Personal alarms in Switzerland: costs, providers and alternatives
What does a personal alarm cost in Switzerland, who provides one and who helps pay? A calm overview of prices, contributions and honest alternatives.
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The search for a personal alarm usually starts with something specific. A fall on the stairs that turned out fine. A stay in hospital. Or simply the thought that your mum or dad has been living alone since their partner died. Then the same questions come up. How does a device like this work? What does it cost? Who offers it in Switzerland? And are there alternatives that suit you better?
This overview takes those questions one at a time. Prices are from the providers’ websites, as of October 2026. They vary by canton and change, so check with your regional provider before deciding.
How a personal alarm works
A classic home alarm (in German-speaking Switzerland: Hausnotruf, in Romandie: téléalarme) has two parts. First, a base unit in the flat, with a speaker and microphone. Second, a small alarm button, worn on the wrist or on a cord around the neck.
When the button is pressed, the base unit opens a voice connection. Where it goes depends on the subscription:
- To family or neighbours. The stored private contacts are called. This is usually the cheapest option.
- To a monitoring centre. Trained staff answer around the clock. They see the address, contact people and any health notes on file, and decide whom to send: family, the home care service (Spitex) or an ambulance.
- A mix of both. Private contacts are alerted first. If nobody answers, the centre takes over.
Many providers also offer a key safe, so helpers can get in even if nobody can open the door.
Mobile alarms with GPS
Besides the base unit at home, there are mobile devices. They have their own SIM card, work outdoors and can send the location when the alarm goes off. For people who are out a lot, shopping, walking or gardening, this is often a better fit than a device that only works indoors.
Automatic fall detection
Some devices have a fall sensor. It recognises typical movement patterns of a fall and raises the alarm even if the person can no longer press the button. That is a real benefit, but it has limits. Not every fall is detected, and false alarms happen. Ask each provider how fall detection works on their device and what it costs extra.
Personal alarm providers in Switzerland
Switzerland has a few large, established providers plus regional services. The list below is not complete; it names providers whose websites we checked.
Red Cross emergency call (Rotkreuz-Notruf). The Swiss Red Cross (page in German) provides its alarm through the cantonal Red Cross associations. There are versions for home (“Casa”), for outdoors (“Mobil”) and a combination, plus an alarm watch. Subscriptions come as “Basic” (alerts private contacts), “Relax” (private contacts first, then the centre) and “Premium” (straight to the monitoring centre). The details vary by canton.
SmartLife Care. SmartLife Care is the official partner of Pro Senectute and offers home and mobile devices, alarm watches and pendants. Depending on the plan, the alarm goes to a private contact or to its own 24-hour monitoring centre.
Spitex alarm. Many Spitex organisations run their own 24-hour alarm service, often with an external partner operating the centre. The Spitex association of the canton of Zurich, for example, works with Medicall. The advantage: depending on the plan, the local Spitex team, who may already know the person, can come out directly. Ask the Spitex in your municipality.
What does a personal alarm cost?
Costs almost always have two parts: a one-off fee for installation and instruction, and a monthly subscription. With the Red Cross alarm, the price does not depend on how often the button is actually pressed.
Examples from the providers’ publicly available price lists, as of October 2026. This selection is not a complete market overview, the figures come with no guarantee, and the providers’ current prices are binding:
| Provider and region | Option | Per month | One-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Cross, canton of Zurich | Casa Relax | CHF 57 | from CHF 150 |
| Red Cross, canton of Zurich | Casa Premium | CHF 64 | from CHF 150 |
| Red Cross, canton of Zurich | Mobil Premium | CHF 64 | from CHF 150 |
| Red Cross, canton of Fribourg | Casa Premium | CHF 51 | CHF 120 |
| Red Cross, canton of Fribourg | Mobil Premium | CHF 62 | CHF 120 |
| SmartLife Care | Basic, Comfort or Professional plan + “Flex” device (rental) | CHF 51 to 67 (plan CHF 33 to 49 plus rental CHF 18) | provisioning fee for rentals, ask the provider |
| Spitex Aare | Standard / Premium with Spitex call-out | CHF 58 / CHF 98 | CHF 150 |
| Spitex Biel-Bienne Regio | without / with Spitex standby | CHF 58 / from CHF 83 | CHF 150 |
With SmartLife Care, the plan comes on top of the device rental. So compare the total, not the lowest figure on the website.
A simple rule for comparing: ask every provider the same four questions. Who is called first when the alarm goes off? What does fall detection cost? Is there a notice period? And what does it cost when someone has to come out?
