Home Security Cost: Installation Pricing and What Ring, ADT, SimpliSafe, and Vivint Actually Charge
Serve Kei EditorialMay 3, 20269 min
"Home security cost" covers two genuinely different things: the one-time cost of having cameras, sensors, or a full system professionally installed, and the ongoing monthly subscription that security brands charge for monitoring. A local installer can quote you on the first one. Nobody but Ring, ADT, SimpliSafe, or Vivint sets the second one, that's a fixed price the brand charges regardless of who mounted the hardware. This guide covers both, clearly separated, so you know which number applies to which question.
Professional Installation Cost
Most modern security systems (Ring, SimpliSafe, and similar) are built for DIY setup, and professional installation is an optional add-on rather than a requirement:
- Service
- Basic system installation (cameras, doorbell, sensors)
- Typical Cost
- $100 to $200
- Service
- Full system install (wired sensors, multiple cameras, panel)
- Typical Cost
- $200 to $500+
- Service
- ADT/Vivint-style professionally installed system
- Typical Cost
- Often included in equipment cost
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic system installation (cameras, doorbell, sensors) | $100 to $200 |
| Full system install (wired sensors, multiple cameras, panel) | $200 to $500+ |
| ADT/Vivint-style professionally installed system | Often included in equipment cost |
If you already own the equipment (a Ring doorbell, a set of SimpliSafe sensors) and just want it mounted and configured correctly, that's a straightforward, inexpensive job. A more involved install, wiring cameras into existing power, mounting a full sensor network, running new wiring for a hardwired system, costs more and scales with the number of devices and the complexity of your home's wiring.
What the Major Brands Actually Charge
This part is informational. These are the brands' own prices, not something a local installer sets or that Serve Kei quotes on.
- Brand
- Ring
- Equipment Cost
- $200 and up (self-purchased)
- Monthly Monitoring
- Free (no video), $5 to $10 (self-monitor w/ video), $20+ (professional)
- Brand
- SimpliSafe
- Equipment Cost
- $250 and up
- Monthly Monitoring
- $10 to $25, up to $33 with recordings
- Brand
- ADT
- Equipment Cost
- $200 to $1,600 (varies widely by package)
- Monthly Monitoring
- $25 to $40, up to $70 for premium tiers
- Brand
- Vivint
- Equipment Cost
- $600 to $1,800 (quote-based, not published)
- Monthly Monitoring
- $25 to $50
| Brand | Equipment Cost | Monthly Monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Ring | $200 and up (self-purchased) | Free (no video), $5 to $10 (self-monitor w/ video), $20+ (professional) |
| SimpliSafe | $250 and up | $10 to $25, up to $33 with recordings |
| ADT | $200 to $1,600 (varies widely by package) | $25 to $40, up to $70 for premium tiers |
| Vivint | $600 to $1,800 (quote-based, not published) | $25 to $50 |
Ring and SimpliSafe are DIY-first: you buy the hardware outright, install it yourself, and choose a monitoring tier, including a no-monitoring option if you just want self-monitored alerts through the app. No contract required for either.
ADT and Vivint lean professional: equipment is often bundled with installation, and both typically require a multi-year monitoring contract (36 to 60 months), though ADT now offers a no-contract DIY option (Blue by ADT) that behaves more like Ring or SimpliSafe.
DIY vs. Professionally Monitored: What You're Actually Paying For
The equipment price gets most of the attention, but the monitoring tier is what determines your real ongoing cost:
- No monitoring / self-monitoring: You get alerts on your phone; you decide whether to call the police. Cheapest or free, but nobody's watching if you don't see the alert.
- Self-monitoring with video: Adds cloud video recording and playback. Typically $5 to $10 per month.
- Professional 24/7 monitoring: A monitoring center watches for alarms and calls emergency services on your behalf. This is where the $20 to $50+ per month tiers come from, and it's the tier most homeowner's insurance discounts require.
What Affects Installation Cost
Number of devices. More cameras and sensors means more mounting and configuration time.
Wired vs. wireless. Wireless devices install faster and cheaper. Wired systems (common with ADT and Vivint's professional installs) take longer and may need new cabling run through walls.
Existing infrastructure. A home with existing low-voltage wiring from a previous system costs less to retrofit than one starting from scratch.
Smart home integration. Connecting a system to existing smart home devices (locks, lighting, thermostats) adds setup time beyond the basic install.
Getting an Accurate Quote
For installation specifically, have ready: which devices you're installing (or plan to buy), whether you want wired or wireless, and whether you need integration with existing smart home devices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home security system cost?
Equipment runs $200 to $1,800 depending on brand and package. Professional installation, when needed separately, typically runs $100 to $500.
How much does Ring cost per month?
Free for basic alerts with no video history. $5 to $10 per month for self-monitoring with video. $20 and up for professional 24/7 monitoring.
How much does ADT cost per month?
$25 to $40 for standard plans, up to $70 for premium tiers with smart home and camera features. Most plans require a 36-month contract.
How much does SimpliSafe cost?
Equipment starts around $250. Monitoring runs $10 to $25 per month, up to $33 with video recording, no contract required.
How much does Vivint cost?
Equipment typically runs $600 to $1,800, though Vivint doesn't publish pricing and requires a sales call for a quote. Monitoring runs $25 to $50 per month with a 42 to 60 month contract typical.
Does Serve Kei install Ring, ADT, or other security systems?
Serve Kei connects you with vetted local pros for hardware installation and mounting. Monitoring plans and subscription pricing are set directly by the security brand, not by your installer.
Bottom Line
Keep these two costs separate when you're budgeting: installation is a one-time job, typically $100 to $500 depending on complexity, that a local pro handles. Monitoring is an ongoing subscription, $0 to $70+ a month, set entirely by whichever brand's equipment you choose. Comparing an installation quote to a brand's monthly fee, or vice versa, isn't comparing the same thing.
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Related reading
National averages are useful for planning. Verify pricing against a quote for your home before treating any range as final.
Serve Kei Editorial
The Serve Kei editorial team publishes guides to help homeowners and vehicle owners make confident service decisions.