NextAlarm: What Was It?
NextAlarm was a pioneer in affordable DIY alarm monitoring — one of the first services that let homeowners keep their existing security panel (Honeywell, DSC, GE) and pay dramatically less for professional monitoring. At $8-12/month when ADT was charging $40-60/month, they proved the traditional dealer model was massively overpriced.
| Detail | NextAlarm |
|---|---|
| Founded | Early 2000s |
| Business Model | Affordable monitoring for existing panels |
| Monthly Cost | $8-12/month |
| Compatible Panels | Honeywell/Ademco, DSC, GE/Interlogix, 2GIG |
| Status in 2026 | ❌ Discontinued |
| Why It Died | Competition from DIY systems that included hardware + monitoring |
Why NextAlarm Mattered (And Why It Failed)
NextAlarm exposed an uncomfortable truth about the security industry: monitoring costs almost nothing to provide. The big companies were charging $40-60/month for a service that cost them pennies per account.
| What NextAlarm Proved | Industry Response | Where We Are Now |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring costs $3-5/account to provide | Dealers kept charging $40-60/month | DIY systems offer monitoring from $0-20/month |
| Existing panels work fine with new monitoring | Dealers locked equipment with proprietary codes | Services like Alarm Grid still offer panel takeover |
| Contracts aren’t necessary | Dealers pushed 36-60 month contracts harder | Ring, Abode, SimpliSafe: no contracts required |
| Customers want choice | ADT/Vivint doubled down on lock-in | DIY market now dominates growth |
Why NextAlarm Ultimately Failed
NextAlarm’s fatal flaw was that it was a monitoring-only service in a market moving toward integrated systems. When SimpliSafe, Ring, and Abode arrived with complete packages — hardware AND monitoring — at comparable prices, the “bring your own panel” value proposition evaporated.
| NextAlarm Problem | Why It Killed the Business |
|---|---|
| Panel-only service | New systems included better hardware for $100-200 |
| No cameras | Ring and Abode offered camera integration from day one |
| No app control | Modern systems have full smartphone control |
| No smart home | Abode offers Z-Wave, Zigbee, HomeKit integration |
| Landline-dependent | 3G/4G sunset killed older panel connectivity |
| Thin margins | $8/month doesn’t sustain a business long-term |
The Rise & Fall of Cheap Monitoring Services
NextAlarm wasn’t alone. Several budget monitoring services launched in the 2000s-2010s — and most are gone now:
| Service | Monthly Cost | Status in 2026 | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextAlarm | $8-12 | ❌ Discontinued | Couldn’t compete with integrated DIY systems |
| Alarm Relay | $10-14 | ✅ Still Active | Survived by staying niche — existing panel monitoring only |
| Alarm Grid | $20-35 | ✅ Still Active | Added hardware sales and Alarm.com support |
| Protect America | $20-42 | ❌ Bankrupt (2023) | Long contracts, proprietary GE/Interlogix equipment |
| LiveWatch | $20-30 | ❌ Acquired by Brinks | Absorbed into Monitronics/Brinks dealer network |
What Former NextAlarm Customers Should Do Now
If you were a NextAlarm customer, your old panel is likely still installed. Here are your three options:
| Option | Best For | Monthly Cost | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Switch to a modern DIY system | Best security, best value | $0-20/month | New hardware ($100-250 upfront) |
| 2. Keep your panel + cheap monitoring | Working panel, hate waste | $10-35/month | Alarm Relay or Alarm Grid account + cell communicator ($50-100) |
| 3. Self-monitor with cameras | Budget-conscious, tech-savvy | $0-3/month | Cameras ($30-100 each) |
Option 1: Modern DIY System (Recommended)
This is what 90% of former NextAlarm customers should do. Modern DIY systems give you everything NextAlarm offered PLUS cameras, smartphone control, smart home integration, and better sensors — often for less than you were paying NextAlarm.
