Security isn’t just about keeping intruders at bay; it’s about getting peace of mind. And nothing screams ‘peace of mind’ like a top-notch home security system. But here’s the kicker: It also needs to fit your budget.
Sound confusing? You bet.
The marketplace is jam-packed with options—DIY kits, pro installations, subscription services, and even smart home integrations. And each comes with its own, often bewildering, price tag. 🏷️
I’ve waded through the muddy waters of home security solutions to give you the real talk on costs. From dissecting contracts to analyzing lifetime expenses, I’ve done the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
So how much is the average cost of a home security system? The average cost of home security systems ranges from $700 to $1,900, including the installation expense. Additionally, these systems typically incur a monthly monitoring fee averaging $35. The price can vary widely, from a low of $100 to a high of $3,800, based on the quantity of cameras and types of equipment included.
In this all-in-one guide, you’re going to get the low-down on how much you should really expect to shell out for that piece of mind. Watch out for the pitfalls and fine print—because sometimes a “budget-friendly” system can drain your wallet faster than a leaky faucet.
Ready to make an informed, smart investment in your home’s security? Let’s roll.
Average Installation Cost of a Home Security System
The average installation costs of a home security system are between $0 and $1,600. Most homeowners pay between $50 and $399 for the installation of their home security system, depending on the equipment installed. DIY home security systems can be installed by the user, which will cost 0$.
DIY
The large majority of home security systems nowadays are DIY, which means they are designed to be extremely easy to install. This is done as a way to not only reduce the installation costs to what is essentially zero dollars but also to make these home security systems more appealing and user-friendly.
The average installation cost of a DIY home security system is $0. The costs of DIY systems will include the cost of the equipment and shipping, which will vary depending on your order and location.
If you find yourself in trouble while installing the system, the companies offer over the phone support or professional installation. (Although the customer support usually is entirely free, professional installation is paid.)
Professional Installation
That being said, a lot of people love the DIY aspect of many of the home security systems. However, some systems cannot be installed by the homeowner and require a professional’s touch.
Professional installation of a home security system can vary between $99 and $400 on average. Some more complicated and difficult installations can cost up to and over $800.
Another point worth mentioning here is that what contract you sign is very important.
With some companies, you may not be owning the security equipment and will have to return it once the contract ends. And if you are moving, for example, you may need to bring the system with you to the new address under a new contract, or you may need to talk the new owners into signing a new contract with the company.
This small but important detail can end up increasing your costs depending on what company you choose.
Average Monthly Cost of a Home Security System
On average, the monthly (subscription) costs of a home security system are between $0 and $150, with most homeowners paying about $45 depending on the monitoring service they are using and their system setup. A typical self-monitoring plan costs $0 per month, and professional monitoring plans cost between $15 and $150.
There are two routes you can take here as well. It depends on what system you choose and your budget, but usually, you have two options, (1) a self-monitoring plan, or (2) a subscription-based professional monitoring service.
Unmonitored
Some people will not be able to justify the monthly subscription cost, which can be very steep in some instances. However, self-monitoring plans do have their limitations and often offer the most fundamental and basic monitoring features.
Those limitations can be dangerous. What happens if you are in a meeting or somewhere where there is not a good reception, or simply your phone is not around?
A self-monitoring plan will usually cost you $0 per month.
Monitored
Professionally monitored systems cost, on average, between $15 and $150. The total cost of the monitoring plan will depend on the number of cameras and features.
With that being said, landline security systems are a little cheaper, costing on average $15 to $30, while cellular and Wi-Fi systems cost between $30 and $60.
Average Cost of Additional Equipment In Home Security System Setups
The majority of companies will be offering different home security setups, but they will also be selling additional equipment depending on your needs.
A basic package will usually include a centralized hub or a control panel, a few door or window sensors, and a camera.
Purchasing additional door and window sensors will cost between $15 and $60, motion sensors are between $30 and $50, CO2 detectors are on average $30 to $99, smoke detectors are around $20 and $50, keyfobs cost about $25 to $50, smart locks cost between $150 and $300, cameras will be on average between $100 and $200.
There is other equipment that can be purchased like security signs, panic buttons, temperature and water sensors, glass break sensors, and so much more, which will cost between $20 and $100 on average.
Home Security System Cost Comparison
With that being said, the companies mentioned below are the big players that most homeowners use. However, let’s not forget that there are also much smaller local companies that can be better negotiated and often may be able to offer better prices and subscription costs.
