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Lively makes most sense if you want a simple flip phone or smartphone with a button that reaches a live Urgent Response agent, all on one month-to-month bill. It is a legitimate company: it is Best Buy Health's senior phone and safety brand, formerly GreatCall, the maker of the Jitterbug phone since 2006, and it holds an A+ BBB rating. The tradeoffs are a $35 activation fee, extra monthly fees on top of plan prices, and the fact that Urgent Response, Nurse On-Call and fall detection all sit in higher tiers. Lively itself says to call 911 directly in a critical emergency.
Your options
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Lively This review Older adults who want a simple phone or a wearable button with a live agent behind it, on a monthly plan they can cancel any time.
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Medical Care Alert Alternative Older adults who spend most of their time at home and want a long-range home system on a month-to-month plan with clear pricing.
- Company
- Lively from Best Buy Health (Best Buy Health, Inc.); formerly GreatCall, which created the Jitterbug in 20061
- Phones
- Jitterbug Flip3 $79.99 and Jitterbug Smart5 $119.99 list; on sale for $59.99 and $89.99 in October 20262
- Phone plans
- Flip: $14.99, $34.99 or $44.99 a month; smartphone: $19.99, $39.99 or $49.99 a month (prices include a $5 paperless billing discount, before taxes and fees)3
- Medical alert
- Lively Mobile2, $119.99 list ($89.99 on sale), plans $24.99 or $34.99 a month, fall detection $9.99 a month extra4
- One-time fees
- $35 activation fee plus a Universal Service Fee of $3.39 online or $4.75 by phone3
- Contract
- No long-term contract and no early termination fee3
- Returns
- 30 days, like-new condition, restocking fee applies; charges kept if you use more than 30 minutes, 50 MB of data or 50 texts5
- BBB
- A+, accredited since November 21, 2006; 160 complaints in the last 3 years6
Pros
- Phone and emergency button in one device on the Jitterbug models
- Month-to-month plans with no early termination fee
- US-based Urgent Response agents, plus Nurse On-Call on Premium
- Mobile2 is waterproof to IPX7 and has GPS, so you can wear it in the shower
- A+ BBB rating and accredited since 2006
Cons
- $35 activation fee plus monthly administrative and Universal Service fees on top of plan prices
- Basic phone plans don't include Urgent Response; you need Preferred or Premium
- Flip plans cap you at 300 minutes and 300 texts unless you pay $5 more
- Fall detection only on Mobile2, and it costs $9.99 a month extra
- Returns carry a restocking fee and usage charges if you use the device much in the first month
Best for: Older adults who want a simple phone or a wearable button with a live agent behind it, on a monthly plan they can cancel any time.
Skip it if: You mostly stay at home and want an in-home base station, or you already carry a smartphone or smartwatch with fall detection.
Lively vs. competitors
| Company | Device price | Monthly service | Fall detection | Contract | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lively Mobile2 | $89.99 on sale ($119.99 list) | $24.99 to $34.99, plus $35 activation | $9.99 a month extra | None | Visit site |
| Lively Jitterbug Flip3 with Preferred plan | $59.99 on sale ($79.99 list) | $34.99, plus $35 activation | Not offered on phones | None | Visit site |
| Bay Alarm Medical | Not shown on its main system page | From $27.95 (in-home system) | Optional upgrade on all SOS devices | None; unused months refunded less shipping | Read review |
| Medical Guardian | Not published on its homepage | About $1 a day, per its homepage | Available on Guardian Flex | Not published on its homepage | Visit site |
Medical alert systems we reviewed
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Lively This review BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults who want a simple phone or a wearable button with a live agent behind it, on a monthly plan they can cancel any time. -
Medical Care Alert BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults who spend most of their time at home and want a long-range home system on a month-to-month plan with clear pricing. -
ADT Medical Alert BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults and families who want a familiar brand, month to month service and either an in-home unit with long range or a GPS device for outings. -
LifeFone BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Families who want a low, published monthly price, cheap fall detection and the freedom to cancel any time. -
Lifeline This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults and caregivers who want a long-established medical alert brand with home, GPS or smartwatch options and are comfortable paying a little more for it. -
Medical Alert BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults who want a simple button with live U.S.-based response, a family app and the option to cancel without a contract. -
Bay Alarm Medical BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults and families who want a low monthly price on a home or mobile system, no minimum term and a company with few formal complaints. -
Medical Guardian BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Older adults and caregivers who want a choice of home, pendant or smartwatch alerts with a large, established monitoring operation.
