ADT Medical Alert Systems: Pricing and Getting the Best Deal in 2025

The Fast Facts: ADT Medical Alert Equipment and Pricing

A Closer Look at ADT Medical Alert Systems and Value

Medical Alert Basic

Medical Alert Basic is ADT Medical Alert’s most affordable system, starting at $31.99 per month plus a $99 activation fee. Although there are some cheaper options for at-home systems on the market, ADT’s prices aren’t outrageous. For comparison, Medical Alert’s prices start at $27.95 per month, while Alert1’s monthly costs start at $28.95. This system is best for older adults who spend most of their time at home and seek a simple and reliable system.

ADT Medical Alert’s Medical Alert Basic system

This package includes an in-home base unit and a waterproof pendant or wristband. The system has a 300-foot range and runs on a landline connection. As long as you’re in range of the base station, you only need to press the wearable help button to connect to ADT’s 24/7 monitoring center. An operator will be there to send help in under a minute.

We wish the system had a larger coverage range, since 300 feet may not be enough for big, multistory homes. For comparison, LifeFone has a coverage range of up to 1,300 feet with comparable in-home systems. When testing the system, however, we didn’t have any issues connecting to the monitoring center.

Fall detection is not available with the Basic plan, but home temperature monitoring and two-way talk are included. Since over 1,100 older adults die each year from fire-related incidents, the temperature monitoring is a plus.1

Medical Alert Plus

The Medical Alert Plus system is a step up from the Basic plan. For $39.99 per month and a $50 activation fee, you’ll receive a 600-foot coverage range and cellular connection, which means you won’t need a landline. That gives you more flexibility to place the system in the spot that works best in your home, since you won’t need to plug the base unit into a phone jack. The base station is your two-way speakerphone, so location is important. You can use the pendant or wristband from any part of your home, but you can’t speak into them. Even if you’re not able to speak, ADT will still send an emergency response.

System setup is simple and straightforward with the user guide. When we got the system, we just plugged the base into an outlet and turned it on using the On/Off switch. You will notice green bars on the display when the base station is connected to your cellular network. It will show a full green battery on the display when it’s fully charged, and you will hear “system is ready” when it’s ready to go. It has a large emergency button, a reset button, a large two-way speaker, a battery indicator and volume controls. The display also has a test button, so you can perform the recommended monthly testing without speaking to an operator.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert:

The 600-foot range should be large enough for smaller households, but there are options with wider coverage. Some Medical Guardian systems have a 1,400-foot range, for instance, which is perfect for large, multilevel homes.

The 600-foot range is relatively small, but it doubles the range of the Medical Alert Basic and allows for outside activities, such as gardening. If you’re unable to speak, ADT Medical Alert will notify first responders and your personal contacts list to get you the help you need. If you’re looking for an in-home system, we recommend upgrading from the Medical Alert Basic to this model, since the system offers more value for just $8 extra per month. We also noticed that the system is a bit sleeker than the Medical Alert Basic model, which is great if aesthetics matter to you. The system is best for people who spend most of their time at home, but still want a few more advanced features.

Calling for help is simple. Just push the large emergency button, neck pendant or wristband and you will be connected to an agent via the base system. We did a test call by pushing the red emergency button, and we repeatedly heard “call in progress.” After some time the prompt said, “please stand by for the operator.” We were connected in 55 seconds, and the call was clear and the agent was very friendly, patient and helpful.

Testing out ADT Medical Alert's Medical Alert Plus system

The most useful element of the system, in our opinion, is the ability to add an automatic fall-detection pendant for $11 per month. With that feature, you can instantly connect with emergency personnel after a fall, even if you cannot press the help button. During our testing, we dropped the fall-detection device on the floor. It quickly beeped and said, “fall detected,” and notified the emergency-response team that a fall had taken place. We informed the operator that it was only a test, but they still followed up later to ensure that everything was OK. The thoroughness was very impressive and demonstrated their strong attention to serving their customers, which ups the system’s value.

The Plus plan also offers temperature monitoring. With its added features and versatility, we think it offers the better value of the two in-home packages.

