Alder Security System Pricing and Packages

Alder does a great job bridging the gap between traditional and more modern, DIY security systems. While customers will still have to call and speak with a sales representative to build out the best security system for them and sign a contract for monitoring, the wireless components can be easily installed by the homeowner — typically within 30 minutes — to save on installation costs. While Alder is a good system for homeowners everywhere, it’s also a great security system for renters since no part of the system needs to be permanently hardwired.

If you’re wondering what a system like that costs, you came to the right place. We tested Alder ourselves to provide an insider’s look at the company’s equipment and monitoring. Though we can’t give you a price list — you’ll need to call Alder for that as they prefer giving customers a customized quote and prices may vary by region — we can explain how their pricing model works, what the contract entails, and other things you should know before making a call. Let’s dive into what makes Alder tick and whether it’s the right fit for your security needs.

Monitoring contract details

The Best of Alder’s Features

After putting Alder through its paces, we identified five standout features that make this system worth considering:

• Pre-programmed system — All of our Alder equipment arrived pre-programmed, making the DIY installation process exceedingly easy. We had our system installed and protecting our home in less than 30 minutes.
• Touchscreen tablet controller — The modern, intuitive control panel feels like using a smart tablet rather than a traditional security keypad. The voice prompts were a nice touch, too!
• 100 percent cellular with battery backup — Alder wasn’t just wireless; it was cellular, one of the most reliable forms of communication in the alarm industry. Cellular monitoring makes the system impervious to line-cutting and internet downtimes. And during power interruptions, the 24-hour battery backup had our backs.
• Free base system with a three-year contract — We received a touchscreen control panel, two door/window sensors, and a motion sensor. How much did it cost us? Nada. The base system was free. We only paid for the additional equipment we purchased, but more about that later.
• Proprietary equipment — Alder makes its own equipment now, which is awesome! That means their support team and technicians can troubleshoot, maintain, and repair Alder systems faster and more efficiently than anyone else.

This list barely scratches the surface, so if you want a complete evaluation, check out our Alder security system review; it has all the juicy details about our experience with the system.

Is the Equipment Really Free?

About that free equipment that we mentioned, Alder charged us nothing for the base package consisting of a touchscreen control panel, two door/window sensors, and one motion sensor. That’s what we got for signing a three-year monitoring agreement with a $40 monthly fee. Had we agreed to a higher monthly rate, we would have gotten more components. Here are the options:

Sounds like a good deal, no? Well, the equipment wasn’t really free. Alder had us sign a contract, which basically meant that the package cost was spread out and added into the monthly fee. This financing approach works well if you’re budget-conscious and want professional monitoring without a hefty upfront investment. Without paying anything upfront, we got a basic security system and professional monitoring for a reasonable monthly rate. On the other hand, we did the math and found that it makes more sense for those who have the budget to buy from a company that requires an equipment purchase. Such companies often have lower monthly fees so the savings are greater in the long run. SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm come to mind, as they have exceptionally low rates for professional monitoring at $21.99 and $20 a month, respectively. Read more in our SimpliSafe pricing and Ring Alarm pricing pages.

Additional Components

Other than home security components, Alder offers equipment for medical emergency response and environmental monitoring that promote life safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 55%.1 This is why Alder offers components like medical emergency buttons, smoke alarms, and CO sensors. But what’s the cost? Well, Alder offers such devices as add-ons that must be purchased and paid for upfront. The same goes for security cameras, extra door/window sensors, extra motion sensors, and key remotes. All in all, we spent about $400 on cameras and a smoke alarm.

Once again, we don’t have a price list for you — sorry, Charlie! You can contact Alder if you want to find out — or even haggle — the price of the components you are looking to get. What we do have is a list of the add-on components offered by Alder:

• Extra Door/Window Sensors
• Extra Motion Sensors
• Key Remotes
• Indoor Cameras
• Outdoor Cameras
• Arlo Audio Doorbell
• Smoke Alarms
• CO Detectors
• Medical Buttons
• Yard Signs and Window Stickers

Like we’ve said above Alder is a DIY system, meaning you’re going to be mounting all of the hardware yourself. Don’t worry though, since the system is primarily wireless, this isn’t as hard as it sounds. For the most part, Alder relies on adhesive strips to affix all of the sensors to your walls, door frames, and window sills, so if you can stick a magnet to a refrigerator, you can install an Alder system.

