NextAlarm Review 2026: Discontinued Service — Best Alternatives
NextAlarm was one of the earliest affordable alarm monitoring services. Their pitch was simple: if you already had a security panel installed (like an Ademco or Honeywell system), NextAlarm would provide professional monitoring at a fraction of the cost of traditional providers — sometimes as low as $8-12/month.
Status in 2026: NextAlarm is no longer active. The service has been discontinued. If you were a NextAlarm customer or are searching for similar low-cost monitoring, here’s what to know and where to look now.
What NextAlarm Was
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Type | Monitoring-only service (no equipment sales) |
| Model | BYO panel — bring your existing alarm system |
| Monthly Cost | ~$8-15/month |
| Contract | Month-to-month (no long-term contract) |
| Monitoring | 24/7 central station via internet/phone line |
| Status | Discontinued |
Why NextAlarm Was Popular
NextAlarm solved a real problem: millions of homes had existing alarm panels (from ADT, Vivint, Brinks, or builders) but were paying $30-50/month for monitoring. NextAlarm offered to monitor those same panels for a quarter of the price, with no contract.
Their key advantages were:
- Ultra-low monthly cost — $8-15/month vs $30-50 from traditional providers
- No contract — month-to-month, cancel anytime
- Use existing equipment — no need to buy new hardware
- Internet-based monitoring — used your broadband connection instead of a phone line
Why It Shut Down
The low-cost monitoring-only model faced several challenges:
- Razor-thin margins — at $8-12/month, there’s little profit after monitoring center costs
- DIY systems emerged — companies like Abode, Ring, and SimpliSafe offered complete systems with affordable monitoring
- Free self-monitoring — modern systems offer push notifications and app alerts at no cost, reducing the need for paid monitoring
- Technology shift — older panels using phone lines became obsolete as homes dropped landlines
Best NextAlarm Replacements in 2026
If You Have an Existing Panel
If you still have a working alarm panel and want affordable monitoring:
- Alarm.com through a local dealer — many Alarm.com dealers offer monitoring for existing panels starting around $15-20/month with a cellular communicator upgrade
- Surety Home — online dealer offering Alarm.com monitoring for existing panels from ~$15/month
- Consider upgrading — if your panel is 10+ years old, replacing it with a modern DIY system often costs less in the long run
If You’re Starting Fresh
| System | Self-Monitor (Free) | Pro Monitoring | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | Yes — push alerts, app control | $6-$20/month | None |
| Ring Alarm | Yes — real-time alerts | $20/month (Ring Protect Pro) | None |
| SimpliSafe | Yes — basic alerts | $18-$28/month | None |
Key insight: What NextAlarm offered at $8-12/month (basic monitoring), modern systems now offer for free through self-monitoring with push notifications. If you want professional dispatch, prices start at just $6/month with Abode‘s Connect plan — still remarkably affordable.
The Evolution of Affordable Monitoring
NextAlarm was a pioneer in affordable monitoring, but the market has evolved beyond what they offered:
- 2010s: NextAlarm era — cheap monitoring for existing panels via internet
- 2020s: DIY systems with built-in monitoring options + free self-monitoring
- 2026: AI-powered cameras, on-demand monitoring (Abode), and free push alerts make dedicated monitoring services less necessary
The legacy of services like NextAlarm lives on in today’s no-contract, affordable monitoring options — they proved that consumers didn’t need to pay $50/month for basic alarm monitoring.
Related Guides
- Ademco Panel Review (Keep It or Replace It?)
- How to Upgrade Your Security System
- Security With No Monthly Fees
- How to Choose a Home Security System
- Top Home Security Systems 2026
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.
Mark says
Been a customer for about 7 years and service has gone really downhill. As another user mentioned – you can no longer speak to an actual person, except to deal with false alarm notifications.
Everything is by email and it recently took them 5 days to reply to a simple technical question, I had no service in the interim.
Also the last time there as a false alarm at my property they did not call either the first or second numbers on my account. Instead the called the 3rd number. They then proceed to call the police dept in an adjacent city. When I called them to cancel the police call out they didn’t bother and I ended up with a false alarm charge from another city.
Mark says
I’d echo Clark’s concerns. NextAlarm has been a great monitoring company… with an emphasis on the HAS BEEN part. As a long-time customer, I grew accustomed to their superb monitoring service and great support when you needed it. But something has definitely changed in recent months. Don’t believe what you read on the Internet, you need to see it for yourself, call them at 877-NEXT-911 (877-639-8911) and try to speak with either sales or technical support. YOU CAN’T. You will get a recording telling you the email addresses to use for these departments. And their response to emails is very slow.
Clark says
I have used next alarm for last 10 years. First a few years, they had good services, but recently their services began to go bad. There is no phone support any more. You cannot talk to anyone if you need help. You can only email tech support department. Emails won’t be answered for weeks. I am very disappointed with Nextalarm and decided to use it anymore.
Larry Cole says
NextAlarm offers amazing features and trust me, the cost of the whole thing is very cheap compared to the other systems I’ve used it in a while now. I’ll always recommend it to anyone who I think would love a good monitoring system although it is pretty basic, nothing fancy compared to Vivint.
Aqeeb Alim says
NextAlarm offers amazing features a. and trust me, the cost of the whole thing is very cheap compared to the other systems I’ve used it for a while now. I’ll always recommend it to anyone who I think would love a good monitoring system.
Karabo J says
I just got my own Nextalarm installed and I’m really excited about all it can do and I can’t wait to try them out. Though it was a bit stressful going through a third-party retailer. It would have been a lot easier if we could just get it directly. Dunno why they don’t want to save us the stress.
Damia says
Hi, was the installation process easy for you? Mine is taking the whole day and even after the agent left the house, it’s still acting up. I hope it’s just a glitch somewhere on my own.
viatna Sam says
This is not like any alarm system I’ve used. It has some nice features that I was not initially expecting from a simple alarm system. The customer service is not great though so just make sure that everything is in order upon installation.
Billy says
The fact that I can actually receive messages from the system and also disarm or arm the alarm system is just so cool.
Gabriella says
Before now, I wouldn’t believe an alarm device can work perfectly with others without removing the ones I had before, until when I came in contact with this. Infact, I can say no technological advancement ever surpasses it when it comes to security. Now I can sleep under my roof with my two eyes closed.
Juliet Bob says
Super affordable and easy to setup and use alarm. I love the next alarm. I got it when I subscribed for a home security system and they were all set up together. I’ve been using it and I’m really enjoying it. There are many self help options and the alarm system is just the best.
Nathan Toussaint says
It all seems a bit stressful to have different security and monitoring systems. I would rather have a one stop shop for all my home security system needs. Although thev unlimited and free tech support Nextalarm offers makes it a nice offer.