Cox Homelife Is Being Phased Out. Meet Your Local Phoenix Alternative.
If you're a Cox Homelife customer in Phoenix wondering what happens next, you're not stuck. Sting Alarm is a licensed Phoenix company that moves Cox Homelife customers onto a professionally installed and monitored security system. Independently owned since 2003, and real people who answer the phone.
- Free video doorbell with a monitored system purchase (limited-time offer, terms apply)
- Licensed in Arizona: ROC CR-16 #359059 and CR-67 #357917
- 24/7 security monitoring through our UL-listed monitoring center
If you have Cox Homelife in Phoenix, you're not stuck. Cox stopped selling Homelife in 2024, and Sting Alarm, a licensed Arizona security company independently owned since 2003, moves Cox Homelife customers onto a professionally installed system with 24/7 security monitoring through our UL-listed monitoring center. Switch from Cox Homelife and get a free video doorbell with a monitored system purchase (limited-time offer, terms apply).
Do you have Cox Homelife? Here's how to tell
Most people affected by this don't realize it yet, because nothing has visibly broken at their house. If any of these sound familiar, this page is for you:
- You see a "Homelife" line item on your monthly Cox bill.
- You have a Cox-branded touchscreen panel or keypad mounted in a hallway or by the front door.
- You can no longer view your Cox cameras from a web browser, or your camera access moved into a different Cox app.
- Cox sold you security bundled with your internet or TV service.
- You've tried to add equipment or upgrade your system and been told it's no longer available.
If you're still not sure, call us at (602) 431-1300 and read us the line item off your bill. We'll tell you straight whether you're affected, at no cost and with nothing to buy.
What the Cox Homelife phase-out means for you
Cox has discontinued Homelife for new customers. Sign-ups ended in 2024, Cox no longer sells Homelife equipment or monitored security service, and the online camera portal has been retired. Whether you're planning ahead or canceling Cox Homelife yourself, you'll eventually need a replacement. Here's a plain-English rundown for homeowners across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria.
Why is Cox Homelife being phased out?
Cox stopped signing up new Homelife customers in 2024 and shifted its focus to internet, TV, and phone. It no longer sells the equipment or the monitored service, and has published no plan to bring the product back. Home security simply isn't part of the business going forward.
Is my monitoring still working?
Most likely yes, for now. Cox has not published an end date for existing customers, so if you're currently monitored, you're currently covered. The issue is what happens next: a product that isn't sold anymore doesn't get new equipment, new features, or long-term investment, and Cox has published no transition plan for when it does end. Lining up a replacement on your own schedule beats scrambling on Cox's.
What happens to my Cox Homelife equipment?
Cox Homelife runs on a proprietary panel tied to Cox's platform, so it won't carry over to another provider and gets replaced when you switch. If any of your equipment is leased, Cox's documented options are returning it to a Cox retail store or dropping it at a UPS Store with a Cox return barcode, at no shipping cost to you. Confirm the current process with Cox, since their policy has changed over time. When you move to Sting, our technicians handle the changeover and tell you exactly what can be reused and what gets upgraded during a free assessment.
How do I choose a replacement?
Start with the thing Cox can no longer offer you: a security system that's actively sold, supported, and invested in, from a company whose core business is security rather than internet and TV. From there, look for a provider with a local team that answers the phone, licensed technicians who install it properly, and the ability to handle both security and fire protection so you're not juggling vendors. That's exactly where Sting fits, and switching is easier than most people expect.
What actually changes when you switch
Cox Homelife compared to a monitored Sting Alarm system in Phoenix:
| Cox Homelife | Sting Alarm | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Discontinued for new customers since 2024. Equipment and monitored service no longer sold. | Actively sold, supported, and installed today. |
| Who owns the panel | Proprietary and tied to Cox's platform. Does not transfer to another provider. | A professional-grade panel that is yours. |
| Future of the product | No new equipment, no new features, and no published transition plan. | Ongoing upgrades, new devices, and a roadmap. |
| Whose core business | Internet, TV, and phone. Security was an add-on. | Security and fire protection. It's the whole company. |
| Local presence | National provider. | Licensed Phoenix office, a local team, and real people on the phone. |
| Fire protection | Residential smoke and CO monitoring. | The same, plus licensed commercial fire protection alongside security from one vendor. |
Why Phoenix homeowners are switching to Sting Alarm
Licensed in Arizona, owned since 2003
We're not a national brand routing you through a call center in another time zone. Sting Alarm has been independently owned and operated since 2003, with a licensed Phoenix office serving the Valley under AZ ROC CR-16 #359059 and CR-67 #357917. Vegas-proven protection, now serving Phoenix.
Security is all we do
Cox sold security alongside internet and TV. For us it isn't a bundle add-on, it's the entire business, which is why the product keeps getting better instead of quietly going away.
One vendor, security and fire
Sting delivers integrated Phoenix home security and fire protection under one roof. One call, one team, one point of contact for everything that keeps your home safe.
White-glove service, real people
Expert phone diagnostics, technicians who know your system because we built it, and a team that picks up when you need us. No apps yelling into the void.
What about my Cox Homelife equipment?
Fair question, and here's the straight answer. Cox Homelife runs on a proprietary panel tied to Cox's platform, so that panel gets replaced when you switch. That's a good thing. You move off a system you never really owned and onto a professional-grade panel that's truly yours.
