The Real Cost of Using a Fortress Security System
Fortress' security systems are all self-monitored and they all don't have monthly operation fees attached to them. That said, if you decide to buy a Fortress system, a huge chunk of the cost will go to the equipment fee.
Fortress offers a long list of equipment kits and packages, and they all range between $79.99 to $1,000+. We can't talk about all of them here, but we can talk about each type of system Fortress Security offers.
The first type is the S03 Wi-Fi Security System. As its name suggests, it's a system that primarily uses Wi-Fi to generate and send alerts to you, the user, but it also has landline backup to send phone call alerts in case Wi-Fi is unavailable. It's also the least expensive type of system offered by Fortress.
The second type is S1 Stealth. It's a Wi-Fi only system, but it has a SIM slot where you can put a Fortress GSM SIM card to activate its cellular capabilities. With a SIM card, it will be able to send text alerts and also generate push notifications to the Fortress app even when your internet is down. However, besides buying the SIM card, you'll need to maintain a data plan to use it. More on that later.
The third and final type is S6 Titan. It's a lot like S03, but it's also better in more ways than one. For instance, it can use Wi-Fi, landline, and cellular to communicate (requires GSM SIM card). Its hub also comes with a touchscreen interface where you can customize user settings. The S03 hub is still keypad-operated. Of the three types, S6 Titan is the most expensive.
Generally, each of the three types has a Starter Kit, Classic Kit, Deluxe Kit, and Deluxe Pet Kit. Here's how their prices compare:
Starter Kits
| SO3 | S1 Stealth | S6 Titan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $129.00 | $199.99 |
| Base Unit | SO3 Panel | S1 Stealth Hub | S6 Tital Panel |
| Classic Motion Sensor | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pet-Immune Motion Sensor | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Door/Window Sensor | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RF Tags | 2 | N/A | 2 |
| Key Fobs | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Indoor Siren | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Outdoor Siren | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Strobe Siren | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Classic Kits
| SO3 | S1 Stealth | S6 Titan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $189.99 | $269.99 |
| Base Unit | SO3 Panel | S1 Stealth Hub | S6 Titan Panel |
| Classic Motion Sensor | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Pet-Immune Motion Sensor | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Door/Window Sensor | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| RF Tags | 2 | N/A | 2 |
| Key Fobs | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Panic Button | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Indoor Siren | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| Outdoor Siren | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Strobe Siren | N/A | N/A | 1 |
Deluxe Kits
| SO3 | S1 Stealth | S6 Titan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $249.99 | $369.99 |
| Base Unit | SO3 Panel | S1 Stealth Hub | S6 Titan Panel |
| Classic Motion Sensor | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Pet-Immune Motion Sensor | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Door/Window Sensor | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| RF Tags | 4 | N/A | 4 |
| Key Fobs | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Indoor Siren | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| Outdoor Siren | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Strobe Siren | N/A | N/A | 1 |
Deluxe Pet Kits
| SO3 | S1 Stealth | S6 Titan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.99 | $279.99 | $379.99 |
| Base Unit | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Classic Motion Sensor | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Pet-Immune Motion Sensor | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Door/Window Sensor | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| RF Tags | 4 | N/A | 34 |
| Key Fobs | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Indoor Siren | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Outdoor Siren | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Strobe Siren | 1 | 1 | 1 |
GSM SIM Card
As mentioned earlier, S1 Stealth and S6 Titan both support cellular features, but a GSM SIM card will have to be purchased. Aside from the minimal purchase cost, there's a one-time $9.99 activation fee and an additional monthly charge so you can continue to use the SIM card.
With a SIM card, your security system will be able to:
- Send call or text alerts to multiple numbers when an alarm is triggered.
- Control your security system using the mobile app even when the internet is down.
- Call over the phone and control your system from anywhere.
In order to do these things, the SIM card uses call minutes. Ever call or text coming from the system to your phone numbers is equivalent to one call minute. For example, if your system is programmed to send text alerts to three mobile numbers, that's equivalent to 3 minutes. Also, even if the phone alert wasn't picked up, there's still a 1-minute-per-call charge. As for remote mobile app control, the SIM card only uses call minutes when your internet is down. If your internet is running, no call minute is used. Over-the-phone remote control, however, uses call minutes equivalent to the length of the actual call.
Every 10th of the month, Fortress loads up your SIM card with 100 call minutes and charges you $7.99. If more than 100 minutes is used on that month, any excess minutes will be charged to you the next month at the standard rate of $0.08 per minute. The use of the SIM card is contract-free. However, once you activate it, you will be charged automatically every month. If you want to cancel service, you will need to call Fortress Security's customer support. The SIM card will stop working once the cancellation is processed and any unused minutes are non-refundable.
Ways To Save
With Fortress Security, the biggest cost goes to the equipment. That being said, if you want to save some money, your best bet is relying on equipment discounts. Fortress Security has an entire page dedicated to their promotions and deals, so before shopping, we suggest looking here.
We also recommend buying packages instead of shopping individual devices. Fortress Security's equipment packages are slightly discounted when compared to their regular retail price.
