In short
Taking the Start package (6 devices) as an example, over three years buying costs 865 € and renting 775 €, installation included. Renting stays cheaper for about four years. If you stay in the same home longer than that, buying is cheaper. In a rented flat or if you plan to move, rent. In your own house for the long term, buy.
The price of a home alarm system is not one number but two: what you pay at the start and what you pay every month. When you buy, the first number is big and the second is small. When you rent, it is the other way round. Below is the real calculation for the Start package (for a flat: hub, keypad, door sensor, motion sensor, smoke detector, indoor siren) based on the GSMvalve price list. All prices include 24 % VAT.
Buy and rent side by side
| Start package | Buy | Rent |
|---|---|---|
| At the start | 385 € devices + 150 € installation | 150 € installation |
| Every month | 9.18 € (app, connection, customer support) | 17.36 € (devices + app, connection, customer support) |
| After 1 year | 645 € | 358 € |
| After 3 years | 865 € | 775 € |
| After 5 years | 1,086 € | 1,192 € |
| Which is cheaper | from about year 4 | up to about 4 years |
| Broken device | 2-year right to claim, then a technician visit from 35.20 € | by the price list |
| Ending | the devices stay yours | 3 months’ notice, the technician takes the devices away |
The calculation is simple: the 385 € device price divided by the difference in monthly fees (17.36 − 9.18 = 8.18 €) gives 47 months, a little under four years. That is how long it takes for buying to pay for itself. Installation is the same 150 € either way, so it doesn’t affect the calculation.
Buying: pros and cons
- The devices are yours and the monthly fee is small
- Buying extra devices doesn’t raise the monthly fee
- Cheapest in the long run
- 535 € straight away
- After 2 years you pay for repairs yourself
Renting: pros and cons
- Only installation at the start
- Repairs and damage by the price list
- If you move, you end it with 3 months’ notice
- Minimum 3 months
- After about 4 years you have paid more than if you had bought
Our advice
Rented flat, first home or planning to move in a couple of years: rent. Your own house or a flat where you plan to live for more than five years: buy. With the bigger packages (Plus, Premium), buying pays for itself in about the same time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home alarm system cost?
The GSMvalve Start package for a flat costs 385 € to buy or 17.36 €/month to rent, plus 150 € installation and, when buying, a monthly fee of 9.18 €. The Plus package for a house costs 678 € or 23.56 €/month. Prices include VAT.
Can I buy out rented devices later?
Yes, the buyout price is agreed based on the age of the devices. Get a quote if you have rented for more than a year and plan to stay.
What does the monthly fee cover when buying?
9.18 €/month covers the app, the hub’s mobile connection (SIM card), and 24/7 customer service and technical support. Buying extra devices doesn’t raise it.
Read also: all packages and prices · build your own kit · rental terms
Written by the GSMvalve team
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