’ case, could accurately report our coordinates.
To learn more about our experience with this company, check out our full LifeFone review.
LifeFone Devices Compared
| System | Monthly Cost | For Use | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| At-Home Landline |
|
At home |
|
| At-Home & On-the-Go, VIPx | $43.95 | At home and on the go |
|
| At-Home & On-the-Go, VIP Active | $41.95 | At home and on the go |
|
| At-Home & On-the-Go, VIP flex | $43.95 | At home and on the go |
|
| At-Home & On-the-Go, Safe Watch Active | $47.95 | At home and on the go |
|
Medical Guardian Overview
Medical Guardian currently offers five systems. The MGClassic and MGHome Cellular are their landline systems, while the MGMini, MGMini Lite, and MGMove are the mobile systems. Across all systems, we found the Medical Guardian response agents answered our test calls quickly.
To learn more about our hands-on experience testing these devices, read our full Medical Guardian review.
Medical Guardian Devices Compared
| System | Monthly Cost | For Use | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGClassic | $32.95 | At home |
|
| MGHome Cellular | $37.95 | At home |
|
| MGMini | $39.95 | At home and on the go |
|
| MGMini Lite | $44.95 | At home and on the go |
|
| MGMove | $39.95 | At home and on the go |
|
Costs and Contracts
Medical Guardian and LifeFone have a similar approach to contracts. Both companies allow you to subscribe on a month-to-month basis. While long-term contracts aren’t required, both companies allow you to pay in advance for three months or an entire year for a discount on the monthly price. That said, I generally advise people to pay the month-to-month price to avoid being locked into a device that their loved one might not use.
In terms of actual costs, LifeFone prices are slightly lower on all systems. The company’s in-home and mobile systems cost roughly $5 less per month than comparable devices from Medical Guardian. LifeFone fall detection is also more affordable than Medical Guardian’s, costing $5 per month compared to the $10 monthly charge from Medical Guardian.
Overall, Medical Guardian systems cost more than those from LifeFone.
FYI: LifeFone systems are more affordable, but they’re far from the cheapest. To find more budget-friendly options, read my guide to the most affordable medical alert systems.
Performance
While Medical Guardian systems cost a bit more, they performed slightly better in our tests. In our series of 10 test calls with each Medical Guardian system, we received responses in an average of eight seconds. This is the fastest response time of any medical alert company.
LifeFone systems, on the other hand, took an average of 25 seconds to connect us to help. That said, we should note that 25 seconds is still faster than our test calls with Life Alert. So, while LifeFone is not quite as fast as Medical Guardian, the company’s systems are still reliable.
From both companies, we found fall detection worked well. However, there was some variance among devices. The MGMini Lite, for example, detected 8 out of 10 test falls, while the MGMini detected only one. LifeFone systems performed similarly in terms of fall detection: capturing between 6 and 8 of 10 test falls.
Our Top Choice
While LifeFone is slightly cheaper than Medical Guardian, we recommend Medical Guardian systems over those from LifeFone. While LifeFone does have comparable features to Medical Guardian, the company’s response times were more than twice as long — making Medical Guardian one of our top-rated medical alert systems.
-
Which is better: LifeFone or Medical Guardian?
LifeFone systems cost slightly less, while Medical Guardian systems gave us slightly faster response times. Both companies consistently rank among our favorite medical alert companies.
-
Does LifeFone have the same equipment as Medical Guardian?
Occasionally, LifeFone and Medical Guardian offer identical systems under different names. For example, the At-Home & On-the-Go VIP flex and the MGMini Lite are the same device, just marketed differently.
-
Does LifeFone or Medical Guardian have better fall detection?
LifeFone’s fall detection costs only $5 per month, compared to the monthly $10 for Medical Guardian’s counterpart. However, we found that Medical Guardian’s fall detection was slightly more accurate.