4 Best Medical Alert Necklaces of 2025

That’s why, when we hand-tested dozens of medical alert necklaces (also known as “medical alert pendants”), we focused on brands that perform well but also look good. Devices should look either discreet or be able to complement your outfit. 

One of the biggest reasons people refuse to wear medical alert systems is due to design aspects, according to research. People think the devices themselves don’t look attractive and that they’re not comfortable. 

But that’s not what you’ll find in our picks for the top medical alert pendants on the market. Every brand we recommend offers easy-to-use, well-designed devices. Some even offer ways to “disguise” or change the look of your necklace to match your outfit. 

Keep reading for our top choices that offer quality devices and smart-looking design.

A quick look at the best medical alert necklaces

• Medical Guardian: Best Overall
• MobileHelp: Most Affordable
• Bay Alarm Medical: Most Design Options
• LifeFone: Longest Battery Life

The best medical alert necklaces of 2025

Best Medical Alert Necklaces of 2025

Medical Guardian: Best Overall

Why We Love It

Medical Guardian is an all-around winner. It’s got the longest necklace range on this list (1,400 feet), one of the longest battery lives (5 days), and its necklaces have some of the most stylish options we’ve seen on the market. That makes it our clear choice for “Best Overall” medical alert necklace.

We especially love the brand’s Limitless Icons collection of medical alert jewelry. Named after and inspired by the leading ladies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, these medical alert necklaces look just like regular jewelry. And function just like a regular medical alert necklace (help button and all). Although they don’t have fall detection (you’ll need to buy a separate fall detection pendant for an extra $10/month). Made from hypoallergenic brass with gold and silver finishes and hand-cut faceted resin stones, these necklaces are the highest-quality medical alert jewelry we’ve seen. They also only cost an extra $2.99 per month for the Limitless Icons necklace, which is the same price as a regular Medical Guardian help button necklace.

Apart from looks, Medical Guardian necklaces performed well in testing, despite having the longest device range on this list at 1,400 feet. Every time we pressed the help button within the device range we were connected to the monitoring center in less than 30 seconds. Medical Guardian overall has one of the fastest average response times, according to our hands-on testing. 

Medical Guardian has a lot going for it, but it does have some drawbacks. Namely, it has the highest starting monthly cost at this list ($36.95). It’s also one of two brands on this list (the other is Bay Alarm Medical) that charges up to $199.95 in one-time equipment fees. The only device that Medical Guardian doesn’t charge an equipment fee for is the at-home landline device. For every other device expect to pay at least an extra $149.95 when you purchase.

And although we love the Limitless Icons collection, you can’t swap out different jewelry to match your outfit (Bay Alarm Medical has this option). You’d need to buy another necklace if you wanted a different color.

MobileHelp: Most Affordable

Why We Love It

MobileHelp is the winner of “Most Affordable” medical alert necklace for its low starting monthly cost and lack of one-time fees.

While MobileHelp ties with Bay Alarm Medical for lowest starting monthly cost ($24.95), MobileHelp charges no extra one-time equipment fees. Bay Alarm Medical, on the other hand, charges up to $199, depending on the device. 

MobileHelp also offers the option to bundle devices to save more money. Its Mobile Duo device, when bundled as a duo, comes out to $25 per month, which is the cheapest GPS-enabled necklace on this list by $15 per month. However, the brand’s fall detection is slightly higher than the industry average of $10/month, as MobileHelp charges $11/month for this feature.

We like MobileHelp devices, but it’s the only company on this list that doesn’t offer an option for “disguising” your medical alert necklace or making it look like jewelry. That makes MobileHelp necklaces look a bit bulky and outdated compared to the others on this list. Also, the company’s device range is shorter (600 feet), and battery life is the lowest on this list (30 hours).

Bay Alarm Medical: Most Design Options

Why We Love It

Bay Alarm Medical offers a line of “Bella Charms,” which are four interchangeable charms you can click onto the front of your help button necklace to make it look like jewelry. Because Bella Charms let you customize your necklace, we named the company “Most Design Options.” Bay Alarm Medical is the only company we’ve seen that gives you different options to swap the design of a single necklace. Every other company makes you buy a separate pendant if you want a different design. 

