Minut vs NoiseAware vs Alertify (2026): Price and Features

A noise complaint from a neighbor can cost a short-term rental host more than a bad review. In markets with noise ordinances, repeated violations can lead to fines or put a short-term rental permit at risk. Vacation rental noise monitors have become standard equipment for professional STR hosts, and the three major options — Minut, NoiseAware, and Alertify — differ significantly in what they detect, how they alert, and what they cost. This guide compares their prices and features, checked on each vendor's site in October 2026.

Quick answer: All three monitor noise levels without recording conversations. Minut plans start at $5 a month for one property, plus a one-time sensor cost. NoiseAware's Starter plan is $15 a month per property. Alertify is $145 a year per property, with the device included. Prices were checked on each vendor's site in October 2026.

How Vacation Rental Noise Monitors Work

A vacation rental noise monitor (sometimes called an Airbnb noise monitor) is a small wall-mounted device that measures decibel levels in real time. It does not record audio, capture voices, or store any sound — it simply tracks how loud the property gets and for how long. When noise crosses a threshold you set, the device triggers an alert to your phone via app, SMS, or email. Some platforms also send an automated message directly to your guests before you need to intervene. For a host managing a property remotely, a noise monitor is an early warning: it flags a party or a noise problem before neighbors complain.

Key Takeaways

• Noise monitors measure decibel levels. Minut, NoiseAware and Alertify say they don't record conversations.

• Prices differ a lot: Minut from $5/month plus a sensor, NoiseAware from $15/month, Alertify $145/year with the device included (vendor sites, October 2026).

• Minut and Alertify list smoking detection. All three list some form of occupancy or crowd estimate.

• NoiseAware sells an outdoor sensor add-on. Minut says its device works indoors or outdoors.

• Tell guests about the monitor in your listing and house rules, and never put one in a bedroom or bathroom.

• Check local noise rules before setting alert levels. See short-term rental laws by state.

Price comparison (checked 27 October 2026)

Prices in USD from [minut.com/pricing](https://www.minut.com/pricing), [noiseaware.com/pricing-page](https://noiseaware.com/pricing-page/) and [alertify.io/pricing](https://www.alertify.io/pricing), checked 27 October 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often; check current pricing before you buy.

What one property costs in year one (excluding taxes and shipping):

• Minut Starter: $60 + sensor (check current pricing)

• NoiseAware Starter: $180 + indoor sensor (check current pricing)

• Alertify: $145, device included

Minut: lowest plan price, smoke and crowd detection

Price: from $5/month (Starter, billed $60/year, one property). Standard is $10/month and Pro is $15/month per home. The sensor is a one-time cost on top.

Minut monitors noise level, temperature and humidity (including mold risk), and lists crowd detection, cigarette and marijuana smoke detection, a security alarm and tamper detection on its pricing page. Alerts go to the host's phone.

Minut lists integrations with several property management tools. Check its integrations page for yours. For hosts managing multiple properties, the Minut dashboard shows all devices in one view, and Minut can send a guest an automatic message when noise passes a threshold, before the host has to step in.

Best for: Hosts with multiple properties, and urban properties where neighbors are close.

Weakness: the sensor is a separate one-time cost, so year one costs more than the plan price.

NoiseAware: outdoor sensor add-on, Noise Score

Price: Starter $15/month or $180/year per property (1–9 properties). Pro has custom pricing (10+ properties). The outdoor sensor is a $99 one-time add-on. Check the vendor for the indoor sensor price.

NoiseAware sells an outdoor sensor for pools, patios, decks and other outdoor spaces where guests gather.

NoiseAware's Noise Score (a proprietary composite metric combining sustained noise, peak events, and time-of-day weighting) is more useful than raw decibel readings for hosts who need to calibrate alerts to their specific property. A beach house at 75 dB in the afternoon reads very differently than 75 dB at 1am in a suburban neighborhood.

Best for: Beach properties, lakefront rentals, properties with pools or large outdoor entertainment areas, rural or semi-rural properties with multi-acre lots.

Weakness: temperature, humidity and smoking detection aren't listed on its pricing page.

Alertify: device included, smoking and air quality

Price: $145/year per property with the device included. AQ Plus is $195/year, and Enterprise has custom pricing (25+ properties).

Alertify lists noise, occupancy, smoking and vaping detection, temperature and humidity on its pricing page. Indoor air quality monitoring comes with the AQ Plus plan.

For hosts with strict no-smoking policies, or in markets where guest-count limits are enforced, Alertify's wider detection may be worth the higher yearly price. Occupancy alerts can also help document a dispute about guest count.

Best for: Properties with strict no-smoking rules, hosts in markets with occupancy limits, and hosts who often deal with unauthorized extra guests.

Weakness: some guests find occupancy detection intrusive if it isn't clearly disclosed. Check with Alertify about outdoor use.

Tell guests about the monitor

All three devices must be disclosed in your listing and guest agreement before the guest checks in. Some cities and booking platforms require it, and an undisclosed device damages trust and can create legal risk.

Use this disclosure language in your listing and house rules:

"This property uses a noise monitoring device to ensure compliance with local noise ordinances and protect neighbors. The device monitors decibel levels only and does not record audio or video. Device location is [room/outdoor area]."

Add the same language to your vacation rental welcome book so guests see it on arrival.

What each one monitors

Features as listed on each vendor's pricing page, 27 October 2026. "Not listed" means the pricing page doesn't mention it, not that the product lacks it.

In practice, the decision comes down to three things:

Minut has the lowest plan price and lists the widest set of sensors. If you use a PMS, check Minut's integrations list for it. The automated guest messaging removes an awkward part of noise management: contacting a guest about noise before you know there is a real problem.

