A practical StayOK guide for families supporting an independent senior.
Life Alert vs. StayOK: cost, contract, and what each one actually does
Life Alert's monitoring plans commonly run $49.95 to $89.95 a month depending on the devices included, plus a roughly $197 activation fee, sold on a 3-year contract that Life Alert states can only be ended early if the user passes away or permanently moves into a care facility.
That contract structure has drawn regulatory scrutiny: in March 2021 the New York Attorney General reached a $750,000 settlement with Life Alert after finding its contracts omitted cancellation rights required by state law. StayOK, by contrast, runs on a phone, tablet, or computer your parent already has, with no activation fee, no hardware, and no long-term contract — though it also does not include fall-detection or 24/7 emergency dispatch, since it solves a different, quieter problem.
How much does Life Alert cost? Life Alert's plans commonly range from about $49.95 to $89.95 per month depending on the devices included, plus a one-time activation fee of around $197, and require a 3-year monitoring contract.
Does StayOK require a contract or hardware? No. StayOK runs on a phone, tablet, or computer your parent already has, with no activation fee and no long-term contract.