LifeFone vs. ADT

Certain circumstances may make it difficult or impossible for an individual to ask for help in the event of an emergency. For instance, a person with a medical condition that causes them to faint may not be able to summon help if they fall and injure themselves. Or sometimes, a person may feel something in their chest and realize they are having a heart attack, but may not be able to reach their phone to call for an ambulance in time.

In these types of situations, a medical alert system can literally be a lifesaver. A medical alert system is a device that allows a person to ask for assistance in an emergency, even if they are unable to speak or reach a phone. Medical alert system providers usually offer home-based systems for protection inside the home, mobile devices that can function anywhere with a 4G-LTE network signal, or a combination of both home-based and on-the-go devices for more comprehensive protection.

LifeFone and ADT are two of the best medical alert companies on the market today. In fact, they ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, on our list of best medical alert providers of 2022. They offer simple but all-inclusive plans with affordable monthly rates and 24/7 monitoring centers that adhere to the highest standards in the industry.

Let's take a closer look at each company to see how they compare in terms of features, pricing, and overall efficiency and reliability.

	LifeFone	ADT
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A-plus	Overall Grade: A
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$29.95 - $45.95	$29.99 - $39.99
Device Cost	$0	$0
Shipping Fee	$11.95	n/a
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	$0 - $10	$0 - $10
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$39.95	$NaN - $NaN
Features
Connectivity Option	Landline, Cellular or Cellular	Landline, Cellular or Cellular
Two-way Speaker & Microphone	Yes	Yes
Home-based Back Up Battery Life	32 hours or 30 hours	20 hours or 20 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	720 hours or 384 hours	40 hours
Button Range	1300 ft or 1400 ft	300 ft or 600 ft
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	Yes, some plans
Caregiver App	Yes, some plans	No
Response Time	15 seconds	10 seconds or 10 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

LifeFone

Pros:

• A reputable medical alert system provider in the US for over 40 years
• Offers a device with a range of coverage up to 1400ft
• Every system comes with a 100% lifetime warranty.
• No activation and cancellation fees
• 24/7 monitoring, including holidays
• Offers a wide range of additional optional devices
• A variety of features such as daily safety checks, activity tracking and medication reminders can be added for a fee
• Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee; any unused prepaid amount will be refunded pro-rated
• Impressive battery life of up to 30 days

Cons:

• Prices and packages can be difficult to understand
• Website can be overwhelming
• Optional services and add-on features might cost a significant amount of money

ADT

Pros:

• Does not require long-term contracts and service can be canceled at any time
• Exceptional monitoring center reliability
• ForeveRate guarantee or lifetime price-lock
• Offers a 6-month money-back guarantee
• Free shipping fee
• No hidden fees
• 24/7/365 monitoring

Cons:

• Limited range of coverage
• No caregiver app
• Offers a few systems and device options

LifeFone Overview

LifeFone provides medical alert system that is designed to help seniors and those with disabilities stay safe in case of an emergency. The company has been in the industry for over 40 years and offers a variety of services that can be tailored to meet the needs of each customer. LifeFone has been receiving recommendations and recognitions from leading health care providers as well as third-party organizations such as an A+ rating from a consumer's website, Better Business Bureau.

LifeFone also offers its unique personalized emergency care plan. This service allows the user's caregivers and family members to receive phone, email, and text notifications in case of an emergency. This service also allows users to customize the response of LifeFone's care agents based on their needs and preferences.

Medical Alert Systems

At-Home Landline

This home-based system can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $29.95. The system includes a landline-connected base unit with clear two-way speakerphone, a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours and a range of coverage up to 1300ft.

This device also features a room temperature sensor that will automatically send an alert to the user's caregiver or family member once the temperature at home goes above or below the user's customized settings. At-Home Landline system also comes with a personal help button that can be worn as a pendant or wristband.

Amazingly, this system can also answer incoming calls from the user's telephone landline. When the telephone rings, users can press the help button on their base unit or pendant and it will automatically connect the call to the base unit through the device's speakerphone.

