A monitored alarm has three costs: equipment, the monthly fee with monitoring and city charges. At Inhoome, plans run from $49 to $64 a month plus an upfront payment of $99 to $249. To compare companies, add up the contract total, not just the monthly fee.
The three costs of an alarm
- Equipment. Panel, sensors, cameras, lock. Paid upfront or spread across the contract.
- The monthly fee. It includes monitoring: a center that receives your alarm’s signals and acts. It usually includes the app too.
- City charges. In Doral, registering the alarm costs $25 a year, and false alarms are charged from the fourth one on.
What people pay in the United States
According to Parks Associates, the average professional monitoring fee in the U.S. is about $54 a month, and “fees are too high” is the most common reason to cancel: one in four cancellations. In a NerdWallet survey, 33% said they don’t buy a system because of the cost.
In October 2026, national brands’ websites showed monthly fees from $19.99 to $59.99, depending on equipment, type of monitoring and contract.
Inhoome’s plans, with the total in plain sight
| Plan | Upfront | Monthly fee | Total over 36 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $99 | $49 | $1,863 |
| Advanced | $179 | $54 | $2,123 |
| Premium | $249 | $64 | $2,553 |
Simple math: upfront payment plus 36 monthly fees. The equipment price applies with a new-customer discount and a 36-month agreement. There is also month to month: ask for its price. See what each plan includes.
The costs almost nobody mentions
- Doral registration: $25 a year; $75 if you don’t register. How to register.
- False alarms: in Doral, the first three are free; after that, $100, $200 and $300.
- Leaving early: ask for the cost in writing before you sign. Some brands charge up to 75% or 80% of what is left on the contract.
Five questions before you sign
- How much do I pay in total over the whole contract?
- How much is month to month, without a long contract?
- How much does it cost to cancel early?
- What happens to the equipment if I move?
- What is the company’s license number?
Sources for this guide
- Inhoome, plans published on inhoome.com (October 2026).
- Parks Associates: average professional monitoring fee and reasons to cancel.
- NerdWallet and Harris Poll: reasons for not buying a system.
- ADT, Vivint, SimpliSafe, Brinks Home, Ring and Frontpoint websites, checked in October 2026.
- Doral Code, chapter 17, article II.