How Much Do Alcohol Monitoring Bracelets & Breathalyzers Cost?

Alcohol monitoring costs anywhere from about $80 a month for an app-based breathalyzer up to $700 or more a month for an ankle bracelet, depending on the system, the device, and where the monitoring is ordered.

This guide breaks down current pricing for the four most common options: SCRAM, Soberlink, Smart Start, and BACtrack View, covering the monthly fee, device cost, and any activation or extra charges for each. It also covers who typically pays for monitoring in court-ordered, custody, and voluntary cases, and what to weigh beyond the sticker price, like contract length, refund rules, and device replacement fees.

Cost Comparison Table (Updated July 2026)

Figures reflect publicly available information as of July 2026. Programs tied to a court order or a family law agreement may carry different terms than the general pricing shown here.

SCRAM CAM (Continuous Alcohol Monitoring) Ankle Bracelet Cost

The SCRAM CAM bracelet is a form of electronic monitoring worn on the ankle that samples perspiration every 30 minutes to detect alcohol consumption. Courts order it most often for people facing DUI charges or on probation, though some people wear it in criminal cases voluntarily as a way to document compliance. 

Pricing is hard to pin down because it varies by location, the wearer's income, the number of dependents, the local distributor, and the specific court's requirements. SCRAM doesn't publish a nationwide rate. [4]

An older SCRAM FAQ from 2021 put the daily cost at $10–$12 (roughly $300–$360/month), with a $50–$100 setup fee. [1] More recent legal-industry sources still reference a similar range as of 2025, but this is a secondary reference repeating an older figure, not SCRAM publishing a current official rate. Treat it as a dated reported figure that may or may not reflect what a given distributor charges today, rather than a dependable baseline. [3]

For a sense of how much local pricing can vary, a widely cited but now dated (2021) report on a specific Cook County, Illinois distributor described a sliding scale from about $12.40 to $24.40 per day based on income, which worked out to roughly $372–$732 per month at that time, in that jurisdiction. That distributor also deducted $1 per day for each dependent child, charged a flat $170 fee covering installation, maintenance, and removal, and billed $110 per violation. [2] This is a single historical, jurisdiction-specific example, not a modern standard range, and pricing in other jurisdictions or with other distributors could look very different today.

Because pricing, fee bundling, and what's included in the daily monitoring fee varies by distributor, don't assume installation, maintenance, or removal costs are automatically folded into the daily fee everywhere. Some distributors bundle these into the daily rate; others bill them separately, as the fee breakdowns above show. Expect the possibility of extra charges for installation, routine maintenance, a SCRAM violation (which can include tampering with the device as well as a confirmed drinking event), device damage, and in-person service calls, and confirm with the specific distributor what the quoted rate does and doesn't cover. [1][2] Because SCRAM doesn't post pricing and many distributors don't either, the practical next step is contacting a local authorized distributor directly for a quote. 

SCRAM Remote Breath Pro Cost

SCRAM's handheld, wireless breathalyzer option, the Remote Breath Pro, has even less public pricing than the CAM ankle bracelet. Like the CAM device, it supports scheduled, random, on-demand, and client-initiated testing.

Neither SCRAM nor its distributors generally publish a rate for this device. Cost depends on the distributor, the region, and the structure of the monitoring program a court or agency has set up. [4] A local quote from an authorized SCRAM distributor is the only reliable way to get an accurate number.

Smart Start SmartMobile / SmartMobile Insight Cost

Smart Start, better known for ignition interlock devices, has marketed a portable breathalyzer for family law situations under the SmartMobile name. In 2025, Smart Start launched SmartMobile Insight, positioned as the newer version of this product for the family law market. [5] It isn't clear from public material whether SmartMobile Insight has fully replaced the original SmartMobile as the active offering or is running alongside it, so this article treats SmartMobile Insight as the current name to ask about rather than assuming the older SmartMobile setup is still what's being sold. The device (under either name) supports scheduled, random, and on-demand tests, and includes facial-recognition-based identity checks and location tracking. [6]

Older reporting put the original SmartMobile's flat monthly fee at around $130. That figure predates the 2025 SmartMobile Insight launch, so it shouldn't be assumed to carry over to the current product. [5] Neither product's current pricing is listed on Smart Start's site as of this writing.

Soberlink Cost

Soberlink runs three separate programs, each with its own Basic, Plus, and Premium tiers, plus a device charge that's billed apart from the monitoring fee.

Programs and tiers:

• Family Law Level 1 (Parenting Time Only): self-managed testing schedule limited to parenting time. Basic and Plus include 20 testing days per month with a per-day charge for additional days; Premium includes unlimited testing days.
• Family Law Level 2 (Daily Testing): Soberlink-managed daily testing schedule with text reminders. All three tiers include unlimited testing days.
• Share Program: general accountability/recovery monitoring with a self-managed schedule. All three tiers include unlimited testing days.

