Alert1 Vs Life Alert: Compare Technology And Pricing

Life Alert vs Alert1: An Overview

When it comes to the consequences of falling, they don’t just involve the severity of the fall but also include how quickly one can get help. Seniors older than age 65 are more likely to experience a fall, so those living independently often feel more comfortable having safety measures in place, such as medical alert systems.

Sean O’Brien, Director of Health at Home Technologies at Stanley Healthcare, offered his insights about the psychological benefits of medical alerts. “Medical devices help senior users maintain their autonomy as they age by allowing them to exercise control over their day-to-day life in a controlled capacity,” he said. Customers will get the most value from a device by choosing one that meets their needs and lifestyle.

Life Alert vs Alert1 Comparisons

Cost

Features

Fall Detection

Extras

Alert1 Overview

Nearly 35 years ago, Paul Graafsma founded Alert1 when his grandmother lived alone. After worrying about her safety, he began researching medical alert companies. Ultimately, this research was the catalyst to start his own company, to meet the needs of both caregivers and their loved ones. The Pennsylvania-based company now serves all 50 states in more than 190 languages.

After more than three decades in the medical alert field, Alert1 has kept up with the latest fall protection technology. It has designed two lines of medical alert systems, the In-the-Home and On-the-Go systems. An Alert1 customer can customize their emergency system by choosing the type of model, how they wear it, and adding wall-mounted buttons, voice extenders, and monitored smoke detectors. This company is known for comprehensive service plans that are also affordable, even integrating regular discounts into its packages. Members who pay 10 months in advance get their 11th month free.

Who Is Alert1 For?

Alert1 designs its products to support those aging in place. People who have an increased risk of falling or other serious medical concerns due to age, medication side effects, or previous falls should consider whether Alert1 medical alert systems are a good fit. This brand is known for affordable, hyper-customizable medical alert systems.

Family members concerned about their aging in place loved ones especially like Alert1’s menu of safety accessories. On top of the basic system, customers can order additional safeguards to outfit their loved one’s home in accessories like monitored smoke alarms, medication organizers, voice extenders and extra wall-mounted buttons. Additionally, users can choose between medical alert necklace and wrist pendants and add technology like GPS and automatic fall detection. Some fashion-conscious users choose Alert1 for the jewelry lanyard options, which allow you to accessorize medical alerts with onyx, stained glass, and pearl.

Those looking for straightforward pricing, no long-term contracts, and no hidden fees will appreciate Alert1’s business model. The company lists all its pricing in an intuitive chart that makes it easy to compare medical alert systems. The plans range from about $20 per month with the prepay discount, to about $60 per month, making Alert1 a match for budget shoppers.

What Are The Costs Of Alert1?

Alert1 systems, which are less expensive than Life Alert, are within a close price range of competitors like Aloe Care Health, Medical Guardian, and Bay Alarm Medical.

The In-the-Home system, Alert1’s basic plan, is $28.95 per month. The In-the-Home + Fall Detection is $38.95 per month, and members can add GPS to their service plan for an additional $10 per month. The Alert1 smartwatch with GPS technology costs a one-time fee of $179.95 and has a $38.95 per month monitoring fee. The company’s On-the-Go device is $38.95 monthly for coverage that moves in and out of the house with you.

If you want to add fall detection for added security, this technology costs an additional $10 per month. For Alert1’s most robust plan, the On-the-Go + In-the-Home + Fall Detection medical alert system, users pay $58.95 per month.

Different Plans And Models Of Alert1

Life Alert Overview

You may know Life Alert from its television commercials, which is famous for having popularized the phrase “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” This medical alert company has been in the field for over three decades. Currently, it employs 600 people to answer an estimated 2 million calls per year. From its California-based offices, Life Alert works to keep seniors safe and comfortable as they age in place.

Who Is Life Alert For?

People in the market for a medical alert system may worry that it won’t always be possible for them to dial a phone number for help in case of an emergency. For example, a prospective Life Alert customer could be someone who lives alone, a senior trying to reassure their loved ones of their well-being, or those with high-risk conditions like vision issues, difficulties with balance, or proneness to fainting. 

Life Alert customers value brand recognition. This medical alert company has been in the field for decades and can claim millions of phone calls per year. While some might appreciate the company’s history of experience, its web presence definitely could use some modernization. For example, on the Life Alert website, there is no information on the available models or pricing. To buy the products, you must call a toll-free phone number—they simply aren’t available for purchase online.

A Life Alert customer isn’t going to choose the most affordable medical alert package on the market and doesn’t mind signing up for a long-term, three-year contract. They want a simple personal emergency response system and aren’t dissuaded by the lack of fall detection technology.

What Are The Costs Of Life Alert?