NoiseAware suits homes where guests spend evenings outside. It sells a dedicated outdoor sensor, and its Noise Score is designed to reduce false alarms. For properties with pools, decks, fire pits or large lots, it is worth a close look.

Alertify suits hosts who want one yearly bill with the device included, and smoking, vaping and air-quality alerts.

All three are compatible with direct booking workflows and operate independently of any OTA platform.

The ROI Case for Noise Monitoring

What a monitor is worth depends on your market. Compare the yearly cost (from the price table above) with the fines your city sets for noise violations, the cost of one bad party, and any discount your insurer offers for monitoring. Ask your insurer directly. Discounts aren't standard.

Where to Place Your Noise Monitor

Placement determines how useful the device actually is:

• Living room or main common area — highest traffic zone, catches most events early

• Near the entrance or front hallway — detects arrival crowd size before noise builds

• Outdoor area (with an outdoor-rated sensor) — pool deck, patio, or fire pit zone where guests gather

• Never in bedrooms or bathrooms — a legal and ethical boundary; disclosure does not override the reasonable expectation of privacy in sleeping and bathing spaces

Managing Noise Alerts Remotely

One of the most practical benefits of a vacation rental noise monitor is the ability to intervene before a situation escalates — without being on-site. All three platforms allow remote alert management, but the workflow differs.

Minut can send guests an automatic message when noise passes your threshold. The system sends a pre-written message to your guest the moment a threshold is breached, giving them a chance to self-correct before you are even notified. This removes the awkward dynamic of the host personally calling out a guest for noise.

With NoiseAware, the Noise Score is designed to reduce false alarms. Rather than alerting on a single loud moment (a door slam, a dropped pot), the score accumulates over time, meaning you only get notified when noise is a genuine sustained issue.

With Alertify, the smoke and occupancy alerts add a second intervention layer. If an unauthorized guest count is detected, you can address it at check-in time or during the stay — before it becomes a permit violation.

Which Noise Monitor Is Right for You?

Choose Minut if:

• You manage two or more properties and need a single dashboard

• You want the lowest plan price for one property

• You want automated guest messaging built into the alert workflow

• Your property is urban or suburban with close neighbors

• Smoking detection matters to you

Choose NoiseAware if:

• Your property has a pool, large patio, outdoor kitchen, or fire pit

• You host beach, lake, or rural properties where outdoor noise is the primary risk

• Outdoor accuracy matters more to you than PMS integrations

Choose Alertify if:

• Your property has a strict no-smoking policy and you enforce it

• You are in a permit-sensitive market where guest count violations carry fines

• You regularly deal with unauthorized additional guests

• You want the most complete documentation record for potential disputes

• You want the device included in one yearly price

If none of these fits clearly, compare year-one cost for your number of properties using the price table above.

Add your listing on Houfy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are noise monitors legal in vacation rentals?

In the US, decibel-only monitors that are disclosed to guests are widely used and generally allowed. Recording conversations is different: many states require consent. Local rules and platform policies vary, so check yours, and never place a device in a bedroom or bathroom.

What is the best noise monitor for preventing unauthorized parties?

All three devices help with party prevention, but they work differently. Minut's automated guest messaging is a direct deterrent — it sends guests a warning the moment noise climbs, before a party has a chance to escalate. NoiseAware's Noise Score is designed to distinguish a genuine sustained party from a brief loud moment. All three list an occupancy or crowd estimate. Most hosts find one device enough when combined with clear house rules designed to prevent unauthorized parties and a signed rental agreement.

Can a guest refuse the noise monitor?

A guest can decline to stay if they object to disclosed monitoring equipment. They cannot require you to remove it — it is your property and a disclosed house rule. If a guest discovers an undisclosed device, they have grounds for a complaint and potential legal action against you.

Do noise monitors lower my STR insurance premium?

Ask your insurer. Some may offer a discount for monitoring, but it isn't standard. Check with your specific provider. A noise monitor also strengthens your documentation record if a neighbor complaint is ever escalated. For a full breakdown of STR coverage options and how documentation affects your premiums, see the Houfy guide to short-term rental insurance.

What noise threshold should I set alerts for?

Start from your local ordinance's quiet-hours rules and your home's normal noise level. Watch a few stays, then set the alert a little above normal daytime levels for the evening hours.

Which device is easiest to set up?

All three use an app-guided setup over WiFi. Setups with an outdoor sensor or several zones take more configuration.

Which is better — Minut or NoiseAware?

On October 2026 list prices, Minut costs less per month, but the sensor is extra. It also lists smoking, temperature and humidity monitoring. NoiseAware is the one to look at if outdoor monitoring is your main need, because it sells a dedicated outdoor sensor.

Does Houfy support noise monitoring integrations?

If you use a property management system that connects to Houfy (see Houfy's software partners), check whether it also integrates with your monitor.

Do noise monitors record conversations?

No. Minut, NoiseAware and Alertify measure sound levels, not audio content, according to each vendor.

Add your listing on Houfy.

Source Citations

1. Minut pricing — https://www.minut.com/pricing (checked 27 October 2026)

2. NoiseAware pricing — https://noiseaware.com/pricing-page/ (checked 27 October 2026)

3. Alertify pricing — https://www.alertify.io/pricing (checked 27 October 2026)

4. Houfy Software Partners — https://www.houfy.com/software-partners

5. Short-Term Rental Laws by State 2026 — Houfy Blog — https://www.houfy.com/blog/short-term-rental-laws-by-state-2026-complete-us-guide

Houfy has 100,000+ live listings in over 100 countries.

Last Updated: October 27, 2026