Best Automatic Pill Dispensers
Medications such as vitamins are part of almost everyone’s daily routine. However, as we grow older, the number of medicine intake often increases. Missing prescribed pills or taking too many can lead to serious health problems for the elderly and vulnerable. Not being able to take pills properly puts people’s independence at high risk.
Don’t worry! An automatic pill dispenser is the right solution. It’s designed in a way to ensure that the correct dosage of pills is dispense at the right time for seniors or adults. It allows everyone to manage their complicated medication schedule without any hands-on help from your caregiver, other family members, or social care services. Recent studies have shown that the use of automated pill dispenser results in better self-management of pills to enjoy improved life quality and independence at home.
To make it easier for you, we’ve done all the time-consuming research for you. Scroll down to read about the best-automated pill dispensers on the market.
Pill Dispenser | Compartments | Dimensions | Alerts | Safety lock | Maximum Daily Dose | Capacity per Compartment |
LiveFine Automatic Pill Dispenser | Motorized 28 sealed slots | 7.9 x 7.9 x 3.9’’ | Blinking light + loud sound | Latch lock with key | 1-6 daily doses | 18 Aspirin-sized Tablets |
Med-E-Lert™ Automatic Pill Dispenser
| 28 sealed slots | 8.66 x 8.03 x 2.44’’ | Audio + visual alarm | Lock with barrel key | 6 times/day | 18 aspirin-sized tablets |
GMS 28 Day Automatic Pill Dispenser
| 28 spacious slots | 10 x 10 x 3’’ | Loud beep + illuminating light | Locked cover with a metal key | 6x/day | 18 aspirin-sized tablets |
MedReady 1700 Medication Dispenser
| 28-slot tray | 14.5 x 12 x 3.5’’ | LED light+ low-frequency sound | Lock and key | 4x/day | 9 pills |
e-Pill Station Automatic Pill Dispense
| 28-slot tray | 10.4 x 10.3 x 10.2’’ | Sound+ light alarms | Lockable with two keys | 6x/day | 15 Aspirin-sized Tablets |
Med-Q Pill Dispenser
| 14 large containers | 8.5 x 4.5 x 1.5’’ | Beeping + flashing alert | Not lockable | 2x/day | 23 aspirin-tablets |
MedaCube Automatic Pill Dispenser
| 12 bins | 9.75 x 9.75 x 10.5’’ | Recordable audio reminders | Lockable | 16 per day | Bulk loading |
Hero automatic pill dispenser
| 10 capsule cartridges | 9 x 9 x 15’’ | Visual+ audible alarms | Lockable with an additional travel lock | Multiple times/day | Bulk loading |
It’s best for the elderly and caregivers. Slots: 28-sealed pill compartments, Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 3.9’’, Alerts: Audio and visual, Safety lock: latch with key, Maximum Daily Dose: 6 times/day, Interface: Intuitive LCD Seniors and even caregivers often get confused about which medications to take at different times. So, the LiveFine automatic pill dispenser can be a great option to easily manage complex medication regimes. This battery-powered device runs on 4 AA batteries and features a built-in safety lock with a latch feature for dementia patients. It keeps the pills out of reach until dispensed. The dispenser comes with a schedule ring to let you choose between 1-6 medications per day. Inserting medications is really simple into the 28 spacious pill slots which can hold up to 18 aspirin-sized tablets and has motorized carousel spins. It’s later sealed with a white lockable lid or clear cover for visibility. Thanks to the Intuitive LCD interface, seniors can set the programmed time and reminders. At the preset time, the dispenser loads your next round of pills. Another helpful feature is its audio and visual alarms so you don’t forget to take important pills. A loud beep and red flashing light will alert you when it’s medication time up to 30 Minutes until you retrieve pills. User can choose from 4 different alarm sounds and even mute sound if required. To conserve battery, it automatically shuts off after dispensing. This electronic medication organizer eliminates constant refilling each week. It’s ideal for the elderly, Alzheimer’s patients, or the visually impaired. Slots: 28 sealed compartments, Dimensions: 8.66 x 8.03 x 2.44’’, Alerts: Audio and visual alarm, Safety lock: Lock with barrel key, Maximum Daily Dose: 6 times a day The Med-E-Alert is a fully-automatic medication dispenser that’s easy to setup and use by everyone including seniors. Featuring 28 pill compartments, each can hold up to 18 large pills and this makes it 20% larger and more spacious than all other pill dispensers. 