| System | Hardware | Monitoring | 3-Year Cost | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode ⭐ | $199 | $0-20/mo | $199-$919 | Only HomeKit system, Z-Wave/Zigbee hub, best smart home |
| Ring | $199 | $0-20/mo | $199-$919 | Amazon ecosystem, huge camera lineup, Neighbors app |
| SimpliSafe | $199-$460 | $0-28/mo | $199-$1,468 | Fast Protect monitoring, easy setup, no smart home hub |
Option 2: Keep Your Panel
If your Honeywell/DSC panel still works and you’ve added a cellular communicator, two services still provide affordable monitoring:
| Service | Monthly | Platform | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarm Relay | $10-14 | Basic monitoring only | Cheapest possible monitoring, landline still connected |
| Alarm Grid | $20-35 | Alarm.com app | Want smartphone control, cameras, automations via Alarm.com |
Important: If your panel still uses a landline communicator, you’ll need to add a cellular module ($50-100 + installation). Many panels from the NextAlarm era used 3G cellular, which has been sunset by all US carriers. Check your communicator — if it’s 3G, it’s dead.
NextAlarm vs Modern DIY: What You Gain by Switching
| Feature | NextAlarm (Then) | Abode (Now) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $8-12 | $0 (free self-monitoring) |
| Smartphone App | ❌ None | ✅ Full control |
| Camera Integration | ❌ None | ✅ Abode Cam 2 |
| Smart Home | ❌ None | ✅ Z-Wave, Zigbee, HomeKit, Matter |
| Geofencing | ❌ None | ✅ Auto arm/disarm |
| Cellular Backup | ❌ Landline only | ✅ Built-in cellular |
| Battery Backup | Panel-dependent | ✅ Built-in |
| Crash & Smash | ❌ None | ✅ Cloud-based detection |
| Contract | None ✅ | None ✅ |
| Pro Monitoring | $8-12/mo | $20/mo (or $0 self-monitor) |
The Lesson From NextAlarm: Monitoring Is a Commodity
NextAlarm’s biggest contribution to the industry was proving that monitoring is worth $10/month, not $50/month. Every modern DIY system builds on this insight:
- Abode — Free self-monitoring, $6/mo connected, $20/mo pro
- Ring — $20/mo for Ring Protect Pro with 24/7 monitoring
- SimpliSafe — $18-28/mo for monitoring with Fast Protect
The dealer model (ADT, Vivint, Brinks) still charges $35-60/month for essentially the same service. NextAlarm was right about the price — they just didn’t have the hardware to go with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to NextAlarm?
NextAlarm discontinued its monitoring service. The company couldn’t compete with modern DIY systems like Abode, Ring, and SimpliSafe that bundled hardware and monitoring together at comparable prices.
Can I still get cheap alarm monitoring for my existing panel?
Yes. Alarm Relay ($10-14/month) and Alarm Grid ($20-35/month with Alarm.com) both monitor existing panels. But consider whether a modern DIY system would be a better investment.
Is my old Honeywell/DSC panel still worth using?
Only if it has a working cellular communicator (not 3G — those are dead). If you need to buy a new communicator anyway ($100+), you’re better off putting that money toward a complete modern system for $199.
What’s the cheapest home security monitoring in 2026?
Abode offers free self-monitoring with their smart security kit ($199 one-time). For professional monitoring, Abode Connect starts at $6/month — cheaper than NextAlarm ever was, with infinitely better features.
Should I keep my old security panel or replace it?
Replace it. Modern DIY systems cost $100-250 upfront and include cellular, Wi-Fi, battery backup, smartphone app, camera support, and smart home integration. Your old panel has none of these. The math doesn’t favor keeping legacy equipment.
Are there any monitoring services with no contract?
Yes — Abode, Ring, and SimpliSafe all offer month-to-month monitoring with no contracts. This was NextAlarm’s original promise, and it’s now industry standard for DIY systems.
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.