What is the Difference Between AlarmNet & Total Connect?

The difference between AlarmNet and Total Connect is that AlarmNet is a network for security communications, while Total Connect is an interactive service platform that allows end users to manage and control their security systems. Both are ultimately owned and operated by Honeywell.

If you own a Honeywell Security System, you will be able to connect your alarm panel to the Total Connect service using an IP or cellular connection. By using this interactive platform, you can arm and disarm your system, check the status of your sensors and control all of your Z-Wave home automation devices. But behind the scenes, the Total Connect service is being hosted on servers that are operated by AlarmNet.

From an end user's perspective, you will most likely never have to directly deal with AlarmNet. Instead, all of your system control for your Honeywell panel will be done through Total Connect. You will have a Total Connect account that will allow you to access the Total Connect service and manage your system. Meanwhile, AlarmNet will be managing the overall Total Connect server in the background.

Remember, Total Connect is just the name of a service that is operated by AlarmNet. There are no Honeywell employees who actually work for "Total Connect". Instead, there are Honeywell employees who operate under the AlarmNet umbrella in order to manage Total Connect. Keeping this fact in mind may help you to better understand the difference between Total Connect and AlarmNet.

However, if you ever have a problem with your Total Connect account or service, you will not contact AlarmNet. This is because AlarmNet typically does not deal with end users directly. Instead, you will contact your alarm monitoring company, and they will be the ones who work with AlarmNet. Additionally, when your monitoring company goes to set up your Total Connect service, it will be done through AlarmNet. In other words, when your alarm company activates your monitoring plan that includes Total Connect access, they will need to go through AlarmNet to prepare your Total Connect service. From there, your monitoring company will send you the information you need to set up your Total Connect account so that you can access the Total Connect platform. An easy way to think about this is that AlarmNet hosts Total Connect, and your alarm monitoring company serves as a "middleman" between you and AlarmNet.