- Multiple location technologies
- Built-in fall detection
- Free equipment
- 4G from Verizon or AT&T
Bay Alarm Medical In-Car Medical Alert
- Automatic crash detection
- Vehicle tracking app
- Automatic crash detection
- Vehicle tracking app
The bottom line: GoSafe 2 marries safety with independence
The GoSafe 2 pendant got our top spot because it boasts five types of location technology and automatic fall detection. Whether you press the help button or the device calls the monitoring center after you fall, first responders can find you quickly.
Plus, it’s small enough to wear around your neck without cramping your style. From the farmers market to the fairway, the GoSafe 2 can go where you go.
Best medical alert system with GPS
Compare GPS medical alert systems
| Starting monthly price |
| Equipment price |
| Automatic fall detection |
| Location technology type |
| Companion app |
|
Best overall
|
Budget pick
|
Best for drivers
|
Most portable
|
Best add-ons
|
| Philips GoSafe 2 | Lifefone At-Home and On-the-Go Pendant | Bay Alarm Medical In-Car Medical Alert | Medical Guardian Mini Guardian | GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| $49.95 | $43.95 | $29.95 | $39.95 | $24.95 |
| $99.95 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $124.99 | $37.95 |
| Included | $5/mo. | None | $10/mo. | $39.99/mo. |
| A-GPS, Wi-Fi, Breadcrumbs, Two-way audio, audio beacon | 4G LTE | 4G LTE | 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS | 4G LTE |
| Yes ✓ |
No X |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
| Visit Philips Lifeline | Visit Lifefone | Visit Bay Alarm Medical | Visit Medical Guardian | Visit GreatCall |
Info current as of 09/22/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Our approach
The best medical alert system with GPS should give you the freedom to do the things you enjoy the most in and out of your home.
We weighed our options by looking at each candidate’s location technologies, companion apps, and automatic fall detection—then we sought out affordable prices on top of these features.
Keep these priorities in mind as you choose what works best for you:
- The GPS medical alert systems with strong location technology bring help to you faster.
- A companion app shares your location with loved ones who can come help you.
- Automatic fall detection sends for help if you fall down or lose consciousness after a fall.
See our methodology to learn more about how we reviewed this and all our other medical alert system reviews.
Best medical alert systems with GPS reviews
1. Philips GoSafe 2: Best overall
The GoSafe 2 pendant from Philips Lifeline is compact, powerful, and simple to use. It tops our list of best GPS medical alert systems for its collection of location features and built-in fall detection.
When you call for help, it activates three GPS technologies to make you easier to find. Plus it has two features (two-way talk and an audio beacon) assist. Whether you need help in a large parking lot or store, these combined features help the monitoring center home in on you.
These features also make the Philips GoSafe 2 a good medical alert system for loved ones with dementia.
Pros
- Five types of location technology
- Automatic fall detection built in
- Simple help button design
Cons
- Expensive monthly cost
- Self-installation fee
GoSafe 2’s location technologies
- A-GPS: Assisted GPS connects to satellites above to pinpoint your location
- Wi-Fi: The GoSafe 2 connects to nearby Wi-Fi networks, keeping you online and easy to reach.
- Breadcrumbs: Just like in Hansel and Gretel, your GoSafe 2 leaves a trail of location snapshots wherever you go. So first responders can follow the trail of data right to you.
- Two-way talk: This feature is an intercom function that lets you speak to the monitoring pros from Philips when you need assistance.
- Audio beacon: If you’re in a more remote area, set off the audio beacon to help others find you.
In addition to all of GoSafe 2’s GPS technology, it comes with a companion app called Philips Cares to help your family stay in touch. And it keeps your privacy in mind. From the mobile app, you can manage your own settings like location visibility and check your device’s battery.
Philips Lifeline pricing
While the GoSafe 2 is chock full of features, it comes at a high price compared to similar medical alert systems. Your bill up front will include equipment costs, your first month of monitoring service and an installation fee (even if you install the pendant charger yourself). All of this totals to about $250 for your first payment.
