Medical Guardian Prices and Deals in 2026

The Fast Facts: Medical Guardian’s Packages and Pricing

A Closer Look at Medical Guardian’s Systems and Value

Medical Guardian offers a diverse lineup at several price points. Standard monthly plans range from $31.95 to $49.95. We suggest comparing quarterly and annual billing options, since prepaying can lower the effective monthly rate. If you cancel a prepaid plan early, you may receive a prorated refund for unused service, but we recommend confirming the terms for your system before ordering.

We would have liked a 30-day free trial period to test Medical Guardian's systems, like LifeFone offers, or at least a 15-day trial, which you get with Bay Alarm Medical. But we appreciate that Medical Guardian doesn't charge activation fees for their systems, unlike other companies we've reviewed, including Lively.

When comparing prices with similar brands, we recommend factoring equipment fees, shipping, and add-ons into the total cost. We also appreciate the free MyGuardian portal and app, which let you manage billing, health, and safety information in one place.

MGHome Landline

Testing out MGHome Landline

At $31.95 per month, MGHome Landline is Medical Guardian’s lowest-priced package, though it still comes with a one-time $149.95 equipment fee. We recommend it for older adults who live where cellular reception is unreliable or who want Medical Guardian’s lowest-cost option. It’s their only landline system, and it’s designed for in-home use.

The system includes a base station and a water-resistant wearable help button. We could call for help by pressing either the button on the base station or the wearable button.

Once we did, Medical Guardian’s monitoring center always responded in under a minute. Then, we just used the two-way talk feature to let them know what we needed. We’re big fans of the system’s long in-home range of up to 1,400 feet (one of the longest ranges in the industry) and the 32-hour backup battery.

MGHome Cellular

Testing out Medical Guardian's MGHome Cellular system

MGHome Cellular is ideal for seniors who spend most of their time at home. It costs a bit more ($38.95 per month) than MGHome Landline, plus a one-time equipment fee of $149.95.

The primary difference between the two systems is that the MGHome Cellular base station has a sleeker design and uses cellular and Wi-Fi connections rather than a landline. We found that this system blended in better than the MGHome Landline, as it’s more modern-looking. You can also add fall detection for $10 per month. We’d recommend going with MGHome Landline if you want the lowest-cost Medical Guardian system available.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

I highly recommend adding fall detection to any medical alert system. Although it costs extra, it can ensure you get the help you need after a fall, even if you can’t press your help button. Considering that more than one in four seniors falls every year, this added protection could be worth the extra cost for many seniors.1

The base station for MGHome Cellular comes with a 32-hour backup battery, a high-speed connection that utilizes 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, and a two-way talk speaker.

Notably, Medical Guardian improved the MGHome Cellular coverage range between the help button and the base station in 2020, extending it from 600 to 1,400 feet! With this extensive range, we could easily call for help no matter where we were in our two-story home.

Guardian Flex

Medical Guardian's Guardian Flex can be worn as a pendant, wristband or belt clip.

Guardian Flex costs $44.95 per month, $128.85 per quarter, or $479.40 per year, plus a one-time $149.95 device fee. The quarterly plan works out to $42.95 per month, while the annual plan works out to $39.95 per month. Medical Guardian discounts the device fee through monthly promotions, so we recommend checking the current offer before ordering. We recommend Guardian Flex for older adults who want one compact device they can wear on their wrist, around their neck, or on a belt.

At 1.5 ounces and 1.5 by 1.8 inches, Guardian Flex is smaller than a key fob and comes in black, gold, and silver. It uses Verizon’s 4G LTE network along with GPS and Wi-Fi-assisted location technology. The device includes two-way talk, optional automatic fall detection, step and activity tracking, and access to Medical Guardian’s 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring center. It’s IP67-rated, water-resistant, and shower-safe, and its battery lasts up to five days depending on cellular signal strength and device use.

Through the MyGuardian portal and app, members and caregivers can check the device’s location, battery, cellular signal, and step count. They can also manage account details, contacts, and payments or make a misplaced Guardian Flex announce, “I’m over here.”

During our testing, Guardian Flex connected us with an emergency operator in 15 seconds on average, and we found the speaker clear and easy to hear. Its automatic fall detection recognized eight out of 10 simulated falls. Since fall detection isn’t 100 percent accurate, we recommend pressing the SOS button whenever possible during an emergency.

MGMove

Testing out the MGMove watch

MGMove is Medical Guardian’s smartwatch option. It costs $49.95 per month, $140.85 per quarter, or $539.40 per year, plus a $199.95 equipment fee. The quarterly plan works out to $46.95 per month, while the annual plan works out to $44.95 per month.

This smartwatch features a touchscreen face with a step tracker, weather app, and Shake to Wake feature. During testing, we found that it resembles a normal smartwatch, so no one could tell we were wearing a medical alert system!

With optional apps, users can text and talk with designated contacts, and caregivers can track the user’s location in real time and set up reminders. MGMove has a battery life of up to 24 hours, making it comparable to other watches from providers we’ve reviewed.

Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch may be better for shoppers who want a simpler, lower-priced watch. Its standard $199 device fee is nearly identical to MGMove’s $199.95 fee, but its $39.95 starting monitoring rate is lower than MGMove’s $49.95 monthly rate and $44.95 annual-plan equivalent. We recommend comparing current promotions before deciding.