Lively pricing at a glance
Lively plans, as listed October 2026 (with $5 paperless billing discount, before taxes and fees)3
| Plan | Flip phone | Smartphone or SIM | Medical alert (Mobile2) | What the tier adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $14.99 | $19.99 | $24.99 | Phones: 24/7 Ask Lively operators only. Mobile2: Urgent Response and Lively Link app |
| Preferred | $34.99 | $39.99 | Not offered | Urgent Response button and Lively Link family app |
| Premium | $44.99 | $49.99 | $34.99 | Adds Nurse On-Call and a Care Advocate |
Flip plans include 300 minutes and 300 texts; unlimited talk and text is $5 a month more. Smartphone plans include unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data; 5 GB is $5 more, 10 GB $15 more, unlimited $30 more. Fall detection on Mobile2 is $9.99 a month. Lively Rides is pay per ride. Expect a $35 activation fee, a $3.23 monthly administrative and regulatory fee, a monthly Universal Service Fee of $0.61 to $0.77, and taxes.
Lively, step by step
Pick a device
Choose a Jitterbug Flip3, Jitterbug Smart5, the Mobile2 medical alert, or a Lively SIM for a phone you already own. Lively sells online, by phone and through Best Buy.
Activate and choose a plan
When the device arrives, activate it online or by phone and pick Basic, Preferred or Premium. Activating online saves a little on the one-time Universal Service Fee.
Set up Urgent Response
On Preferred or Premium phone plans, or any Mobile2 plan, the button reaches a US-based Urgent Response agent who can send help or call family.
Add family
Caregivers can use the Lively Link app for alerts on plans that include it.
Return within 30 days if it's not right
Call 1-800-733-6632 to start a return. Keep usage low in the first month, because heavy use reduces your refund.
Cancel any time
Plans are month to month with no early termination fee, so you can stop service when you no longer need it.
What is Lively?
Lively is Best Buy Health’s brand for older adults. It was formerly called GreatCall, and it created the Jitterbug, a simple cell phone, in 2006. Today it sells three kinds of products: Jitterbug phones (the Flip3 flip phone and Smart5 smartphone), the Lively Mobile2 wearable medical alert, and Lively SIM cards for phones you already own. All of them run on Lively’s own service plans.
What sets Lively apart from a regular carrier is the service layer: a 24/7 operator line, the Urgent Response button, the Lively Link app for family members, Nurse On-Call and a Care Advocate. Which of those you get depends on the plan tier you choose.
Lively legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Lively is run by Best Buy Health, Inc., sells through Best Buy and its own store, and publishes its plan prices, fees and return policy. BBB lists Lively in Carlsbad, California with an A+ rating, accreditation since November 21, 2006, and 160 complaints in the last three years.
Know what the service is and isn’t. Lively’s Urgent Response agents are trained to assess a situation and contact emergency services or family, but Lively’s own page says that if you believe you are in a critical emergency, you should skip Urgent Response and call 911 directly.
Lively cost: phones, plans and fees
Plan prices on Lively’s site include a $5 paperless billing discount and exclude taxes and fees. Flip phone plans are $14.99 (Basic), $34.99 (Preferred) and $44.99 (Premium) a month with 300 minutes and 300 texts; unlimited talk and text is $5 more. Smartphone and SIM plans are $19.99, $39.99 and $49.99 with unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data, and more data costs $5 to $30 more a month.
Only Preferred and Premium include Urgent Response and the Lively Link app, and only Premium adds Nurse On-Call and a Care Advocate. On top of the plan you pay a one-time $35 activation fee, a one-time Universal Service Fee of $3.39 online or $4.75 by phone, a $3.23 monthly administrative and regulatory fee, a monthly Universal Service Fee of $0.61 to $0.77, and taxes. A Jitterbug Flip3 on Preferred works out to roughly $39 a month before taxes, plus the phone.
Lively Mobile2 medical alert
The Lively Mobile2 is a small wearable button with GPS and two-way calling. Lively lists it at $119.99, on sale for $89.99 in October 2026. It is rated IPX7 for water, so you can wear it in the shower, and Lively says a charge lasts up to 3 days.