On-The-Go

At $41.99 per month and a $50 activation fee, the price for the On-The-Go system sits at just $2 more than the Plus plan. It’s not the least expensive mobile system on the market, but it’s comparable to Medical Guardian’s prices for similar options. You can use the wearable mobile system, which is about the size of a tea bag, anywhere in the U.S. that has AT&T cellular coverage.2 The system also has built-in GPS technology to track your location in case of an emergency. ADT Medical Alert’s On-The-Go is the most practical plan for older adults who travel regularly, whether around town or for vacation. When worn as a lanyard, however, the device is quite large and heavy. If you’re looking for something more discreet, you may want to consider another option.

The system is best for active older adults who want the features of a medical alert to protect them wherever they go. Like MobileHelp, ADT Medical Alert uses AT&T coverage. When we tested the system, it had a good signal while driving around, on walks and at home, but if you live in areas with spotty AT&T service, your system won’t be as reliable.

During our test, we placed an emergency call. We pressed the emergency button and held it down for two seconds, and the red light around the button illuminated. I was connected to a very friendly and supportive agent after 32 seconds. Having the speakerphone in the center of the device is very convenient. It means you can speak into the device rather than having to go near the base station, similar to the Plus system.

Charging the On-The-Go ADT medical alert system

In addition to the unlimited range (because the unit travels with you) and GPS technology, the system’s main benefit is the portable unit’s built-in help button and two-way speaker. They allow you to easily call for help in an emergency. ADT also offers fall detection for $11 per month with this package, but it’s not programmed into the mobile device. Instead, it is included with a separate neck pendant, so you’ll need to remember to wear the pendant and carry the mobile device with you. Fall detection was very sensitive and immediately sent an alert, which was impressive. Don’t worry if there’s ever a false alarm; you can just push and hold the button to cancel it. Operators may follow up with you — as they did in our test — to make sure everything is OK.

Add-On Accessories: Pricing and Features

ADT Medical Alert offers a few basic add-ons to customize your medical alert system. In addition to fall detection, which we think is well worth the extra money, an extra wristband or neck pendant is a valuable add-on to consider for couples or roommates. Add-ons are best for older adults seeking more from their medical alert systems, such as additional health monitoring.

ADT Medical Alert vs. the Competition

How does ADT Medical Alert compare to other popular companies for price and value? We’ll take a closer look below.

ADT Medical Alert vs. Medical Guardian

ADT Medical Alert’s systems range from $31.99 to $41.99 per month, making them pretty comparable to Medical Guardian’s prices, which range from $31.95 to $46.95 per month. ADT Medical Alert’s fall detection costs $11 per month, however, and Medical Guardian charges $10 per month.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert:

ADT Medical Alert lacks many of the advanced features that Medical Guardian offers. The company also has one of the best customer support teams I’ve ever experienced.

You won’t get charged activation fees at either company. There are no device fees with ADT Medical Alert, however, while Medical Guardian has device fees of up to $199.95. ADT Medical Alert also has a lifetime warranty at no extra cost, while Medical Guardian’s warranty is optional and costs an additional $6.99 per month.

» Compare Your Options: Medical Guardian review

Medical Guardian offers a wide variety of high-tech systems and extra features that ADT Medical Alert does not. Medical Guardian, for example, has a smartwatch system, a caregiver mobile app and sleek equipment. If you want a more advanced system, you’ll get more bang for your buck with Medical Guardian. If you want to keep things simple, ADT Medical Alert is a great choice.

ADT Medical Alert vs. LifeFone

LifeFone’s at-home system pricing starts at $29.95 per month, and you can get a $2 monthly discount when paying quarterly or a $5 discount when paying annually. That makes LifeFone slightly cheaper than ADT Medical Alert, but only by a few dollars.

LifeFone’s plans come with features that ADT Medical Alert doesn’t offer, including optional wellness checks, activity tracking and medication reminders for an additional monthly fee. LifeFone’s at-home plans come with spouse monitoring, and there’s a companion app that comes with the VIPx device. They also have inexpensive fall detection at just $5 per month, which is $6 cheaper than ADT Medical Alert.

» Compare Your Options: 2025 LifeFone Review

The choice will come down to what you’re looking for. If you want a top-notch monitoring center and you don’t care about extra frills, ADT Medical Alert is our top pick. But if you want certain add-ons or to save on fall detection, LifeFone is a solid option.