28 slots mean it can dispense pills for continuous 28 days and you don’t have to refill it every week. So easy to program with the LCD interface and alarms can be set 6 times a day. When it’s time for the pill, you will be notified via a blinking light and a loud audio buzzer that continuously beeps for 30 minutes until the pills are picked up. Thus, it prevents missing pills or over-dosing. The dispenser is powered by 4 AA batteries which are inserted in a slot located underneath the dispenser. Also, it’s safe and tamper-proof, thanks to the lockable feature that also has a barrel for more secure access. Though you have a choice of transparent clear cover or opaque white lid, it only includes the white solid lid to conceal all the medications. Best of all, Med-E-Alert is affordable and retails at under $100. Not only for elderly use, but it’s also great for naturopathic physicians, fitness trainers, dietitians, nutritionists, and in-home caregivers. It’s an automated medication dispenser with a magnifier window viewer. Slots: 28 compartments, Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 3’’, Weight: 1.88lbs, Alerts: Beep and illuminating light, Safety lock: Locked cover with metal key, Maximum Daily Dose: 6x/day Filling a weekly pill box is too time-consuming for everyone so the GMS designed an automatic 28-day pill dispenser to not only organize the medications but also take the correct dosages at the correct time. Just like the above-mentioned pill dispensers, the GMS also features spacious slots to hold 18 pills in each compartment. Similarly, it runs on 4 AA batteries while program settings are stored even after you replace the batteries. Since the compartment tray is large, there’s no worry to refill every other week. Most of the elderly have difficulty reading the dosage. That’s why GMS included an easy-to-read dosage feature with a magnifier window viewer. You can customize medications with 6 dosage rings to match the number of doses taken each day. To remind dosage time, it alerts you with a loud sound of “Time to Take Your Medication’’ and flashing light when it’s time. Moreover, it’s programmable 6 times daily. To make the patient is notified at the scheduled dose, the buzzer and light continue every minute for up to 30 minutes until the pills are collected. This makes all caregivers the peace of mind that patients take medications at the proper time. Unlike bulky pill dispensers, it’s so portable and easy to carry anywhere with less than 2lbs of weight. Slots: 28-compartments Dimensions: 14.5 x 12 x 3.5’’ Weight: 2.75’’ Alert: Red LED and audible alarm, Dosage prescription: 4x/day When it comes to automated pill dispensers, MedReady is a leading brand for over 10 years. Their medication dispenser combines technology and service to solve the issue of non-adherence to your pills regime. A great thing about it is that it comes with a rechargeable battery that recharges via the AC power battery plug. You can set the desired dosage schedule to dispense pills up to 4 times per day. Loading the MedReady tray is easy with templates. Each compartment can hold up to 9 big-sized pills. It comes complete with everything you need and set up only takes your few minutes. The powerful low-frequency 400 Hz alarm tone is activated when it’s medication time. For the hearing impaired, the flashing light alert is also available for visibility. Both the visual and audible alarm continuous for 30 minutes but you can adjust the timings. Besides, the alerts can even be disabled independently. A blue locking lid makes it tamper-proof; only one medication dosage is available at a time to prevent overdose. Equipped with sticky feet, the device sits well on a flat surface and doesn’t slip when accessing the dose. In the event of a power outage, MedReady will continue to dispense pills for 48hours. So, you can utilize this valuable feature for shorter trips outside to resolve dosing issues. It saves your worries and medical bills of prescription non-adherence. Compartment: 28-slot Tray, Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 10.2’’, Weight: 4.3lbs, Alerts: Light and sound alarms, Security lock: lockable with 2 keys No more spilled pills, this dispenser features a tipping design with a stainless steel medicine cup beneath it. This is great for patients with decreased or limited dexterity, a history of medication errors, and for those who tend to forget time and date. It’s a great solution for your medication confusion! When the medication is due, a