Add-On and Accessory Guide

How To Get the Best Deal With Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian isn’t the cheapest medical alert provider, so getting the best deal comes down to choosing the right system and payment structure for your budget. You’ll also want to avoid unnecessary add-ons and confirm cancellation and refund details before you buy. Here’s how we recommend shopping for the right Medical Guardian system for you:

Check for Promos and Seasonal Discounts

Medical Guardian regularly promotes ongoing and limited-time offers (like a free month of monitoring, discounted annual rates, and free shipping). Before you place your order:

• Check the website for current promotions.
• If you order by phone, ask the representative if there are any active promo codes or seasonal discounts they can apply.
• If you’re comparing brands, ask whether Medical Guardian can match or beat a competitor’s monitoring rate.

Compare Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual Payment Costs

Medical Guardian offers lower effective monthly rates when users pay quarterly or annually. Guardian Flex drops from $44.95 with monthly billing to an effective $42.95 per month quarterly or $39.95 per month annually. MGMove drops from $49.95 monthly to an effective $46.95 per month quarterly or $44.95 per month annually. We suggest comparing the full prepaid total—not just the monthly equivalent—before choosing a billing cycle.

If you pay monthly for MGHome Landline, monitoring costs $31.95 per month, excluding equipment and shipping. A quarterly plan costs $89.85, or $29.95 per month, while an annual plan costs $335.40, or $27.95 per month. Bay Alarm Medical also offers quarterly and annual billing, but its per-month monitoring rates remain the same, so prepaying doesn’t lower the monitoring cost.

With Medical Guardian, an annual plan can lower your effective monthly cost and may include perks such as free shipping, extra equipment, or a free month of monitoring, depending on the promotion. We recommend annual billing if you’re confident you’ll keep the service long term. If you’re unsure, monthly billing is the safer choice because it lowers the amount you pay up front for a service you might not use.

Factor in One-Time Equipment Fees

All Medical Guardian systems include one-time equipment fees. When you’re comparing “monthly price” across brands, always ask for the total first-year cost, including:

• Monthly monitoring
• Any fees (equipment, activation, installation, etc.)
• Add-ons (like fall detection)
• Optional protection plans

Use Add-Ons Strategically

Medical Guardian’s add-ons can be extremely useful, but selecting several can add $10 to $30 or more to your monthly bill. If you’re on a budget, we recommend starting with the features you need most, such as fall detection, and adding other accessories only when they serve a clear purpose.

Understand Cancellations, Refunds, and Returns Before You Commit

If you’re worried about committing to Medical Guardian for an entire year, they let you cancel your subscription, but they require a three-month minimum service commitment. If you lease your equipment, cancellation begins after Medical Guardian receives the returned system. If you purchased the equipment, cancellation begins after they receive a signed cancellation letter. The process can take up to 30 days.

Any unused prepaid monitoring beyond the first three months is eligible for a prorated refund. Leased-equipment returns may also incur a restocking fee of up to $50. Before you buy, we recommend confirming:

• Whether your equipment is leased or purchased
• How and where to return equipment or submit the cancellation letter
• How much of your prepaid monitoring would be refunded
• Whether a restocking fee applies
• When service and billing will officially end

Medical Guardian vs. the Competition

Medical Guardian is a great option for those who want sleek, high-tech systems. But how does the brand compare to other companies? Let’s take a look.

Providers like Lifeline and Lively don't offer landline systems. If you're looking for a home system that works with a landline, Medical Guardian is an excellent choice, particularly with its impressive indoor range of up to 1,400 feet. Medical Guardian also offers fall detection for $10 per month, which is standard for the industry.

Medical Guardian’s products are durable and reliable, and they offer many of the same features that other top emergency medical alert systems do. For example, Medical Guardian’s watch has a step tracker, and it can be worn in the shower,  like LifeFone’s smartwatch and Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch.

If you’re interested in sending messages via your medical alert watch, the MGMove’s messaging features aren’t as advanced as the Apple Watch. But we love the easy-to-use touchscreen and the text-to-speech feature, which isn’t offered with many other medical alert watches.

When it comes to cost, Medical Guardian is one of the pricier medical alert brands. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider other companies such as Bay Alarm Medical or MobileHelp. However, if it suits your budget, we think Medical Guardian’s advanced features and excellent customer service are worth the cost.

Who Medical Guardian Is Best for (and Who It’s Not)

Medical Guardian may not be the best fit for older adults on a very tight budget, since their monthly rates are higher than those of some competitors and they don’t offer a free trial. However, quarterly and annual plans can lower the effective monthly rate for shoppers who can afford to prepay.

If you aren’t looking for the absolute lowest price, we recommend Medical Guardian for older adults who value a broad product selection, modern designs, and strong caregiver tools. They offer at-home and mobile systems for different lifestyles, and their equipment is generally more discreet than many traditional medical alert devices.

If you have a history of falling or a medical condition that increases your fall risk, we recommend adding automatic fall detection for $10 per month. It’s available with every Medical Guardian system, but it can’t detect every fall, so press your help button whenever possible.

The Bottom Line on Pricing and Value for Medical Guardian

While Medical Guardian’s prices are slightly higher than the costs for other companies we’ve reviewed, such as LifeStation, we found that the prices for their mobile alert systems match the quality and advanced features. In other words, you get what you pay for. Plus, you can save on monthly rates with an annual payment plan.

All in all, Medical Guardian’s equipment is durable, sleek, and takes advantage of the latest high-tech features, making it a top medical alert system provider. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, Medical Guardian’s systems can go a long way for you and your family.