All American Monitoring is a wholesale central station — they don’t sell directly to homeowners. If you’re a consumer searching for a security system, this page will redirect you to better options. If you’re an alarm dealer looking for affordable monitoring, here’s everything you need to know.
At a Glance
| Detail | All American Monitoring |
|---|---|
| Type | Wholesale alarm monitoring (B2B only) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | New York |
| Certifications | UL Listed, CSAA Five Diamond |
| Dealer Pricing | ~$2.50/account/month |
| Signals Supported | SIA, Contact ID, 4+2 |
| Receivers | Sur-Gard, Osborne-Hoffman |
| Homeowner Direct | ❌ No — dealers only |
| Website | allamericanmonitoring.com |
How Wholesale Monitoring Works
The alarm industry has a hidden layer most homeowners never see:
| Step | Who | What Happens | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Station (All American) | Receives alarm signals 24/7, dispatches police/fire | ~$2.50/account/mo |
| 2 | Alarm Dealer (your installer) | Sells equipment, installs, handles billing | Markup to $25-50/mo |
| 3 | Homeowner (you) | Pays dealer, who pays central station | $25-50/mo retail |
The markup reality: Your dealer pays All American ~$2.50/month for monitoring, then charges you $25-50/month. That’s a 10-20x markup — and it’s industry standard. This is why alarm dealers love long-term contracts.
Who Uses All American Monitoring
| Client Type | Why They Choose All American | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Small local dealers | Low per-account cost, no minimum volume | Regional alarm companies |
| Alarm resellers | White-label monitoring | Companies like Alarm Relay, SuretyCAM |
| DIY monitoring services | Backend for self-install providers | Some online-only alarm services |
| Commercial installers | UL-listed fire alarm monitoring | Fire alarm contractors |
Certifications & Quality
| Certification | What It Means | All American |
|---|---|---|
| UL Listed | Meets Underwriters Laboratories standards for central stations | ✅ |
| CSAA Five Diamond | Highest industry certification — trained operators, quality assurance, random testing | ✅ |
| FM Approved | Factory Mutual insurance standard | Check directly |
| Redundant Stations | Multiple backup locations | Yes |
Five Diamond certification is significant — only about 15% of central stations achieve it. It means faster dispatch times, better-trained operators, and regular quality audits.
All American vs Other Wholesale Stations
| Central Station | Type | Five Diamond | Notable Clients | Dealer Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All American | Wholesale only | ✅ | Small/mid dealers | ~$2.50/acct |
| COPS Monitoring | Wholesale + branded | ✅ | SimpliSafe, thousands of dealers | ~$3-5/acct |
| Rapid Response | Wholesale | ✅ | ADT subcontractor, regional dealers | ~$3-4/acct |
| EMERgency24 | Wholesale | ✅ | Mid-size dealers | ~$3/acct |
| AvantGuard | Wholesale | ✅ | Abode, Cove, others | ~$3-5/acct |
Why This Matters to Homeowners
Understanding the wholesale model explains why home security pricing is broken:
| What You Pay | What Monitoring Actually Costs | Dealer Markup |
|---|---|---|
| ADT Pro: $28.99-59.99/mo | ~$3-5/mo | 6-20x |
| Vivint: $29.99-49.99/mo | ~$3-5/mo | 6-17x |
| Brinks: $29.99-49.99/mo | ~$2.50-4/mo | 8-20x |
| Frontpoint: $34.99-49.99/mo | ~$3-5/mo | 7-17x |
| Abode: $6-20/mo | ~$3-5/mo | 1.2-4x |
The takeaway: Companies like Abode pass the savings through. Traditional dealers pocket $20-45/month per customer for the same underlying monitoring service.
Better Options for Homeowners
If you landed here looking for a security system, here are the best direct-to-consumer options (no dealer middleman):
| System | Self-Monitor | Pro Monitoring | 3-Year Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | Free | $6-20/mo | $199-919 | Smart home, HomeKit, best value |
| Ring | Free | $20/mo | $200-920 | Camera ecosystem, Alexa |
| SimpliSafe | N/A | $19.99-27.99/mo | $920-1,207 | Simple setup, Fast Protect |
All three companies handle monitoring through professional central stations (like AvantGuard and COPS) — the same quality as dealer-based monitoring, without the markup.