In our focus groups and surveys with caregivers and medical alert users, one of the most common complaints we’ve heard is that medical alerts don’t look “appealing.” We think that Bella Charms can help improve the look of your medical alert necklace, which in turn will make you more likely to wear it. And the best medical alert necklace is one you’ll wear regularly.

The four different design options for customizing the look of your Bay Alarm Medical necklace. Click each charm onto your necklace and swap each one to change your look for the day.

We love the versatility of Bella Charms, but we’d like to see them at a lower price. They cost $25 each, which can add up quickly if you want all four. 

Like Medical Guardian, Bella Charms won’t work with necklaces with fall detection. You’ll need a separate fall detection pendant that costs $10 extra per month.

Besides functionality, Bay Alarm Medical necklaces performed well in testing. They were able to connect to the monitoring center in less than one minute. For other features, Bay Alarm is in the middle of the pack. It’s got an average battery life (72 hours) and device range (1,000 feet).

LifeFone: Longest Battery Life

Why We Love It

This is a simple one: LifeFone obviously wins “Longest Battery Life” for having the best battery on this list. Its GPS necklace, the VIPx, can work up to 10 days without needing a charge. That battery life blows away the competition. The next-longest battery on this list is Medical Guardian with five days. With LifeFone, you can get a GPS-enabled device with fall detection that lasts literally twice as long as the next competitor. That’s a pretty big difference. It also charges faster than any device on this list. The VIPx charges in about two hours, while the Medical Guardian MGMini needs at least three hours.

A long battery life isn’t just a generic feature: For medical alert necklaces, battery life can be crucial. Let’s say there’s a long power outage or you’re travelling and suddenly without access to electricity for a day or two. Especially for necklaces, which are designed to be worn everyday and go wherever you go, a long battery life can ensure you’re always connected and protected. 

Of course, a long battery life is nothing without accurate monitoring. When we tested LifeFone necklaces, the monitoring center responded within one minute of us pressing the help button. Although the monitoring center responded quickly, the audio quality of the VIPx necklace was inconsistent. Most calls were clear and easy to understand, but one of our test calls was static-y and required us to ask the monitoring center staff to repeat themselves a few times.

LifeFone also gives you the option of purchasing a “vanity pendant” to make your necklace look like jewelry. It costs $49.95, which is the most expensive necklace jewelry on this list. It also doesn’t let you swap out designs like Bay Alarm Medical does. 

But the long battery life, along with a long device range and the option to “beautify” your necklace makes LifeFone a solid option.

What is a medical alert necklace?

Medical alert necklaces are devices you wear around your neck with a help button that connects to a staffed monitoring center. When you press the help button, the necklace connects to the monitoring center, where staff will ask if you’re okay and assess whether you need emergency services. 

Medical alert necklaces vs. medical ID jewelry

Medical alert necklaces are not the same thing as medical ID jewelry. 

Medical ID jewelry are bracelets or necklaces that list the wearer’s health information such as allergies or medical conditions. Common conditions listed on medical ID jewelry include diabetes, epilepsy, and heart disease. With this information, even if you’re unconscious, EMTs or other emergency services will have a better idea of how to treat you. 

Medical alert necklaces, on the other hand, are preventive devices that call help if you need it. Medical ID jewelry is for when help has arrived.

How much do medical alert necklaces cost?

Medical alert necklaces can cost from about $25–$50 in monthly fees, not counting one-time equipment fees which can cost up to $200. 

Costs can vary based on the type of necklace (GPS or at-home) and whether you opt for a necklace that looks like jewelry.

How to save money on medical alert necklaces

Yes, they can be expensive, but there are ways to save money on medical alert necklaces: 

• Pay quarterly or annually. Most medical alert companies will offer discounts if you pay more upfront.  
• Watch for sales. Like regular electronics companies, medical alert companies run sales around major holidays. 
• Use FSA or HSA funds. These are pre-tax funds you may be able to use to pay for a medical alert necklace.
• Look for veterans benefits. The Bureau of Veterans Affairs in your area may offer free or reduced-cost medical alert systems. 

Who should use a medical alert necklace?

Anyone who has fallen previously or has a risk of falling, is recovering from a surgery or illness, lives alone, has mobility issues, or is an older adult could benefit from using a medical alert necklace. 

Anyone worried about the aesthetics of the device should consider a medical alert necklace that has different design options to “disguise” the necklace as jewelry.