OnGuard vs CheckMate: which lone worker app fits your team?
ProTELEC CheckMate and OnGuard Lone Worker are both Canadian lone worker solutions that run on phones with no hardware to buy. CheckMate centres on scheduled safety checks backed by its own monitoring centre in Winnipeg. OnGuard, built in Calgary by Sens-Net Canada, adds automatic detection, geofencing and indoor location, with professional monitoring as an option you switch on where you need it.
Side by side
| OnGuard Lone Worker | ProTELEC CheckMate | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Calgary, Alberta | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Scheduled check-ins | Yes, plus geofence-triggered check-ins | Yes, scheduled calls or app check-ins |
| Missed check-in handling | Escalates to your contacts in order | Automated call, worker confirms with a PIN, then monitoring centre |
| Panic alert with location | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 professional monitoring | Optional add-on | Included through the ProTELEC monitoring centre |
| Hardware required | None | None |
| How to try it | Free 30-day team pilot, 15 or more workers | Free trial |
What OnGuard includes
- Automatic fall and crash detection
- Idle (no motion) detection
- Geofences that start and stop monitoring at the work site
- Indoor location with Bluetooth beacons
- MDM mass deployment and single sign-on
- Optional 24/7 call centre monitoring
- Published pricing in CAD and a free 30-day team pilot
The core difference
CheckMate asks the worker to answer. When a check-in is missed, an automated call asks the worker to confirm with a PIN, and the monitoring centre steps in if they do not. That works well when the risk is a worker who forgets to check in.
OnGuard also watches for the moments when a worker cannot answer at all. A fall, a vehicle crash or a sudden stop in movement raises an alert on its own, with live location, and escalation starts without waiting for the next scheduled check.
Choose CheckMate if
- You want every alert handled by a third-party monitoring centre by default.
- Your lone work is mainly predictable, low-motion tasks covered well by timed check-ins.
- Workers prefer a voice call over an app.
Choose OnGuard if
- Falls, vehicle incidents or medical events are a real risk for your team.
- You want your own supervisors to respond first and add professional monitoring only where needed.
- You want monitoring to start and stop automatically at the work site.
- You want published pricing in Canadian dollars.
Simple to set up, easy to use
Apply for a free 30-day team pilot. We set it up with you, load your escalation contacts, and your team runs it on real shifts. No hardware, and no cost for the pilot.
See the features
Frequently asked questions
Is OnGuard a CheckMate alternative?
Yes. Both protect lone workers by phone. OnGuard adds automatic fall, crash and idle detection and geofencing.
Do both meet provincial working alone rules?
Both support the check-in and record-keeping that Canadian working alone rules call for. Your hazard assessment decides which features each role needs.
Can I switch from CheckMate to OnGuard?
Yes. Run a free 30-day team pilot alongside your current system, then move teams across once your contacts and geofences are set.
Pilot OnGuard with your team
Run OnGuard free for 30 days with 15 or more of your workers on real shifts, including our Call Centre where available.
Fewer than 15 lone workers? Talk to our team. Questions? Call 1-855-289-5892.