LifeFone vs. Aloe Care Health

Medical alert systems provide extra protection and safety monitoring for people of all age brackets, especially the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. They can be extremely helpful in an emergency situation when immediate medical attention is necessary.

With so many medical alert system providers on the market, it might be difficult to choose which one is best for you or your loved one. In this article, we will compare two providers – LifeFone and Aloe Care Health – to help you find the right fit.

We'll take a closer look at the price points, features and benefits each company offers, as well as the pros and cons of using their services. Plus, we'll give you our overall thoughts on which medical alert system is the better choice. Read on to know more!

	LifeFone	Aloe Care Health
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A-plus	Overall Grade: A
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$29.95 - $45.95	$24.99 - $49.99
Device Cost	$0	$99.99 - $349.99
Shipping Fee	$11.95	n/a
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	$0 - $10	n/a
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$39.95	$29.99
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	4-6 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	720 hours or 384 hours	120 hours
Button Range	1300 ft or 1400 ft	200 ft or 200 ft
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	Yes, some plans
Caregiver App	Yes, some plans	Yes
Response Time	15 seconds	30 seconds or 30 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

LifeFone

Pros:

• Offers 24/7 US-based monitoring, including on holidays
• Devices cover a range of up to 1400ft
• Extensive experience in providing medical alert systems for over 40 years
• Offers 100% lifetime warranty on all devices
• No activation fees and long-term contracts required
• Daily safety checks, activity tracking and medication reminder 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:

• Pricing plans can be hard to understand as the company website can be overwhelming
• Costs for optional services and add-on features can add up quickly

Aloe Care Health

Pros:

• Low-cost monthly monitoring fees
• Availability of Aloe Care Health App
• 24/7/365 monitoring, including holidays
• Devices are voice-activated
• A fall detection fee is included in the monthly monitoring fee
• Free shipping on all orders; offers expedited shipping for an additional cost
• Motion sensors availability with their Total Care plan
• Offers a 30-day trial period for new customers

Cons:

• One-time device fee to be paid upfront
• Devices are waterproof but are not recommended to be submerged in water for too long
• Limited device range

LifeFone Overview

LifeFone came in 2nd place among our top medical alert system providers. The company received an overall grade of A+ from our evaluation, having its home-based and on-the-go systems features as the main reasons for the high rating.

LifeFone has been providing medical alert systems for over 40 years and is a well-known provider in the industry. With a long history in the business, the company has built a good reputation for being a reliable and trustworthy provider of medical alert systems. Hence, the company continuously receives awards and recognitions from different organizations including an A+ rating from a consumers' website, Better Business Bureau. Additionally, LifeFone has been recommended by many well-known publications and leading health care providers.

Life Fone offers both home-based and on-the-go medical alert systems that come with a 100% lifetime warranty so users won't have to worry about replacement costs. The company does not require any long-term contracts or activation fees and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its services. If users did not find the services satisfactory, they may cancel within the first 30 days and receive a refund of any unused prepaid amount.

Let's take a look at the products and services that this company offers.

Medical Alert Systems

At-Home Landline

At-Home Landline is a home-based medical alert system that can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $29.95. It has two-way communication and a range of up to 1300 feet, and it's connected to your home's landline phone. A backup battery is included in the device that lasts up to 32 hours, as well as an optional wearable fall detection that can be added for an extra $5 a month.

The At-Home Landline also features a room temperature sensor that will notify the user's caregiver or family member if the temperature in your home falls below or rises above a certain level. Additionally, the device can answer incoming calls. So, if the user's landline phone rings, they can simply press their help button and the device will answer the call for them.

At-Home Cellular

If you do not have landline service, or if you want an additional layer of protection, LifeFone also offers an At-Home Cellular. This uses AT&T's 4G cellular network and can be purchased for a monthly cost of $34.95.

This plan is basically similar to their At-Home Landline, they only differ in the type of connection used. Because this system is linked to a mobile network, it needs an excellent network signal in order to function properly. Before purchasing this system, we recommend phoning LifeFone's customer care to ensure that your area has adequate coverage.

At-Home and On-The-Go

This plan is ideal for people who are frequently away from home, as it includes both home-based and mobile protection. 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. The system uses AT&T's 4G LTE cellular network and has GPS location tracking, so you can be located even if you're away from home. In addition, the system's mobile devices can last up to 30 hours on a single charge.

