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Alarm system quotes from installers in your area

New alarm systems, outdoor beams, panic buttons and upgrades. Tell us about your home and up to 3 alarm installers quote.

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How it works

  1. Tell us about the job

    A few questions about what you need and where you are. There's no account to create.

  2. Get up to 3 quotes

    Alarm installers that work in your area contact you with a price.

  3. Compare and choose

    Weigh up price, timing and what's included. Accept the one that suits you, or none.

What an alarm system is made of

Every alarm has the same basic parts, and quotes differ mainly in how many of each you get and how good they are.

  • The control panel, usually in a cupboard, which takes signals from the detectors and decides when to sound the alarm.
  • A keypad or app to arm and disarm the system. Most new systems can be controlled from a phone.
  • Indoor detectors, usually passive infrared (PIR) sensors that pick up movement. Pet-friendly models ignore animals under a set weight, if they're installed correctly.
  • Door and window contacts, which trigger when an opening is opened while the system is armed.
  • Outdoor beams and detectors, which give warning while an intruder is still in the garden, before they reach the house.
  • Panic buttons, fixed or wireless, to call for help with one press.
  • A siren and a backup battery, so the system keeps working when the power is off.
  • A communicator, which sends signals to an armed response control room or to your phone, over the cellular network or the internet.

Wired or wireless?

Wired detectors are connected to the panel by cable. They're reliable and need no batteries, but installing them in a finished house means running cables through roofs and walls. They're easiest to fit during building or renovation.

Wireless detectors talk to the panel by radio. They're faster and cleaner to install in an existing home, and easy to add to later, but each one has a battery that needs replacing. Good wireless systems report low batteries before they fail. Many homes end up with a mix of both.

Outdoor detection

An indoor-only alarm goes off once someone is already inside. Outdoor beams and detectors buy you time: they trigger as soon as someone crosses the garden, while you're still behind locked doors. They are also the most common source of false alarms, from pets, swaying branches or heavy rain, so placement and quality matter. Ask how the installer will avoid false triggers on your property.

Linking to armed response

An alarm on its own makes a noise. Linked to an armed response company's control room, it gets a vehicle to your door. Installers either supply the response service themselves or install a system compatible with the company you choose. If you already have armed response, check the new system can communicate with their control room before you buy it.

What alarm systems costs

A **basic alarm** with a panel, keypad and a few detectors costs roughly **R3,500 to R9,500** installed, and a **standard wireless system** for a family home about **R6,000 to R13,000**. Outdoor beams, extra detectors and panic buttons are priced on top. Linking to **armed response** typically adds **R200 to R900 a month**.

Basic alarm system (about 4 zones), installed
R3,500–R9,500 per project
Standard wireless system (about 8 zones), installed
R6,000–R13,000 per project
Armed response and monitoring
R200–R900 per month
Control panel upgrade or replacement
R1,500–R6,000 per project

See the full alarm systems cost guideGet exact prices

Estimates only, last checked 28 October 2026. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.

Before you hire: a alarm systems checklist

Installing alarms for payment is a regulated security service in South Africa, so this is one trade where you can and should check registration.

  • Check PSIRA registration

    Under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, installing, servicing or repairing security equipment for payment is a security service, and the installer must be registered with PSIRA. Ask for the registration number and verify it.

  • Ask for a site survey, not a phone quote

    A good installer walks your property to plan where detectors go. A quote given without a visit is a guess.

  • Get every component listed

    Ask for the number and type of detectors, beams and panic buttons, plus the panel and communicator by make and model.

  • Ask about the backup battery

    Ask how long the system will run in a power cut, and whether the battery is a fresh one or carried over from an old system.

  • Clarify monthly costs

    Armed response, monitoring and app subscriptions are monthly charges on top of the installation. Ask for them up front, and check the contract term and cancellation terms.

  • Ask who owns the system

    Some systems installed by response companies stay the company's property and are removed if you cancel. Know which you're buying.

  • Get the guarantee and service terms in writing

    Ask how long the equipment and workmanship are guaranteed, and what servicing costs afterwards.

Where these rules come from

Before you request quotes

The questions people ask us most.

Is it really free?

Yes. Requesting quotes costs you nothing. The providers pay to receive requests, which is how the service is funded.

Will I be flooded with calls?

No. Your details go only to the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them.

Do I have to accept a quote?

No. Compare the quotes, ask questions, and accept one if it suits you. If none do, you don't have to go ahead.

Are the providers any good?

More than 200 registered service providers quote through our network. Compare quotes carefully, ask for references and photos of past work, and use the checklist on each service page before you hire.

How quickly will I hear back?

The alarm installers who quote on your job contact you directly by phone or email.

What if I'm not happy with any of the quotes?

You don't have to accept any of them. If the prices are all higher than you expected, ask each provider what's driving the cost. The answers often show what the job really needs.

Is my information safe?

We handle your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and share it only with the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them. Our privacy policy explains what we collect and your rights.

Alarm Systems questions, answered

Does my alarm installer need to be registered?

Yes. Installing, servicing or repairing security equipment for payment is a security service under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, and the installer must be registered with PSIRA.

Will my alarm work during a power cut?

Yes, if the backup battery is in good condition. Batteries wear out over time, so ask the installer to test the battery when servicing the system, and replace it when it no longer holds a charge.

Can I have pets and an alarm?

Yes. Pet-friendly detectors ignore animals under a set weight, but they have to be mounted at the right height and angle. Tell the installer about your pets before they plan the layout.

Why does my outdoor beam keep going off?

Usually because of something moving in its path: plants, animals, or a beam that's misaligned or dirty. A technician can realign or move it, or change its sensitivity.

Can I keep my existing alarm and just upgrade it?

Often, yes. New detectors, a new communicator or app control can frequently be added to an existing panel, if it's compatible. Ask for a site assessment before replacing everything.

Do I need armed response?

Not to have an alarm. But a siren alone relies on someone hearing and reacting. Linking the alarm to an armed response company, or at least to your phone, makes it far more useful.

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