A personal alarm is the cheapest piece of independence money can buy: press a button, and within seconds a trained operator is on the line arranging help. The market is crowded, though, and the pricing is confusing because the device is often cheap while the monitoring is what you pay for. We compared the five providers UK families use most, checked their prices in July 2026, and set out who each one suits.
We have no commercial relationship with any provider on this page. Prices were checked in July 2026 and can change, so confirm before you order.
The short version
| Provider | Monitoring from | Setup fee | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careline365 | £9.99/month | Often waived in offers | Cheapest big name, strong Trustpilot record |
| SureSafe | £11.99/month (or one-off £99.95, no subscription) | Up to £150 on some models | The rare no-monthly-fee option, dials family instead |
| LifeConnect24 | £12.99/month | £35 | Simple plans, quick dispatch |
| Telecare24 | Around £12/month | Low or none | Best-value fall detection plan |
| Taking Care (Age UK) | Around £17/month | Around £60 | Age UK partnership, wide product range |
Budget £10 to £20 a month for monitored cover, £5 or so more for automatic fall detection, and £20 to £30 a month for a GPS alarm that works away from home.
How monitored alarms work
You wear a pendant or wristband. Pressing it connects you to a 24-hour response centre, where an operator speaks to you through the base unit (or the pendant itself on mobile models), checks what has happened, and calls your named contacts or an ambulance. Look for a provider whose response centre is TSA accredited: it means the monitoring service is independently audited.
Four decisions before you buy
1. Home alarm or GPS alarm?
A standard alarm works in and around the house, typically up to 100 to 300 metres from the base unit. If the person still walks to the shops or works in the garden beyond that range, a GPS mobile alarm with a built-in SIM (such as the SureSafeGO type) works anywhere with phone signal and shares their location with the response centre.
2. Fall detection or button only?
Fall-detection pendants sense a hard fall and raise the alarm even if the wearer cannot press the button, which matters after a blackout or stroke. They cost around £5 a month extra and occasionally trigger false alarms; the response centre simply checks in, so a false alarm costs nothing but a short conversation.
3. Will it work with a digital phone line?
The UK’s old analogue landlines are being switched off, and many homes are already on digital (VoIP) lines. Old analogue alarm units can fail silently on these lines. Any alarm you buy in 2026 should be a digital-ready or SIM-based unit; every provider above sells one, but say clearly when ordering that the home has a digital line or no landline at all.
4. Monitored or family-response?
A cheaper route is an unmonitored alarm that auto-dials family numbers, with no monthly fee (SureSafe’s £99.95 one-off model is the best known). It works well if relatives live close and answer their phones. The catch is obvious: at 3am, a professional response centre answers in seconds, and a sleeping son may not.
Paying less for it
- VAT relief: most buyers qualify for 0% VAT because the alarm is for someone who is chronically ill or disabled. It is a self-declaration at checkout, not a form-filling exercise, and cuts the price by a sixth.
- Council telecare: many councils run their own alarm schemes, sometimes free after a social care assessment and usually cheaper than commercial providers. Ask adult social care for a “telecare assessment” before buying privately.
- Attendance Allowance: if the person needs regular help or supervision, this non-means-tested benefit (£76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026) comfortably covers an alarm subscription. Our care funding guide explains how to claim.
The catch
Monitoring fees run forever, so a £12 monthly plan is £720 over five years, and some providers lock you into annual contracts with fees for early cancellation. Check the contract length, what happens to the setup fee if you cancel, and whether the pendant is waterproof enough to wear in the shower, which is where many falls happen. And an alarm only helps if it is worn: the most common failure is a pendant sitting in a drawer.
Personal alarm FAQs
Do personal alarms need a landline?
Not any more. Every major provider sells SIM-based units that work without any phone line, and these are the safer choice given the analogue switch-off.
Can I get a personal alarm free from the council?
Sometimes. Councils run telecare schemes and some fund them after a care needs assessment; others charge a small weekly fee that still undercuts commercial providers. It is always worth asking before you buy.
What happens when the button is pressed?
The response centre answers, usually within a minute, speaks to the wearer, and escalates: first the named contacts and keyholders, then emergency services if needed. Details of medical conditions are on file so paramedics arrive informed.
Is there VAT on personal alarms?
Not for most buyers. Alarms bought for someone chronically ill or disabled qualify for 0% VAT through a simple declaration when ordering.
For how alarms fit into the wider picture of keeping someone safe at home, see our personal alarms overview and the care hub.