After that first month’s hit to your wallet, you’ll pay $49.95 every month for Philips Lifeline monitoring pros to standby for emergencies and connect you to first responders.
Learn more about Philips Lifeline
Want to learn more? We dive into Philips Lifeline’s entire suite of medical alert systems in our Philips Lifeline review.
2. Lifefone At-Home and On-the-Go Pendant: Budget pick
If you’re looking for a good deal on your next medical alert system with GPS, the Lifefone At-Home and On-the-Go pendant has a lot to offer.
First off, the equipment is free. No extra fees; just $43.95 per month for the monitoring service. You can knock that price down by opting for an annual subscription ($36.52 per month) or a quarterly subscription ($41.95 per month). But those payments will come in a higher lump sum.
Automatic fall detection also costs half of what other medical alert companies charge. For only $5 extra, you can get a Lifefone pendant with fall detection built in to call for help if you slip in the bathroom or while shopping.
Pros
- Free equipment
- Lower automatic-fall-detection fee
- Free device-location-finder feature
Cons
- No companion app
And finally, while this budget friendly pendant doesn’t offer a companion app, you can opt for a free texting service to notify your loved ones of when you’ve called for help.
Along with all these price-friendly features, it’s no wonder Lifefone made our list of most affordable medical alert systems.
Lifefone lets you choose your 4G LTE service provider. You don’t need to be a customer of Verizon or AT&T to get the pendant either. Just choose which service has better coverage in your area.
Other bragging rights for Lifefone include vibration feedback for hearing impaired users, two-way talk, a simple help button, shower-safe design, and personalized care instructions for emergencies. If you slip in the shower, for example, you can call the monitoring center for help. They’ll send paramedics who already know how to take care of you.
Learn more about Lifefone
Get the good and bad about this medical alert system and all its products from our full review of Lifefone.
3. Bay Alarm Medical In-Car Medical Alert: Best for drivers
Bay Alarm Medical In-Car Medical Alert is the only medical alert system with a GPS alert specifically for your vehicle.
The medical alert device plugs into the 12V port in your vehicle. When paired with the Bay Alarm Medical app, you can check your vehicle’s location and review previous trips. So while it’s not a traditional medical alert system, it’s a helpful tool for older adults who share vehicles.
Pros
- Low monthly monitoring
- Collision detection
- Call for assistance from your vehicle
Cons
- Best paired with other products
- Can’t bundle GPS with in-car system
From the app, you can add important information for paramedics or first responders in case of an emergency. It also has a built-in impact sensor to call for help in case of a collision. Plus, it has a USB port to charge your phone or other electronics.
The In-Car Medical Alert system starts at $29.95 per month and doesn’t require an equipment fee. You can also pair it with the in-home system from Bay Alarm Medical to call for help if you have problems at home.
All these powers combined make it a great companion for older drivers and teen drivers alike. You can also find more GPS vehicle trackers for your loved ones in our review.
Learn more about Bay Alarm Medical
Along with its unique in-vehicle system, Bay Alarm Medical also has in-home and standard GPS devices that landed it in our top spot for best medical alert devices.
You can also learn more about this company, its products, and pricing by checking out our in-depth Bay Alarm Medical review.
4. Medical Guardian Mini Guardian: Most portable
The Medical Guardian’s newest GPS alert device is portable, simple, and accessible. About the size of a domino, this medical alert device with GPS can clip onto your belt, purse, or bag. Or you can wear it around your neck as a lanyard.
Like the Philips GoSafe 2, it comes with multiple forms of location technology. With Wi-Fi, 4G, and GPS tracking on your side, first responders and family can find you whenever you call for help.
Pros
- Compact design
- Accessibility features
- Multiple location technologies
Cons
- Higher equipment cost
The Mini Guardian is only one of three Medical Guardian GPS alert systems. It costs the same as the two-piece Mobile Guardian system and a little less than the Active Guardian.