Across all three tiers, higher tiers add features like more recipients allowed to view results, real-time email and/or text alerts instead of daily summaries, and free device replacement when calibration is needed. [7]

Monthly monitoring fee: across all three programs and tiers, current pricing runs from $135 to $285 per month. Because Soberlink prices each program and tier independently, and the exact figure for a given program isn't the same across the board, confirm the specific plan's rate on Soberlink's pricing page rather than assuming a single number applies. [7]

Per-day testing fees: the $15-per-additional-day charge applies specifically to the Basic and Plus tiers of the Level 1 (Parenting Time Only) program, which cap included testing days at 20 per month. Level 2, Share, and the Premium tier of Level 1 all include unlimited testing days at no extra per-day charge. [7]

Device cost, billed separately from the monitoring fee: the Soberlink 7.0 device can be rented for $19/month with a 365-day monitoring commitment, or $29/month with a 120-day commitment, or purchased outright for $599–$799 with no commitment required. The Cellular 2 device is purchase-only in that same price range; it isn't available to rent. [7][8]

Total monthly cost is the monitoring plan fee plus whichever device option is selected, since Soberlink bills these as two separate charges rather than one bundled price. Applicable taxes may add to both charges depending on location, so the two published numbers are a starting point rather than the full out-of-pocket total.

BACtrack View Cost

BACtrack View is a remote alcohol monitoring system built around an app-connected, smartphone-compatible breathalyzer, offering scheduled, random, and on-demand testing. Each test result includes a timestamp, location, and a short video of the person testing. [11]

Current monthly plans: Basic ($79.99/month), Plus ($99.99/month), and Pro ($129.99/month). There are no activation fees and no long-term contracts; the subscription can be canceled at any time. [9][10]

Prepaid plans: BACtrack View also publishes 3-, 6-, and 12-month prepaid options at a discount to the monthly rate:

Prepaid plans are non-refundable, so canceling mid-term doesn't return any of the prepaid balance. [10]

Device: A breathalyzer ships free for as long as the subscription is active. The device belongs to the subscriber only after three continuous months on a paid plan. Canceling before that three-month mark means either returning the device using the prepaid shipping label or buying it outright at a discounted price; it isn't kept free of charge. [11]

What changes by tier: Basic includes 30 tests per month and one connection (a Monitor or Accountability Partner) but no PDF report downloads. Plus and Pro include unlimited tests; Plus allows one PDF report download per month and three connections, while Pro includes unlimited PDF downloads and unlimited connections. [9]

Trial: All plans include a 14-day free trial for new customers.

It’s amazing that just a tiny little breathalyzer can keep you on the road — quite literally. I consider it to have saved my life because the life that I was living… it was tumultuous. Total chaos. I didn’t know who I was. I was lost. I really was.

Watch Lauren’s Story

Who Pays for Alcohol Monitoring?

Who covers the cost depends heavily on the situation:

• Court-ordered monitoring (most DUI cases): the monitored person typically pays, though some jurisdictions allow the court to reduce or waive fees for someone who can't afford them.
• Custody or family law cases: payment is often assigned by the court, or split by agreement between both parties. Some agreements have one party covering the cost as part of a broader custody arrangement.
• Voluntary or private recovery programs: the participant paying for their own monitoring is the most common setup, since there's no court order directing otherwise.

Because payment responsibility is set by the specific jurisdiction, court order, or provider agreement, the exact answer for any individual case depends on those details rather than a general rule.

What Else to Consider Beyond Monthly Cost

Cost is one piece of the decision, but a few other factors affect what a plan will actually cost and how well it fits a specific situation:

• Contract length and commitment. Some devices (like Soberlink's rental option) require a 120-day or 365-day commitment to unlock lower device pricing. BACtrack View and Smart Start don't require a contract. Check the commitment terms before committing to a lower advertised rate.
• Refund and cancellation rules. Pre-paid multi-month plans are often non-refundable. Understand what happens financially if monitoring ends early, whether by court order, case resolution, or personal choice.
• Device inclusion and replacement fees. Some providers include the device in the monthly fee; others bill it separately or require a purchase. Ask what happens if the device is lost, damaged, or needs calibration, and whether that comes with a fee.
• Portability. A device that fits in a pocket or bag matters most for anyone who needs to carry it through a regular day. Compare actual dimensions rather than assuming "portable" means the same thing across providers.
• Testing schedule flexibility. Scheduled, random, and on-demand testing options work differently depending on the purpose of monitoring. Random testing, for example, is often preferred in accountability-focused arrangements because it removes the ability to anticipate a test window.
• Real-time notifications. Confirm exactly how monitors receive results (text, email, or both) and whether the notification method affects plan tier or cost.

Comparing these details alongside the monthly number gives a clearer total-cost picture than the sticker price alone. For a closer look at how BACtrack View's plans, device terms, and testing options compare to other options on this list, see the BACtrack View plan details.

FAQ

References

1. Frequently Asked Questions for SCRAM Participants (SCRAM Systems, 2021 FAQ Roundup)
2. Cook County Distributor Pricing for SCRAM Monitoring (Injustice Watch, 2021)
3. DUI Ankle Bracelet in California — SCRAM & SCRAMx (Shouse Law Group, updated 2025)
4. SCRAM CAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM Systems, official product page)
5. Smart Start Expands into Family Law Market with Launch of SmartMobile Insight (PRWeb, 2025)
6. SmartMobile Family Law Program (Smart Start Inc., product page)
7. Soberlink Pricing (Soberlink, current pricing page)
8. Compare Alcohol Monitoring Devices (Soberlink, device comparison page)