Despite the fact that the home security market has enjoyed steady growth for decades, there are still plenty of homes without monitored security systems. Some have no security equipment at all. Others are equipped with a number of devices homeowners monitor themselves. So why the reluctance among some property owners to invest in monitored security? Cost is a big concern.
A 2025 survey of over 1,000 American consumers revealed some interesting things, including the fact that 22% said cost was among the most important contributing factors in their home security decisions. Only one factor ranked higher than cost: the availability of professional monitoring services. When you put those two together, you have an interesting dynamic: if hardware costs are high, expensive monthly monitoring puts yet another barrier in the way.
The big question is whether monitored home security needs to be expensive. Just because one company charges an arm and a leg, does that mean all of them do? No.
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When Purchased Separately
What so many people do not understand about cost is that it might be cheaper to purchase a security system separately from a monitoring package. They do not have to be purchased together as a bundle. And in fact, a lot of the dealers that swarm suburban neighborhoods during the summer months only sell equipment. They pass off monitoring to a third-party provider.
Third-party providers can work with all sorts of equipment. So you can buy a DIY system and still choose from among half-a-dozen providers to handle around-the-clock monitoring.
On the other hand, purchasing a bundled package from one of the brand-named providers could have you paying very expensive monthly monitoring fees in order to subsidize a lower price on the equipment. But there is still more to consider.
When Purchased as a Bundle
Purchasing home security equipment and monitoring as a bundle can be pretty expensive. But it can also be very competitive. The key is usually the provider.
Let us say you purchase from a salesperson who knocks on your door with an offer you cannot refuse. You are actually purchasing from a dealer rather than the home security company the dealer represents. Here is the problem: you need to cover the dealer’s profit on top of the home security company’s. That is why you pay so much more.
If you were to purchase directly from the home security company, you would eliminate the intermediary. Also note that home security companies can be very competitive if you give them a reason to be. Contact them and let them compete for your business. The results might surprise you.
Competitive Bundles for New Customers
Also worth noting is that home security companies release bundles offering competitive prices explicitly for the purposes of bringing new customers on board. Vivint Home Security is a perfect example. They just released their HomeProtect package, a package that includes all the equipment you need to get started.
The package offers two pricing structures. One is for those who want monthly monitoring, while the other is for those who want to monitor themselves. The first package offers a lower upfront cost on equipment along with a reasonable monthly monitoring fee. The second package is price based on the straight-up cost of the equipment.
You might want to check out HomeProtect on Vivint’s website. The pricing is as competitive as you will find on any DIY system purchased online. Consumers who choose remote monitoring agree to a three-year plan. After that, a consumer can choose to keep monitoring services or cancel and self-monitor instead.
The Benefits of Professional Monitoring
Cost can be an issue with professionally monitored home security, especially if you don’t do your homework. But all of that aside, there are benefits to professional monitoring. It is worth investing in for many homeowners who would rather trust a professional monitoring provider than monitor their systems by themselves.
Here are just a few of those advantages:
- 24/7 Coverage – Professional monitoring is 24/7 monitoring. Whether a homeowner is home or not, the system is being monitored around-the-clock. The homeowner does not have to pay attention to his phone or worry about alerts in the middle of the night.
- Trained Personnel – Professional monitoring is handled by personnel who are trained and how to identify emergencies and respond to them. Unlike homeowners, who may panic, trained personnel keep their cool. They respond in the most appropriate way.
- DVR Storage – Although there are exceptions to the rule, most of the companies selling monitored home security systems include DVR storage as either part of the package or an add-on. Purchasing and setting up a similar service with a DIY system could be spotty.
- Reliable Verification – The majority of security system alarms in the U.S. end up being false alarms. Things have gotten so bad that police departments typically don’t respond unless alarms have been verified. Professional monitoring makes verification easier and more reliable.
I guess the question is whether or not professional monitoring offers enough value to make it financially worthwhile. If it does, the next question is how much a consumer is willing to pay for it.
Online Reviews Are Good, But…
The fact of the matter is that professionally monitored home security does not have to be as expensive as people claim it is. It can be quite affordable and offer good value at the same time. One last word of advice here: do not always believe online reviews. They can be a good source of information, but they are often posted by people with limited knowledge.
One person’s bad experience is not indicative of the entire industry. What’s more, people overpay because they do not know the best way to save money. All they know is that the bottom line price was too high.
Do your own homework. Research the top home security providers by looking at comparable systems. You might discover that monitored home security is more affordable than you thought.
