Security quotes · U.S. buyer guide
“Free” security equipment: compare the offer, not the headline
A genuine equipment discount can be useful. The word “free” still does not tell you the total bill, who owns the hardware or what you owe if you leave. Compare the written offer with the same equipment and service needs in mind.
Manufacturer terms checked September 11, 2026. All worked prices below are hypothetical examples, not current offers. This guide uses documents and arithmetic, not hands-on product tests.
First, identify what is actually discounted
Ask for an itemized equipment list and the promotion’s conditions. “No money today,” “equipment included,” “installation included” and “equipment owned outright” describe different arrangements. None should stand in for the others.
| Offer wording | What it may describe | Question that resolves it |
|---|---|---|
| Discounted equipment | A reduction in the hardware purchase price, possibly tied to eligibility or service. | What is the final equipment price after the discount, and what conditions apply? |
| No upfront equipment payment | A loan, installment schedule or another payment arrangement. | What is the total financed, the payment term and the remaining balance? |
| Equipment included with service | A package whose ownership and return terms require their own check. | Do I own the equipment, and must any part be returned when service ends? |
| Free installation | A waived installation charge within a particular offer. | Which installation work is covered, and what equipment or service commitment is required? |
A higher monthly price is not automatically a disguised equipment charge. It may buy different monitoring, video features, installation support or other service. Compare what each plan includes before attributing the entire difference to hardware.
Use brand terms as a starting point, not a universal promise
ADT: its current residential terms distinguish professionally installed offers from ADT Blu self-setup. The named professional offer has a service commitment and states that early termination may cost 75% of the remaining initial-term monthly service charges. Check the actual offer and agreement; do not apply that formula to every ADT purchase. ADT’s current offer terms.
Vivint: its financing page distinguishes paying for equipment upfront from financing it, and says financed equipment and monitoring use separate agreements. A financed balance and a monitoring cancellation condition need separate answers. Confirm the exact product family, offer and documents rather than assuming every low-upfront package has month-to-month service. Vivint’s equipment and financing terms.
For either brand, save the offer terms that apply to your order. A different product family, promotion, location or purchase date can change the answer. ADT pricing & ETF details →
Compare two totals: cash paid and obligations remaining
For an upfront purchase, add equipment, installation, activation and the service you expect to use. For financing, track actual payments over your chosen period and show the unpaid balance separately. Do not add the full equipment purchase price and the same equipment’s loan payments into one total.
Keep the comparison fair: use the same ownership period, required devices and service features. Include taxes, interest and other known charges. If a price changes after a promotion, calculate each period at its own rate.
A worked comparison using hypothetical quotes
Assume both options meet the buyer’s needs, rates stay fixed, and there are no taxes, interest, financing balances or other fees. The figures demonstrate the calculation; they are not a claim that two real systems provide identical service.
| Input | Offer A: $0 equipment | Offer B: equipment paid upfront |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $0 | $249 |
| One-time activation | $99 | $0 |
| Monthly service | $49.99 | $22.99 |
| Cash paid after 6 months | $398.94 | $386.94 |
| Cash paid after 36 months | $1,898.64 | $1,076.64 |
Over 36 months, B costs $822 less: $1,898.64 minus $1,076.64. That difference includes both the upfront charges and the monthly service payments. It should not be described as the price of the hardware alone.
B starts $150 higher upfront but costs $27 less each month. The arithmetic crossover is $150 ÷ $27, or about 5.56 months; at six complete monthly payments, B is $12 lower. If one option provides a feature you value and the other does not, that difference still belongs in the buying decision.
Calculate early-exit exposure separately
The cost of keeping service for 36 months and the cost of leaving after 12 months answer different questions. For an early exit, list:
- What you have already paid and will not receive back.
- Any service termination amount under the agreement.
- The unpaid equipment balance and how it must be repaid.
- Applicable returns, removal or other charges, less confirmed credits.
Separate hypothetical cancellation example: a 36-month agreement at $49.99 per month with a 75% remaining-service formula, canceled after 12 full paid months, leaves 24 months. The calculation is $49.99 × 24 × 0.75 = $899.82.
This applies only if those assumptions and that clause govern the account. It is not a current ADT quote or an account payoff. Equipment debt, taxes, credits and other charges are outside this example.
If financing extends beyond the period you are comparing, show the remaining obligation even when the scheduled monthly payment looks small. Check whether cancellation changes the payment schedule; a remaining balance does not always mean the entire amount becomes immediately due.
Six questions before you accept the promotion
- What exact devices and installation work are included?
- What is due today, what recurs, and when can each price change?
- Who owns the equipment and what must be returned?
- What financing agreement, interest or fees apply?
- What would I owe if I moved or canceled on my expected date?
- Which alerts, recordings and controls would stop without the paid service?
Ask for written answers you can keep with the order. If the documents do not answer a question, resolve it before using that assumption in your comparison. A low upfront offer may suit your cash flow; decide with both the full cost and the commitment visible.
Common questions
Is free equipment always a bad deal?
No. A real discount can reduce the purchase price. Compare its conditions, service, financing and ownership terms rather than treating the word free as either proof of value or proof of a hidden charge.
Does canceling monitoring cancel an equipment loan?
Do not assume so. Review the financing agreement separately from the service agreement and request the remaining balance and payment conditions.
Should I count the equipment price and all loan payments together?
Do not count the same equipment principal twice. Show actual cash payments over the comparison period, applicable financing costs and any remaining obligation separately.
What is the correct total for the hypothetical $49.99 example?
With $0 equipment, $99 activation and 36 monthly payments of $49.99, the total is $1,898.64. The stated example excludes taxes, interest and all other charges.
Can I use the $899.82 cancellation result for my account?
Only if the exact stated rate, remaining months and 75% clause apply. It is a hypothetical calculation, not a current quote or a verified payoff for any account.
Make the full commitment visible
Related reading: Contract costs and cancellation checklist · ADT full pricing and ETF details · Vivint equipment and monitoring costs · How to read a home security contract · Full monitoring plan comparison