ADT Medical Alert System Review 2025

Key Takeaways

• ADT doesn’t charge upfront costs for its equipment, but there is a $99 activation fee for all medical alert systems.
• Fall detection costs an extra $11 per month and is not available with all ADT medical alert systems.
• All ADT medical alert systems come with a lifetime warranty and ForeverRate, which guarantees your monthly rate doesn’t increase.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“Most people enjoy enough mobility to come and go as they please, so I typically steer people toward medical alert system (MAS) options that have versatility that matches their lifestyle. The best MAS is the one that fits the person who needs the MAS, not the other way around. More expensive or complex does not always equal better if the MAS doesn’t fit the person’s needs or lifestyle.” Read more about Christopher Norman →

ADT Health Packages and Pricing

ADT took us through its three medical alert systems to see which one would be best for us.

ADT offers only two in-home systems and one mobile system. It has limited options compared to other medical alert systems we’ve tested. When we reviewed Bay Alarm Medical, for example, we tried their at-home setup, all-in-one mobile device, and medical alert smartwatch. Comparing ADT and Bay Alarm Medical could help you see what you might miss out on if you go with ADT.

Price-wise, we found ADT competitive. Its pricing is a little cheaper than that of Medical Guardian. ADT doesn’t charge an equipment fee; all equipment is leased. Medical Guardian requires an equipment purchase for most of its packages, with prices ranging from $100 to $200.

With ADT, however, there’s a $99 activation fee. Most other companies including Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian have done away with such extra fees.

ADT On-The-Go

If you run errands or take a yearly vacation, we recommend the ADT On-The-Go system. It comes with a mobile base unit that works throughout the United States. Plus, you can choose between a wristband or neck pendant for the portable device.

A fall detection pendant is also available for an extra $11 per month. Most importantly, the portable devices have a built-in GPS to help the monitoring service pinpoint your location.

Features and Accessories

If you are a seasoned traveler, we recommend adding ADT’s Fall Detection pendant to the cart.

ADT Medical Alert Plus

The best at-home system ADT offers is Medical Alert Plus. It relies on cellular rather than your landline connection. Plus, if you have a power outage, your medical alert system stays online.

The coverage range for the pendants is only 600 feet though. That’s less than half the range of the Medical Guardian system we reviewed, which was 1,400 feet. You might think 600 feet is enough for your home, but note that walls and appliances can intervene with the signal. We recommend a range of at least 1,000 feet for average-sized homes.

>> Read More: Best Long-Range Medical Alert Systems

ADT Medical Alert Basic

Finally, there’s Medical Alert Basic, the budget-friendly system. It requires a landline connection and is ideal for people who mostly stay at home and want to keep their independence. The only big drawback with Medical Alert Basic is that fall detection cannot be added. On the other hand, it’s accessible because of the price.

>> Check Out: Best Affordable Medical Alert Systems

Features and Accessories

All systems access ADT’s 24/7 US-based call center. You also get two-day shipping, a premium warranty, and a rate guarantee. That means your initial subscription price will never increase. Overall, we’d say that these are customer-friendly attributes.

Here are some of the other features and accessories ADT offers.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“With the right support system (and also the right features!), an alert system can provide peace of mind for caregivers and the person with the impairment. But if the thinking is that an alert system by itself will be enough to prevent all accidents, this is likely unrealistic.”

Other extras you can purchase with your ADT subscription include additional wristbands and pendants, waterproof wall-mount buttons, lockboxes, and leather cases. You can find a complete breakdown of each add-on in the table below.

Ordering ADT Medical Alert Systems

Buying Experience

We like that ADT makes it easy to compare its three medical alert systems.

Buying an ADT medical alert system is as easy as buying an ADT security system. We compared the three packages and added one to our cart. From there, we had the option to add accessories or complete the purchase.

There is a chat button in the corner if you have questions. The Digital Assistant asks a few questions before taking you to a real person. We had a couple of questions about the On-The-Go System and got quick answers. It helped assure us we were making the right choice.

>> Find Out: Do Medical Alert Systems Have Bluetooth?

Installation Process

All three systems are easy to set up. Medical Alert Basic requires a landline and outlet connection, but the other two systems can be placed anywhere.

Once you switch the main unit on, all that’s left to do is to pair your help buttons. All that only took us a few seconds. We pressed the emergency button on the base and it announced device training had begun. Next, we held the help button on our devices until we heard a success message. Finally, we pressed the reset button on the base station and it confirmed the device training was complete.

Response time

ADT medical alert system promise to seniors

When we pressed the emergency test button, we got a response within 60 seconds. We got faster results (around 30 seconds) when simulating falls and using the help buttons.

During our MobileHelp testing, we were getting through to the monitoring center in less than 30 seconds. When every second counts, ADT might not be the fastest option around.

Does ADT’s Medical Alert System Have an App?

ADT medical alert systems don’t come with a companion app. With other brands, we use these apps to manage payments, update emergency contacts, and give access to caregivers.

There is also a lack of extra features. For example, when we reviewed Lively, we could access on-call nurses and experts who support our health and wellness goals.

>> Read More: Best Medical Alert Systems for Diabetics

Reading the Fine Print

Before you hit the buy button, we recommend taking a closer look at what you’re buying from ADT. For example, on the compare products screen, it might look like the monthly prices are on sale. But really, it’s just a discount for paying yearly.

Fall detection costs and the activation fee are also hidden in the fine print at the bottom of the screen. So let’s confirm what you’re getting before you sign up.

Contracts

No contract is required for ADT’s medical alert systems. All you’ll need to do is keep up to date with the subscription plan you’ve purchased. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and you’ll be able to continue using it through your last billing period.

Warranties

You can see for yourself what’s included in ADT’s Premium Protection Plan.

Every medical alert system is covered under ADT’s Premium Protection Plan, but what exactly does it do? For nearly all types of damages in need of repair (including dropping the device), ADT will replace it at no extra cost. But there are restrictions.

For wear and tear, power surges, manufacturing defects, and battery defects, ADT will replace it as many times as needed. For dropping, water damage, or temperature damage, ADT will replace only one base unit and two accessories per calendar year. The plan doesn’t cover lost or stolen items.

Returns

There are no free trials or money-back guarantees for ADT medical alert systems. If you want to return your device within the first 90 days, you may be eligible for a refund. But you’ll need to discuss options with ADT directly.

ADT Vs. The Competition

We know ADT is a major player in the security system industry, but how does it compare to the top medical alert systems?

ADT Vs. Bay Alarm Medical

ADT and Bay Alarm Medical share a lot of similarities. Both offer 24/7 monitoring, optional fall detection, and at-home and wearable devices. We think Bay Alarm Medical has better portable equipment, particularly the SOS Smartwatch, which is one of the best medical alert watches we’ve tested. ADT is better suited for at-home care.

>> Compare: ADT Vs. Bay Alarm Medical

ADT Vs. Medical Guardian

ADT is a more affordable option compared to Medical Guardian. Even though Medical Guardian is pricier, it offers a stronger lineup of portable devices. One example is the MGMove smartwatch we reviewed. We liked that it had fall detection, a GPS, and an app to set reminders for medication and events. We couldn’t do that with any ADT device.

Bottom Line

Do we recommend ADT’s medical alert systems? Overall, yes. All three packages get the basics right. You get reliable equipment that connects to a 24/7 monitoring center within 30 seconds if you need help.

But there are better options available. Some offer greater coverage with mobile devices and others are more affordable. The lack of a companion app also hurts ADT. If you can look past these shortcomings, you won’t be disappointed with ADT’s medical alert systems.

Frequently Asked Questions