MobileHelp vs. GetSafe

It's only natural that, as we age, we want to remain independent for as long as possible. For many seniors, that means staying in their own homes. But what happens if you fall and can't get up? Or have a medical emergency and can't reach your phone to call for help? That's where a medical alert system comes in.

A medical alert system is a device that allows you to call for help in the event of an emergency, even if you can't reach a phone. There are two main types of medical alert systems: mobile and in-home. Mobile medical alert systems are worn as a pendant or bracelet and use cellular technology to connect you with a monitoring center. These systems are ideal for individuals who are active and often leave the house.

In-home systems, on the other hand, are stationary units that must be plugged into a power outlet and connected to your home's landline phone. These systems are best for individuals who are relatively sedentary and don't leave the house often.

Medical alert systems are not just for seniors. They can be beneficial for anyone with a medical condition that may require immediate assistance, such as a seizure disorder, heart condition, or diabetes. The two most popular medical alert system providers in the market today are MobileHelp and GetSafe. While these two companies offer similar services, there are some key differences between them that you should be aware of when you're planning to purchase a medical alert system.

	MobileHelp	GetSafe
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A	Overall Grade: A
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$19.95 - $54.95	$24.95
Device Cost	$0 - $49.95	$79 - $279
Shipping Fee	$15	$12
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	$10	$10
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$0 - $2	$25
Features
Connectivity Option	Cellular or Landline	Cellular or Landline
Two-way Speaker & Microphone	Yes	Yes
Home-based Back Up Battery Life	30 hours or 30 hours	32 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	24 hours or 24 hours	No
Button Range	1400 ft or 600 ft	No
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	No
Caregiver App	Yes	No
Response Time	21 seconds or 21 seconds	20 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

MobileHelp

Pros:

• Offers low-cost monthly subscription fees
• Offers a touchscreen tablet-like device that functions as a base unit
• Home-based systems can be connected through landline or cellular networks
• Does not require long-term contracts so users can cancel their service anytime

Cons:

• Fall detection can be added for an extra cost monthly
• Does not offer a modern, high-tech medical alert device

GetSafe

Pros:

• Offers non-wearable devices for individuals who are not comfortable wearing one
• Charges low-cost and fixed monthly monitoring fees
• Offers a 30-day free trial period for new customers
• Does not require long-term contracts
• Extra buttons for spouse monitoring can be purchased on top of the devices included in their plans

Cons:

• Does not offer an on-the-go system
• Expensive one-time equipment fees to be paid upfront
• Does not have high-tech touchscreen and smartwatch devices
• Does not offer activity tracking

MobileHelp Overview

For over 15 years, MobileHelp has continued to evolve and innovate within the medical alert system industry. They offer a variety of medical alert system plans to fit the needs and preferences of their customers.

The company is well-known for its bundle plan that provides customers with two help buttons for the price of one. Imagine having an extra layer of protection not only for yourself but also for a loved one for the price of 1 system. It's definitely one of the best deals on the market!

In addition, some of the plans they offer come with a high-tech tablet-like base station that has a number of extra features such as a gallery of images and pre-installed cognitive games. This is ideal for individuals who want more from their system than simply the ability to contact for assistance.

Medical Alert Systems

MobileHelp Classic

The MobileHelp Classic includes a base unit with two-way communication and a waterproof help button. The system can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $19.95 plus a one-time equipment fee of $49.95. If users opt to upgrade their plan with the automatic fall detection button, it will only cost an extra $10 a month.

The base unit connects to a cellular network and has a range of up to 1400ft, which is more than enough to cover most homes. It also has a backup battery that can last up to 30 hours in the event of a power outage.

MobileHelp Wired Home

MobileHelp Wired Home can be purchased for only $24.95 a month plus an extra $10 monthly for the optional automatic fall detection feature. The system connects to the user's home landline phone instead of a cellular network so it might be the best option for users who do not have a strong cellular connection in their homes.

It offers two-way communication so you can speak directly to the emergency response operator through the base unit and a backup battery that can last up to 30 hours. Plus, the system offers a range that can cover up to 600ft so users can move freely around their homes without losing connection.

MobileHelp Touch Classic

The MobileHelp Touch Classic comes with an 8-inch touch screen tablet and a wearable help button. The touch screen tablet serves as a base station, with added features such as a rotating gallery of pictures, medication reminders and cognitive games like Sudoku.

Additionally, The touch screen tablet has a soft key touch emergency button, two-way communication capabilities, and a backup battery that can last up to 30 hours. This system is based on cellular technology and offers coverage of up to 600ft. MobileHelp Touch Classic can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $54.95.