Below is a table that provides a comprehensive overview of the costs associated with different brands of home security systems. The table is organized into five columns, which detail the following:
- Brand: The name of the home security system provider.
- Average Upfront Costs: The initial amount you’ll need to pay when purchasing a home security system.
- Average Equipment Costs: The average cost of the security equipment itself, such as cameras and sensors.
- Average Installation Costs: The average expenses incurred for installing the home security system.
- Average Monthly Costs: The recurring monthly fee for monitoring services.
By examining this table, you can better understand the financial commitment involved in acquiring a home security system from various brands.
| Brand | Average Upfront Costs | Average Equipment Costs | Average Installation Costs | Average Monthly Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | $140 to $250 | $599 to $850 | $99 to $199 | $36.99 to $52.99 |
| Vivint | $0 to $2,100 | $599 to $2,000+ | $0 to $99 | $29.99 to $44.99 |
| Cove | $165 to $1,200 | $150 to $1,100 | $0 | $15 to $25.73 |
| Frontpoint | $150 and $3,100+ | $99 to $3,000+ | $0 | $44.40 to $50.84 |
| SimpliSafe | $183 to $1600+ | $183 to $1,500+ | $0 to $79 | $0 to $25.73 |
| Ring | $199 to $1,250 | $199 to 1,000 | $0 to $150 | $0 to $10 |
| Abode | $199 to $2300+ | $199 to $2,000+ | $0 to $99+ | $0 to $20 |
| DeepSentinel | $0 to $2,800 | $399 to $2,800 | $0 | $60 to $160 |
Average Cost of ADT Home Security System
ADT’s home security systems cost on average between $599 and $850. However, the upfront costs are between $140 and $250 only. The upfront costs include the installation costs and the monitoring costs. However, ADT requires you to sign a 36-month contract.
Average Cost of Vivint Home Security System
The average cost of Vivint home security systems is between $599 and $1,800, depending on the equipment purchased. The average monthly costs of Vivint home security are between $29.99 and $49.99. The total upfront costs can be between $0 and more than $2,600.
With Vivint, you can either pay upfront or sign a contract and finance the equipment over the number of months in the contract (usually 60 months). However, the equipment can be paid off at any time, which will leave you with only the monthly subscription costs.
Average Cost of Cove Home Security System
The average cost of Cove home security systems is between $150 and $1,100. There are no installation costs, as this is a DIY home security system. The Cove monitoring costs are between $0.50 and $0.83 per day. There are no contracts, which keeps the upfront costs relatively low.
Average Cost of Frontpoint Home Security System
Frontpoint home security systems cost between $99 and $600 on average. Customized systems, however, depending on the number of cameras, doorbells, sensors, etc. can cost as much as and in excess of $3,000. The Frontpoint monitoring plans cost between $1.48 and $1.64 per day.
Average Cost of SimpliSafe Home Security System
SimpliSafe home security systems cost between $183 and $400, on average. Depending on the number of cameras and smart gadgets, you order the total cost for a SimpliSafe home security system can reach and surpass $1,500. SimpliSafe systems can be purchased with or without a monitoring service, which costs $0.83 per day.
Average Cost of Ring Home Security System
Ring security systems cost between $199 and $1,000 on average. They can be installed by the homeowner or trained professionals, which could add up to $150 to the total cost.
Ring security systems can be purchased without any monitoring or with professional monitoring, which costs between $3 and $10 per month.
Average Cost of Abode Home Security System
Abode security systems cost, on average, between $199 and $700. Customized Abode security systems can, however, cost as much as $2,000 and more depending on how many cameras, sensors, and gadgets purchased.
Abode monitoring plans cost between $6 and $20 per month. If billed yearly, the subscription costs can go as low as $60 for the Standard plan and $100 for the first year of the Pro plan and $200 for each consecutive year. There is also a third party financing available which can bring the upfront costs down to $0.
You can also choose not to purchase any of Abode monitoring plans, which will bring the monthly costs to $0; however, you will miss much of the system’s features and capabilities.
Average Cost of DeepSentinel Home Security System
DeepSentinel home security costs, on average, between $399 and $1,149. However, those systems can cost up to and in excess of $2,800. The monthly monitoring costs will cost between $60 and $160 depending on the number of cameras with the average cost being $100 for three cameras.
The monitoring costs can be reduced if you choose to pay yearly.