MobileHelp Vs. Medical Guardian
| Startup Cost | Product 1 | Product 2 | |
| Mobile Help | None | MobileHelp Classic: $359.40/year | MobileHelp Solo: $384.50/year |
| Medical Guardian | Up to $199.95 | MGMini Pendant: $439.45/year | MG Home Classic: $329.45/year (wrist band device) |
It’s important to note that even more affordable plans from these companies can come with additional costs. Features like fall detection, extended warranties or protection plans, extra devices, and additional family notifications can add $10 or more per month, so it’s important to research all of the costs to avoid surprises on your first bill.
Mobile Help Vs. Medical Guardian
Both Companies Have Plenty of Happy Customers
Though Medical Guardian’s BBB reviews aren’t the best, at 2.02/5, it has received much stronger customer reviews on other platforms and ranks number one in our review of the best medical alert systems. MobileHelp’s 4.5/5 score on the BBB makes it one of the highest rated companies in the industry, and its customers speak highly of it on other platforms. Most people are satisfied with the pricing from both companies, though some stated that Medical Guardian’s options are more expensive than comparable plans from rival companies. Both companies received strong marks for their response times, but they can be inconsistent during busier times.
Setup is Simple
Installation and the initial setup process can be frustrating, but Medical Guardian and MobileHelp take a lot of the pain out of getting started. Most people report setup times of minutes for both companies, and their U.S.-based staff are available to help walk users through the steps. That said, MobileHelp’s Duo systems, which combine mobile and in-home devices, can present challenges, with some people stating that it was difficult to get both set up and working together.
Mobile Apps Provide a Spotty Experience
Medical Guardian and MobileHelp offer mobile apps to help users and family members stay connected and view alerts. Though apps can be a significant benefit, they have to work consistently and intuitively to be useful, and both companies’ customers report occasional struggles with the interfaces. Medical Guardian’s MyGuardian app doesn’t offer push notifications, with many features focused on billing and support, and its app store ratings leave much to be desired.
MobileHelp’s app has similar poor ratings from customers, but its feature set is slightly more robust. The software works with a mobile phone’s GPS features to deliver more accurate location services and has options for contacting 911. Available subscription services add features like app-based 24/7 call center contacts and text message communications.
Despite their upsides, neither app is particularly straightforward, which can be a problem for non-tech-savvy customers. Many people report a clunky interface with extended loading times and frequent crashes, which is far less than ideal during an emergency. The companies appear to have layered app software over a basic website, resulting in poorly rendered pages and an inconsistent experience. The good news is that both companies offer online services via a basic web browser, which many reviews note as the better option.
MobileHelp Tops Device Offerings
Medical Guardian and MobileHelp offer in-home and on-the-go plans, but MobileHelp sells three combined options with both that makes it less expensive to get more comprehensive coverage. Its duo plans come with an in-home hub that brings tighter integration between the devices, and most people report that the system works well once it’s up and running.
Medical Guardian’s mobile and home systems are sold separately, but the upside is that its home devices promise extensive coverage ranges and long battery backup times. They can sync with the wristband or pendant devices, but there’s no central hub like MobileHelp offers, which might be confusing for people not up to date on technology.
