MobileHelp Medical Alert System Review

MobileHelp offers innovative, affordable medical alert systems to use in your home or on the go.
Most affordable medical alert system
MobileHelp
MobileHelp
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Starts at
$19.95
/mo
  • pro
    30-day risk-free trial
  • pro
    Free lease of equipment
  • pro
    Lifetime warranty
Cathy Habas
Dec 15, 2022
Icon Time To Read8 min read

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

When you start looking for a medical alert system, it can be hard to choose between an at-home or GPS-based system. MobileHelp gives you both in one system for under $50 per month. Most packages don’t require activation fees either—all you pay for is monitoring.

That said, MobileHelp’s equipment isn’t the sleekest. The GPS wearable stuffs a lot of features into one device, making it bigger than other options. It’s a handy device for loved ones, but it could get in the way of daily activities or feel uncomfortable after a long day.

pro
Pros
pro Free activation on most plans
pro 30-day risk-free trial
pro 1,400 ft. range from base station
pro Flexible pay schedule
pro MDLive telehealth service
pro Caregiver portal
pro Discounted spouse coverage
pro Free button battery replacements
pro Medication reminder option
con
Cons
con Bulky equipment
con No voice activation
con Lost or damaged equipment fees
con Price lock guarantee costs extra

MobileHelp cost

MobileHelp’s pricing structure is transparent and easy to understand. For the eight packages available, each comes with the option to pay monthly, every 3 months, every 6 months, or every 12 months.

While $400 and up seems like a lot for a medical alert system, you’ll save money by paying in larger chunks once or twice a year. We like that you can adjust your payment schedule.

Compare MobileHelp monthly costs

Package
Monthly price
Quarterly price
Semiannual price
Annual price
Learn more
$98.85
$179.70
$359.40
$74.85
$137.80
$275.40
$113.85
$203.70
$383.40
$104.85
$197.70
$395.40
$114.85
$209.20
$393.40
$123.85
$227.20
$429.40
$164.85
$299.70
$599.40
$164.85
$299.70
$599.40

Info as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

No equipment fees

We’ve come across plenty of medical alert systems—also called personal emergency response systems (PERS)—with high entry prices and lots of extra fees. And we have some good news for you: MobileHelp is an exception. You won’t incur equipment fees. All you’ll have to pay for is monitoring.

The MobileHelp Classic kit is the only one that comes with a one-time processing fee ($49.95). Aside from that, you won’t have to worry about any extra costs looming around the corner, which helps to make MobileHelp one of the most affordable medical alerts on the market.

The flexible payment schedule makes MobileHelp more accessible to folks of all pay grades, especially families caring for multiple older loved ones. And no matter what schedule you choose, there are no contracts, so you can return it anytime.

Thumbs Up
Fall detection is $11 a month across the board

MobileHelp offers special automatic fall detection equipment with any of the plans in the table above. It costs an extra $11 per month but can provide crucial help if you fall and are knocked unconscious by the impact.

MobileHelp cancellation and refunds 

MobileHelp doesn’t require you to sign a contract, but cancellation can be a little tricky.

If you received your equipment directly from MobileHelp, you need to send it back to cancel your service. The return shipping fees are your responsibility, and MobileHelp won’t cancel your service until they receive the equipment.

The bad news is you could get charged for a month you didn’t need if the equipment doesn’t arrive on time. But the good news is you’ll get a prorated refund based on the monthly cost—even if you paid in advance at a discounted rate.

According to MobileHelp’s terms of service, you won’t get a refund if your remaining balance is less than $15 when you cancel. MobileHelp also notes that its pricing is subject to change without notice. There’s no free price-lock guarantee like you get with other alert companies such as Bay Alarm Medical—it's one of the perks of the $6-a-month MobileHelp Connect Premium service, and it only locks in your MobileHelp fees for two years.

We dive deeper into details when we look at MobileHelp’s customer service.

Thumbs Up
Returning equipment after loved ones passing

The father-in-law of one SafeWise staff member used MobileHelp until he passed away. The family had to return the equipment upon his passing and were disappointed by the burden of boxing and the shipping cost during an already difficult time.

They paid for a couple weeks of service they didn’t need. (Sending the alert system back isn’t usually a priority in light of a loved one’s death.) But once MobileHelp received everything, cancellation was easy, and they got a refund check quickly.

MobileHelp tech and equipment

MobileHelp offers a full breadth of medical alert equipment, including an at-home system and GPS wearable. For at-home systems, you can choose a cellular or landline connection for the base station and the type of waterproof wearable that suits you best.

Fall detection is available as an optional add-on for all packages. 

Compare MobileHelp packages

Two-way communication
GPS unit
At-home base station
Range from base station
Learn more
mobilehlep classic medical alert system base and help buttonMobileHelp Classic
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
1,400 ft.
MobileHelp Wired HomeMobileHelp Wired
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
600 ft.
MobileHelp Duo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
1,400 ft.
mobilehelp mobile duo equipment, help button, and chargerMobileHelp Mobile Duo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
600 ft.
MobileHelp SoloMobileHelp Solo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
600 ft.
MobileHelp Micro
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
N/A
MobileHelp Touch ClassicMobileHelp Touch Classic
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
150 ft.
MobileHelp Touch DuoMobileHelp Touch Duo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
150 ft.

