National alarm monitoring company offering smart security at a fraction of the industry cost. Security system take over, able to use existing security systems and upgrading them to today's modern alarm system to protect businesses and homes. All monitoring services are backed up by a U.L. certified 5 Diamond Central Monitoring Station that is operated 24/7, results in lightning fast response times that are unmatched.
Alarm Relay (alarmrelay.com) has 571 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Also known as
alarmrelay.com
Website
alarmrelay.com
Category
Home Improvements
Location
El Cajon, California
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
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The company replied to 96% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: May 2026.
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They are a great service provider. Was with ADT... this is the better value. Just had a reprogram issue on my old wire panel and they walked me through it perfectly. Thanks for always calling when I trip the alarm. Bravo.
RS
Rafael S.
Worked as a Big Team; Easy to Switch
My Security expert (former USAF) recommended Alarm Relay for Monitoring. Switching to them was easy and very professional. These folks really care and are thorough. Christian Alvarado in Tech support and the whole sales and customer support teams work all together as a big team to make it happen for the customer. Great experience.
MC
Mike C.
Watchlight aka Alarm Relay…
I have used Watchlight aka Alarm Relay for over 10-years. When we bought our home, it had an existing panel and sensors. They came out, configured the system and added two new sensors at our request and at a reasonable price.
Over the years, we have had 2 actual alarms and a few false alarms (our error when opening the garage door when system was armed) and they have responded within 10-30 seconds. Always polite and professional.
Getting ready to upgrade my system and looking forward to continued service and support with them.
CU
Customer
Very Satisfied
I've had Alarm Relay for about five years and just renewed. They are truly awesome in an industry that is known for scams. I don't understand the negative reviews and, frankly, some of the complaints are silly. Alarm Relay is truly a low cost but high quality provider.
DT
David T.
Great service fast response time
Great service fast response time. Had ADT for 16years and I am glad I switched. Should have done it sooner money down the drain. Did not know better but I do now. ADT tried to retain me as a long time customer and offered my best reduced rate of $18.95per month. No thanks. I own my DSC Alarm system and recently integrated it with Smartthings and Alarmdecoder thanks to Sean at Alarmdecoder. Great service just like Alarm Relay. I was a little hesitate at first but as soon as I received a notice from Smartthings that my alarm was going of with in 10 seconds or less I was getting a call from Alarm Relay's Call Center. I have recommended several people to their service and not complaints back yet. They are even compatible with VOIP.
MH
Marty H.
Make sure you read their Contract!!
I started renovation on a home in April 2019, and signed up with Alarm Relay to install a radio signal alarm system to monitor the home due to it being vacant. (No wifi or phone line) I received the equipment and hired one of their preferred installers from a list that they provided. Gentleman shows up and installs the sensors and the control panel and collected his 250.00 dollars. I call to activate the system and the phone tech cannot get the sensors and the panel to communicate. I box up the panel and ship it back and receive a second panel.... you guessed it, it doesn't work either. Fast forward.. I'm into my 7 month of trying to get this service up and running and I receive my third panel.. which finally gets activated on December 21st!! The home has been vulnerable for almost 8 months. You would think I would receive some sort of compensation for this debacle, but on December the 23rd the accounting department calls and explains I have a yearly contract and I owe 360.00 dollars!! What happened to the 8.95 a month you advertise?? They explain that I have a radio card panel that's 10.95 per month and they have to pay a third party 15.00 per month to monitor it!! So they sent me equipment that they can't even monitor and it's going to almost triple the advertised price. ...Oh and I've got to pay the full year upfront because it's in their contract and my year starts on December 21, once the equipment finally gets online..(Remember I signed up with them in April...so my year should end April 30, 2020). They say "Oh no, we couldn't charge you in April because your system wasn't online") That's my fault your equipment didn't work? I've got a tenant for the property now, they can secure their own deal... When I needed monitoring Alarm Relay dropped the ball... Big Time..Oh and charged me 360.00 for my trouble.
Response from Alarm RelayJan 8, 2020
Dear Sir,
We have carefully reviewed what occurred with your account. We take all reviews (both good and bad) seriously and always strive to improve on operational efficiencies.
Our business practice is to charge customers when they go online for monitoring. This means that once a system is operational and sending signals to our central station that are valid, we begin to charge for the annual contract. Most customers prefer this as most people do not want to pay for a service before their monitoring is proven to be operational.
Our advertising states that our rates start at $8.95. When any customer calls in to inquire about the $8.95 rate, it is explained that this is a landline-based rate. The $8.95 rate does not apply to other forms of communication for monitoring such as cellular or internet. Our records show that you called in about landline monitoring, to begin with, and then changed your mind and switched forms of communication. You were given the appropriate rates for the type of service you wanted. We do not own cell towers or internet infrastructure. We are charged by companies that have contracts with the major cellular and internet providers. We cannot provide that service for free.
We are very sorry that you had this experience with our company. We strive for excellence and we are able to take-over many systems that some companies will not bother with.
Regards,
Alarm Relay
KM
Keith M.
Subject Matter Experts? Me Thinks Not!!