red LED light blinks, and an alarm sounds. What’s unique about this e-pill station is that it features a tipper that easily rotates the dispenser. It basically consists of 3 parts: an electronic dispenser, a tipping device with a stable base, and the medicine cup. All you have to do it pull the blue handle towards yourself and the pills are dispensed in the steel cup below. The device dramatically improves patient compliance by locking, alarming, and automatically dispensing pills at the correct time and dosage. It can set for 6 daily alarms until the program is altered while the medication tray has 28 slots to hold 15 pills in each. Plus, it includes 2 dosage rings, 4 AA batteries, and 2 keys. So easy and safe to use! Medications can be only be dispensed once so patients can’t double-dose. All the components and doses are hidden inside the lockable dispenser. It’s the most compact, portable, and lightweight electronic medication reminder. Slots: 14 spacious compartments, Capacity per Compartment: 23 pills The Med-Q pill dispenser box features the most simple design and operation to make it impossible for all patients to double-dose or forget medications. Designed for easy usage, it features 14 large spacious compartments that have large finger-tip tabs for easy opening and closing. Each individual container can hold up to 23 aspirin-sized (325mg) pills. The containers have a scoopable user-friendly design and can even be removed easily for easy pouring and refilling. The console has over-sized buttons for easy programming and large easy-to-read digits on the screen. Besides, the easily seen reminders at the side of the screen tell you when your next medication alert is due. Plus, the Med-Q even has a low battery indicator to prevent any downtime error. Powered by 2 AA batteries, To remind you that it’s medication time, a loud escalating beep alarm will be heard for 5 minutes. In addition to the audio alert, there’s a red flashing guide that shows which medications slot to be taken to prevent errors. What’s more? The Med-Q is portable and lightweight; you can easily carry it any place with you. It’s a professional-grade locked pill dispenser that requires no pill sorting or counting. Slots: 12 bins, Dimensions: 9.75 x 9.75 x 10.5’’, Alerts: Custom audio alarms, Dosage prescription: 16 per day, Safety lock: lockable door The MedaCube pill dispenser sits on the countertop and is designed to allow access to the right dose every day for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, or other medical conditions. It’s a reliable way to stick to the medication schedule so patients can maintain their independence by preventing medication mismanagement. It easily manages up to 16-medications up to 90 days supply. When it’s medication time, the user is alerted and receives pills from the pop-out dispense drawer. This notification is a chime sound or a recorded custom message from your loved ones or caregiver. All you have to do is click on the screen to let the device know you’re ready to take the medicines. For more convenience, the users, caregivers, or care teams can access the online MedaCube real-time portal to remotely change medication schedules, manage the device, monitor adherence, and even be notified of any missed doses. Plus, you also receive alerts for power outages or supplies running low. Any pills that aren’t taken at the dose time goes to the missed-pill compartment attached to the locked door. The MedaCube has 3 different configurations using 2 different bin sizes; 4 large and 8 small to accommodate different amounts and sizes of medications. Plus, it features a main touch-screen LCD to control the functions; the dispenser can quickly be programmed. Refilling medications is a breeze with the MedaCube dispenser. Pour the pills into the bin without having to individually fill each day compartment. This bulk-loading is easy to manage, also it saves up much time and eliminates the need for sorting. It’s the all-in-one pills management solution. Slots: 10 capsule cartridges, Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 15’’ Weight: 10lbs, Alarm: Audio and visual alerts, Capacity per container: Bulk loading The Hero pill dispenser features advanced technology to ensure you take medications at the right time each day. It holds up to a 90 day supply of 10 different pills in 10 cartridges. So there’s no need to continuously refilling medications every week. When it’s time to take a pill, Hero uses both loud audio