As for your sensors, it depends on what's installed. During your free assessment, one of our technicians reviews your existing devices and reuses what we can, so you're not paying to replace anything that still works. You end up with a professionally installed Phoenix home security system built around your home and monitored around the clock through our UL-listed monitoring center, not a box you set up alone and hope for the best. Add a smart thermostat, a video doorbell, or security cameras to the same app.
Not all "alternatives" are the same
When Cox leaves, you'll see two common suggestions. Here's how they really stack up.
The DIY subscription box
Mail-order kits you install yourself, then pay a monthly fee to monitor. If something goes wrong, you're the tech support. For many homeowners that's a downgrade from the professionally installed system they had, not a fix.
The national call center
Big names with big ad budgets and long wait times. When seconds matter, "we'll get someone out in a few days" is not an answer.
Your local Phoenix team
Independently owned, professionally installed, and monitored around the clock through our UL-listed monitoring center, which requests police and fire dispatch when an alarm is verified. A technician who knows your name and your system, and integrated security and fire from one provider.
Switching is easier than you think
- Free assessment. We review your home and your current Cox equipment, then recommend exactly what you need. No pressure, no jargon.
- Custom design. We build a system around your home and your priorities, from cameras to fire protection, together if you want it.
- Professional install. Our licensed Arizona technicians handle the swap and set everything up right, reusing the sensors that make sense.
- Seamless security monitoring. We coordinate the transition so your protection is covered. You go from Cox to Sting without leaving your home exposed.
Running a business too? See business security systems in Phoenix.
Cox is done investing in Homelife. You don't have to wait and see.
Switch from Cox Homelife today and get a free video doorbell with a monitored system purchase (limited-time offer, terms apply). Independently owned since 2003, with real people who answer the phone. No obligation, and we handle the transition from Cox to Sting. Request your free switch quote or call (602) 431-1300.
Sting Alarm serves the Phoenix Valley and surrounding communities, including Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria. Licensed in Arizona under AZ ROC CR-16 #359059 and CR-67 #357917. Phoenix office: 11398 N Cave Creek Rd, Suite D, Phoenix, AZ 85020, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. See all of our Phoenix services.
Serving Las Vegas? See our Las Vegas Cox Homelife page.
Get your free Cox Homelife switch quote
Tell us about your Phoenix-area home and your Cox equipment. No obligation, and we will tell you exactly what can be reused. Prefer to talk? Call (602) 431-1300.
What happens next
Over 1,000 five-star Google reviewsFrequently asked questions
Who services Cox Homelife customers in Phoenix?
Sting Alarm helps Phoenix-area homeowners move off Cox Homelife onto a professionally installed and monitored security system. We're independently owned, in business since 2003, and licensed in Arizona under AZ ROC CR-16 #359059 and CR-67 #357917.
What happens now that Cox Homelife is discontinued?
Cox stopped signing up new Homelife customers in 2024 and no longer sells the equipment or the monitored service. If you're an existing customer, Cox has not published an end date, so your system may keep working for some time. What Cox also hasn't published is a transition plan, which is why it's worth lining up a replacement on your own schedule rather than waiting to find out.
How do I know if I have Cox Homelife?
Look for a Homelife line item on your Cox bill, a Cox-branded touchscreen panel or keypad in your home, or camera access that has moved or stopped working in a browser. If you're unsure, call us at (602) 431-1300 and read us the line item off your bill. We'll tell you whether you're affected, at no cost.
Can I keep my Cox Homelife equipment?
The Cox panel is proprietary and tied to Cox's platform, so it gets replaced with a professional panel that's truly yours. Many of your existing sensors can often be reused. We confirm exactly what stays and what gets upgraded during your free assessment.
Will I owe Cox a cancellation fee if I switch?
That depends entirely on the agreement you signed with Cox, so check your Cox terms or ask Cox directly before you cancel anything. We won't guess at another company's contract. What we can tell you is that we plan the transition around your timing, so you're protected either way, and Cox's documented options for returning leased equipment are a Cox retail store or a UPS Store drop-off with a Cox return barcode.
Will there be a gap in my monitoring when I switch?
We plan the transition so your protection stays covered. Our team coordinates the changeover to keep you secure from Cox to Sting.
Is this the same as SimpliSafe or a DIY system?
No. DIY systems are kits you install and troubleshoot yourself. Sting is professionally installed by a local Phoenix team and monitored around the clock through our UL-listed monitoring center, with real technicians who answer the phone.
How much does it cost to switch from Cox Homelife?
Every home is different, so we give you a clear quote up front after a free assessment, with no hidden fees. We also run a welcome offer for Cox Homelife customers making the switch, so ask your advisor what's currently available. We tell you exactly what we can reuse and what gets upgraded before any work begins.
Do I need a contract?
Yes. Monitored systems require a 3-year monitoring agreement. We explain the agreement clearly before you decide, with no pressure and no fine-print surprises.
Do you remove my old Cox Homelife equipment?
Yes. Our technicians handle the switch, including replacing the Cox Homelife panel, and we reuse the sensors that make sense so you're not paying to replace anything that still works.
Does Phoenix require a permit for my new alarm system?
Yes. The City of Phoenix requires a permit for each alarm control panel, monitored or not, with a $17 fee that also applies as an annual renewal, and the city assesses fees for repeat false alarms. Part of a professional install is setting your system up so it isn't generating false dispatches in the first place, and we'll walk you through the permit during your assessment.
What areas around Phoenix do you serve?
Sting Alarm installs and monitors systems throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria.
How do I get started?
Request a free quote or call our Phoenix office at (602) 431-1300. We'll assess your current setup and walk you through your options, no obligation.