At-Home Cellular

This plan is perfect for users that do not have landline service or prefer not to use one. The At-Home Cellular system costs $34.95 a month, and functions the same as At-Home Landine, the only difference is their connectivity option. Like with any other cellular-connected medical alert system, this system requires a strong network signal in order to work properly so we recommend contacting Lifefone's customer support to check if your area is covered by the network before purchasing one.

The system includes a base unit that uses AT&T's 4G cellular network with a clear two-way speakerphone, as well as the same backup battery and coverage range as the At-Home Landline. It also comes with a personal help button that can be worn either as a pendant or wristband.

At-Home and On-The-Go

This plan consists of a base unit that connects to AT&T's 4G LTE cellular network, a mobile device that functions as a mobile base unit with GPS location tracking capability and battery that can last up to 30 hours, and a personal help button that can be worn as a pendant or wristband.

The base unit that comes with this plan has more features than what's included in the At-Home system plans. It features a lighted display that shows time, date, ambient temperature, and a signal strength indicator to help you find the best location for the base unit inside your home. It also has a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours in case the power goes out.

This plan is perfect for users who want the protection of a medical alert system while also being able to leave their homes without worry. With this, you'll be able to trigger the alarm from up to 1400ft away from the base unit, or up to 600ft away with the mobile device. This plan can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $39.95. A wearable automatic fall detection pendant can be added to this plan at an additional monthly cost of $10.

At-Home and On-The-Go VIP

At-Home and On-The-Go VIP pan consists of an all-in-one water-resistant voice-in-pendant that can be worn on the neck or on a belt clip. The device works with 4G-LTE cellular service and has a battery life of up to 30 days, making it ideal for users who are frequently on the go.

The portable device also comes with GPS location tracking capability so users can be easily located in case of an emergency and clear two-way voice communication that allows users to speak directly to a care agent through the pendant.

The At-Home and On-The-GO VIP plan can be purchased for a monthly cost of $43.95. Unfortunately, this system does not offer a fall detection function.

At-Home and On-The-Go VIPX

A small powerful waterproof device that uses Verizon and AT&T cellular networks comes with this plan. The device features clear two-way voice communication, GPS location tracking capability, and optional fall detection that costs an additional $5 a month. It has a battery life of up to 16 days and is available in colors black, white and silver.

The At Home and On-The-Go VIPX system costs $45.95 a month and if you opt to access the caregiver app, it will cost an additional $8 a month. The app allows caregivers to track the location, activity, first motion of the day, button presses, and battery levels of their loved ones.

ADT Overview

ADT is a well-known and long-standing provider of medical alert systems. The company offers a wide range of products and services to meet the needs of both business and residential customers. Apart from medical alert systems, they also offer fire protection, home security, and automation services. ADT currently owns and maintains nine emergency monitoring centers throughout 200 locations allowing it to serve approximately six million consumers.

The company offers fewer plans than other providers but its systems are definitely one of the most comprehensive ones in the industry. They offer a 6-month money-back guarantee which is twice as long as the industry average. In addition, ADT has a ForeverRate guarantee which means they will not increase your monthly monitoring fees as long as you maintain your account with them. Plus, the company does not charge a one-time fee for their devices.

Medical Alert Systems

Medical Alert Basic System

ADT's Medical Alert Basic System comes with an in-home base unit and a waterproof personal help button that can be worn as a wristband or pendant. The system's base unit features a home temperature monitoring capability and coverage that ranges up to 300ft. The system requires a standard landline connection and can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $29.99

Medical Alert Plus System

This system can be purchased for only $35.99 a month. It is similar to their basic plan but with added features. The system connects to the 4G-LTE cellular network without the need for a traditional phone line. It also includes a home-temperature monitoring function and can be upgraded to include fall detection monitoring for $10 a month.