and visual blinking notifications to let you know. Simply click the push bottom to dispense pills in the medication cup. On the other hand, if you or your patient skips or misses a dose, Hero immediately sends a notification to your trusted loved one or professional caregiver. Moreover, it also offers great peace of mind by alerting you when running low on pills or there’s a medication or supplement conflict. Another super-valuable feature is the optional Hero Fill service that can deliver pills right at your doorstep. You can also opt for Hero membership for less than a dollar per day. This allows for device access, 24/7 world-class support, and the Hero app to manage pill regime. It’s an ideal choice for independent elderly and caregivers. In today’s society, it’s estimated that almost 50% of annually-prescribed medications are not taken correctly by seniors. About 30% of the elderly (over 60 years) are admitted to hospitals or nursing homes due to non-adherence to their medication regimes. An automated pill dispenser provides an easy-to-use solution that makes the taking of scheduled doses very simple. It’s capable of dispensing oral solid medications every day and is the answer to the dilemma of medicine non-compliance. As a result, this allows for greater independence, strengthens the quality of life, and being reliant on others in aging years. Before you buy an automatic pill dispenser, consider the following factors to make sure it’s most suitable for your medication regime. Capacity of pill dispenser refers to the number of pill slots and how many pills each container can hold. There’s no use of buying an automated pill dispenser that needs to be filled every other day. 10 to 14 pill compartments are enough to hold 30-90 day supply depending on the regime so you have refill less frequently. Also consider the size of compartments, make sure they are spacious to hold every size pill with ease. This also depends on the number of pills you take per day. If you have 2 pills to take daily, a smaller pill slot will work for you. Not all automated pill dispensers have the same design. Each has a different style of dispensing pills. The most ones have a pour-over compartment to take out medications when time while some features a finger-tip tab lid opening. They are lightweight and portable to carry anywhere with you. This may be convenient for some patients but people with restricted dexterity or arthritis are unable to open the pill slots. For such patients, an automated pill dispenser that dispenses pills in a medicine or dosing cup is the right choice. However, these devices are larger and can’t be taken outside of the home. A simple audio alarm may be sufficient for young adults; the elderly need more than this. So, a loud beeping alarm is always a better feature to alert patients suffering hearing loss. However, even a louder alarm sometimes doesn’t work for people with hearing impairment. Therefore look for a pill dispenser that also has visual red blinking alerts to grab senior patient’s attention when it’s medication time. Plus, the alerts should be easy to manage and must automatically turn off when the pills are taken by patient. There are cellular, landline, and Wi-Fi-enabled based pill dispensers that alert the caregiver trusted contact, or care services center via automated messages, phone calls, or emails when the user doesn’t take the medications due to some malfunction, power outage, or any other reason. Plus, it also keeps track of the medication history, timings, and dosing. Users or caregivers can also manage timings and dosage via their Smartphones or online portals. Most of the high-end models have Wi-Fi-enabled connectivity. These smart notifications are enabled with paid monthly service programs or memberships. So, if you’re willing to pay extra, the technology capabilities prove very beneficial for medication management. Choose the best-automated pill dispenser that best suits your patient’s or your medication needs. It ensures that patients never forget to take medications again for their health and safety. 1 LiveFine Automatic Pill Dispenser
2 Med-E-Lert™ Automatic Pill Dispenser
3 GMS 28 Day Automatic Pill Dispenser
4 MedReady 1700 Medication Dispenser
5 e-Pill Station Automatic Pill Dispense
6 Med-Q Pill Dispenser
7 MedaCube Automatic Pill Dispenser
8 Hero automatic pill dispenser
Why elderly need an automatic pill dispenser?
Buying Guide
· Capacity
· Design
· Alarms
· Smart Notifications
Wrap up