Guide
How Much Does a Home Security System Cost in 2026?
A home security system costs $130 to $1,500 upfront for equipment, $8.49 to $55 per month for monitoring, and $0 to $199 for installation in 2026, which puts a typical professionally installed system at $1099.63 to $3179.64 over 36 months and a DIY system at $919 to $1,649. This guide gives the 3 cost components with ranges, a 9-brand price table, 36-month totals for 4 system sizes, the 5 fees that change the total, and 4 ways to pay less.
What Are the 3 Components of Home Security Cost?
The 3 components of home security cost are equipment (hub, sensors, cameras, smart devices), monitoring (the monthly plan), and installation (included, a one-time fee, or free with DIY); over 3 years, monitoring is the largest of the 3 for every brand.
| Component | DIY brands | Professionally installed brands |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $130 to $500 starter kits | $199.99 to $1,500+ |
| Monitoring per month | $8.49 to $29.99 | $24.99 to $55 |
| Installation | $0 (self) or $99 to $199 optional | Included with agreement, or $199 (Vivint no contract) |
| Camera storage | $4.99 to $29.99 per plan | $5 per camera per month (Vivint) |
How Much Does Each Brand Cost?
Vivint costs $24.99 to $44.99 per month with equipment from $199.99; the 8 other main brands range from abode's free self-monitoring tier to ADT's $49.99 professionally installed plans, as the table shows.
| Brand | Monitoring / month | Equipment | Installation | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivint | $24.99–$44.99 | $199.99–$749.99+ | Professional, included | 36 months or month to month |
| ADT | $24.99–$49.99 | $269–$1,101 | Professional | 36 months (24 in California) |
| Brinks Home | $29.99–$49.99 | $199–$399 | Professional or DIY | 36 months |
| Xfinity Home | $30–$55 | $360 | Professional | Equipment financed over 24 months |
| SimpliSafe | $19.99–$29.99 | $229–$500 | DIY | None |
| Ring Alarm | $19.99 | $199.99–$299.99 | DIY | None |
| Cove | $22.99–$42.99 | $400–$500 | DIY | None |
| Frontpoint | $44.99–$49.99 | $400–$900 | DIY | Month to month after the first 30 days when equipment is paid upfront |
| abode | $8.49–$26.99 | $130–$160 | DIY | None |
Sources per brand are listed on the Vivint comparison pages.
Each brand's figures, with sources, are on the Vivint comparisons hub.
What Does a System Cost Over 36 Months?
Over 36 months a starter Vivint system costs $1099.63, a Vivint system with 2 cameras $3179.64, a SimpliSafe kit with Standard monitoring $949, and a Ring Alarm 5-piece kit with Ring Home Pro $919, at 2026 list prices before promotions.
| System | Equipment | Monthly | 36-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivint HomeProtect starter | $199.99 | $24.99 | $1099.63 |
| Vivint HomeProtect Pro, doorbell camera | $449.98 | $49.99 | $2249.62 |
| Vivint full smart home, 2 cameras | $1,200 | $54.99 | $3179.64 |
| SimpliSafe kit, Standard plan | $229 | $19.99 | $949 |
| Ring Alarm 5-piece, Ring Home Pro | $199.99 | $19.99 | $919 |
| ADT professionally installed (typical) | $600 | $49.99 | $2,400 |
The Vivint pricing page extends the Vivint rows to 60 months and adds financing.
Which Fees Change the Total?
5 fees change the total: installation on no-contract orders ($199 with Vivint), per-camera cloud storage ($5 per month with Vivint), alarm permits ($0 to $79 a year depending on city), false-alarm fines ($25 to $500 per response), and moving fees ($149 with Vivint, none with DIY).
Permit fees and fines by city are on the Vivint service areas pages; the false alarm fee guide explains how to avoid the fines.
How Can You Pay Less for Home Security?
You pay less in 4 ways: buy only the sensors your entry points need, skip cameras if you do not need video (which keeps Vivint at $24.99 instead of $44.99), claim the 5 to 20% insurance discount with the installation certificate, and apply a dealer promotion to the equipment total.
Current promotions are on the Vivint deals page.
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