What Does Home Security Monitoring Cost Per Month?
Professional monitoring for a home security system typically costs $10 to $60 per month depending on the monitoring plan, the provider, and what is included in the coverage. Here is the breakdown by plan type.
Basic Professional Monitoring: $15 to $40 per Month
Entry-level professional monitoring 24/7 monitoring center response for burglary and fire alarms with cellular communication costs $15 to $40 per month from providers like SimpliSafe (starting at $20/month), Ring Protect Pro ($20/month), and Frontpoint ($35/month at the basic tier). These plans include alarm monitoring with police and fire dispatch but typically do not include extended cloud video storage or advanced video monitoring features. For homeowners who primarily want alarm response: this tier provides the core protective function.
Full Professional Monitoring With Video: $25 to $60 per Month
Plans that include extended cloud video storage (30 to 60 days), live video monitoring (where monitoring center operators can view camera feeds when an alarm triggers), professional video verification (before dispatching police, the center reviews a camera clip to confirm the alarm is real reducing false alarm dispatches), and additional smart home features run $25 to $60 per month. ADT’s premier plans, Vivint’s monitoring, and enhanced plans from Ring and SimpliSafe fall in this range. Video verification monitoring provides the added benefit of faster, more confident police dispatch for confirmed intrusions. (For more on this, see DIY vs. Professional Home Security Systems.)
Self-Monitoring: $0 to $10 per Month
Self-monitoring (app-only alerts) eliminates the professional monitoring fee when an alarm triggers, you receive a push notification and must call emergency services yourself. Some systems charge $0 for self-monitoring; others charge $5 to $10 per month for cloud storage for camera footage while self-monitoring. Self-monitoring requires you to be immediately available and responsive appropriate for homeowners who are consistently reachable and prefer to manage responses personally, less appropriate for frequent travelers or heavy sleepers.
Home Security System Cost at a Glance
Here is a quick reference for home security system costs by system type and installation method. All ranges below include equipment; installation cost and monthly monitoring are noted separately. (For more on this, see Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home Security System.)
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic DIY kit (self-installed) | $100 to $300 in equipment | Includes essential door and window sensors, a hub, a keypad, and basic motion detection. Professional monitoring optional at $15 to $40 per month with no long-term contract for most DIY platforms. |
| Professional system with installation | $99 to $1,000 upfront | equipment minimums of $269 to $369 plus a $99 installation fee, or $99 all-in on a promotional install. Cellular backup included. Monitoring is a separate recurring charge of $25 to $60 per month, typically on a 2 to 3-year contract, with an early termination fee of 75 percent of the monthly charges remaining on the term. |
| Comprehensive smart-home security system | $1,200 to $2,500 installed | in equipment and professional installation Includes cameras at every entry point, smart locks, video doorbell, glass break sensors, smoke and CO detectors, and full smart-home integration. Professional monitoring at $40 to $60 per month, billed separately. |
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 28, 2026. How we source cost data.
Monthly monitoring costs are ongoing and add significantly to the total cost of ownership over a 3 to 5-year period. Compare total cost including monitoring when evaluating system options.
Planning Your Project Budget
The cost ranges in this article are based on industry data and are intended as planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. The actual cost for your project depends on your specific home, your local labor market, the current price of materials, and the scope the contractor confirms after a site inspection.
Always get at least two written quotes on equivalent defined scope before committing to any home services project. Wide price variation between quotes usually reflects differences in material quality, scope completeness (what is included and what is not), or contractor overhead and experience level rather than simple price competition.
Use the cost data in this article to ask better questions during the quoting process: What material is included? What does that per-square-foot or per-linear-foot rate include and exclude? Are permits, cleanup, and disposal included? What is the warranty on labor? These questions turn a quote into a comparable basis for decision-making.