Comparison Tool

Compare Monitoring, Alarm, and Access Control

For a 1,500 sq ft home with 3 entry points, annual costs are about $560 for 24/7 monitoring, $220 for a local alarm, and $360 for smart access control. Monitoring is the most expensive but also the most effective for unattended homes, while access control is best at stopping unauthorized entry before it happens. Alarm is cheapest but only reacts after a breach.

Results

Visualization

SecurFig provides illustrative budget estimates only. Prices, crime rates, and effectiveness figures are assumptions for planning, not quotes or guarantees. Consult a licensed security professional and verify local crime statistics before making decisions. This is not professional security or financial advice.

How It Works

Each approach is modeled with per-entry equipment plus a recurring fee. Monitoring assumes $50 per entry plus a $200 base and a $30 monthly plan. Alarm assumes $35 per entry plus $100 base and a $10 cellular fee. Access control assumes $120 per entry with no recurring fee. We annualize everything and compare against your yearly budget (monthly times 12) to recommend the best-fit approach. Effectiveness assumptions: monitoring 90%, access 85%, alarm 75%.

What Should You Do?

Match the approach to your main risk. If the home is often empty, monitoring pays for itself through faster response. If entry prevention matters most (short-term rentals, shared buildings), access control is the better first spend. Alarm is the lowest-cost backstop and pairs well with either of the others rather than standing alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the monthly fees realistic?

They are common-plan assumptions ($30 monitoring, $10 cellular backup). Actual plans range from $10 to $60 plus, so verify with providers.

Can I combine approaches?

Yes, and many do. Alarm plus access control, or monitoring plus access, covers both prevention and response.

Why is access control a one-time cost?

Modeled with no subscription. Some smart-lock ecosystems add a small cloud fee; add it to the entry cost if yours does.

Which deters burglars best?

Visible cameras and signage (monitoring) deter most; access control stops entry attempts. The two work together.

What if my budget is below all three?

Start with a basic alarm or DIY cameras, then upgrade. See the budget-to-protection-level tool for tier ceilings.