Brinks offers bundled equipment packages starting at $299 for the Essentials and topping out at $1,099 for the Smart Security Ultimate bundle. Brinks’ monitoring fees also vary based on your chosen equipment package and range from $19.99 per month with a three-year Nest contract to $39 per month for the Smart Security Ultimate package. On the other hand, Bay Alarm prefers to take a custom approach to assemble each customer’s ideal equipment package and therefore does not offer transparent pricing. However, Bay Alarm’s monthly monitoring starts at $35 per month.

Both Brinks and Bay Alarm cater to homeowners who are confident they want a long-term security solution. Expect a minimum 36-month contract when signing up with both Brinks and Bay Alarm. However, if you choose the Nest package with Brinks monitoring, you can choose to pay month to month, or sign up for a 36-month contract and receive a discount.

What happens if your equipment breaks? A warranty ensures you can expect your equipment to function smoothly for a specified period of time, and if it doesn’t, you’ll receive a free replacement. The longer the warranty, the better. With Bay Alarm your warranty lasts one year. Brinks offers a longer warranty that lasts two years.

All of Brinks’ equipment is designed for easy DIY installation right out of the box. Once you decide where you’d like to place all of the monitors, sensors or cameras, you can peel back the adhesive covering and stick them to virtually any surface. All that’s left is to call Brinks to activate the monitoring service. If you’d prefer to have a professional come to your home to help you set up and place the equipment, you can also do that through Brinks. On the other hand, Bay Alarm requires professional installation and charges a $199 installation fee. Since Brinks gives you an option between both installation options they win this round.

Considering that each of these home security providers has a long contract, a generous trial period can help you feel truly confident in the equipment and monitoring service before you make a long-term commitment. Brinks offers a 30-day trial period, whereas Bay Alarm allows you to try out the equipment and receive a full refund if returned within 90-days.

Bay Alarm and Brinks both place significant emphasis on home automation and the ability to remotely control your home system. Both companies offer highly-rated mobile apps that allow you to view live video feeds, adjust the thermostat and control other smart equipment. With similar customer ratings (Brinks’ mobile app has 4.2 stars and Bay Alarm’s has 4.3) and functionality, neither company is a clear winner in this category.