This system has a wider coverage that ranges up to 600ft. Users can also choose to add an optional waterproof wall mount button that can be placed anywhere inside the house or multiple pendant options for added protection.

On-The-Go Medical Alert System

This compact, lightweight and easy-to-use mobile medical alert system from ADT provides you with the security and protection you need without being tethered to a landline. The mobile device functions like a traditional home-based base unit but is more compact and portable and uses cellular technology to provide nationwide coverage and can be used both inside and outside of the home.

The On-the-Go system offers two-way talk feature and GPS location tracking function, which allows emergency response operators to track users' location in case of an emergency. The system also has an optional fall detection feature, which can be added for a monthly cost of $10.

When it comes to choosing a medical alert system, cost is often a major factor. Luckily, both LifeFone and ADT offer affordable options for those on a budget.

LifeFone offers a monthly subscription starting at $29.95 up to $45.95 while ADT's monthly subscription starts at $29.99 up to $39.99. Both companies do not charge a one-time device fee, cancellation fee or cellular fee like some other companies do. LifeFone's shipping fee costs $12 while ADT ships its products for free.

If users opt to purchase an automatic fall detection pendant, both of them charge the same amount for fall detection. Additionally, each extra button for spouse monitoring can be purchased for a one-time fee of $39.95 with LifeFone whereas ADT charges a one-time fee of $14.99 and an additional $5 a month for the same service.

Comparing the two providers, it seems that LifeFone offers a more affordable option for users, especially those who need to purchase extra buttons or an automatic fall detection pendant for added protection.

Let's now go over the differences in features offered by LifeFone and ADT.

LifeFone offers five plans all of which come with devices that are water resistant and with a two-way speaker and microphone for clear communication. The company offers systems that can operate either through a landline or cellular network connection. LifeFone's home-based systems have backup batteries that can last 30 to 32 hours in case of a power outage. Plus, the systems can cover a range of up to 1300ft to 1400ft.

Meanwhile, the company's on-the-go devices can last from 16 to 30 days and can cover a range of up to 600ft from the mobile base unit. Additionally, the devices offer GPS location tracking capability which is essential in locating users' whereabouts in case of an emergency. Plus, LifeFone's VIPX can have access to their caregiver app for an additional $8 a month.

ADT, on the other hand, only offers three plans. The company's systems can also operate through a landline or cellular network connection. However, ADT's home-based systems have backup batteries that can only last for 20 hours and its base units can cover a range of only 300ft to 600ft. The company's on-the-go device has a GPS location tracking function and can only last up to 40 hours on a single charge.

Monitoring Center

LifeFone and ADT both have monitoring centers that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Their monitoring centers are TMA Five Diamond Certified, UL-certified, and FM-approved. This means that the centers adhere to the highest standards in the industry.

When it comes to response rate, LifeFone's care agents can typically answer calls and alerts within 15 seconds while ADT's response agents can attend to an alert as fast as 10 seconds, which is the fastest response rate we've seen among other providers we reviewed.

Moreover, LifeFone offers a unique emergency care plan that allows users, their caregivers and family members to customize the care agents' response to fit their specific needs.

OUR PICK

LifeFone and ADT are two of the best companies when it comes to medical alert systems. However, after carefully reviewing both providers, we believe that LifeFone is the better option. The company offers more affordable subscription plans and prices its extra devices and features at a lower cost. Plus, it provides longer-lasting backup batteries for its home-based systems and longer battery life for its on-the-go devices.

Additionally, LifeFone's systems have a wider range than ADT's. And while both companies have monitoring centers that are certified by third-party organizations, LifeFone offers a unique emergency care plan that allows users to customize the care agents' responses in the event of an emergency. Plus, they offer a caregiver app that offers helpful information and resources for caregivers.

Moreover, LifeFone also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're not satisfied with the product, which is a great way to try out the service risk-free. Lastly, the company offers a 100% lifetime warranty on all of their devices, so you can be sure that your devices can be quickly replaced if anything goes wrong.