Life Alert has three monthly prices: $49.95, $69.95 and $89.95. If you call to enquire, you will almost certainly be quoted $69.95.
Understanding why that happens — and what each price actually covers — is the most useful thing you can do before deciding whether Life Alert is the right choice for your family.
This article walks through all three plans in detail, shows you the month-by-month cost over the full 36-month contract, and explains what your options are if you need to cancel before the contract ends.
For the full Life Alert cost overview including the 3-year total and competitor comparisons, see our Life Alert cost guide.
Life Alert’s Three Monthly Price Points
Life Alert does not list its prices on its website. You have to call their sales line to get a quote. The following pricing has been confirmed by senior care researchers who contacted Life Alert directly in 2026.
The $49.95 Per Month Plan — The Base System
The base plan includes the Master Unit home base station and one wearable help button, worn as a pendant or bracelet. When you press the button, the call routes through the base station’s built-in speaker to Life Alert’s monitoring centre.
This plan technically exists, but Life Alert requires it to be bundled with at least one additional device. The $49.95 standalone rate is only available with special approval from a Life Alert representative — something the company does not advertise and rarely grants on a first call. Most families who ask for the cheapest plan are told they need to add a device.
The $69.95 Per Month Plan — The Standard Bundle
This is the plan most families end up on. It includes the Master Unit plus one additional device: either the mobile GPS pendant or the wall-mounted shower button, but not both.
The mobile GPS pendant is a separate wearable device that works outside the home, using cellular coverage to connect directly to Life Alert’s monitoring centre without needing the base station. It is useful for seniors who leave the house regularly.
The wall-mounted shower button is a fixed button installed in the bathroom — the location where falls most commonly occur. It connects through the base station.
At $69.95 per month, this plan is the effective entry price for most Life Alert customers.
The $89.95 Per Month Plan — The Full Bundle
The full bundle includes the Master Unit, the mobile GPS pendant, and the wall-mounted shower button. This is Life Alert’s all-devices configuration, providing coverage at home, in the bathroom, and outside.
At $89.95 per month, this is Life Alert’s most expensive tier and costs more per month than most competitors charge for their most comprehensive plans.
What Each Plan Actually Includes
Understanding what you get at each price tier helps explain why the jump from $49.95 to $69.95 is almost unavoidable.
The Master Unit — included in every plan — is the home base station. It functions as a speakerphone connected to Life Alert’s monitoring centre. When you press your help button, the call connects through the Master Unit if you are within range. The unit has a built-in speaker and microphone designed to be audible from multiple rooms.
The Help Button pendant is a waterproof button you wear around your neck or on your wrist. Pressing it triggers the call. It works within the range of the Master Unit — typically the full footprint of a standard home.
The Mobile GPS Pendant is a separate device that works independently of the Master Unit. It connects via cellular network, which means it functions anywhere with cell coverage. It is the right device for seniors who drive, go to appointments, or spend time outdoors. Adding this is what takes most plans from $49.95 to $69.95.
The Wall Button is a fixed waterproof button mounted in the shower or bathroom. Falls at home most commonly happen in the bathroom — particularly in the shower. The wall button is a fixed backup that does not need to be worn and cannot fall off or be forgotten.
The Running Cost — Month by Month
Life Alert requires a 36-month contract. The activation fee of $197 is charged upfront. Here is what each plan costs at each point in the contract.
On the standard $69.95 per month bundle:
After month 1, including the activation fee: $266.95.
After 12 months: $1,036.40.
After 24 months: $1,875.80.
After 36 months — end of contract: $2,715.20.
On the full $89.95 per month bundle:
After month 1, including activation: $286.95.
After 12 months: $1,276.40.
After 24 months: $2,355.80.
After 36 months: $3,435.20.
After the 36-month contract expires, Life Alert offers a month-to-month option at the same monthly rate. There is no discount or loyalty pricing for continuing beyond the contract term.
Can You Cancel Life Alert Early?
This is the question most families do not ask until they need to. The answer is difficult.
Life Alert’s service agreement allows early termination under two specific conditions only: the death of the subscriber, or the subscriber’s move to a full-time care facility such as a nursing home or assisted living centre.
