In short
An alarm system without a security company sends the alarm straight to your phone and your family’s phones, and you decide what to do. With a classic contract, the alarm goes to the security company’s monitoring centre and a patrol drives over. The GSMvalve Start package costs 385 € to buy or 17.36 €/month to rent. If you need a patrol, you can add one through a partner. The price depends on the area.
In 2025, 12,563 thefts were registered in Estonia, the highest number in ten years (Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, crime statistics). No wonder people are interested in home alarms. The first question is usually the same: does an alarm system have to be linked to a security company, or is it enough for the alarm to come straight to your phone? The answer depends on who responds to the alarm, how quickly, and how much you pay for it every month.
How does an alarm system without a security company work?
A self-monitored alarm system sends the alarm straight to your phone. The GSMvalve hub sounds the siren (indoor siren 110 dB, outdoor siren with flashing light 110 dB) and sends a notification to all users at once: you, your partner, your grown-up children or a neighbour. The app shows which sensor went off and when. A motion sensor with camera adds a series of photos, even in the dark, so you can see straight away whether it is a stranger or a false alarm.
Then you decide: cancel a false alarm, ask a neighbour to check, or call the emergency number. The hub has a backup battery and a SIM card, so the notification reaches you even if the power or internet has been cut.
When you are at home, you use night mode: doors, windows and outdoor sensors are armed, but you can move freely indoors. The app also shows who armed or disarmed the system and when, so you can see, for example, when your child got home from school.
How does a classic security company contract work?
With a classic contract, the alarm system is connected to the security company’s monitoring centre. When an alarm goes off, an operator sees it, usually contacts the customer and, if needed, sends a patrol to the site. The monthly fee covers the monitoring centre service and the patrol being on standby. The exact terms, the call-out price and the contract length depend on the company and the area, so it is worth asking about them before you sign.
The advantage is that someone responds even if you don’t answer your phone. The downside is that you pay for the service every month, including the months when there are no alarms at all.
Alarm system without a security company or a monitoring contract: what is the difference?
| Without a security company (GSMvalve) | Classic monitoring contract | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the alarm goes | to your phone and all users’ phones | to the security company’s monitoring centre |
| Who decides | you | the operator, following the agreed procedure |
| Checking for false alarms | series of photos from the camera sensor | the operator contacts you |
| Patrol | optional, through a partner, price depends on the area | part of the contract |
| Devices and price | Start 385 € + 9.18 €/month or rent 17.36 €/month | depends on the company and area |
| Installation | one visit, 150 € across Estonia | depends on the company |
| Contract | rent at least 3 months, 3 months’ notice; if you buy, the devices stay yours | depends on the company |
| Power cut and internet outage | hub has a backup battery and SIM card | depends on the system |
All GSMvalve prices include VAT. The 9.18 € monthly fee when buying covers the app, mobile connection and customer support, and extra devices don’t raise it. You can also add a smoke detector (56 €), a smoke, carbon monoxide and temperature detector (82 €) or a water leak sensor (37 €) to the same system, and they send alarms to the same app.
When is an alarm system without a security company enough?
In a flat, your neighbour is on the other side of the wall. There the biggest benefit is that the alarm reaches several people’s phones at once and the 110 dB siren can be heard all over the stairwell. In a house or summer cottage, distances are longer, and it is worth thinking about who can get there fastest.
Your phone is enough if
- you live in a flat or in town, with a neighbour or family member nearby
- someone in the family can usually be reached by phone
- you want to see what is happening yourself, not wait for an operator’s call
- you also want smoke and water leak sensors in the same system
A patrol is worth adding if
- the house or summer cottage is far from a village or town
- you are often away and can’t respond yourself
- there is nobody nearby who could go and check
- you are protecting a business where nobody is around at night
Can I add a patrol to a GSMvalve system?
Yes. GSMvalve is not a security company and doesn’t send anyone out itself, but you can add an alarm response through a partner. The patrol price depends on the area and is agreed separately. So you can start with a system that alerts your phone and add a patrol when you really need one, for example when you buy a summer cottage or move to the countryside.
The alarm system itself stays the same: the same sensors, the same hub and the same app. The only thing that changes is who drives over when the alarm goes off. GSMvalve has been installing and servicing devices since 2005, and our technicians work all over Estonia.
The main job of an alarm system is to let you know quickly. Who responds (you, a neighbour or a patrol) is something you can decide separately and change later.
Our advice
In a flat or a house in town, start with an alarm system without a security company: the alarm reaches the whole family’s phones straight away, the photos show what is happening and the monthly fee is small. If your house or summer cottage is far away or you are often away, add a partner patrol. Mention during the call that you want a patrol and we will tell you what it costs in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Does an alarm system work without a security company?
Yes. The GSMvalve alarm system sounds the siren and sends the alarm to your phone and to all the users you have added. The hub has a backup battery and a SIM card, so the notification goes out even during a power cut or internet outage.
What happens if I don’t respond to the alarm?
The alarm goes to all users at once, so it is worth adding family members or a neighbour as users. The siren sounds whether or not anyone responds on their phone. If you need a guaranteed responder, you can add a partner patrol.
How much does a patrol cost for a GSMvalve system?
The patrol is provided by a GSMvalve partner, and the price depends on the area and is agreed separately. The alarm system itself costs 385 € for the Start package if you buy (plus a monthly fee of 9.18 €) or 17.36 €/month if you rent, and installation costs 150 €.
Is a self-monitored alarm system suitable for a business?
Yes. For business customers, the Start package costs 310 € + VAT or 14 €/month + VAT. Each employee gets their own code, and the app shows who armed or disarmed the system and when.
Read also: how a wireless alarm system works · all packages and prices · alarms for businesses
Written by the GSMvalve team
Still have questions?
