Lifeline Alternative for the US and Canada
Lifeline, formerly Philips Lifeline, is a help button connected to a response center, with optional automatic fall alerts. In the US it costs about $27.95 to $44.95 a month plus a setup fee (NCOA, 2026); in Canada it is run by Lifeline Canada, and some health authorities refer people to it. I'm Alive is a daily check-in on your phone: miss it, and the people you chose are told.
Download FreeSide-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | I'm Alive | Philips Lifeline |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Free daily check-in; Protect Me $29.99 US/yr | US: about $27.95–$44.95/month (NCOA, 2026); Canada: quoted by Lifeline Canada |
| Setup fee | None | US: about $99 for most products (NCOA) |
| Hardware | None — the phone you already have | Help button plus a home communicator or mobile device |
| Contract | None | No long-term contract required (US reviews) |
| What sets off an alert | A missed daily check-in | Pressing the button, or an Auto Alert fall alert |
| Who responds | The people you choose, by text, email and app notification (Protect Me) | A Lifeline response associate |
| Calls emergency services | No — I'm Alive is not an emergency service | The response center can send help |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Lifeline cost?
In the US, NCOA reports Lifeline products at about $27.95 to $44.95 a month, with a setup fee of about $99 for most products (2026). The Senior List reports $39.95 to $49.95 a month depending on the model, plus about $15 a month for fall detection. Prices change, so check with Lifeline. I'm Alive's daily check-in is free in the app; Protect Me is $29.99 a year and Protect Me On The Move is $39.99 a year, with no setup fee.
Is Lifeline available in Canada?
Yes. In Canada the service is run by Lifeline Canada (lifeline.ca, 1-800-LIFELINE), and some health authorities, for example Interior Health and Fraser Health in British Columbia, refer people to it. Some areas offer a subsidy, so ask your health authority. I'm Alive works across Canada on iPhone and Android; plans on our website are priced in US dollars, and your bank converts the price.
Does Lifeline detect falls?
Lifeline's Auto Alert button is designed to call the response centre if it senses a fall and you don't move. Interior Health notes that fall detection does not catch every fall and advises pressing the button if you can. I'm Alive is not a fall detector: it notices when a daily check-in is missed and tells the people you chose. If falls are the main worry, a button with fall detection does that job better.
My parent's doctor recommended Lifeline.
Follow your doctor's advice for emergency response. A daily check-in can sit alongside it: the button covers the moment your parent presses it, and the check-in covers a day when nobody hears from them.
Lifeline connects to a response center. Does I'm Alive?
No. I'm Alive has no response center and does not call 911. If your parent misses a daily check-in, they get a reminder, and then the people they chose are alerted by text, email and app notification on Protect Me. Those contacts decide what to do: call, visit, or call emergency services.
Is there an activation fee with I'm Alive?
No. There is no activation fee and no cancellation fee. The daily check-in is free in the app; Protect Me, which alerts your contacts every time, is $29.99 a year. Yearly plans renew until you cancel, and keep working until the end of the year you paid for.
Lifeline has been around for decades. Can I trust a newer app?
Lifeline has a long track record in emergency response, and that is worth weighing. I'm Alive does a narrower job: a daily check-in that tells your own people when it's missed. You can send a clearly marked test alert and see that it was delivered, so you know the safety net works before you rely on it.
Can we use Lifeline and I'm Alive together?
Yes, and some families do. Lifeline covers emergencies where your parent can press a button or the fall sensor triggers. I'm Alive covers the quieter risk: a day when your parent doesn't get up, doesn't press anything, and nobody would otherwise notice until someone called.
What does Lifeline's response center do when the button is pressed?
A Lifeline response associate answers, looks at your profile and works out with you who to contact, whether that's a family member, a neighbor or emergency services. That human response is the main thing you pay the monthly fee for.
How do I get Lifeline through my health authority in Canada?
Some health authorities refer people to Lifeline. Interior Health, for example, says to visit lifeline.ca or call 1-800-LIFELINE to make a referral, and Fraser Health lists Lifeline in its service directory. Ask your health authority or family doctor whether a subsidy applies where you live.
What happens if your parent misses a check-in?
Their check-in time passes and their phone shows a reminder. If your parent still doesn't check in, the contacts are alerted: on Protect Me every time, by text, email and app notification, to up to 10 people; on the free version, one contact, once a month. The contacts decide what to do next — call, ask a neighbour to knock, or visit.
Who is Lifeline the better choice for?
People who need someone to answer within minutes: a history of falls, a condition that can cause sudden collapse, or a doctor's recommendation for monitored help. Lifeline's response center and Auto Alert do that job, and I'm Alive does not.
Is I'm Alive available in French?
Not yet. The app is in English, so it suits parents who read English, or who have someone nearby to help with setup. After that, the daily job is one tap.
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