The Real Cost of Home Security in 2026: Every Fee, Every Provider, No Surprises

When a home security company advertises "from $19.99/month," that number is doing heavy lifting. It doesn't include equipment ($229 to $2,000+), installation fees ($100-$200), activation charges, camera storage add-ons, or the early cancellation fee you'll pay if you exit a 36-month contract. Here's what you'll actually pay.

Equipment: The Biggest Upfront Variable

Here's what a "typical" setup - not the bare-minimum starter kit - costs at each provider. Cove runs about $200 for a starter, $300 typical, $500 for full coverage. SimpliSafe starts at $229, with typical setups running $350-$500 and full coverage at $500-$730. Ring starts around $200, typical is $400-$650, full coverage $700+. ADT Self-Setup starts at $269, typical $450-$600, full at $800-$1,593. ADT Professional begins at $559, typical runs $800-$1,100, full coverage $1,100-$1,600+. Frontpoint starts around $400, typical $600-$900, full $1,000-$1,200. Vivint starts around $600, typical $1,200-$1,800, full coverage $2,000+.

Pro tip - never buy at full price: SimpliSafe runs 50-60% off during holidays and frequently mid-month. ADT bundles $100 Visa cards and free doorbells during promotions. Ring's Prime Day deals save $100+ on bundles. Set price alerts and wait.

Monthly Monitoring: The Cost That Compounds

Monthly fees feel small but compound dramatically. A $5/month savings adds up to $180 over 3 years, $300 over 5 years, and $600 over 10 years. This is why the difference between Cove at $19.99/mo and Frontpoint at $49.99/mo isn't just $30 - it's $1,080 over 3 years and $3,600 over 10 years.

The 3-Year Total Cost Comparison

Total cost over 3 years for each provider's most common setup (equipment + install + monitoring × 36 months):

Cove: $300 equipment + $0 install + $720 monitoring = $1,020 total - the cheapest option.

Ring: $450 equipment + $0 install + $720 monitoring = $1,170 total - best value with cameras included.

SimpliSafe: $400 equipment + $0 install + $828 monitoring = $1,228 total - best flexibility.

ADT Self-Setup: $500 equipment + $0 install + $1,440 monitoring = $1,940 total.

Frontpoint: $800 equipment + $0 install + $1,800 monitoring = $2,600 total.

ADT Professional: $800 equipment + $150 install + $1,800 monitoring = $2,750 total.

Vivint: $1,400 equipment + $0 install* + $1,620 monitoring = $3,020 total.

*Vivint installation is "included" but baked into equipment pricing.

Hidden Costs Most People Miss

Early cancellation penalties - the big one. ADT professional: pay remaining monthly balance. Cancel at month 12 of a 36-month contract at $49.99/mo = $1,200 penalty. Vivint 60-month at $49.99/mo, cancel at month 24 = $1,800. SimpliSafe, Cove, Ring: $0 cancellation fee.

Camera cloud storage. Ring bundles it into $20/mo (excellent value). SimpliSafe requires the $27.99 Interactive plan. ADT requires the $39.99 Complete plan. Some providers charge separately per camera.

Battery replacements. Sensors last 3-5 years on battery. Replacements cost $5-$15 per sensor. A 10-sensor system = $50-$150 over the system's life. Cove offers lifetime equipment warranty on their Plus plan, which covers this.

ADT's professional install premium. ADT charges $10/mo more for monitoring if you chose professional installation vs. the identical DIY plan. Over 36 months = $360 extra just for the installation method you chose.

The Insurance Offset Most People Forget

Most homeowner's insurance companies offer 5-20% premium discounts for professionally monitored security systems. On an average $1,500-$2,000/year homeowner's policy, that's $75-$400 in annual savings. Over three years, insurance savings can offset a significant portion of your monitoring costs - sometimes paying for the entire system.

Ask your insurer for their specific discount rate and request a monitoring certificate from your security provider. Some insurers require UL-listed central station monitoring (all 6 providers on our list qualify) and may need the certificate number for your policy.