Who helps pay? Contributions and discounts
You don’t always have to pay the full amount yourself. There are several routes worth checking:
- Health insurance. Depending on supplementary insurance, the health insurer may contribute. Both the Zurich Red Cross and Pro Senectute say so. Ask your insurer directly before signing a contract.
- Social rate with supplementary benefits. According to the Swiss Red Cross, a social rate applies in some cantons for people receiving supplementary benefits (EL/PC) and in cases of hardship. Pro Senectute mentions a 25 per cent discount on the SmartLife Care plan for people on supplementary benefits, and offers help in hardship cases.
- Supplementary benefits: illness and disability costs. People on supplementary benefits can have certain costs reimbursed on top, including costs for aids. According to ahv-iv.ch, the cantons decide exactly which costs. Whether an alarm device counts is best clarified in advance with your canton’s supplementary benefits office.
- AHV assistance allowance. Anyone who permanently depends on help with everyday tasks such as getting up, dressing or eating may be entitled to an AHV allowance, regardless of income and assets. It is not meant for an alarm specifically but for the overall need for help. The AHV leaflet 3.01 explains the conditions. You apply through the IV office in your canton of residence.
Alternatives to a personal alarm
A personal alarm is not the only option. Depending on the situation, something else fits better, or a combination does.
Neighbours and fixed arrangements
The plainest solution is often the most effective: a neighbour with a key who notices when the newspaper is still in the letterbox at noon. A fixed phone call. It costs nothing and relies on people, not technology. The weakness: it relies on people. Holidays, illness or a move leave gaps.
Check-in apps
A check-in app reverses the principle. Instead of calling for help in an emergency, the person checks in briefly when things are normal, for example with a tap each morning. If the sign of life doesn’t come, trusted contacts are informed.
That is how Ondira works. When the self-chosen deadline passes, the app first reminds the person themselves. Only if there is still no response do the contacts receive a calmly worded email. Contacts don’t need the app. There is no live tracking and no background tracking; location is only shared at check-in, and only if the person turns it on. The details are on how it works. The daily check-in is free; Ondira Plus costs CHF 3 a month or CHF 30 a year. More on pricing.
One honest caveat: a check-in app is slower than an alarm button. Hours can pass between a fall and the notification. It does not call a monitoring centre or an ambulance. In return, it works even if someone can no longer press a button, and nothing has to be worn. It does require a smartphone the person is comfortable using.
Smart home and sensors
Motion sensors, smart door contacts or plugs that report unusual stillness run in the background and ask nothing of anyone. But they take more effort to set up, usually need Wi-Fi, and to some people they feel like being watched. Talk about it openly before installing anything.
Which option suits whom?
The honest answer: it depends on the risk, not the technology.
A personal alarm is the better choice where there is a higher risk of falling, after a stroke, with known heart or circulation problems, or wherever minutes count in an emergency. Then you need a connection that gets someone on the line immediately, and a centre that sends help. An app cannot replace that.
A check-in app fits better when someone is in good health, lives independently and uses a smartphone. And when the main question is: would anyone notice if something had happened?
Both together make sense when the button often stays in a drawer or isn’t worn at night. The daily check-in then covers the gap. The full comparison is on our page personal alarm or check-in app.
If the subject is difficult within the family, our conversation guide on the page for families may help.
Whatever you choose: in an acute emergency, always call 144 for an ambulance or 112.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal alarm cost per month in Switzerland?
Among the services we checked, monthly costs range from about CHF 50 to CHF 100, depending on whether a call centre or Spitex responds, usually plus a one-off fee of roughly CHF 120 to CHF 150 (as of October 2026). Prices vary by canton, option and extras such as a fall sensor or key safe.
Does health insurance pay for a personal alarm?
Basic insurance generally does not. Depending on supplementary insurance, however, the insurer may contribute. Ask your insurer directly before signing, and get the answer in writing.
Is there support for people on supplementary benefits?
Yes, in several ways. Many providers offer a social rate or a discount for people on supplementary benefits. Costs for aids can also be reimbursed through supplementary benefits. Exactly what counts is set by the canton, and the supplementary benefits office can give a binding answer.
Which personal alarm providers are there in Switzerland?
Well-known providers include the Red Cross emergency call from the cantonal Red Cross associations, SmartLife Care as Pro Senectute’s partner, and the alarm services of many Spitex organisations. There are also private and regional providers. Your cantonal Pro Senectute offers independent advice.
What is a good alternative to a personal alarm?
It depends on what you want to cover. For an acute risk of falling, a personal alarm is the right solution. For someone healthy and independent, where the main concern is that an absence gets noticed, a check-in app, fixed arrangements with neighbours or a combination is often a good fit.