Prices come from each company's own website, read on 2026-11-07. This page has no affiliate links and we did not test any device.
Five questions to ask before you pay
Ask these of each company, and write the answers down next to the quote.
- What is the monthly price with automatic fall detection on this exact device, including taxes and fees?
- Is there an equipment, activation or shipping charge? What is the total on my first invoice?
- What does the price become when the current promotion ends?
- If we cancel in month four, what do we owe, and are unused months refunded?
- Does fall detection work in the shower, and will the device be worn there?
Multiply the monthly answer to question 1 by 36 for a three-year figure, then add whatever question 2 turns up.
Why fall detection is the line to pin down
The CDC says more than 1 in 4 people 65 and older fall each year, and one fall doubles the chance of falling again (CDC fall facts, page dated Sept. 8, 2026). An alert button only helps if it is pressed. Fall detection is meant for the case where the person cannot press it, which is why it is the feature worth paying for and the one to price carefully. It can still miss a slow fall, so it does not replace the grab bars and lighting fixes elsewhere on this site.
Starting prices as the companies publish them
| Company and product | Starting monthly price | Fall detection | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Home | $27.95 | Offered with a pendant, price not stated | Not stated |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS All-In-One 2 | $34.95 | Optional, price not stated | Not stated |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Micro | $34.95 | Optional, price not stated | Not stated |
| Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch | $39.95 | Not mentioned | Not stated |
| LifeStation Sidekick Home | $38.95 | Optional, price not stated | Not stated |
| LifeStation Pearl | $42.95 | Available, price not stated | Not stated |
| LifeStation Sidekick Smart (watch) | $42.95 | Included | Not stated |
| Medical Guardian Guardian Flex | $39.95 (period not stated) | "Available add-on," price not stated | Not stated |
| Medical Guardian MG Home | $34.95 (period not stated) | "Available add-on," price not stated | Not stated |
Sources: Bay Alarm Medical, LifeStation, Medical Guardian pricing page and home page, all read 2026-11-07. "Starting" means the lowest price shown.
The Medical Guardian pricing page shows "Starting at $39.95" and "$34.95" without saying whether that is per month, per quarter or per year. It does say you can pay monthly, quarterly or annually and save, with no amounts. Treat those two numbers as unconfirmed until the company tells you the period.
The floor over three years
Multiply a starting monthly price by 36 and you get the least you could pay in monthly fees. It leaves out fall detection where it costs extra, equipment and shipping.
- Bay Alarm SOS Home: $27.95 x 36 = $1,006.20
- Bay Alarm All-In-One 2 or Micro: $34.95 x 36 = $1,258.20
- Bay Alarm Smartwatch: $39.95 x 36 = $1,438.20
- LifeStation Sidekick Home: $38.95 x 36 = $1,402.20
- LifeStation Pearl or Sidekick Smart: $42.95 x 36 = $1,546.20
Medical Guardian is left out until the billing period is confirmed. The fall detection fee, if there is one, comes on top of every figure above.
Where the cost hides
- Fall detection is often a separate line. Most products above list it as optional or an add-on with no price. LifeStation's Sidekick Smart watch is the one product that lists it as included.
- None of the pages I opened states an equipment fee. That does not mean there isn't one, so ask for the first invoice total.
- Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian both show time-limited promotions on their sites. Ask what the price is after.
- Contracts. Bay Alarm says there are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees. Medical Guardian's page says it does not require long-term contracts, and also says "We don't charge ... cancellation fees." Yet a footnote on the same page reads "Cancellation fees may apply." Those two statements conflict, so get the cancellation terms in writing before you pay.
- Annual billing may lower the monthly rate at Medical Guardian. It also means money out upfront if the person stops using the device.
What we could not confirm
No official page for any of these companies gave the fall detection price. We could not open a Medicare page to check whether Medicare pays for these services, so ask Medicare or your plan directly before assuming either way.