We get it though — DIY can sound like a four-letter word to some folks. If you’re not the install it yourself type, Vivint happens to include professional installation with any security system purchase, and monthly plans start at $39. For more, read our full Vivint cost and package breakdown. Or, check out our rundown of the best professionally installed home security systems for even more options.

Monitoring Costs: Contracts, Policies, and More!

Now, for some bad news, there’s a lock-in period — otherwise known as a monitoring contract — that lasts for at least three years. During that period, canceling the service will incur an early termination fee equivalent to 90% of the contract balance.

We crunched the numbers to show you exactly what you’re committing to. Note that this is only an estimate based on the quote Alder gave us. Alder sales reps give customized quotes, so actual prices and fees may vary depending on where you live and whether or not Alder is running promotions at the time of your purchase.

As you can see, the early termination fee can be pretty high, so it’s best to sign with Alder only if you’re sure you can finish the contract. Fortunately, Alder has a couple of customer-friendly policies that can lessen the burden.

First, there’s a 30-day, money-back guarantee. All customers have 30 days to cancel after activating their systems. Alder will refund all payments made and cancel the contract without termination fees, provided that the customer can return all the equipment, including accessories, manuals, and boxes. The customer will shoulder the return shipping costs.

Second, Alder has a price-lock guarantee that locks in the rate once you sign the contract. This policy takes away Alder’s right to increase the rate for the first three years. Once the contract expires, though, Alder will once again be free to increase their rates as they like.

Does Alder Integrate Well With Others?

As part of our value assessment of Alder, we also looked at all the possible integrations of Alder with third-party smart home and security voice assistants and brands. Alder integrates well with both Alexa and Google Assistant, the two most popular smart home voice assistants. Both integrations allow for hands-free voice control, as long as you have smart speakers that use either of the two voice assistants. You can use voice commands to check up on your security system status, arm or disarm your sensors, or check your alert history. Keep in mind that integration quality can vary. Alexa worked smoothly during testing, but we had mixed experiences with Google Assistant.

Is Alder Better Than Others?

Finally, let’s look at how Alder compares to the competition. Although most security systems seem alike on the surface, we know for a fact that each system is unique. For Alder, its uniqueness is thanks to the company’s fast response rate. While we couldn’t independently verify their claimed 3.4-second response time, if accurate, that would be impressively quick compared to industry standards. That’s more than three times faster than the likes of ADT, which took 15 to 30 seconds to respond to new activity when we took a deeper look at the system in our full ADT review.

When it comes to technology, though, Alder is still a long way from becoming the best. Alder’s lineup of security sensors, life safety sensors, cameras, and medical emergency buttons is meek in comparison to ADT’s well-developed product line. And in the smart home vertical, Vivint is way ahead. Although Vivint uses proprietary equipment like Alder, they offer a smart thermostat, and their systems work with the two most popular voice assistants, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Plus, we were able to use a lot more commands to control Vivint with our voices than we could with Alder.

Still, Alder does a lot of the little things right. The system itself is simple, which is more than can be said for ADT and Vivint. Alder also doesn’t have installation fees, while ADT and Vivint both require professional installation with fees of around $100 or more, depending on how well you negotiate. These small things make Alder a formidable rival to both ADT, Vivint, and other traditional alarm companies. And if the last five years are any indication, Alder will likely become a force to be reckoned with. They were named one of the fastest-growing in the state of Utah in 2016, after all.

So What’s the Bottom Line?

Alder is a simple system thanks to its easy setup process and touchscreen controller, but it’s also fast and reliable because of Alder’s exceptional response rate and cellular backup. Plus, we appreciated their lack of upfront costs and willingness to serve homeowners and renters regardless of their credit scores. With that being said, Alder does have some shortcomings. Our biggest concerns are Alder’s limited equipment options and lack of rich smart home features. The long-term contracts and cancellation fees were quite off-putting as well. If you value simplicity, quick response times, and no upfront costs over extensive smart home integration, Alder could be your ideal security partner.