I'm an above average homeowner tech person. I don't work in the field professionally, but I can dis-assemble and re-assemble just about anything from automobiles to electronic instruments. My experience with Alarm Relay has been as fruitful as taking a car to a mechanic who keeps replacing parts until they stumble on the solution. They suggested I replace the main PCB (printed circuit board, $35 sourced independently) suggesting the issue was either that or the dialer. From the start I explained that I had no landline and monitoring was done through my DSL line. There wasn't cognition of this fact on their part until after the PCB was replaced and they asked "what number does your system use to dial out?". I again repeated how signals were being sent from my home and state that since I was able to see that system being armed and dis-armed through my previous company's web portal that it was effective, as is, in the past. They then said "well in order for us to monitor you through DSL you'll need to add an EVL-4 module", which I sourced for $96 online. We get everything configured and the tech says "o.k., let's test you smoke detector". I'm instructed to hold down the test button on the 521B smoke detector that ADT had installed in 2003. Believing the tech knew what he was talking about I attempted to press the only visible area where there might be a "test" button, which was actually just an indicator light that shows the device is functioning. The tech says, "well, given the age of the device it may not be functioning" and suggests I replace the unit. So, once again, I research and source a replacement 500N series smoke detector made by Interlogix ($40). I wire it into the system and call to test the unit; again, different tech, same run around. I tell her "there is NO test button on these units, which is supported by the installation instructions I just read". Mind you, these people are supposed to be subject matter experts. I'm told "well the only way to test it then is to buy smoke in-a-can. I said "Look... I'm not spending another penny on this project. You people are like an auto mechanic that guesses until they eventually resolve the issue!". Ridiculous!! I asked, "if you get an alarm signal will you call me first before dispatching calling my local responders?". The tech said "yes". I lit a cigar, blew smoke at the unit and the siren sounded. There's your solution.
ADT is the leader in home security system installations. The Ademco Vista-20P is THE industry standard in household alarm systems. This IS NOT rocket science and should be common knowledge for ANY company that offers tech support for alarm systems. For all the unnecessary expense and aggravation I should get my first year of monitoring for free!
Reply to Alarm Relay Comments:
> The fact that you don't have techs in the field is why I was clear and concise in my communications. You allegedly record calls for training & quality purposes, review your recordings. I stated from the beginning that I was monitored through DSL and had no landline. I provided PHOTOGRAPHS of EVERY system component involved in the monitoring and transmission of signals from my home. Rather than assume (since you don't have techs in the field) that the PCB was the issue, skip to the fact that you can't monitor through DSL (again, clearly communicated from the start) without the EVL-4 and start there. If the integration of that device allows communication with your monitoring station, no need for the PCB replacement. The age of the system is marginally relevant; there are no moving parts in electronics and things don't wear out. The Ademco VISTA-20P units are still manufactured and installed at this time.
> The documentation that accompanies the United Technologies Corporation ESL 550N Series Smoke Detectors (P/N 1036525-EN REV F) shows there is NO test button (a fact your tech support team should know) and that there are TWO recommended test methods: 1. Smoke! In A Can (or) 2. Hold a smoldering punk or cotton wick close to the unit... Smoke from a combustible source, be it a punk, cotton wick, cigar or other CONTROLLABLE source is the same.
Go to Google and search: P/N 1036525-EN for the supporting pdf. You are again, incorrect. The smoke detector replacement was unnecessary, as recommended by Alarm Relay.
> Really? "Life Safety Enhancement"? Why do you think I chose to install a burglary system and REDUNDANT fire detection system in the first place? You're grasping to validate your company's misdirection. There are hard wired smoke detectors with battery back-up on every floor of the home. When occupied, detection would be prompt, as is.
At a minimum, you should pay me for the cost of the PCB and new smoke detector. You need to improve.
Response from Alarm RelayDec 10, 2019
Hey Keith! Thank you for your review. As you can imagine, since Alarm Relay doesn’t usually send technicians to our subscribers locations, we rely on your eyes, ears and your resources available to Alarm Relay for providing remote technical support that is manufacturer and platform specific. Which means that if your security platform is old (your 2003 ADT Ademco system) we are limited to the scope and visibility based on the age of the system. You chose to keep your system (which is totally OK with Alarm Relay) and we are offering the best support for that system and identifying any safety loopholes along the way.
From a best practice safety standpoint, it’s better to use “smoke in a can” or the manufacturer desired method of electronic testing for the smoke detector to ensure it functions properly. Alarm Relay would never advise our subscribers to simulate a real fire condition with actual smoke or fire. That just isn’t safe. Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) have been educating and administering safety practices worldwide for over 100 years for the consumer space; U.L. would also not approve of the method in which you stated.
However, at your discretion, you may choose to light real smoke or a real fire to test the system. Just know that not a single team member from Alarm Relay would advise you nor anyone to do so.
In regards to the money you spent on new hardware, we advise you view this investment as a “Life Safety enhancement”. Our technicians are pretty thorough when offering solutions for new hardware. You certainly wouldn’t want an actual fire to occur and the old smoke detector failing. You also wouldn’t want an actual fire to occur and the legacy dialer not work because you didn’t have the efficient, faster communicator that Alarm Relay recommended (EVL-4). I would guess that your life, your families lives and your valuables are worth far more than $150 in life safety equipment. Agree?
If you would like more help on your system or account, we can escalate you to a Team Leader for further support if you desire.
Have a great day, Keith! :)
KJ
Keith J M.
Fantastic group of people to work with…
Fantastic group of people to work with excellent monitoring service!