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Compare Bay Alarm Medical vs. GreatCall Medical Alerts

What’s the difference between Bay Alarm Medical Alert and GreatCall Medical Alert? See how our editors compare the two companies below.
Last Updated: April 06, 2024
Bay Alarm Medical Alert
4.5 / 5 - Excellent
no_rank
GreatCall Medical Alert
4.4 / 5 - Excellent
no_rank
vs

Key Facts

Free Shipping & Free Month on Select Plans
  • Plans starting at $24.95 per month
  • Professional monitoring included with all plans
  • No activation fees or long-term contract required
  • At-home and/or mobile protection
  • Connect via landline or cellular devices
  • Optional fall detection

 

  • Touch screen, flip-phone, stationary, and wearable devices available
  • Free shipping, no contract, and no cancellation fees
  • Powered by the nation's most reliable cellular network
  • Large, easy-to-read icons and text
  • US-based customer service and tech support
  • Hearing aid-compatible
  • A+ rated by the BBB

OVERALL RATINGS

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Monitoring4.8/54.5/5
Equipment4.4/54.0/5
Contract and Price4.5/54.5/5
Reputation and Certifications4.5/54.6/5

Equipment Comparison

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
System Types
Home Landline
Home Cellular
Mobile/GPS
Mobile/GPS
Help Button Option
Necklace
Wristband
Necklace
Wristband
Base Station Backup Battery
32 hours
Mobile/GPS Battery Life
72 hours

Key Features

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Wearable 2-Way Communication
Waterproof Help Button
Automatic Fall Detection
Supports Multiple Help Buttons
Fall Detection
Optional Fall Detection
Water-Resistant Help Button

Additional Info

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Cellular Provider Options
Verizon
AT&T
Equipment Warranty
Lifetime Warranty on Help Button; 1 Year Warranty on Mobile/GPS unit
Product Replacement guarantee. GreatCall replaces devices when stolen, lost or broken.

Monitoring Differences

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Monitoring Options
Professionally Monitored
Professionally Monitored
Monitoring Center Type
Outsourced
Number of Monitoring Centers
3
Services
24/7 Monitoring
Emergency Dispatch
Multilingual Staff
24/7 Monitoring
Emergency Dispatch
Non-Emergency Dispatch

Contract & Price Comparison

Starting Prices per Month

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Landline
$19.95
Cellular
$29.95
Mobile/GPS
$39.95
$19.99
Free Monitoring for Additional Person

Contract & Fees

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Contract Required?
No
No
Activation/ Installation Fee
None
Equipment Fees
No equipment fees
GreatCall's lowest-price model, is available for $37.49. Its Lively wearable device, which must be used in conjunction with a smartphone, costs $49.99. The Jitterbug Smart2, which features voice-to-text typing and performs a number of functions that smartphones do costs $74.99. The company's upper-end model, the Lively Flip, is available for $99.99 and is compatible with Alexa.
Free Trial Period
30 days
Cancellation Policy
No cancellation fees. Bay Alarm Medical also prorates for unused months.
No cancellation fees. Activation fee, first month service charge, cost of device, applicable taxes are refunded within 30 days of date of purchase should customers choose to return the product.

Reputation & Professional Certifications

Professional Certifications

Bay Alarm Medical
vs
GreatCall
  • Underwriter's Laboratory (UL)
  • The Monitoring Association (TMA/CSAA)

Additional Ratings

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
TrustPilot Rating
8.8 out of 5
2.8 out of 5
BBB Rating
A+
A+
BBB Positive Reviews
0
3
BBB Neutral Reviews
0
1
BBB Negative Reviews
4
71
Date Collected
2017-08-17
2020-09-30

Disclaimers

Disclaimers


Contact & Additional Information

 Bay Alarm MedicalGreatCall
Homepage URL
Headquarters Address
2600 Stanwell Dr #103, Concord, CA, 94520
10935 Vista Sorrento Pkwy #200, San Diego, CA, 92130
Mailing Address
2600 Stanwell Dr #103, Concord, CA, 94520
10935 Vista Sorrento Pkwy #200, San Diego, CA, 92130
Year Founded
2007
2005

Final Verdict

Bay Alarm Medical Alert has a higher overall rating than GreatCall Medical Alert. Bay Alarm Medical scores better than GreatCall across: Monitoring, Maintenance & Repairs, and Equipment. However, GreatCall scores better on Reputation and Certifications. Both companies score similarly on Coverage, Service Agreements, and Contract and Price.


Customer Comments & Reviews

dbax921
2/23/2022
Bay Alarm Medical Alert review
First of all, we are truly grateful that we have not had an emergency. Recently though I received an email stating that my mother's unit/alarm was showing "low battery". I live an hour and 1/2 away. When I visited last Tuesday, February 15 we tested the system. I told the person who answered the call about the "low battery", and she told me another necklace was being sent out. I did not ask for another necklace. This information was offered. I was relieved. But then on Thursday February 17, my mother received a call and she told them to call my brother. Then they called me. Everyone is very nice on the phone, but then we were all told the unit needed to be tested. I could have easily done that on Tuesday, the 15th, no problem. My concern now is that I have learned that the person I am speaking to on the phone may not know the REAL answer. I told the person I spoke with on the 17th that I was told on the 15th that a new necklace was being sent out. Her response to me was that the responders to not have the power to order a new necklace. But that was not my question. The responder volunteered that info. My point: it shakes my faith in a company when the people I encounter have different answers. I felt so good on the 15th that a necklace was being sent out. In the end, after the "testing", a necklace is on its way.


canes.follower
2/22/2022
Bay Alarm Medical Alert review
I'm pleased with the service. Fortunately, I haven't had to use it in an emergency. But I have a suggestion. For the fall detection monitor I have, the instructions say that when charging, when the light goes from red to green, it's charged. Unfortunately many men like me are color blind (women don't get it but pass the gene on to their son(s)) so I can't tell when the light changes from red to green. Several other devices I have from other manufactures say that when charging, the LED is flashing. When it stops flashing and is on solid, the battery is charged. Surely you could do the same.


L
Liz
11/20/2019
GreatCall Medical Alert review
Not limited to the house or yard, I think it's available to help anywhere that GPS will work. I made the mistake of reserving a motel room online, with no phone number given nor an address for my GPS. I wound up lost at night.... pushed the button, got Great Call and directions! Have had it for several years. Love it!


Mary W
11/17/2019
GreatCall Medical Alert review
I u havei have had great call for two or three years snd have been very satisfied with the Service.


Jean H
5/5/2016
GreatCall Medical Alert review
I've had a 'Great Call' device for going on years now. I must be a frequent caller - seems like I fall - getting off the toilet or getting in my wheelchair - at least once a month. Besides getting stuck in the mud while wheeling around my yard or walking my dog. When I call 911 myself (one of Great Call's options), there is always an argument on whether I live in the city or county. I'm in tears before they finally agree I'm in the city. When I use my Great Call people - THEY get it straight - and the 911 people show up where I am.! Since I do walk my dogs, I *must* have a device that works everywhere. (Sometimes I drive to a park before unloading the wheelchair and the dog.) I've been extremely pleased with Great Call's service.


3/17/2016
Bay Alarm Medical Alert review
I have just recently submitted a review


R
Robert M
10/18/2015
GreatCall Medical Alert review
Got great call on advice of sister booker and cousin RN . Luv it.


T
Tony E
9/27/2015
Bay Alarm Medical Alert review
Great system