MobileHelp Solo

MobileHelp Solo can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $37.95. It comes with a waterproof mobile device and a personal help button that can be worn as a necklace or wristband. This system uses the AT&T cellular network, which is only available in areas with good cell phone coverage.

This device has a long-lasting battery--it can go all day without needing to be recharged. It also has both two-way communication and GPS tracking capabilities. For an extra layer of protection, the system is also compatible with the optional fall detection button for an additional $10 a month.

MobileHelp Micro

The MobileHelp Micro can be purchased for a monthly cost of $33.95 plus an extra $10 a month if users opt to add the optional automatic fall detection feature. This system includes a lightweight, water-resistant mobile device that connects to the AT&T cellular network and lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge. It features clear two-way communication and accurate GPS location tracking. This device is colored in black and has a sleek, sophisticated casing. Users can wear it as a pendant with the detachable lanyard or carry it in their pocket.

MobileHelp Duo

This system functions the same way as the Classic and Solo plans and can be purchased for a monthly monitoring fee of $41.95. This plan can be paired with the optional fall detection button for an additional $10 monthly.

The MobileHelp Duo comes with a base station, a mobile device, and a wearable help button to keep you safe and have peace of mind wherever you are. This system is ideal for people who want to be prepared for anything and have the security of knowing that assistance is available at any time.

Mobile Duo

The Mobile Duo is a set of two waterproof help buttons. It's perfect for couples, siblings, or any pair of individuals who live together and want the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can get help in an emergency. This can be purchased for a monthly cost of $44.95 which is just $7 more expensive than the MobileHelp Solo plan. In other words, you get two devices for just a few additional bucks--it's like getting a 2-for-1 deal!

Although this system provides the same features as our other plans--two-way communication, GPS location tracking, and compatibility with the optional fall detection button that costs an additional $10 a month--it offers even more protection and peace of mind by providing two help buttons instead of just one.

MobileHelp Touch Duo

The Touch Duo system is MobileHelp's most expensive service plan. This system can be purchased for $54.95 a month and can be upgraded with the optional fall detection button for an additional $10 monthly.

It includes a portable, all-in-one medical alert device as well as a tablet that provides features not available elsewhere. The tablet and mobile unit work together for the benefit of users and their caregivers as they can be connected through the MobileHelp Connect web portal. The plan also includes a wearable help button that can be used in times when users can't get to the tablet or mobile device. The MobileHelp touch is a great option for people who want all of the features that MobileHelp has to offer in one comprehensive system.

GetSafe Overview

Bay Alarm Family of Companies, the same company that owns Bay Alarm Medical, launched Get Safe in 2015. What sets GetSafe apart from other medical alert companies is that it has a fixed monthly subscription fee of $24.95, as opposed to the traditional way other companies price their services- which generally rises as you add more buttons and devices. With Get Safe, you only need to pay for the device cost upfront, eliminating any unexpected fees later on down the road.

Get Safe's systems include the base unit, voice-activated wall button, and standard wall button. Their device choices are amazing given that they provide three different methods for requesting assistance: call, press, and pull.

The 4G-LTE base unit is a simple, cellular-connected in-home console that serves as the system's control center. It has a two-way speakerphone, allowing you to talk with the monitoring center straight from the device. The system also comes with an emergency button that, when activated, sends a signal to the monitoring center and begins the assistance procedure immediately. Plus, the base unit has a 32-hour backup battery to keep it operating even if the power goes out. Additionally, the device is available in a contemporary white design that would match any décor.

The voice-activated wall button is a small device that may be placed anywhere in your house — besides your bed, in the bathroom, on the staircase, etc. It's voice-enabled and comes with a push button and a pull cord for various ways to get help.

Lastly, the standard wall button is a simpler version of the voice-activated wall button. The button is wireless, water-resistant, and easy to use, but it lacks a voice-activation feature. We recommend mounting this device by the shower, in the kitchen or in other places where falls and accidents are most likely to happen.

Medical Alert Systems

Starter

If you have a small home or apartment with only one bedroom, Get Safe's Starter plan is perfect for you. The package includes one 4G-LTE base unit, one voice-activated wall button and one personal help button. All of Get Safe's plans come with a monthly monitoring fee of $24.95, and this plan costs another $79 upfront for the equipment cost.

Standard

The Standard plan includes one 4G-LTE base unit, two voice-activated wall buttons, one standard wall button, and one personal help button, intended for most single-family houses with two to three bedrooms. This plan comes with a monthly monitoring fee of $24.95 and a one-time equipment fee of $179.