Mobile2 plans are $24.99 a month (Basic, with Urgent Response and Lively Link) or $34.99 (Premium, adding Nurse On-Call and a Care Advocate). Automatic Fall detection. Sensors in a pendant or watch that automatically place a call when they detect a likely fall. Compare medical alert systems is $9.99 a month more and only works when the device is worn on the included lanyard. Mobile2 has no in-home Base station. The in-home unit with a speaker and microphone that connects the help button to the monitoring center. Compare medical alert systems, so if the user mostly stays home and wants a loud speaker in the living room, an in-home system may suit them better.
Cancellation and returns
Lively plans have no long-term contract and no early termination fee, so you can cancel service at any time. Returns are another matter. You have 30 days after receiving a device to request a return, it must be in like-new condition in the original box, and a restocking fee applies; Lively does not state the fee amount on its refund policy page. Shipping is not refunded.
Usage in the first 30 days also cuts your refund. If you talk more than 30 minutes, use more than 50 MB of data or send more than 50 texts, Lively keeps some or all of the monthly service charge, plus overage charges if you went over your plan. Start a return by calling 1-800-733-6632; approved refunds go back to your card within 21 business days of Lively receiving the device.
Who should look elsewhere
Lively is a weaker fit if the person rarely leaves home, because Mobile2 relies on a cellular connection and a small speaker rather than an in-home base unit. It is also poor value if the person already carries a smartphone and would be fine with free fall detection on an Apple Watch or with family location sharing. And if you only need a basic phone with no safety services, the Basic plan works, but a prepaid plan from a regular carrier may cost less once Lively’s activation and monthly fees are added.
Alternatives to Lively
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Bay Alarm Medical
Better if you want an in-home base station or a smartwatch alert, with no contract and plans starting at $27.95 a month.
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Worth a quote if you want several mobile and in-home devices to choose from in one company.
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Another phone carrier aimed at older adults that also sells a medical alert device.
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Apple Watch fall detection
Free if the wearer already has an Apple Watch SE, Series 4 or Ultra or later: it calls emergency services after a hard fall and texts contacts, though no agent stays on the line.
Next steps
Lively reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Lively the same as GreatCall?
Yes. GreatCall rebranded as Lively, and the company says it created the Jitterbug phone in 2006 under the GreatCall name. It is now part of Best Buy Health.
Who owns Lively?
Lively is a Best Buy Health brand; its site and Broadband Facts labels list the provider as Best Buy Health, Inc. Lively devices are also sold by Best Buy.
How much does Lively cost per month?
Flip phone plans run $14.99 to $44.99, smartphone plans $19.99 to $49.99, and Mobile2 plans $24.99 or $34.99, all with the paperless discount and before taxes and fees. Add a monthly $3.23 administrative fee, a small Universal Service Fee, and a one-time $35 activation fee.
Does Lively have a contract or cancellation fee?
No. Lively plans are month to month and its Broadband Facts labels list no early termination fee. You can cancel service whenever you like.
Does the Lively Basic plan include Urgent Response?
Not on phones. Urgent Response and the Lively Link app start with the Preferred phone plan. On the Mobile2 medical alert, the $24.99 Basic plan does include Urgent Response.
Does Lively have fall detection?
Yes, on the Lively Mobile2 only, for $9.99 a month on top of the plan. It needs to be worn on the included lanyard to work.
What is Lively Urgent Response?
It is a 24/7 line to certified, US-based agents who verify your location, assess the situation and contact emergency services or family. Lively says to call 911 directly if you believe you are in a critical emergency.
What network does Lively use?
Lively's coverage page says it covers all 50 states but does not name the carrier. Enter your address on Lively's coverage map before buying, especially in rural areas.
Can I use Lively with my own phone?
Yes. Lively sells a SIM and eSIM option and pre-owned iPhones with Lively service, so you can get Lively plans and services without a Jitterbug.
What is Lively's return policy?
You have 30 days after receiving a device to request a return, in like-new condition and original packaging, minus a restocking fee. If you use more than 30 minutes, 50 MB of data or 50 texts in that time, Lively keeps some service charges.
Sources (12)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Lively: About us (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Phones (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Compare plans and Broadband Facts (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Mobile2 medical alert and plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Refund policy (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Lively (Best Buy Health Inc) profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Urgent Response (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Lively: Medical alert plan comparison (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Bay Alarm Medical: Medical alert systems (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Medical Guardian: Homepage (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple Support: Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Lively Link (accessed October 12, 2026)
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