Medical Guardian vs LifeFone

Customer Reviews

As a review and reputation management platform, Best Company prioritizes customer voices in determining a company’s trustworthiness and overall reputation. From each company’s profile page, prospective customers can search the review archive within the search bar, using keywords that matter most to them. 

Quantity and Recency 

We have more than 100 LifeFone reviews left by customers on our site. LifeFone has received positive reviews, particularly regarding customer service, response times, and equipment reliability.

While LifeFone has a history of positive reviews, it lacks more recent customer feedback. Since companies are continually honing products and practices, for better or for worse, reviews become less valuable over time. Recent reviews are favored more. 

On the other hand, we have more than 15,000 reviews for Medical Guardian, and hundreds of those are from the past year with more coming through each week. We are confident that the feedback the company is getting is relevant to current prospective customers. 

Common Praises and Complaints

LifeFone receives praise for its reliability, helpful customer service, ease of use, affordability, and the peace of mind it offers to users. However, some limitations in device range, occasional false alarms, and minor inconveniences related to caller ID have been reported as common complaints.

Medical Guardian customers praised the reliability and peace of mind provided by the Medical Guardian system. However, there have been some concerns about device quality, false alarms, and subscription costs. 

Overall, reviews indicate that individual experiences with each system may vary, and it's essential for potential customers to thoroughly research and consider their specific needs and concerns before choosing a medical alert system.

While praises and concerns across the medical alert system industry are nearly identical, both the quantity and quality of data we have on Medical Guardian’s efforts toward customer satisfaction make us more confident in that company in regard to customer feedback and satisfaction. 

Certifications

In terms of certifications, both companies appear to have some level of accreditation. 

Medical Guardian provides specific details about its certifications, including TMA Five Diamond (committed to CSAA’s five points of excellence), ESA Security, and UL-certified monitoring centers. 

LifeFone does not mention specific certifications but claims to be an accredited medical alert system. 

Due to Medical Guardian’s specificity (and despite LifeFone’s potential eligibility for similar certifications), Medical Guardian has an edge in this category as well. 

Equipment Variety

Medical Guardian currently offers the following products:

• MGMini (lightweight device) 
• Mobile 2.0 (portable device) 
• MGMini Lite (wrist wearable) 
• MGMove (safe watch) 
• Home 2.0 (cellular-based)
• Classic Guardian (landline-based) 

LifeFone currently offers the following products: 

• At-Home & On-the-Go VIPx (lightweight device) 
• At-Home & On-the-Go VIP Active (portable device) 
• At-Home & On-the-Go Safe Watch Active 
• At-Home Landline
• At-Home Cellular
• Jewelry-style medical alert necklace (add-on; does not include fall detection)

The companies’ variety of products offered are nearly identical. Both companies provide high-quality medical alert systems with features like fall detection and GPS and offer lightweight, simple, water-resistant, and portable options. 

While minute details may vary, you can expect similar product types regardless of the company you choose, with one exception:  

LifeFone offers a discreet and stylish jewelry-style medical alert necklace as an add-on option whereas Medical Guardian does not. Medical Guardian offers a convenient wrist-wearable device (that is not a watch) whereas LifeFone does not. 

With such similar product offerings, we give the companies a tie in this regard. It mostly comes down to customer preference as far as the device’s appearance. 

Battery Life

Battery life varies by product, but for comparison purposes, we looked at the advertised battery lengths of each company’s standard portable voice-in-pendant product and their most lightweight voice-in-pendant product. 

Medical Guardian: 

• MGMini (lightweight device): 5+ days 
• Mobile 2.0 (portable device): 5 days 

LifeFone:

• At-Home & On-the-Go VIPx (lightweight device): Up to 10 days 
• At-Home & On-the-Go VIP Active (portable device): Up to 5 days 

While there is a lack of specificity in the wording of “up to” preceding the number listed, LifeFone claims longer battery life on its lightweight device, the VIPx, than any of the other products considered on its lightweight device. Assuming 10 days refers to the rule rather than the exception, LifeFone is superior to Medical Guardian in regard to maximum battery life. 

Pricing 

Both companies charge a monthly, quarterly, or yearly fee for the product and service and offer fall detection as an optional feature for an additional monthly fee. 

While LifeFone’s fall detection is less expensive than Medical Guardian’s, Medical Guardian’s product and service pricing is less expensive than that of LifeFone. If you’re using fall detection, you’ll pay about the same amount with either company. 

Medical Guardian charges $10 extra per month for fall detection and, as an example, $39.95 monthly or $36.62 per month if paid yearly for the MGMini. 

LifeFone offers fall detection for an additional $5 per month and, as an example, $45.95 monthly or $38.45 per month if paid yearly for the comparable VIPx. 

Both offer promotions on their corporate websites, such as one free month of service if customers sign up within a particular window of time.

Additionally, LifeFone offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a price-lock guarantee. The money-back-guarantee may not mean much if the customer is utilizing a first-month free promotion anyway. But the price-lock is a valuable perk for customers concerned about rising prices. 

In conclusion, you’ll pay about the same price with both companies if you’re purchasing additional fall detection. If you’re not using fall detection, you’ll save some money (about $60 per year with the lightweight portable device) with Medical Guardian.

If you’re planning to use your device for many years, the LifeFone price lock can be valuable. If you’re very concerned about disliking the product, both companies run promotions offering the first month free. 

All things considered, we’re calling a tie on pricing. 

Caregiver Tools

Both companies offer the following care tools for caregivers and family members, via the LifeFone Caregiver Portal or the MyMedicalGuardian app: 

• Check-in calls
• Medication reminders
• Location service (indicates the location of the device) 
• Activity 

Medical Guardian also offers additional calendar reminders, messaging, and audible features to keep all parties connected, giving it a slight edge over LifeFone in this regard. 

Medical Guardian customers can pay for additional software tools, including the Care Circle app, onGuard alerts, and device protection plans, along with additional devices or pendants. LifeFone customers also have the option to pay for additional pendants and caregiving app features via the VIPx Caregiver app which can check for the first motion of the day, manually ring the device, and check the battery device level. 

Our Vote: Medical Guardian 

Both Medical Guardian and LifeFone offer valuable products and services with a closely aligned set of features and strengths. Consumers should let their priorities and preferences guide their decisions in this very close comparison. 

LifeFone stands out with its price-lock guarantee and the potential for a 10-day battery life on one of its products. 

Medical Guardian excels in terms of reputation via customer reviews and industry certifications. 

You or your loved one will likely be in good hands with either company. But as a review site, we put a lot of stock in the quantity, quality, and recency of verified customer reviews. 

Therefore, we feel most confident recommending Medical Guardian as the most trusted medical alert system provider.