ADT Medical Alert vs. Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical’s prices are affordable, starting at $24.95 per month. That’s around $7 cheaper than ADT Medical Alert’s in-home system. Plus, new customers receive a 30-day free trial, while ADT Medical Alert does not offer a free trial period. Bay Alarm Medical also offers several systems, including sleek on-the-go units and a smartwatch, while ADT Medical Alert’s offerings are pretty basic.

» Learn More: Bay Alarm Medical Review

ADT Medical Alert is more expensive than Bay Alarm Medical’s options, but ADT Medical Alert locks in prices at purchase. That means you will never experience a surprise price hike.

How to Get the Best Deal With ADT Medical Alert

Here are a few of our tips to get the best bargain with ADT Medical Alert:

• Buy online: You’ll save a few bucks each month if you order your system online. We always recommend calling customer service to ask questions and ensure that you understand what you’re buying, and then placing your order online. (Or ask customer service if they will give you the same price over the phone.) ADT typically offers deals and discounts for new online customers. We reached out to ADT Health customer service by phone and had all of our questions answered. When we asked if they could provide help in different languages, however, the agent replied that it wasn’t guaranteed. That’s something to know ahead of time.
• Ask questions: Ask lots of questions, and be sure you understand the fine print before purchasing. ADT Medical Alert doesn’t offer a free trial period like many other providers, but they will reimburse any unused days in the monthly billing cycle upon the return of the equipment. They also send a prepaid mailing label to return the devices.
• Add a spouse: By spending an extra $5 per month on an additional help button, spouses can both use one ADT Medical Alert at-home system. When you do the math for two users, the monthly fee for an ADT system breaks down to between about $18.50 and $23.50 per person. That’s cheaper than buying two separate systems!

Is ADT Medical Alert Right for Me?

With so many medical alert systems out there, it can be hard to know which company is the right fit for your needs. Considering the following statistics may help you decide.

Testing out Medical Alert Basic

In 2019, falls were the leading cause of injury death in adults 65 or older3. Many older adults could benefit from medical alert systems, particularly devices that include fall detection. ADT Medical Alert systems don’t have many bells and whistles, but they offer basic systems with essential add-on features, like fall detection. With simple, easy-to-use systems and a long history of protecting households across America, ADT is a good option for keeping you or your aging family members protected.

Our Methodology: How We Tested ADT Medical Alert Systems

Testing out ADT Medical Alert's help button

Our senior tech experts spent over 50 hours testing ADT Medical Alert’s systems to determine their reliability and usability for seniors. We tested the systems, contacted customer support and evaluated the company’s products, add-ons and offerings. Below is a closer look at our testing process.

1. While our team researched ADT Medical Alert’s systems, we spoke with the customer support team on several occasions to get our questions answered and determine the quality of service.
2. We purchased ADT Medical Alert’s systems online, evaluating the shopping experience, price and value.
3. We set up and tested each system in a 1,400-square-foot, two-story home, evaluating the time and simplicity of setup. We used on-the-go systems while running errands, taking walks and traveling.
4. To evaluate the company’s response times, we tested each system’s help button 10 times and recorded average response times. We conducted the same tests using the company’s fall-detection pendants by simulating falls.

After testing, we evaluated the systems for the following criteria:

• Price and value: Affordability and value are key, particularly since many older adults live on fixed incomes. We compared medical alert systems, add-ons, and any extra fees or discounts to weigh whether its price point matches the product’s value.
• Customer service: We measured the accessibility, friendliness and helpfulness of customer-service agents, including modes of communication such as text, chat, email and phone.
• Ease of use: We evaluated how easy each system was to use and what support is offered when help is needed.
• Response times: Response times must be fast, so you can receive quick help during an emergency.

Final Thoughts on Pricing and Value for ADT Medical Alert

For those who like simplicity, ADT has a system for you. Keep in mind that ADT Medical Alert offers limited add-ons. It doesn’t, for example, have a mobile app with services for caregivers, as some other providers do. But the few extras it does offer are essential, such as fall detection.

Of the three systems, we think On-The-Go provides the greatest value. It’s in the same price range as other top cellular GPS systems and includes two-way talk, GPS location detection and optional fall detection. On the other hand, Medical Alert Basic and Medical Alert Plus are bare-bones systems with a smaller range at a higher price point than many other at-home systems. But with online ordering incentives and inexpensive monitoring for spouses, ADT is a solid option.

You can learn more about our experience trying ADT by watching our video review below!