How Much Does a Smart Home Cost?

Smart Home Package Prices

Most companies offer smart home automations in packages to suit your needs. Packages come in three general categories: security, entertainment, and home comfort. Most brands work well with each other. Some even offer packages using different brands, such as Alexa integration.

Some companies, like ADT and Vivint, offer packages on a subscription basis for monitoring. You’ll usually purchase the equipment up front or separately. More often, you’ll buy and install wireless equipment yourself. You can hire an installer for $100 to $300 to install DIY systems. Some services, like Elan systems, start at $10,000 and require professional installation.

Connected Home Package Pricing Tiers

Home Entertainment: Home entertainment includes devices like a Google Chromecast, Roku or Amazon FireTV.

• Basic Audio or TV: $30-$100

• Improved Streaming and Audio: $70-$500

• Complete Home Entertainment: $350-$2,000

Home Comfort: Includes things like thermostats, lights and connected appliances.

• Basic (Thermostat only): $100-$350

• Intermediate (Thermostat + Smoke Detectors): $150-$500

• Lighting: $100-$1,500

Security: Home security systems cost $300 to $1,100 on average. This guide only looks at home automations. But it’ll look at brands and services that offer integrated security systems.

• Basic Front Door Security: $100-$250

• Upgraded Exterior: $300-$3,000

• Total Home Protection: $450-$10,000 or more

Home Automation Price List

Smart Home Brand Prices

Smart home brand pricing ranges widely from $100 to $10,000 or more. Affordable smart home integrations continue to expand. Companies continue to offer expanded products, services and packages.

You might find the number of choices exhausting, but you benefit from the wide range of options. You’ll find that, due to competition, more companies produce higher quality products, more options and all of it at competitive prices. Shop around a bit and you’ll find something that works for your home and budget.

Google and Nest Home

A Google or Nest home costs anywhere from $30 to $3,000 or more. You can purchase just a Google Mini or a complete security, entertainment and connected home package. They offer cameras, hubs, thermostats, alarms, speakers and streaming devices. Google owns Nest but offers slightly different products.

Google recently moved Nest products to its Google Store. As of the start of the 2020 holiday season, you can buy both products in the same place. As part of its recent investment in ADT, ADT will focus on Nest products. Also, Google and Nest products often work together, but not always with other systems. So, if you invest in a Nest, expect to stick with one system. Keep an eye on ADT and Nest to see where this company and products are headed.

ADT

Currently, ADT offers a variety of packages:

• Essentials Package: $37 per month

• Total Protection Package: $43 per month

• Premium Protection Package: $53 per month

• ADT Pulse: $53 per month

All three require a 36-month contract. They include a monitoring system valued at $850. Installation costs another $100. They offer a wide range of upgrade packages and addon services.

Note: These prices and plans might change. ADT, formerly only a security company, offers products from a range of sources. However, Google recently became part-owner of the company. Plans are underway to make Nest products the cornerstone of ADT’s connected home offerings.

Vivint

Vivint pricing subscriptions cost $30 to $45 per month for monitoring. You’ll have to purchase the products separately. Installation costs another $100 to $200. Component prices range from $50 to $400. Overall, expect to pay $600 to $2,500 for initial installation.

• Motion Detector: $100

• Glass-Break Sensor: $100

• Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Detector: $100

• Water Sensor: $50

• Doorbell: $200-$250

• Camera: $200-$400

• Thermostat: $140-$180

SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe costs $100 to $500 for components. They provide a complete line of home security products and packages. Professional installation costs $79. Professional 24/7 monitoring costs about $1 per day. All systems include a keypad and base station. From there, you can choose from the following packages or build your own system.

• The Haven: $365-$500

• The Knox: $330-$450

• The Hearth: $280-$375

• The Essentials: $200-$260

• The Foundation: $170-$230

• Build your own system: $200-$2,000

Amazon Echo and Alexa

Amazon offers Echo and FireTV. Alexa integrates with a wide range of smart devices. These include phones, appliances, security systems and some cars. Alexa is a software assistant platform created by Amazon.