There is no standard 30-day trial period. There is no cooling-off window documented in the service agreement beyond a short return period immediately after receiving equipment — which is not publicly specified. Once that brief window closes, you are committed to the full contract.
This means that if your parent’s condition changes, if they move in with family, or if they simply stop using the device, you are still responsible for the remaining monthly payments unless Life Alert grants an exception.
This contract structure is increasingly unusual in 2026. Every alternative we recommend — LifeFone, Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian — operates on a month-to-month basis. You can cancel at any time by returning the equipment, with no penalty.
How Does Life Alert’s Monthly Cost Compare?
Here is a side-by-side comparison of monthly pricing for the most common plan at each provider, using confirmed 2026 rates.
LifeFone: $24.95 per month on an annual plan ($29.95/mo month-to-month), no activation fee, no long-term contract. Fall detection add-on: $5/mo.
Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home cellular: $27.95 per month, month-to-month, no activation fee. Fall detection available for $10 per month.
Medical Guardian MGHome Cellular: $36.95 per month, month-to-month, no activation fee. Fall detection available for $10 per month.
Life Alert standard bundle: $69.95 per month, 36-month contract required, $197 activation fee.
Life Alert’s monthly rate is $33 to $45 more per month than every alternative listed above — before accounting for the activation fee and contract commitment.
Is There a Cheaper Monthly Option With the Same Quality?
Yes. For most families, LifeFone provides equivalent protection at the lowest ongoing monthly cost.
LifeFone plans start at $24.95 per month on an annual plan ($29.95/mo month-to-month) with no activation fee, no equipment fee, and no long-term contract. 30-day money-back guarantee. Monitoring is US-based and available 24 hours a day. Fall detection is available as a $5/mo add-on. Battery life on mobile devices reaches up to 18 days — significantly longer than the Life Alert mobile pendant.
Over 36 months, LifeFone at $24.95 per month costs $898.20. Life Alert at $69.95 per month costs $2,715.20. The saving is $1,817 — more than eighteen hundred dollars for equivalent core protection.
You can see LifeFone’s current plans at LifeFone.
For a full comparison of Life Alert against the best alternatives in 2026, see our Life Alert alternatives guide.
For options with no monthly fee, see our no monthly fee medical alert systems comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Life Alert cost per month in 2026?
Life Alert costs $49.95, $69.95, or $89.95 per month depending on which plan you select. Most callers are quoted $69.95 for the standard bundle, which includes the base unit and one additional device.
Why does Life Alert charge $69.95 instead of $49.95?
Life Alert requires the base system to be bundled with at least one additional device — either a mobile GPS pendant or a wall-mounted shower button. This bundle requirement pushes the effective starting price to $69.95 per month for most customers.
Can I pay Life Alert month to month?
Not initially. All new Life Alert customers must sign a 36-month service contract. A month-to-month option is available after the contract term expires, at the same monthly rate.
How much does Life Alert cost per year?
On the standard $69.95 per month plan, Life Alert costs $839.40 per year excluding the first-year activation fee. Including the $197 activation fee, the first year costs $1,036.40.
What happens if I cancel Life Alert before 3 years?
Life Alert’s contract only allows early termination due to the subscriber’s death or transition to a full-time care facility. There is no standard early exit option and no refund of remaining contract payments in other circumstances.
What is the cheapest Life Alert plan available?
The $49.95 per month base plan is technically the cheapest, but it requires special approval and is rarely offered. The effective minimum price for most customers is $69.95 per month.
Summary
Life Alert offers three monthly plans at $49.95, $69.95 and $89.95. Most customers pay $69.95 — the standard bundle — because the base plan requires special approval to access. The 36-month contract and $197 activation fee mean the total commitment on the standard plan is $2,715.
For equivalent 24/7 monitoring protection at a lower monthly cost with no contract, LifeFone (from $24.95/mo on an annual plan) is the strongest alternative. See plans at LifeFone. No contract, cancel at any time with no penalty.
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This article was researched and written by the SafeElderCare editorial team. Pricing data reflects publicly available rates as of June 2026. Affiliate links are marked. SafeElderCare earns a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you.