Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
ecobee vs X-Sense
Where ecobee and X-Sense differ
| Compare |  ecobee | X-Sense ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $14.99Lower |
| Monitoring per month | $5 | $4.16Lower |
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell | Alarm, Smoke alarm |
| Free features | Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts | App and email alerts on Free plan |
| Monitoring countries | United States, CanadaCovers more | United States |
| Cloud plan per month | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Two-factor sign-in | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (Yes), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- X-Sense scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Price is lower at X-Sense: $14.99 vs $99.99.
- Monitoring per month is lower at X-Sense: $4.16 vs $5.
- Products: only ecobee offers Camera, Video doorbell.
- Products: only X-Sense offers Smoke alarm.
- Support channels: only X-Sense offers Email.
- ecobee is available in 1 more country.
- Pricing model: only ecobee offers Diy.
- Ecosystems: only ecobee offers Google, Homekit, Smartthings.
- Monitoring countries: only ecobee offers Canada.
Our verdict on each
ecobee
ecobee suits homeowners who want heating handled properly and security added on the side, rather than a full alarm shop. Entry pricing starts at $139.99, close to the site entry median, and the thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with sales limited to US and CA.
X-Sense
X-Sense suits US homeowners who want professional monitoring without a contract tying them to a single supplier. The monitored plan runs at $4.16 a month, hardware starts at $14.99, and the contract term is 0 months, so the recurring cost is low and leaving is simple.
Score breakdown
| Area | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Entry price of $139.99 ranks 41 of 54 brands, so cost sits mid field. | 9.2HigherEntry price of $14.99 and monitoring of $4.16 a month, with position 5 of 70 brands compared on price. |
| Offer | 8.9Free Core plan covers detection and door or window alerts; the paid tier at $5 a month adds monitoring. | 9.3HigherFree plan app and email alerts, professional monitoring included, and a contract term of 0 months with no minimum to serve. |
| Trust | 9.5HigherLegal entity ecobee Technologies ULC in CA, founded 2007, support on phone and help centre, monitoring in US and CA. | 9.1Run by X-SENSE USA LLC from US, with support on email, phone and help centre and a money back window of 30 days. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $14.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $5 | $4.16 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for ecobee: 1.
A third option
Cove has price at $0, against $99.99 for ecobee and $14.99 for X-Sense.
Cove reviewHow they place
| Ranking | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Home alarm systems | 11 of 35 | 3 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy, MonitoredCovers more | Monitored |
| Power source | Wired | Not confirmed |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa |
| Legal entity | ecobee Technologies ULC | X-SENSE USA LLC |
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
| Founded | 2007 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ecobee | X-Sense | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99above the median | $14.99lowest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $5highest quarter | $4.16highest quarter | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $5highest quarter | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 30 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
ecobee
Pros
- Entry pricing from $139.99 sits close to the site entry median of €127.49, so heating control is not a premium bet.
- No hub is required, so there is no extra box to buy, and energy reporting comes with the smart thermostats.
- The thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with a 30 day money back period behind the purchase.
Cons
- The security side is a running cost: the paid plan is $5 a month, and professional monitoring only sits on that tier.
- The video doorbell is wired, so it needs a cable run at the front door rather than a battery you swap yourself.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, a short window for reviewing anything older.
X-Sense
Pros
- Professional monitoring is included, and the contract term is 0 months, so you can leave without a tie-in.
- The Free plan still sends app and email alerts, so alerts are not locked behind a paid subscription.
- Entry price of $14.99 sits at position 5 of 70 brands compared, toward the cheaper end.
Cons
- Monitoring is a single market: US.
- The range is narrower than SimpliSafe, comparing alarm and smoke alarm with alarm, camera and video doorbell.
- No term discount is on offer, because the contract term is 0 months.
Who each suits
ecobee
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a thermostat as the anchor and a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor added to the same brand later.
- Homes that already run alexa, google and homekit and want heating data in the same place as everything else.
- People who want professional monitoring without a long agreement, since the contract length is 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Full home device shoppers, since Aqara's range covers hub, sensor and lighting while ecobee's device types are thermostat and sensor.
- Buyers chasing lighting and blinds control as the main event: Lutron's device list runs lighting, blinds and thermostat, well beyond a heating brand.
- Budget builders who want a hub, heating valve and blinds under one roof, which is what SONOFF lists in thermostat, trv and lighting.
X-Sense
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want professional monitoring on a plan with no contract term, given 0 months.
- Households that want smoke alarm cover from the same supplier, since the range covers alarm and smoke alarm.
- Alexa households, since the listed ecosystem is alexa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want cameras or a video doorbell in the same range, where SimpliSafe covers more product types than alarm and smoke alarm.
- Shoppers outside the US, since monitoring runs in US only.
Current offers
ecobee
Current offer
Discount code
$20 off your next purchase with newsletter signup: $20 USD
New customers only; promotional code sent by email after form submit; cannot be combined with other offers; cannot apply to prior purchases
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
1 month free Smart Security + Professional Monitoring: 1 month
Offered during system setup; no contracts, no credit card required; 24/7 pro monitoring not available in Calgary, AB
Source, checked September 30, 2026
X-Sense
Current offer
Discount code
10% off entire order with code WELCOME10: 10%
Subscribe for updates; entire order
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ecobee | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
ecobee
How much does it cost to get started with ecobee?+
Hardware starts at $139.99, which puts ecobee close to the site entry median of €127.49. That covers the equipment. Anything on the security side, monitoring included, is billed separately each month. A 30 day money back period covers the hardware purchase if the fit turns out wrong.
Do I have to pay a subscription to use the security devices?+
There is a free Core plan that covers motion and person detection along with door or window open and close alerts, so the basics cost nothing to run. Paying $5 a month moves you onto the plan that adds professional monitoring and stored video history. The choice is how much of the security side you want switched on.
X-Sense
How much does X-Sense cost to run each month?+
The monitored plan adds $4.16 a month on top of the hardware you already own, and the contract term is 0 months, so nothing has to be paid to leave. On monitoring cost alone the brand sits at position 38 of 51 brands compared, a middle position rather than the lowest on the list.
Is there a contract to sign up to?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is no minimum commitment to serve and nothing to cancel at the end of a term. That places the brand at position 1 of 60 brands compared on contract length, at the short end of the table. The monthly monitoring fee is the only recurring cost listed.