Last updated: March 2026
2GIG makes some of the best security panels in the industry — but you can’t buy one directly. These panels power systems from Vivint, Link Interactive, Brinks Home, and hundreds of local alarm dealers.
What Is 2GIG?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Company | 2GIG Technologies (founded 2007) |
| Parent | Nice/Nortek (via Nortek Control) |
| Products | Security panels, sensors, peripherals |
| Direct sales? | No — dealer-only |
| Platform | Alarm.com (all panels) |
Current Panel Lineup
| Panel | Display | Zones | Connectivity | Z-Wave | Price (dealer) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge | 7” HD | 100+ | WiFi + LTE | ✅ S2 | $300-600 |
| GC3e | 7” | 100+ | WiFi + LTE | ✅ | $250-500 |
| GC2e | 5” | 60 | WiFi + LTE | ✅ | $150-300 |
The Dealer Model Problem
| Problem | Impact | DIY Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment markup | $300 panel costs $500-800+ | Abode $150 |
| Monthly cost | $30-55/month | Abode $0-20/mo |
| Contracts | 2-3 year typical | No contract |
| No self-monitoring | Must pay for pro monitoring | Abode: full self-monitor at $0 |
| No HomeKit | Z-Wave only | Abode: HomeKit + Z-Wave + Zigbee |
2GIG vs DIY Systems
| Feature | 2GIG (dealer) | Abode | Ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $300-800 | $150 | $200 |
| Self-monitor | ❌ | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Pro monitor | $30-55 | $20 | $20 |
| Contract | 2-3 years | None | None |
| Cellular backup | ✅ | ✅ (free) | ⚠️ ($10/mo) |
| HomeKit | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Z-Wave | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zigbee | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Geofencing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| DIY install | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
3-Year Cost Comparison
| Setup | Equipment | Monthly | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2GIG via Link Interactive | $300 | $30 | $1,380 |
| 2GIG via Vivint | $0-600 | $40 | $1,440-2,040 |
| 2GIG via local dealer | $500 | $35 | $1,760 |
| Abode (Free) | $150 | $0 | $150 |
| Abode (Pro) | $150 | $20 | $870 |
Even the cheapest 2GIG setup costs $1,380 vs Abode Pro at $870 — $510 more for comparable monitoring.
Already Have a 2GIG Panel?
| Option | Monthly | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Stay with dealer | $30-55 | None |
| Switch to Surety/GeoArm | $15-33 | Moderate |
| Replace with Abode | $0-20 | Easy (15 min) |
Note: 2GIG 345MHz sensors are NOT compatible with Abode/Ring/SimpliSafe. But Z-Wave devices (locks, switches) WILL work with Abode.
FAQ
Is 2GIG better than Honeywell?
Comparable hardware. 2GIG has better Alarm.com integration; Honeywell uses Total Connect 2.0. Both suffer from dealer markup vs DIY.
Can I use 2GIG without a dealer?
Buy on eBay + activate with Surety Home. But for most people, Abode is easier and cheaper from day one.
Is the 2GIG Edge worth it?
Great hardware. But at $300-600+ plus $30-55/month vs Abode + Cam 2 for $185 at $0/month, hard to justify.
Should I buy a 2GIG panel in 2026?
Only if you specifically need Alarm.com. For everyone else, Abode offers 90% of the functionality at a fraction of the cost with HomeKit and no contracts.
Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
TJ Lan says
I work for a company servicing 2gig Systems, they are trash. Out of every system we service, 2gig requires multiple trips, and usually ends with replacing the system with a DSC. It looks nice, it’s very cheap, but in the end….you get what you pay for. Would never, ever recommend this system to anyone.
Nephi Wisly says
2Gig technologies was bought by Vivint and then acquired for $2 BILLION. They have evolved into the Vivint Sky panel which is great. 2Gig is still available for purchase and their main touchscreen panel will be the new Simon XT in the sense that it will be around for years to come and the basic package offered by security companies.
terry says
We have the GC3 system and a secondary panel for the upstairs. The second unit never works for long. It loses internet connect even with a signal booster. Very disappointing to have such an unreliable system. We have had our installer come back 6 times and still it is not working. Would definitely not recommend this product!
Shane says
It seems most companies use 2gig control panels and equipment. Basically every security company is 2gig equipment with Alarm dot com user app control interface. The only other ones that stand out as being their own security system provider anymore is ADT and Vivint who have their own equipment, but even that said; most ADT dealers use GE or 2gig.
Still, not taking away from anything 2gig has done or offers, all very good equipment and I would recommend it over GE, DSC or Honeywell.
Sam S. says
This sounds brilliant, to be honest. Very high tech and efficient, just the way I like it!
I would have loved to save the installation money and just do it myself but the lack of a manual will probably prevent that
Sam S. says
The lack of an instruction manual is very troubling, as it wasn’t exactly intuitive installation.
I really wanted to buy this too.