Spectrum, AT&T, and Cox all stepped away from home security, and AT&T has only just returned. Xfinity is the main cable company still selling its own — and for most people it isn't the best option.
If you've seen ads for Xfinity's whole-home security package and wondered whether to bundle it with your internet, here's context worth having first: three of the biggest internet providers that used to sell home security have already stepped away. Spectrum shut its service down on February 5, 2020, leaving customers with equipment that no longer worked with the service (it was a legacy product inherited from Time Warner Cable). AT&T ended Digital Life in 2022. Cox stopped selling Homelife to new customers in 2024. AT&T has since come back with a new system, described below, and Xfinity remains the main cable company still selling its own. Independent reviewers generally find that standalone brands offer better value.
Xfinity Home starts with a $10/month self-monitored plan. Professional monitoring runs about $55/month for Xfinity internet customers and about $65 for everyone else (older reviews list lower prices, so check the current rate before you sign). Equipment starts around $360 for a system, or you can finance it for $15–$25 a month, which comes with a two-year commitment. Once equipment and monitoring are combined, reviewers put a monitored setup at roughly $60–$85/month. You don't have to be an Xfinity internet customer to buy it, though it costs less if you are.
The most consistent complaints in independent reviews aren't about the hardware. SafeHome cites spotty customer service and a rigid installation policy, Security.org flags hidden fees, and some customers report steep charges to cancel.
SimpliSafe is the specific product we'd point to instead of Xfinity's bundle, not just "DIY in general." Consumer Reports' members ranked it the top professionally monitored system in 2026. There's no contract, professional monitoring starts at $22.99/month (plans go up to about $80 for extra features), equipment packages run roughly $250 to $700 (with frequent sales of up to 50% off), and it works with any internet provider. U.S. News also names it an all-around top pick for customer satisfaction.
Whatever alarm you choose protects your home. It does nothing for your identity if a break-in — or a scam — exposes your personal information. That's a separate layer worth having in place either way.