Info as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

MobileHelp Classic

In-home cellular system
mobilehlep classic medical alert system base and help button
MobileHelp Classic
Starting from
$19.95
/mo

The MobileHelp Classic is one of two at-home packages. It comes with a base station and a waterproof wearable to wear as a wristband or lanyard (the choice is yours).

Your loved one can call for help from the base station’s large red emergency button or from the single button on their wearable. As long as they’re within 1,400 feet from the base station, help will never be far away.

Thumbs Up
How big is 1,400 feet?

MobileHelp Classic’s range is among the widest we’ve seen. Here are a few measurements to make that number easier to understand.

  • 1,400 feet = around 2 city blocks
  • 1,400 feet = about 3.8 football fields
  • 1,400 feet = roughly 31.1 school buses
  • 1,400 feet = exactly 14 blue whales

The base station itself has adjustable volume, a test and reset button, and of course, its giant red help button that’s easy to find in an emergency. Because the MobileHelp Classic system uses a cellular signal, you won’t need a landline to use it.

This system uses AT&T’s cellular signal (but you don’t need to be an AT&T customer). If you can get AT&T coverage in your area, the MobileHelp Classic should work just fine.

For an extra $6/mo., you can program the MobileHelp cellular base station with medication reminders. They're easy to set up in the caregiver portal.

MobileHelp Wired

In-home landline system
MobileHelp Wired Home
MobileHelp Wired
Starting from
$24.95
/mo

The MobileHelp Wired system is a lot like the MobileHelp Classic. Its wide base station is fitted with a large emergency button and stays in range of the waterproof wearable. The biggest difference is that the Wired system requires a landline connection.

A landline connection is a good choice for those living in rural areas or places without AT&T coverage. Just like the MobileHelp Classic, your loved one can call for help from their wristband, lanyard, or base station.

The Wired Home base station has a powerful speaker and microphone so they can talk to the monitoring operator on the other side. They’ll need to stay within 1,300 feet of the base station for the wearable to work, which gives them room to move freely about the house and even down the block.

MobileHelp Duo

In-home and mobile system
MobileHelp Duo
Starting from
$41.95
/mo

The MobileHelp Duo is our pick of the bunch from MobileHelp. It comes with an at-home cellular unit (like the one in the MobileHelp Classic) and a wearable GPS unit. At $41.95 per month, it can be a little pricey for some families, but it becomes more affordable with quarterly or semiannual payments.

We like that you get the best of both worlds in this kit. Just like the MobileHelp Classic, your loved one will get a lightweight wearable and an at-home base station. These devices keep them safe whether they’re at home, in the garden, or cooking dinner.

When they leave the house, they can use the GPS lanyard. It sends their location to the monitoring center when they need help out of the house.

Our only complaint is that the GPS unit is bulky. So it’s not always easy to wear, especially during exercising or physical activity. But its bulk comes from its built-in speaker and microphone that help the wearer to speak with operators and call for help.

MobileHelp Mobile Duo

Mobile system for couples
mobilehelp mobile duo equipment, help button, and charger
Mobile Duo
Starting from
$44.95
/mo

For older couples living together, finding an alert system that covers both partners’ needs can be tricky. The Mobile Duo delivers two standalone GPS units for each person.

Both devices have two-way communication and don’t need to stay within range of a base station. The GPS technology can track your loved one if they need help in or out of the house or if they get lost.

MobileHelp Solo

Mobile system
MobileHelp Solo
MobileHelp Solo
Starting from
$37.95
/mo

With just one GPS unit, the MobileHelp Solo is a no-fuss option for any family looking for a simple supplement to independent living. Loved ones can leave the house, go to doctor’s appointments, and call for help anywhere they need it as long as they have their mobile unit with them.

But it's outdated and expensive compared to the MobileHelp Micro, so we don't recommend this package.

Thumbs Up
MobileHelp lockbox

For every order over $29.95, MobileHelp throws in a free lockbox for your home. These lockboxes keep your house key safely inside, so if you’re unable to answer the door when emergency services arrive, they can reach you easily.

MobileHelp Micro

Mobile system
MobileHelp Micro
Starting from
$39.95
/mo

One of the latest offerings from this medical alert company is the MobileHelp Micro, which solves two problems in the other mobile devices:

  • It's not bulky.
  • There's only one device to keep track of.

Now you don't have to carry a mobile medical alert base station with you and wear a separate pendant. Just wear the Micro and you're good to go. 

It's a help button and GPS tracker rolled into one. Plus, it now features integrated fall detection so you don't have to wear a separate fall alert pendant.

MobileHelp Touch Classic

In-home cellular system

Part tablet, part medical alert base station, the MobileHelp Touch Classic is perfect for people who feel young at heart.

