CANADA · CAD · 2025–2026 PLANNING ESTIMATES
Price a practical setup—cameras, entry sensors, doorbells, installation and monitoring—then see the full three-year cost, not just the starter-kit price.
Build your estimate
Taxes, permits, false-alarm fees, internet service and optional storage hardware are excluded. See assumptions.
Canadian market snapshot
US market snapshot
The important difference is not just the logo on the box. Some plans charge per camera, others cover a whole home, and professionally monitored bundles may exchange a longer term for bundled equipment.
Read this as a starting point, not a quote. The calculator uses rounded Canadian planning allowances rather than provider-specific current prices. Promotions, hardware, taxes, location and eligibility change the final price—check the linked provider page before buying.
Read this as a starting point, not a quote. The US model uses rounded planning allowances anchored to published manufacturer prices and plan structures checked October 4, 2026. Promotions, hardware, taxes, location and eligibility change the final price—check the linked source before buying.
| Provider | Typical model | Starting-from signal | Best fit | Provider link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring | DIY devices; one-device, whole-location and professional-monitoring tiers. Monitoring availability varies by region. | Starting-from estimate: check provider Hardware and service are priced separately. |
A modular alarm, camera and doorbell ecosystem. | Provider link coming soon |
| Google Nest | Whole-home Standard and Advanced video-history subscriptions under Google Home Premium. | Starting-from estimate: check provider Camera hardware is separate. |
Homes already using Google Home devices. | Provider link coming soon |
| ADT / TELUS | Self-monitoring, automation and 24/7 professional-monitoring bundles; multi-year terms are common. | Starting-from estimate: check provider Equipment, installation and term affect the quote. |
Professional response, installation support and smart-home control. | Provider link coming soon |
| Wyze | Per-camera Cam Plus or whole-home Unlimited tiers; higher tier adds dispatch. | Starting-from estimate: check provider Compare per-camera and whole-home tiers. |
Budget-conscious camera-first coverage. | Provider link coming soon |
| Provider | Typical model | Published US price signal | Best fit | Provider link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring | DIY alarm kits, cameras and doorbells; subscriptions add video features and optional professional monitoring. | $199.99–$329.99 alarm kits Ring lists 5-, 8- and 14-piece kits; Alarm Professional Monitoring is $19.99/month. |
A modular Alexa-connected alarm, camera and doorbell ecosystem. | Provider link coming soon |
| Google Home Premium | Whole-home Standard and Advanced subscriptions for compatible Google cameras, doorbells, speakers and displays. | $10–$20 / month Standard is $10/month or $100/year; Advanced is $20/month or $200/year. |
Homes already using Google Home and Nest devices. | Provider link coming soon |
| ADT | DIY and professionally installed systems with 24/7 monitoring; professional installation commonly carries a term. | $39.99–$49.99 / month ADT publishes month-to-month DIY monitoring from $39.99 and pro-install monitoring from $49.99. |
Professional response, installation support and integrated Google Nest equipment. | Provider link coming soon |
| Wyze | Low-cost DIY cameras and doorbells with optional cloud features and no-contract security plans. | $44.98 camera · $59.98 doorbell Published hardware examples are Wyze Cam v4 and Video Doorbell v2. |
Budget-conscious camera-first coverage. | Provider link coming soon |
Provider names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. NorthPeak Estimates is not affiliated with or endorsed by these providers.
Buying guide
Your cameras and sensors send alerts to your phone, and you decide whether to call for help. It keeps monthly costs low but puts response on you.
A monitoring centre receives alarm events and can follow an escalation process. The service cost matters more than hardware over a three-year term.
Outdoor cameras, continuous recording, video verification, long cable runs and ladders add cost faster than basic contact sensors.
Compare the minimum contract cost—not just the promotional month. Ask what happens to financed or bundled equipment if you cancel early.
Insurance note
Many Canadian insurers may offer a discount for an eligible, centrally monitored alarm, but a camera-only or self-monitored setup may not qualify. Requirements and savings vary. Ask which monitoring certifications and proof they require, then compare the annual discount with the annual monitoring cost. IBC also recommends setting your security system as part of its personal-property theft-prevention guidance.
Some US insurers may offer a discount for an eligible centrally monitored alarm, but qualifying systems, documentation and savings vary by state and insurer. Ask your carrier what proof it requires, then compare any annual discount with the annual monitoring cost.
Transparent math
This is a planning model for a typical Canadian residential setup, not a retailer cart or installer quote. It deliberately uses rounded 2025–2026 allowances so a temporary promotion does not distort the three-year picture.
This is a planning model for a typical US residential setup, not a retailer cart or installer quote. Its rounded equipment and plan allowances are anchored to published manufacturer pricing checked October 4, 2026, so the result is representative rather than a temporary sale quote.
FAQ
A small DIY setup can start in the low hundreds before tax, while multi-camera systems with professional installation can reach well into four figures. Monitoring commonly adds an ongoing monthly cost. Use the calculator to size the equipment and see the 36-month effect.
It can be valuable when you want someone else to respond while you are asleep, travelling or unable to check an alert. Compare response procedures, cellular backup, contract terms and possible insurance savings—not just the monthly price.
Many cameras provide live view and basic alerts without a subscription, but recorded history, smart detection and sharing often require a paid plan or compatible local storage. Confirm features for the exact device before buying.
Some insurers offer discounts for eligible centrally monitored systems. The amount and qualifying equipment vary by insurer, and self-monitored cameras may not qualify. Ask your insurer what documentation it needs before purchasing.
Allow for tax, batteries, optional cloud storage, internet, professional wiring, alarm permits, false-alarm fees, early cancellation charges and replacement devices outside warranty.
Not necessarily. A promotion may reduce the advertised monthly fee or bundle equipment, but it also increases your minimum commitment. Compare the regular rate, equipment ownership and cancellation terms over the same three-year horizon.
Published manufacturer examples range from low-cost individual cameras to multi-piece alarm kits in the hundreds of dollars before tax. Professional monitoring adds an ongoing monthly cost; the US calculator sizes the equipment and shows the 36-month effect in USD.
It can be valuable when you want someone else to respond while you are asleep, travelling or unable to check an alert. Compare response procedures, cellular backup, contract terms and possible insurance savings—not just the monthly price.
Many cameras provide live view and basic alerts without a subscription, but recorded history, smart detection and sharing often require a paid plan or compatible local storage. Confirm features for the exact device before buying.
Some insurers offer discounts for eligible centrally monitored systems. The amount, qualifying equipment and documentation vary by state and insurer, and self-monitored cameras may not qualify. Ask your carrier before purchasing.
Requirements vary by municipality. Some cities or counties require registration or a permit for monitored alarms and may charge for repeated false alarms. Check your local police department or municipal website before activation.
Allow for sales tax, batteries, optional cloud storage, internet, professional wiring, local alarm permits or registration, false-alarm fees, early cancellation charges and replacement devices outside warranty.
Not necessarily. A promotion may reduce the advertised monthly fee or bundle equipment, but it also increases your minimum commitment. Compare the regular rate, equipment ownership and cancellation terms over the same three-year horizon.
Sources & checks
Use these official and consumer-guidance pages to confirm current terms. Provider pricing, promotions, plan names and availability can change without notice. Calculator outputs are educational estimates, not security, insurance or financial advice.
US manufacturer prices and terms were checked October 4, 2026 and are a fixed planning snapshot, not live quotes. Promotions, plan names and availability can change without notice. Calculator outputs are educational estimates, not security, insurance or financial advice.