The system's base unit has more advanced features than its At-Home base unit. It includes a lighted display that shows the time, date, and ambient temperature. It also includes a backup battery that will last up to 32 hours in the event of a power outage. Finally, it has a signal strength indicator to assist you in selecting the best location for the base unit within your house.

The At-Home and On-The-Go system can be purchased for a monthly cost of $39.95. A wearable fall detection pendant can be added to this plan at an additional cost of $10 a month.

At-Home and On-The-Go VIP

LifeFone's At-Home and On-The-GO VIP plan can be purchased for a monthly cost of $43.95. It consists of an all-in-one voice-in-pendant that can be worn as a necklace or on a belt clip and works with LifeFone's 4G LTE cellular service to provide nationwide coverage. The device has a battery life of up to 30 days and is water resistant, making it ideal for those who are often away from home. However, this system cannot be paired with a fall detection function.

This system also includes a personalized emergency care plan that customizes the response of LifeFone's care agents in case of an emergency. The portable device also comes with a clear two-way voice communication that allows you to speak directly with a care agent. It also has GPS location tracking, so users can be located even if they're away from home.

At-Home and On-The-Go VIPX

This system includes a small, lightweight, and powerful device that uses Verizon or AT&T 4G LTE cellular service for nationwide coverage. The device is water-resistant so users can wear it in the rain or in the shower where accidents are more likely to happen and it has a clear two-way voice communication that allows you to speak directly with a response agent.

Additionally, the device has GPS location tracking and optional fall detection that costs an additional $5 a month. It also has a battery life that can last up to 16 days. To recharge, just simply place the device in its charging stand. LifeFone also sends a text and email reminder when the battery begins to run low.

The At Home and On-The-Go VIPX system is available in black, white, and silver colors. It is slightly more expensive than the VIP plan at $45.95 a month. With this plan, an optional caregiver app can also be added for 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.

Aloe Care Overview

Aloe Care Health is one of the few medical alert companies to provide a voice-activated device. When users are unable to speak or reach their phone to call for help, the device can be activated by saying "emergency" a few times and it will automatically connect you to an emergency response agent who will dispatch assistance to your location.

Aloe Care's plans range from $24.99 up to $49.99 a month. They don't require a long-term contract, so you may cancel their services anytime. They do, however, charge a one-time device fee that you must pay upfront when you purchase a plan.

The best thing about their systems is that they include automatic fall detection as part of their monthly subscription fee. Other providers charge an additional monthly fee for this feature so it's nice to see that Aloe Care is already including it in their base price.

However, one downside of their system is that the buttons only have a 200ft range from the base station. So if you live in a large home, you might need to purchase an extra button so that you can still be covered in the event of an emergency.

Medical Alert Systems

Mobile Companion

Aloe Care's 4G LTE Mobile Companion is a small device that works on the AT&T LTE network across the country. This includes a wearable fall sensor and two-way voice communication, real-time GPS tracking, and automatic fall detection. This system can be purchased for a monthly cost of $24.99 plus a one-time device cost of $99.99. This device is water-resistant and can last up to 5 days on a single charge.

The Mobile Companion will automatically call for help if you fall and are unable to get up. If necessary, a trained operator will talk to you through the device to assess the situation and dispatch emergency services. By then, the operator will continue to stay on the line with you until emergency responders arrive.

Essentials

The Aloe Care Essentials plan includes a voice-activated, 4G LTE-connected Smart Hub and a wearable Care Button. This home-based system costs $29.99 a month with a one-time device cost of $149.99.

The Smart Hub is basically a base station that acts as the brains of the system and is equipped with motion, temperature, and air quality sensors. It uses your cellular network to communicate with the Aloe Care app on your smartphone. This connection allows the Hub to call for help in the event of an emergency, as well as send notifications and updates to the app. It also has a button to trigger an alarm that will notify the monitoring center.

The Care Button, on the other hand, is a wearable device that has a range of 200ft and can also be used to trigger an alarm. When an adult needs assistance, there are two ways to get help - either they say the word "emergency" until the Hub's built-in microphone picks up the word and initiates a call for help or they push the Care Button to immediately call for a response agent.

Essentials Plus

The Essentials Plus plan is priced at $39.99 a month with a one-time fee of $249.99 for the device cost. This plan includes a Smart Hub base that is voice-activated and has built-in motion, temperature, and air quality sensors; a wearable Care Button to call for help up to 200ft range; and a Mobile Companion device with wearable fall detection and AT&T LTE coverage nationwide.