For Alarm Dealers: Is All American Worth It?
| Strength | Detail |
|---|---|
| Low per-account cost | ~$2.50/mo makes small dealers viable |
| Five Diamond certified | Insurance-qualifying monitoring |
| UL listed | Required for commercial fire monitoring |
| White-label support | Your brand, their infrastructure |
| Multiple signal formats | SIA, Contact ID, 4+2 — works with most panels |
| Limitation | Detail |
|---|---|
| No consumer brand | Can’t market “monitored by All American” effectively |
| Basic technology | Traditional signal processing, not app-forward |
| Limited Alarm.com integration | For advanced features, need Alarm.com partnership |
| Small market awareness | Less brand recognition than COPS or Rapid Response |
FAQ
Can I buy monitoring directly from All American?
No. All American Monitoring only sells to alarm dealers and resellers. As a homeowner, you need to go through a dealer or choose a direct-to-consumer provider like Abode, Ring, or SimpliSafe.
Is my alarm company using All American?
Possibly. Many small and mid-size alarm dealers outsource their monitoring to wholesale central stations like All American. Ask your alarm company who actually monitors your system — they’re required to tell you.
Is All American Monitoring good quality?
Yes. They hold UL listing and CSAA Five Diamond certification, which puts them in the top tier of central stations. The quality of monitoring is not the issue — the dealer markup is.
What’s the cheapest professional monitoring?
Abode offers professional 24/7 monitoring starting at $6/month (Connect plan) — the lowest major provider price. Their $20/month Connect+ plan includes cellular backup and premium features.
How does SimpliSafe’s monitoring compare to dealer monitoring?
SimpliSafe uses COPS Monitoring (also Five Diamond certified) as their central station. The monitoring quality is comparable to what dealers provide through All American — but SimpliSafe charges $19.99-27.99/mo instead of $30-50+.
Why is dealer monitoring so expensive?
Dealers pay $2.50-5/month for wholesale monitoring and charge $25-50+/month retail. The markup covers sales commissions, installation labor, equipment subsidies, and profit. Direct-to-consumer brands like Abode eliminate most of these costs.
June 2026 update: central station vs security system
All American Monitoring is best understood as a wholesale monitoring provider, not the brand most homeowners choose directly. The practical buyer question is whether the dealer package around that monitoring gives you transparent equipment, app control, cancellation terms, and support.
| Question | Why it matters | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the equipment? | Dealer-installed systems can create transfer and cancellation friction. | Compare against DIY systems where you buy and control the hardware. |
| What app and sensors are included? | The monitoring center is only one layer of the user experience. | Check door/window sensors, cameras, cellular backup, and automation options. |
| Can you leave without penalty? | Monitoring contracts can outlast the equipment value. | Ask for cancellation terms before signing. |
Related reads: home-security-system buyer guide, best home security for renters, Abode review, and Abode official site.
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.
Emanuel says
Hi,
I work at All American Monitoring. Some of the information here is a bit out of date or otherwise not accurate. For example, the section you have labeled “Packages” makes it sound like we only support certain signal formats, we actually support basically every alarm signal format that there is. Please contact me, I am more than happy to provide you with updated specifications for our business.
Thanks,
Emanuel Dieter
8003189486 extn 813
Maverick Andrews says
If you want average go with All American. They got a name that makes you feel patriotic I’ll give them that. Since there are so many companies offering home security systems it’s just hard for me to go with an average company. I want someone with the latest and greatest in security and automation and because their is a lot of competition it’s not much more costly than this company to get.
Michelle says
I’ve been using all American monitoring services for my alarm service. It’s quite cheap and it makes my own alarm service to customers not to appear high as a result of the outsourcing. Another good thing is that it has cellular monitoring which most customers are after!
Alarm Reviews says
Good to hear some positive reviews with them. Best of luck in your home security needs thanks Michelle
Haddy P. says
I am not sure where I stand with the company. I had a fantastic 4 years with them and out of no where, they just changed. Maybe it is my area, who knows. I am looking to finding a difference security company though. I mean most of what you said here WAS true for me… but now it is nothing but a giant cons list.
Sarah M. says
Thanks for this review. I was trying to decide on this company and I was not sure where they stand over all. This review has helped me to decide to at least give them a call. I know there are other options but very few are in my area so I have limited choice. Going to look at your other reviews now too. Thanks!!
Collin H. says
Not sure what I was expecting with All American Monitoring but it was complicated. A friend recommended them to me and I have had several issues. I am not sure if it is my area, my home, or what. Thankfully I am not locked in to a contract. I am going to have to find another option here. No complaints about the customer care. They did everything they should/could do.
Larry says
What sold me with All American Monitoring was their experience. I don’t like in a bad area but I know that crime around here has increased in just the last 5 years. I have been with them now for 3 months and I highly recommend them. Their system is easy to use and reliable.