Select

This plan includes one 4G-LTE base unit, three voice-activated wall buttons, two standard wall buttons, and one personal help button. Again, this plan comes with a monthly cost of $24.95 plus a one-time device cost of $279. The Select plan is designed to provide protection for larger, multi-level homes with many bedrooms and bathrooms.

MobileHelp and GetSafe have very different price points. MobileHelp's monthly monitoring fees range from $19.95 up to $54.95 while GetSafe offers a fixed monthly cost of $24.95. However, when it comes to one-time device costs to be paid upfront, MobileHelp only charges $49.95 for the Classic plan whereas GetSafe charges from $79 to $279. So, in the end, it really depends on what you're looking for — a low monthly monitoring fee or a low upfront equipment cost.

Next is the shipping fee, which is $15 with MobileHelp and $12 with GetSafe. Both price points are within the average shipping fee for medical alert systems.

Lastly, when it comes to extra features, MobileHelp charges an additional $10 a month for the automatic fall detection pendant and an extra button for spouse monitoring will cost their customers another $2 a month. Whereas, GetSafe charges the same amount of $10 for the automatic fall detection but charges a one-time payment of $25 for an extra button for spouse monitoring.

As you can see, GetSafe seems to be the more affordable option in the long run. However, when choosing the right medical alert system, you should also take the features and services into consideration to make sure you're getting the best value for your money.

Now that we've gone over the cost, let's take a look at what features each company offers. MobileHelp offers both home-based and on-the-go systems while GetSafe only offers home-based systems. A mobile device can be purchased from GetSafe as an add-on only. This can be a major consideration for some people, especially seniors who travel often or live part of the year in a different state or country. On-the-go medical alert systems offer more flexibility and peace of mind, knowing that you can take your system with you wherever you go.

In addition, MobileHelp's devices can be connected through either a landline or cellular network while GetSafe's devices use a cellular network only. So if you live in an area with spotty cellular service, MobileHelp might be a better option for you.

Let's go over their base units. MobileHelp's base unit comes with a two-way speakerphone, a backup battery that can last up to 30 hours in case of a power outage, and a range that can cover up to 1400ft. Whereas, GetSafe offers a base unit with a 32-hour backup battery and a variety of ways to get help. With their device, users can either call, press or pull the cord to alert the monitoring center.

Monitoring Center

Both companies have 100% US-based monitoring centers that operate 24/7, including on holidays.

MobileHelp is proud to partner with Rapid Response Monitoring, a long-time leader in emergency response monitoring for families and businesses. All of MobileHelp's systems are connected to Rapid Response's UL-listed, CSAA awardee response centers. These response centers are staffed with highly trained and experienced emergency response operators who have undergone rigorous training to provide the best possible service to their customers.

On average, these operators will respond to an alert within 21 seconds. They are also prepared to provide the appropriate assistance to the customer, whether that is contacting a designated caregiver or emergency services. In addition, they can also help non-English speakers who speak Spanish or other languages through LanguageLine, an interpreting service that translates over 240 languages.

GetSafe, on the other hand, is a Bay Alarm Medical company that is one of the best medical alert providers in the market. In fact, it ranked 4th in our top 10 medical alert system providers. Hence, you can be sure that their products and services are highly reliable.

The company's headquarters is located in Concord, California while its monitoring centers are in Utah and Idaho. They keep their monitoring centers separate from their normal business operations in order to guarantee that all emergency calls are responded to promptly. Plus, their monitoring centers are not only CSAA Five Diamond Certified, but they also go through the annual certification process and random inspections by the UL testing facility.

GetSafe's emergency response agents can attend to an alert as fast as 20 seconds. Moreover, since they utilize LanguageLine services to assist non-English speakers, their emergency response agents can accommodate more than 170 languages.

OUR PICK

After careful comparison between the two companies, we believe that MobileHelp is the better choice. Although both companies have their fair share of pros and cons, MobileHelp's on-the-go systems and ability to connect through a landline give it an edge over GetSafe.

Plus, their partnership with Rapid Response Monitoring, a long-time leader in emergency response monitoring, is another point in their favor. With MobileHelp, you can be sure that you're getting quality products and services that can provide you with the peace of mind you need. Plus, with MobileHelp's base unit having a longer backup battery life and range, we believe that they offer a better overall service than GetSafe.

Furthermore, none of GetSafe's offerings can top MobileHelp's 2-for-1 bundle deal, which gives you two mobile units for the price of one. This is an incredible deal that's hard to beat, especially if you're looking for protection for yourself and a loved one.