Total Care

Aloe Care's Total Care package includes their Smart Hub base station that's voice-activated and has built-in motion, temperature, and air quality sensors. You also get their wearable Care Button to call for help up to 200ft away as well as their Mobile Companion device with AT&T LTE coverage nationwide. This plan also includes two additional mobile security features: two motion sensors and automatic fall detection.

This plan is the most expensive they offer which costs $49.99 a month with a one-time device cost of $349.99. It includes everything from their Essentials Plus plan but with a few more features.

When it comes to monthly monitoring fees, there is a slight difference between LifeFone and Aloe Care. LifeFone's fees range from $29.95 up to $45.95 a month while Aloe Care's start at $24.99 up to $49.99 a month. However, LifeFone does not charge any one-time fee for their devices while Aloe Care charges their customers an upfront fee ranging from $99.99 to $349.99 for the devices they provide.

Despite being the more affordable option when it comes to monthly monitoring fees, LifeFone charges higher fees for other services. These costs should also be taken into consideration as they can add up quickly.

For example, LifeFone charges $12 for shipping while Aloe Care provides its customers free shipping. Next, LifeFone charges an additional monthly cost of $5 for the optional fall detection feature while Aloe Care already includes the service in all of its packages with no extra fees. Lastly, an extra button for spouse monitoring costs an additional $39.95 with LifeFone while it's only priced at $29.99 with Aloe Care.

Considering all these costs, Aloe Care seems to offer more affordable price points when compared to LifeFone. But these are just fees, other factors such as features and services should also be considered to determine which company is the better value for your money.

Let's now go over the features that both LifeFone and Aloe Care offer to their customers. This will help us determine which company provides more comprehensive protection and services.

Starting with the base unit, both companies' devices can be used to call for help in case of an emergency. Both of their base units come with features that are not usually available in other base consoles such as - a lighted display that shows the time, date, and ambient temperature from LifeFone; and motion, temperature, and air quality sensors from Aloe Care.

Additionally, LifeFone's base units come with a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours in case the power goes out while Aloe Care's base units only last up to 4 to 6 hours on a backup battery. Plus, LifeFone's systems connect through either a landline or cellular network while Aloe Care's systems work with a cellular network only.

When it comes to the on-the-go system, LifeFone also offers a better solution as their mobile device can last up to 30 days while Aloe Care's device can only last a maximum of 5 days on a single charge. While both companies offer a caregiver app, LifeFone's customers can access the app for an additional $8 a month with the At-Home and On-The-Go VIPX plan while Aloe Care's customers get it for free.

In terms of features and services, it seems like LifeFone offers a more comprehensive solution than Aloe Care.

Monitoring Center

LifeFone and Aloe Care have US-based monitoring centers that are operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their monitoring centers are TMA Five Diamond Certified which means that they have passed a series of comprehensive tests that show their ability to provide excellent customer service.

Additionally, both companies' monitoring centers are equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology to ensure that they can provide the best possible service to their customers. Plus, their monitoring center representatives are highly trained and experienced professionals who can handle any situation that may arise.

LifeFone's care agents are English and Spanish-speaking while Aloe Care's operators speak only in English. Aloe Care is currently working on incorporating Spanish and Mandarin languages into their system for a more diverse customer base.

In terms of response rate, calls and alerts are typically answered within 15 seconds with LifeFone and an average of 30 seconds with Aloe Care. This is a significant difference as every second counts in an emergency situation.

Moreover, LifeFone's monitoring center is also UL-certified and FM-approved which means that its response center meets or exceeds the highest standards in the industry.

OUR PICK

Based on the features and services that both companies offer, we believe that LifeFone is the better choice for those who are looking for an affordable and comprehensive medical alert system.

While Aloe Care's systems are more affordable, they lack features and services when compared to LifeFone. For instance, Aloe Care offers systems with shorter battery life and limited coverage. Additionally, their mobile devices do not have as many features as LifeFone's and their monitoring center representatives are only available in English. The language barrier can hinder an efficient response in an emergency situation.

In contrast, LifeFone's systems have longer battery life, better coverage, and more features. Plus, their monitoring center is available in both English and Spanish which caters to a wider range of people.

While these two providers both have their pros and cons, we believe that LifeFone is the better choice for those who are looking for an affordable and comprehensive medical alert system.