GSM vs Wi-Fi Burglar Alarm: How to Choose for Your Home or Shop

For most homes and shops, choose an alarm panel with both GSM and Wi-Fi. GSM uses a SIM card to call and send SMS, so it keeps working when the internet or router is down, while Wi-Fi adds app alerts and lets you arm or disarm from your phone. Our ACJ-400, ACJ-405 and ACJ-407 panels all do both, at ₹5,999 to ₹8,499.

A burglar alarm only helps if it can reach you when something happens. This guide explains the difference between GSM and Wi-Fi alarm panels, which one matters more for your home or shop, and which sensors you can add.

What is the difference between a GSM and a Wi-Fi alarm?

A GSM alarm panel holds a SIM card. When a sensor is triggered, it calls and sends SMS to the numbers you have saved, so it works where there is no Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi panel joins your home router and sends alerts to a phone app such as Tuya or Smart Life. If the router or broadband is down, a panel that relies only on Wi-Fi cannot reach you.

That is why the panels we sell combine the two. The ACJ-400 (₹5,999) is a keypad panel with Wi-Fi and GSM that auto-dials preset numbers and sends SMS when a breach is detected. The ACJ-405 (₹8,450) supports Wi-Fi and 2G, has a 2.4-inch touch screen, remembers up to 5 phone numbers and has a large SOS button. The ACJ-407 (₹8,499) has a 4.3-inch colour touch screen, separate GSM and Wi-Fi channels, up to 5 numbers for SMS alerts and about 6 to 8 hours of emergency power. Check each product page for the exact features of the model.

Which should I choose for a shop or home?

• Shop or godown that is empty at night: GSM matters most. Nobody is there to notice if the router or broadband goes off, and the SIM can still call and SMS you. For a shop with one rolling shutter, the Combo-CN305 (₹6,999) pairs the ACJ-400 with an SH-43 wireless shutter sensor.
• Home with steady Wi-Fi: app control makes daily use easier. You can arm the alarm when you leave, disarm it when you return and see alerts on your phone. Keep a SIM in the panel as the backup.
• Area with unreliable internet: rely on GSM and check the mobile signal where the panel will sit. The ACJ-405 is listed as Wi-Fi and 2G, so use a SIM from an operator that still offers 2G calls and SMS in your area.
• Elderly parents at home: the ACJ-405 has a large SOS button and two-way audio, so the panel also works as an intercom.
• Frequent power cuts: the ACJ-407 lists about 6 to 8 hours of emergency power for the panel.

Which sensors can I add to an alarm system?

Wireless 433 MHz door and window magnetic sensors, the MCT-43 (₹650) and the MCOC-43 (₹899), are sold for GSM alarm panels. For a boundary wall or yard, the ABT-250 weatherproof triple beam sensor (₹4,500) can be wired to an ACJ-400, as in the Combo-CN25 kit (₹8,950), or bought with an MCT-43 wireless sensor in the Combo-CN35 (₹3,950, alarm panel not included).

Check that a sensor's frequency matches your alarm panel before ordering. Not every panel page prints its radio frequency, so WhatsApp us your panel model and we will confirm which sensors pair. For every sensor price and a room-by-room cost example, see our Wi-Fi GSM security alarm price guide. For where to place each sensor, read the Wi-Fi + GSM home security alarm guide, and for shops see the shop and showroom security checklist.

Where can I buy these?

See the home security alarms collection and GSM and Wi-Fi alarm systems. Prices include GST, delivery is free across India and all orders are prepaid.

FAQ

Does a GSM alarm work without internet?

Yes. A GSM panel uses the SIM card to call and send SMS, so it needs no Wi-Fi or broadband. Keep the SIM active with your mobile operator.

Do I still need Wi-Fi if the panel has GSM?

Only for the app. Wi-Fi gives you app alerts and lets you arm or disarm from your phone. The ACJ-407 can also be controlled by SMS through its SIM.

Which SIM card should I use?

The ACJ-405 is listed as Wi-Fi and 2G, so use a SIM from an operator that still runs 2G calls and SMS in your area. If you are unsure, WhatsApp us your panel model and city before buying a SIM.

How many phone numbers get the alert?

The ACJ-405 remembers up to 5 numbers and dials the next one if a number is busy. The ACJ-407 can send SMS alerts to up to 5 numbers.

Will the alarm work in a power cut?

The ACJ-407 lists about 6 to 8 hours of emergency power for the panel. For other models, check the product page.

Can I protect a shop shutter?

Yes. The Combo-CN305 (₹6,999) pairs the ACJ-400 panel with an SH-43 wireless shutter sensor.

Prices are NavKar Systems website prices on 27 October 2026, inclusive of GST, and may change.