*Updated January 1st, 2025*
Protect America is a home security company founded in 1992 that offers self-installed, customizable security systems with optional home automation. Known for low upfront costs and free equipment, Protect America appeals to homeowners looking for an affordable entry into home security without installation fees.
In this review, we examine Protect America’s equipment, monitoring options, pricing structure, contract terms, and customer reputation to help you decide whether this DIY home security system is the right choice for your home.
Protect America has been providing excellent home security solutions for 20+ years, and features fees amongst the lowest in the industry. Their equipment is 100% wireless, and has a wide variety of options available, with customization and many additional features, such as home automation and life safety. Their pricing model can be difficult for consumers to understand.
Protect America offers self-installed home security systems that allow customers to customize their setup and choose between multiple monitoring technologies, including landline, broadband, and cellular connections.
Something that we like about Protect America is that it provides free equipment including: control panel, motion sensors, yard signs, window stickers and door sensors. There are no upfront costs to get started.
Protect America now offers the new Simon XTi, an innovative control panel which integrates with your smartphone through the Protect America mobile app. In addition to a wide array of home security features which includes a motion detector, night vision cameras, door window sensors, and glass break sensors, the company offers a number of home automation solutions to help you control your security system remotely.
Protect America’s SMART Connect mobile app controls door locks, lighting, and appliances, arms/disarms your entire security system, and streams or records live footage from up to two of your security cameras simultaneously.
| Equipment Manufacturer | 2Gig and GE |
| Ability to Reallocate System | |
| Wireless Sensors | |
| Control Panel | |
| Event Triggered Siren/ Alarm |
While Protect America includes free equipment with its packages, the range of available devices is more limited compared to some newer home security providers.
Protect America provides 24/7 professional monitoring through multiple monitoring centers, giving customers flexibility in how their system communicates alerts.
Protect America offers flexible monitoring options for nearly every budget. Home security monitoring can be conducted via landline (least expensive), broadband, and cellular communication.
| Monitoring Options | Professional Monitoring |
| Monitoring Technology | Cellular Broadband Landline |
| Number of Monitoring Centers | 3 |
| Monitoring Center Type | Owned |
| Professional Monitoring Services | 24/7 Professional Monitoring 2-Way Intercom Fire Department Dispatch Police Dispatch Medical Dispatch |
Protect America pricing is attractive upfront, with low equipment costs and no installation fees. However, customers should carefully consider the long-term cost of service due to required contracts and strict cancellation policies.
Other home security companies may only require you to pay a percentage of the remaining balance. Paying the full balance can end up costing you hundreds of dollars if you haven’t been on the contract very long.
New customers have 30 days from the date their package was shipped to return their equipment without being bound to the 36-month contract. And while live and recorded video streaming is available on Protect America’s Wi-Fi and cellular monitoring services, it is not available with landline monitoring, meaning customers will need to pay extra for this important security feature.
| Monthly Fee (min) | $19.99 |
| Monthly Fee (max) | $42.99 |
| Number of Available Packages | 5 |
| Installation/ Activation Fee | $0.00 |
| Equipment Starting Cost | $99.00 |
| Contract Required | |
| Minimum Contract Length | 36 months |
| Cancellation Policy | Customers may cancel their Agreement by returning the Equipment within 30 days of the original shipment date. A restocking fee of $79 may be charged against the method of payment provided at the time of sale. |
| Warranty | Lifetime Equipment Warranty |
Protect America offers mobile apps for iOS and Android that allow users to arm and disarm their system, receive alerts, and control compatible smart home devices remotely.
Protect America can interface with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Z-Wave, and ZigBee. They provide iOS and Android apps, which send email and text alerts, live surveillance feed for packages with cameras, and remote arm/disarm features. Their website allows homeowners to access their system, pay their bills, and troubleshooting.
Protect America has a mixed reputation among customers. While some users appreciate the affordability and DIY setup, others report frustration with contract terms, cancellation fees, and occasional equipment issues.
Customers have expressed disappointment over the lack of month-to-month options and have reported several issues revolving around the contract. Other customers complained that Protect America’s equipment was not functioning properly, specifically window sensors and door sensors triggering false alarms.
| Trust Pilot Rating | 5.4 out of 10 |
| BBB Rating | A- |
| Number of BBB Positive Reviews | 18 |
| Number of BBB Neutral Reviews | 3 |
| Number of BBB Negative Reviews | 108 |
| Date Collected | 2018-07-23 |
| Year Founded | 1992 |
Overall Score