Let's face it: no one looks forward to having a medical alert system in their home. The MobileHelp Touch Classic relieves some of the sting by offering games, messages, and photo galleries on the same device that houses a help button, two-way audio, and health apps. 

It uses Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth and has a 12-hour battery. The Touch Classic comes with a wearable button, but it only works within 150 feet of the base station.

One really cool feature of the Touch Classic is its ability to pair with smart health devices like blood pressure monitors, scales, and glucose meters.

MobileHelp Touch Duo

In-home and mobile system

The MobileHelp Touch Classic costs the same as MobileHelp's ultimate bundled package, the Touch Duo. If you like the sound of a touchscreen tablet/medical alert hub, you might as well enjoy on-the-go protection with the addition of the MobileHelp Solo.

MobileHelp customer service

In our interactions with MobileHelp, the customer service representatives and monitoring center operators were helpful and patient. Our only complaint is the return and refund policy, especially if you’re sending back the equipment after a loved one has passed away.

The company doesn’t provide packaging to return the equipment in, and you’re responsible for the return shipping costs. On top of that, you can’t even cancel your service until MobileHelp has received the equipment. That means you’re being charged for service after your family member is no longer using it.

Bell
Beware the equipment replacement fee

If your MobileHelp equipment is lost or damaged, you might have to pay up to $650 when cancelling your service.

The company also makes it clear that prices are subject to change without notice. That means your monthly cost could increase.

But MobileHelp does some other things right:

  • Trials: MobileHelp has a no-risk, 30-day trial, so you can find out if you like the MobileHelp equipment and service before you shell out any money.
  • Simplicity: We also like that MobileHelp’s policies, packages, and pricing are transparent and simple.

Compare MobileHelp to other medical alert companies

We’ve lined up MobileHelp against some of the best medical alert systems we’ve reviewed. Here’s what we found.

  • No equipment fees: MobileHelp charges only for monitoring, no matter what equipment you buy. Companies like LifeFone and Medical Alert also lease all of their equipment to you for free.
  • Automatic fall detection is a standard extra: MobileHelp charges $1 more per month for fall detection compared to most competitors.  
  • Monitoring fees depend on the equipment you choose: While MobileHelp doesn’t charge equipment fees, it does increase monitoring prices by package. GetSafe, on the other hand, charges for equipment (between $80 and $280), but all monitoring costs $27.95, regardless of the package you choose. 
  • So-so caregiver features: MobileHelp's caregiver portal and location tracking app are pretty basic, but they get the job done. Brands like Medical Guardian and Aloe Care Health put more helpful tools in the hands of remote caregivers.
  • Excellent value: While some of MobileHelp's packages cost over $50/mo., we think it's money well spent, especially compared to what you get from Life Alert or Lifeline for a similar price or higher.

MobileHelp vs. the competition

Brand
Best for
Lowest monthly price
In-home range
Backup battery
Landline option available
Learn more
Best overall1000 ft.32 hrs.
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best wearable options1300 ft.32 hrs.
Icon Yes  LightYes
Most trusted name600 ft.20 hrs.
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best for fall detection800 ft.30 hrs.
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best at-home system1,300 ft.32 hrs.
Icon Yes  LightYes

Info as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Final word

MobileHelp lets you choose when to pay for monitoring and has a few unique equipment packages. But its return and cancellation policies could use some improvements, especially if you’re in the midst of grieving a loved one.

For anyone looking for an easy-to-use and affordable medical alert system, MobileHelp is worth your attention. Its equipment may not be head-turning, but the at-home and on-the-go systems provide independence for loved ones for when they need it most.

MobileHelp FAQ 

The MobileHelp Smart watch has been discontinued. We're not sure if MobileHelp has plans to relaunch it, but you can check out our recommended medical alert watches for alternatives.

Yes, MobileHelp has launched a web-based dashboard and smartphone app called MobileHelp Connect. 

Yes. The alert buttons with the at-home systems and the GPS unit are all waterproof. So your loved one can wear them in the shower, bath, swimming pool, or in the rain.

All MobileHelp subscribers get free access to a telehealth service called MDLive. You don't need to have insurance or even make an appointment. You talk to a doctor through your computer or mobile device and can even get common prescriptions written.

How we reviewed MobileHelp

We used information from hands-on testing, customer reviews, research, and my father-in-law’s real-life experience to review MobileHelp’s medical alert systems. We considered customer policies, equipment and package offerings, monthly fees, and how easy the system was to understand and operate.

Our full rankings methodology has more details about how we rank and review products and services.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

Recent Articles

older-hispanic-couple-hiking
The Best Fall Detection Devices
Find the best medical alert systems with fall detection. Compare equipment, price, accuracy, customer reviews,...
woman adjusting thermostat in bright home
The Best Home Security Systems of 2024
After thousands of hours of tests and research, we picked Vivint and SimpliSafe as the...
medical alert products on an illustrated background
Best Medical Alert Systems
See which medical alert system is the best to keep you and your loved one...
Man and woman couple wife husband set up surveillance security camera
Best Apartment Security Systems
These renter-friendly apartment security systems help keep you safe and require less commitment than your...