• Amazon Echo: $80-$120

• Amazon Smart Home Packages: $90-$250

• Amazon FireTV: $20-$250

Amazon Blink

Amazon’s home security company, Blink, currently offers only cameras and an app. Cameras cost $35 to $100 each.

Frontpoint

Frontpoint packages cost $100 to $600. Building your own package can hit prices above $2,000. Components cost less than $100. They offer competitive products including home security, automation and environmental comfort like smoke detectors and thermostats.

Ring

Ring package pricing ranges from $100 to $800. They offer a wide range of home security automations. Although they’re most known for the Ring Doorbell, they offer cameras, lighting and security keypad hubs.

• Ring Doorbell: $100-$350

• Doorbell + Camera Kits: $350-$850

• Alarm Security Kit: $350-$750

Elan

Elan provides high-end complete home automation for $10,000 to $150,000. It’s often a choice of system integrated into new homes. This isn’t a DIY option and requires an installer. They market to both independent and commercial home builders.

Savant Smart Home Systems

Savant systems start at $1,600. This fully customizable platform requires custom installation from a licensed savant dealer. Savant offers a remote-controlled system with home integrations. These integrations include entertainment, comfort and security.

Crestron Home Automation:

Crestron home automation costs $10 to $20 per square foot or $20,000 to $100,000. Primarily a commercial automation company, they also offer residential installs. Crestron provides complete solutions. For example, they have tech that pre-heats your shower, tunes your TV and handles security.

Apple Homekit

Apple Homekit isn’t a system or service. Instead, it’s the software app behind controlling all your connected devices. However, it works with a wide range of third-party products to completely automate your home. Prices will vary depending on which devices you use with the app.

Smart Home Installation Cost

In general, the cost to have a professional install your system is around $80 to $100 an hour. Most homeowners can install plug-in systems, but it’s best to have a professional install a hardwired system. Wireless installs might take only an hour or two to set up for a total of $150 to $200. Wired installs can take as little as one day or multiple days to install, adding $500 or more to the bill.

DIY Home Automation vs. Hire a Pro

In the smart home category, you can find dozens of DIY options suitable for any homeowner of almost any skill level. However, they take some time to go through directions and get sensors placed correctly. The hardest part of most wireless installs comes from the technology standpoint – getting them all connected.

But almost every DIY install also offers professional installation. Local home automation installers do all the installation and connection for you. For high-end wired and custom jobs, you’ll need a licensed installer to complete the work for you.

FAQs

What are the advantages and disadvantages of home automation?

What can home automation control?

Home automation can control:

• Interior and exterior lighting

• Alarm and security systems

• Door and window locks

• Pool, hot tub and steam bath temperatures

• Home theater systems and speakers

• Phone and Internet lines

• Yard irrigation

• Thermostats

• Shades, blinds, shutters and curtains

• Turning off or lowering water heaters and HVAC functions

• Detecting water and gas leaks

Should I install a wireless or hardwired automation system?

You should install a wireless system for DIY installs. They’re more budget-friendly but have weaker security. Wired systems cost more and often require a professional.

Security is the biggest difference when it comes to wireless and hardwired setups. Wireless systems are prone to interference and hacking. Hardwired systems are less prone to interference and can be exceedingly difficult to hack.

Do I need an internet connection?

For most DIY home solutions, you’ll need Wi-Fi. Hardwired systems cost far more, but don’t need internet except for offsite cloud storage and remote control.

Can I synchronize my systems?

Synchronizing systems means that your devices will activate or deactivate according to certain conditions. For example, you can set your coffee to not brew if your thermostat is set to away. If your alarm clock goes off, then the shower turns on to your desired temperature. Different brands may have trouble syncing with one another. Fortunately, there are hubs like Wink for about $50 that ensure your systems work in harmony.

How secure is my data?

Data security depends on your provider. It’s best to ask your service provider or company for details on how they keep it secure. The most secure form of home automation is a closed, wired system air-gapped from the internet. It would require a hacker to physically come to your home to steal data.

Why should I automate?

Automation frees up time, lowers costs and allows you to operate the functions of your home remotely. They can help lower carbon emissions and save you money on energy bills.