Alert1 Review

Alert1 has been around for quite some time – 1988 in fact. They have a US based customer service team with round-the-clock coverage and they offer assistance in an impressive 190 languages. They tout a clear two way communication line and have an incredible response time of mere seconds. 

Alert1 would be a great fit for tech savvy customers who like to be mobile and are active. Their unit does require a landline for those who haven’t yet switched to a completely mobile phone unit, but they offer a mobile device for those who live an active lifestyle and need coverage when leaving the house. Alert1 offers a mobile set up for security when not at home.

We Love!

• Alert1 doesn’t require a long-term contract or surprise fees
• A pretty wide range of options so you can choose the monthly rate that’s best for you (starting as low as $19.95 with an annual plan, and going up to $52.95 for robust equipment and options)
• Two free months with annual subscription saves you money
• No upfront equipment costs
• Unlimited button pushes
• GPS, Wi-fi, and Cellular options for locating during a Fall Detection
• 190 Languages offers
• Waterproof pendants and wristbands
• 30 day money back guarantee but… (see below)
• Discounts for Veterans, AAA, & AARP

We Don’t Love…

• Short range of 600 feet for in-the-home only coverage
• Base unit and pendants are the only option – no options for multiple rooms or additional buttons
• Landlines are required for most of their units and device options. Will not work with VoIP.
• Cellular service is available for the highest range kit as well as their mobile unit. 
• Not all rural areas have great cell service – Mobile and cellular service devices won’t work without switching to a landline unit. 
• Require commitment to using a wearable wristband or pendant
• Shorter than expected battery life
• Confusing lights on the mobile device
• No partial refunds if you pay annually (after the first 30 days)

Pricing and Costs

Alert1 has five packages to offer, though they break them down into two options when you first get started on their website. The first two options shows are “In the Home” and “On-the-go.” When you click on “View more choices” you see their full range of options. There are only five, but at first glance it can appear like there are several. 

Each kit has their own features and benefits and they grow in price as they grow in usability and functionality.

If you opt for a month to month fee with no contracts, the prices are a tad different. Prices for an annual subscription save you about 17% of the cost over the course of the year and you pay for it up front. If you prefer a month to month plan, each plan goes up anywhere from 14 – 31%! Definitely the annual plans are the best bang for your buck. See the grid below for more details:

Cancellations

One pretty glaring caveat to the huge cost savings, is that if you no longer need the unit, Alert1 will absolutely NOT refund a prorated amount for the remainder of the year. As the cost savings at the lowest level is pretty significant, this might not be an issue. But even if you use the unit and the service for one month, there are no refunds thereafter. Instead, Alert1 offers a donation plan, where you can donate the remaining months (and equipment) to a needy user. 

Additionally, the units must all be returned immediately upon cancellation or the company charges a hefty equipment fee. We weren’t able to find out how much that was according to their website, and weren’t really interested in finding out the hard way. 

Equipment Details

Alert1 comes with a whole variety of equipment options.

In-the-Home

The In-the-Home kit comes with a base unit, a wristband button, and a neck lanyard, or for an additional $8 a month, a fall detection lanyard. The base unit has an included phone jack to plug into the landline, and a cord for plugging into the wall. The pictured pendant above with the red button is replaced with a larger one with a black button if you opt for fall detection as well as shown in the image below. Adding an additional user adds an additional pendant for $10 more each month. 

In-the-Home + Fall Detection Medical Alert

The In-the-Home + Fall Detection kit includes the base unit (with phone jack and plug) and the specialized fall detection button. If you opt for a wireless system, you’ll receive a black base unit instead, and no phone jack. For an additional user, an additional pendant is included for an additional $10 a month.

On-the-Go

The On-the-Go pendant works with cellular service for an active user on the go. It has a sleek, black design, but it could be considered bulky to someone around the house. The On-the-Go has a battery life of about 30 days, but we recommend charging it more often to not be caught unawares. On-the-Go comes with a belt clip attachment if the lanyard around the neck is not preferred. It is waterproof and will work well in the shower or the pool. For an additional $8 a month, fall detection can be added. Fall detection includes GPS for location services should they be needed. Add a second user (and subsequently an additional pendant) for an additional $20 a month. 

On-the-Go + Fall Detection

As mentioned above, the On-the-Go works well as a two way button to alert that help is needed, but if you add $8 a month, it becomes a two way alert button as well as a fall detection tool. An additional user is $20 more per month, and the unit comes with a nice, sleek charging station. Battery life is about 5 days but again we recommend charging more often to avoid issues.

