MobileHelp vs. Medical Guardian, Hands-On Comparison
Key Findings
- Medical Guardian systems answered our test calls in an average of eight seconds, while MobileHelp systems did so in 26.
- MobileHelp’s systems start at $19.95 per month for a cellular system, while Medical Guardian’s cellular system costs $37.95 per month.
- Medical Guardian offers a free caregiver app, while MobileHelp offers no similar features.
FYI: Curious how these two companies compare to other top-rated brands? Then read our rundown of this year’s best medical alert systems.
Why Trust TheSeniorList?
At 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 in-home systems, mobile systems, and smartwatches. Each device has its own unique features, but they all offer the same basic function: connecting a user 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 the agents at their 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.
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| Editor's Ratings | ||
| Starting Price (Home System) |
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| Starting Price (Mobile System) | $34.95 per month | $39.95 per month |
| Minimum Contract Requirement | 1 month | 1 month |
| Average Response Times | 26 seconds | 8 seconds |
| Fall Detection | $5.50-$11 per month, varies by system | $10 per month |
| Caregiver App | Not available | Included |
| Smartwatch Option | Not available | Yes |
| Contact | ||
| Phone Number |
Call for best price:
800-915-8738 |
Call for best price:
877-947-4512 |
| Website | View Packages Links to MobileHelp | View Packages Links to Medical Guardian |
Medical Guardian Systems Overview
Medical Guardian currently offers five systems. The MGClassic and MGHome Cellular are its 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 Starting Cost | For Use | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGClassic | $32.95 | At home |
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| MGHome Cellular | $37.95 | At home |
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| MGMini | $39.95 | At home and on the go |
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| MGMini Lite | $44.95 | At home and on the go |
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| MGMove | $39.95 | At home and on the go |
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MobileHelp Systems Overview
One of the most affordable medical alert providers, MobileHelp currently offers four different systems. The Classic Cellular and Classic Landline are its two home systems, and the Solo and MobileHelp Micro are MobileHelp’s mobile medical alerts.
To learn more about our hands-on experience with these systems, read our in-depth MobileHelp review.
MobileHelp Systems Compared
| MobileHelp System | Monthly Starting Cost | Connection | For Use | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Cellular | $19.95 | Cellular | At home |
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| Classic Landline | $24.95 | Landline | At home |
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| Micro | $34.95 | Cellular | At home and on the go |
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| Solo | $34.95 | Cellular | At home and on the go |
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Costs and Contracts
Across the board, MobileHelp costs are significantly lower than Medical Guardian’s. The company’s in-home cellular system costs $19.95 per month, and the in-home landline system costs $24.95 per month. Compare this to Medical Guardian prices, which start at $32.95 for its landline system and $37.95 for its in-home cellular system.
MobileHelp’s mobile systems are also more affordable, costing $34.95 per month with no equipment charges. Medical Guardian’s mobile systems range from $39.95 to $44.95 per month, and they require equipment fees of roughly $100.
In terms of contracts, neither company requires long-term deals. This means you can cancel your service at any time and stop making monthly payments, unlike Life Alert systems.
Performance
In our series of 10 test calls with each company, Medical Guardian provided quicker access to help, averaging eight seconds across our calls. MobileHelp systems took an average of 26 seconds. Undoubtedly, Medical Guardian is able to connect users to help in a timelier manner.
With mobile systems, we found that options from both companies were able to accurately report our GPS location to response agents. Fall detection was also mostly accurate from both companies, with both systems accurately detecting a majority of our test falls. MobileHelp fall detection costs $5.50 to $11 per month, compared to Medical Guardian’s $10. However, this difference is negligible.
Extra Features
Where MobileHelp falls short is in its lack of a caregiver app. With Medical Guardian, we could use the MyGuardian app to track a device’s location, receive alerts when an emergency call is placed, and monitor the device’s cellular strength. MobileHelp has yet to offer this type of functionality.
For an extra $2.99 per month, MobileHelp subscribers can send text alerts to loved ones when a system places an emergency call. However, a similar feature costs $2.99 from Medical Guardian.
If caregiver features are important to you, then we’d recommend any system from Medical Guardian over those from MobileHelp.
Our Verdict
Both Medical Guardian and MobileHelp have proven experience in the industry, U.S.-based call centers, and a wide variety of pricing and equipment options. Undoubtedly, both companies provide excellent customer service and protection with the option of fall detection.
That being said, MobileHelp offers lower base pricing. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, MobileHelp may be the company for you. Medical Guardian, however, offers quicker response times, and their caregiver app is highly useful.
To learn more about these companies, check out how they ranked in my list of the best medical alert systems.