The Life Alert entry-level device is its In-Home System, which is priced at $49.95 per month. The step up option, the In-Home System + Help Button, costs $69.95 for monthly monitoring. It should be noted that Life Alert requires a one-time $96 activation fee to initiate each of these plans.

The In-Home System + Help Button + GPS System is the most comprehensive Life Alert service. It costs $89.95 per month, and the one-time activation fee is $198.

Different Plans And Models Of Life Alert

Similarities between Alert1 vs Life Alert

When deciding between Life Alert vs Alert1 medical alerts, you’ll notice that the companies have overlapping qualities. For example, both are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and have strong customer reviews on third-party consumer report sites.

Also, each company offers a basic in-home model and a GPS device for errands and travel. These systems are monitored by certified, U.S.-based monitoring centers. Trained professionals speak to the user through the device’s internal microphone and speaker, and they even stay on the line until help arrives. This two-way communication device is available in all Alert1 and Life Alert units, except the Life Alert mobile device. This means that a mobile user can only trigger the alarm but not describe the emergency.

All the medical alerts listed in this review are splash-resistant, making them safe for use in the shower or bath. Life Alert and Alert1 also offer wall-mounted help buttons that can help make showering—an activity that causes concern for many seniors—a safer experience, as they can more easily summon help if a slip occurs.

Main Differences between Alert1 vs Life Alert

One of the main differences when comparing Alert1 vs Life Alert is price. Alert1 products sell in the range of about $20 to $60, and the company offers discounts to users who prepay 10 months. Life Alert products hover between about $50 and $90, with no obvious increase in quality. Prospective shoppers will also find a difference in how these prices are advertised. Alert1’s pricing structure is listed online, and it’s easy to compare its models and prices. In contrast, Life Alert sells its devices strictly over the phone and does not list prices online or in its brochure.

Another notable difference is the contract. While Alert1 doesn’t offer a risk-free trial, it promises month-to-month service with no penalties for cancellations. On the other hand, Life Alert is one of few medical alert companies that requires a long-term contract of its subscribers. The only way to terminate the three-year contract is if the subscriber has passed or moved into assisted living, in which case the burden of proof is on the user or their loved one.

Finally, these emergency devices differ in terms of technology. Life Alert products cannot be outfitted with fall detection, even at an extra cost. Alert1 products are compatible with fall detection technology—aside from the smartwatch—for users who fear falling or losing consciousness and cannot activate their help button. While no fall detection is 100 percent accurate and can trigger occasional false alarms, those who live alone often add this feature. Alert1 also gives a range of helpful medical accessories, like smartwatches, medication organizers, and monitored smoke alarms.

Key Takeaways

• Alert1 and Life Alert offer medical alert devices in mobile and in-home styles.
• Life Alert service plans are more expensive than Alert1 plans for similar technology.
• Both companies’ pendants are senior-friendly with large help buttons and lightweight, wearable designs.
• Alert1 offers an option for automatic fall detection in almost all its plans.
• Life Alert does not offer a fall detection option.
• Alert1 lists all products, add-ons, and accessories on its website, along with corresponding prices.
• The Life Alert website does not include products or pricing, and users must call for more details and to make a purchase.
• Financially savvy shoppers can earn a discount on Alert1 products by paying for 10 months upfront.
• Alert1 shoppers can add accessories like lockboxes, smoke alarms, medication organizers and even jeweled lanyards for their pendants.

What Are Customers Saying about Both of the Brands and Their Products?

The Better Business Bureau has rated Life Alert and Alert 1 with A+ ratings. Alert1 has earned 4.3 of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs, a site that allows users to share ratings and personally review products. On the same site, Life Alert has about one-third the number of user reviews but has earned a 4.9 with those users. We scoured third-party consumer report sites to get a sense of user experiences with the products, including when the products work, when they don’t, and how each company fares regarding member care and technical support. Listed below are just a few of the various reviews we found online for your reference.

Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review

Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We’ve collectively spent more than 1,700 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. To make our picks, we:

• Engaged in ongoing independent research
• Consulted with geriatricians and adult caregivers
• Mystery shopped the brands
• Surveyed medical alert system users
• Tested various medical alert systems
• Interviewed experts in the field
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties, such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports

How We Reviewed Alert1 and Life Alert Medical Alert Systems

We reviewed Alert1 and Life Alert Medical Alert Systems based on the following criteria:

• Price of installation and monthly service
• Warranties, contracts, and whether there were any hidden fees
• Reliability of monitoring center
• Comfort and wearability of mobile devices
• In-home range of equipment
• Water resistance of wearable devices
• Battery life and recharging requirements
• Ease of installation and use
• Expert opinion
• Customer service accessibility and performance
• Customer satisfaction reviews
• Company reputation
• Special features, such as automatic fall detection, smartphone apps for family members, and location tracking