Among the many reasons cited by consumers who have not invested in home security equipment is cost. DIY equipment is pretty affordable, so I am guessing most consumers with an aversion to home security are thinking of professionally installed systems with 24/7 monitoring. So here is the big question: if you could find an affordable package, would you buy?
Of course, affordability is like beauty. It is in the eye of the beholder. One man’s budget security system is another man’s top-of-the-line choice. You would ultimately need to decide for yourself what constitutes affordability based on your own budget.
That being said, the average price for a new security system in Q4 2025 is as follows:
- Equipment costs and installation: $500 to $2000+
- Monthly professional monitoring: $20 to $100+
One look at average pricing and it is clear to see that the averages cover a pretty wide range. On the equipment side of things, a lot of it depends on the devices you choose for your system. Choosing only one camera would mean lower equipment costs than choosing five. On the monitoring side of things, price is often a matter of who you go with.
You Have the Big Names
Most people looking for professional installation and monthly monitoring will go with one of the big-name brands. Take Vivint Home Security. They are among the top home security providers in the country. They recently introduced a new package they call HomeProtect.
HomeProtect is a budget-friendly package that includes both equipment and professional installation. Homeowners can choose a package with or without monthly monitoring. Regardless of the choice, HomeProtect is also contract free.
All the other major brands have packages for budget-minded consumers. But you still might not find something that suits you. There are off-brands to look at as well. The question is whether you trust these brands to provide the same quality.
Who Actually Handles the Monitoring
Another thing to consider is who actually handles the monitoring. When it comes to brands like Vivint and ADT, you can trust that they operate their own remote monitoring centers located around the country. If you were to invest in Vivint HomeProtect, you would also get Vivint monitoring services.
It is not likely that most of your off-brand providers handle monitoring on their own. They do not sell enough equipment to justify operating a monitoring center. So their monitoring is handed off to a third party. That third party may or may not be a reputable service provider. You would have to investigate to figure things out.
Installation Is the Big Thing
For a lot of people looking into home security, installation is the big thing. Today’s home security systems are magnitudes easier to install than the hard-wired systems of 30 years ago. There is no need for heavy construction involving cutting into walls and installing new circuits. But you still need to know a thing or two about wireless networks.
Younger homeowners who aren’t afraid to hook their computers and smartphones to their home wireless networks can probably handle installing a wireless home security system on their own. But it is not a given. Plenty of younger homeowners still struggle.
As for older homeowners, they can probably handle DIY installation as well. But do they really want to? If you are an older homeowner yourself, you might be at a point where you would just prefer to hire someone to do the work for you. I get it. You have earned that right.
The only problem is that some brands charge for installation. Whether they do it themselves or leave the job to local contractors, homeowners incur a separate bill for installation. Vivint is one of the exceptions. Professional installation is free with every home security system they sell.
Managing the Costs of Home Security
We have now come full circle to the original question posed by this post: if you could find affordable home security with professional installation and 24/7 monitoring, would you buy it? Before you answer, there is one more thing we need to talk about. That is managing the total cost of home security.
Earlier, you read that the average cost of new equipment and installation ranges from $500 to $2000+. What are you actually getting for the money you spend? First off, you are getting the equipment. A comprehensive system that offers maximum protection will include:
- Sensors for first-floor windows and doors
- At least two video cameras (more would be better)
- A couple of indoor motion sensors
- Smoke and CO detectors
- A central hub/control pad
- A companion mobile app
Each piece of equipment adds to the total cost. So if you think you might want to add broken glass sensors, plan to spend more. Ditto on a smart garage door controller, smart locks for first-floor doors, and motion-sensitive exterior lighting. You can truly spend a lot on equipment if you invest in every option under the sun.
Monthly monitoring fees cost considerably less each month. But they add up over time. At the low end, $20 per month will add up to $240 annually. Monitoring costs only go up from there. The good news is that monitoring is a subscription-based service.
Personally, I would go with a no-contract subscription that can be canceled at any time. That means I can scrap professional monitoring if budgetary changes put the squeeze on my finances.
There Is Always the DIY Route
I am guessing that some of those reading this post would really like to invest in professional home security but simply can’t afford it. I get it. But there is always the DIY route. A DIY home security system doesn’t offer the same advantages you get from professional installation and around-the-clock monitoring, but it is certainly better than no home security at all.
Unfortunately, cost is a prohibitive factor for some homeowners who would like to have security equipment and monitoring protecting their homes. But that is the way it has always been.