In-the-Home + On-the-Go + Fall Detection

For the user who spends time at home and out and about, the In-the-Home + On-the-Go + Fall Detection covers all of your bases. This bundle comes with the base unit, (phone jack and plug included), the On-the-Go with GPS unit, fall detection, and the alert button lanyard. For $30 more a month, you’ll receive an additional GPS enabled On-the-Go button.

Bottom Line

The Alert1 options have a wide range of options for users. The base unit and pendant (and wrist button!) may work well for someone who may need assistance, but there are other companies that offer buttons in more rooms, should the lanyard not be worn, or lost. We like that the On-the-Go lanyard button has GPS built into it, and fall detection isn’t too expensive of an add on to each bundle. 

You can’t beat Alert1’s 190 language abilities. When you set it up, you’ll be able to choose your language, and this could be crucial in times of an emergency. Their response times are fast and professional. Alert1 also has the option to be able to contact anyone you choose. Most other companies simply call 911, but this company allows for help to be contacted that isn’t quite so emergent. They also don’t charge for button presses or penalize you in any way for that service. 

While the more robust plans seem to be higher priced in the monthly fees than some others, they really do include all three options of home based unit, GPS out of the home, and a lanyard when you’re not next to the base unit. The lanyard does only have a 600 feet range, though, so a user with a bit of property would need an On-the-Go unit. 

Lastly, while Alert1 has thousands of positive reviews for their language abilities, responsiveness, and ability to call a non emergency contact, if the user no longer needs it, they will not refund the difference if you’ve paid annually. It appears they used to offer quarterly payment plans, but when I purchased it, I could only find monthly or annually. A lot of negative reviews (actually, every negative review I read through) had one complaint only. No refunds will be given should your user not need it for the rest of the year. I admire their attempt to make that better by donating the unit to a needy person, but for people who feel cash strapped, this could be a sting. If you even think you might not need it for the whole year, opt for the monthly plan and pay the difference. It’s unfortunate as there is quite a range of cost savings if you do pay for the year, but it is risky and they are adamant about this policy.

FAQs – Here are the questions I had

Is there a chat service?

As I do most of my research online, I was looking for help via chat. Alert1’s phone number is all over their website, but I didn’t know all of the questions I would have and didn’t want to call a few times. I missed that they didn’t have a quick chat feature to ask questions. 

Does the base unit have to use a landline?

Yes and no. You can opt for both, but not at the basic level. As you place your order online, they ask if you have a landline or not. If you get the smallest package, you don’t have the option for a wireless (or cell service based) unit. I wish they had explained this more clearly. A more tech savvy person could have spotted this more quickly, but I really had to think about whether or not that would suit my needs. Additionally, spotty cell service can affect that decision. A landline would be more consistent, but not everyone has one anymore. 

Are the pieces waterproof?

The wearable pieces, the lanyard, GPS enabled unit, and the wrist button can all be worn in the shower. I found it interesting that the website touted these were ‘showerproof’ and not specifically ‘waterproof.’ They’re one and the same to me, but I found that interesting. Probably best not to go deep sea diving with them though. 

How does fall protection work? Do I need that?

Sensors in the wrist button and pendant options can tell if there’s a sudden shift in direction. For instance if it falls, gets crushed, or gets thrown. These actions resemble a fall and would get attention. In a pinch, these pendants could really help, especially if the fall caused damage rendering the person unconscious. $8 a month is worth that peace of mine. 

Can I add on later or are add ons only allowed during my first purchase?       

You can add on anything to your kit as you see fit but there are no cost breaks for additional systems. You’ll likely have to call to order a second user if you decide to add one. 

What happens if I decide to end service?

Alert1 requires that you return just the base unit if you aren’t using it anymore. Stay on top of getting that back to them because they will charge a hefty fee if they don’t get it back.

The Final Say

Alert1 has the best options for ‘all of the above’ as in, you can get your base unit, GPS, lanyard, wrist button, and not be tied to being home if you get all of them. That being said, it costs $50+ a month for that flexibility and that’s a bit more than some other options. Customer service for this company isn’t popular with their difficult policy of not refunding anyone, under any circumstances (other than in the first 30 days of the trial period.) After that 30 days, you won’t get your money back. Also, keep an eye out for auto charges should your month or year be up and they’re ready to recharge you. 

When you’re subscribed to the service and using the system, everything is great! Customer service is quick and very good. Service is clear and fast. Communication is vast. Keep in mind that if you have a larger home or roam around the property a bit, you’ll likely not want to go with a smaller plan. You’ll need room to breath and need to go with a kit that includes the On-the-Go tracker pendant with fall detection. This also is the best choice if you have good cell service and don’t have a landline.