Home security systems can start at $150 for a basic DIY alarm kit and can cost as much as $2,000 or more for a comprehensive, professionally installed system. Some systems can be self-monitored for free or may cost about $3-$15 per month for added features such as video recording and smart notifications.
The cost of a home security system varies with the option and service you choose. However, on average, homeowners pay $670, or between $260 and $1,090, for a home security system package that includes motion sensors, a key fob, an alarm, window and door sensors, and a base station (also called a control panel).
The total cost for the ADT Secure Home Package starts at:
$599 to $899 upfront + $45.99/month; or. $55.97 to $60.97/month.
Featuring affordable packages and smart home automation, ADT tops our list as the best home security system in 2025, especially with its new Trusted Neighbor feature.
Vivint FAQs
Vivint costs $39.99 per month. The price includes remote control of your system, 24/7 customer support online and over the phone, in-home technician services, and equipment warranties.
According to the FTC, Vivint's sales representatives helped unqualified customers get financing for the company's home security products by misusing other people's credit reports. As a result, people who had never interacted with the company found Vivint accounts on their credit reports.
SimpliSafe is the only one of our picks to offer true self-monitoring, which means you can arm or disarm the system from the app and receive smartphone alerts when a sensor is triggered without having to pay a monthly fee.
A home security system costs around $230 on average for a starter kit of equipment. You can monitor some systems yourself for free, pay around $10 a month for added features such as smart notifications and video recording, or pay about $25 a month on average for professional monitoring.
Integrating SimpliSafe with other smart home brands requires a subscription. Professional monitoring costs have gone up three times in four years. Limited selection of security cameras.
If the alarm is verified, an ADT agent sends the alarm information to the 911 center for dispatch. If your session expires, we will only call your designated emergency contacts that have not been notified via Alarm Messenger. If we still do not get a response, we will dispatch first responders.
Ring's Subscription Costs
Ring's monthly subscription plans are among the most affordable that we've ever seen. Ring Protect Basic costs $3 a month or $30 a year, Plus costs $10 per month or $100 a year, and Pro costs $20 a month or $200 a year.
Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $29.99/mo. without QSP for professionally installed systems (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $719.76), OR month to month monitoring contract for self-setup systems starting at $29.99/mo. (one month minimum), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay.
The Standard Monitoring plan is $21.99 per month and comes with 24/7 emergency dispatch, among other useful features. We'll get into more detail on SimpliSafe's monitoring plans later. For now, let's review the equipment packages.
Let's recap – ADT packages start at $269. The monthly fee for professional monitoring ranges from $24.99 to $49.99. The installation fee is optional, but starts at $100. There's also a three-year contract if you get your system installed by a technician.
The Ring Alarm system does not automatically call the police when the alarm is triggered, as it primarily functions as a notification system. However, it can alert you or a designated contact to take appropriate action in the event of an emergency.
Home insurance providers typically offer insurance discounts for alarm systems that can range from 2-10%, largely depending on what kinds of security and safety devices and systems you install. More preventive measures usually add up to bigger discounts. You shouldn't install these items just for the discount, however.
According to Andrew Zonenberg, a researcher with security consultancy firm IOActive, attackers can easily disable SimpliSafe alarms from up to 30 meters away, using a device that costs around $250 to create a replay attack.
In the event of a power outage, your SimpliSafe® Base Station is equipped with a backup rechargeable battery supply that will keep your Base Station powered for up to 24 hrs. It also features a cellular module and with a professional monitoirng plan will operate on a cellular network instead of Wi-Fi.
So, we put together a list of the best SimpliSafe alternatives based on our testing of over 60 security systems. We looked for security systems that excel at SimpliSafe's shortcomings. By doing that, we decided the top three alternatives to SimpliSafe are ADT, Vivint, and Cove.
You can use SimpliSafe without Wi-Fi if you choose any professional monitoring plan. They all support cellular backup. However, you would need Wi-Fi to support any video cameras on the home security system. If you're in a location with poor cellular service, then you would also need to depend on the Wi-Fi connection.
Flexibility and Integration: DIY options allow for easy setup and contract flexibility, but professional systems usually offer better system integration and compatibility. Convenience and Peace of Mind: Experts can help you understand what your needs are, recommending the most appropriate tech and monitoring solutions.
On average, a security spending level of 3 – 6 percent of total IT budget is considered the norm. If you add in compliance spending as part of security, that's another 3 – 6 percent of the IT budget.
Home alarm monitoring is what most homeowners think of when they're considering the monthly cost of a security system. While there's a significant variance in cost, a general rule of thumb is to budget about $30 to $60 per month, although the cost can run as low as $20 and as high as $100+ per month.
Our professional monitoring helps protect your home against many types of alarms - such as burglary/intrusion, life safety (Smoke, CO), and environmental (water, extreme temperature). Plans are paid monthly, with no contracts or hidden fees. Below is a high-level comparison of our plan features.
You can now protect your family and your home with a complimentary ADT monitored smart home security system. Schedule your FREE* installation today.