- Mini Guardian: $33.95/mo.
- Mobile Guardian: $33.95/mo.
- Active Guardian: $44.95/mo.
Like the Active Guardian, the Mini Guardian is a single device with all its tracking features built into its pint-sized design. While the Mobile Guardian is a dual system made of a GPS unit and a wearable button. The Mobile Guardian is subtle, but you’ll need to carry two pieces with you at all times for it to work.
Mini Guardian accessibility features
The Mini Guardian has its fair share of accessibility features too. The single call button on its small body takes up most of the real estate, making it a good fit for those with dexterity issues.
When you press the help button, its loud 78 dB speaker and noise-canceling technology make it easier for those with hearing impairments to speak and listen to the operator on the other side.
Medical Guardian’s staff also has multilingual service for older adults who aren’t English speakers. Top it all off with 5-day battery life, charging reminders, and a companion app to keep your loved ones informed.
Learn more about Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian has in-home products and other GPS medical alert devices to check out. Read our Medical Guardian review to see them all.
You can also learn more about Medical Guardian from our best medical alert bracelets review.
5. GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus: Best add-ons
The GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus GPS medical alert is similar to the others on our list, but its special add-on features make it stand out. With a subscription to GreatCall’s higher tier plans, you can get access to features like a doctor on call and fall detection.
The Urgent Care service through GreatCall connects you with a licensed doctor or nurse for prescriptions or medical questions. While GreatCall Link is the companion app that keeps your family and loved ones in the know. When you press your emergency button, they’ll be notified through the app and come to your assistance.
Pros
- Able to connect to doctors and nurses
- Available in stores
Cons
- Best features cost extra
And while the best features cost extra, the top plan with GreatCall costs under $40 per month. You can even check out the device at brick-and-mortar stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid in your area so you can see it for yourself.
The Lively Mobile Plus comes from the same company that created the Jitterbug phone, so we trust them when it comes to designing intuitive tech for older adults. Plus, the Lively Mobile Plus made our top choice for best medical alert necklaces.
Learn more about GreatCall
We take a closer look at the Lively Mobile Plus and Lively Wearable in our GreatCall review. You can also learn more about the Jitterbug phones from our full review.
Final word
If you’re an active older adult, a GPS medical alert system keeps help closeby without limiting your mobility. Your loved ones will feel better knowing that you have access to emergency services with the press of a button.
The Philips GoSafe 2 does all of that plus included automatic fall detection in a comfortable wearable pendant.
Mobile medical alert system FAQ
How does GPS work with a medical alert system?
A GPS medical alert system pairs location technology like GPS tracking with a medical alert system that connects to a monitoring center. The medical alert device uses cellular signals like your smartphone to pinpoint your location.
When you press the call button, it sends your location to monitoring professionals who can share your information with first responders who will come help you out.
What is automatic fall detection?
Devices with automatic fall detection call for help as soon as they detect a fall by using built in instruments inside that measure height, speed, and pressure.
If you take a spill and are knocked unconscious, your medical alert device will contact the monitoring center and get help.
What’s the difference between a medical alert system and a medical ID bracelet?
A medical alert system is an electronic device that uses a landline or cellular signal to connect to a monitoring center. It can be used as a panic button in emergencies to call for help. A medical ID bracelet is a piece of jewelry designed to identify conditions you have or others of medications you take.
How are GPS medical alert systems different from at-home systems?
GPS medical alert devices and at-home systems have the same job: getting you help when you need it. When it comes down to it, GPS devices versus at-home systems boil down to where you can call help from.
Basically, you can call for help from anywhere in or outside your home with a GPS system while at-home devices need to stay in range of the base station.
Can a GPS medical alert system help a loved one with dementia?
Yes. When combined with features like a companion app and automatic fall detection, a mobile medical alert system can prevent your loved one from wandering and help you find them if they lose their way.
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