Month-to-Month Alcohol Monitoring: 5 Services Compared on Contract Terms

"Month-to-month" sounds like you can cancel whenever you want, but alcohol monitoring subscriptions aren't always that simple. Some services require advance notice, others tie you to a device rental commitment, and prepaid plans may renew automatically. Even after cancellation, you could face equipment charges or lose access to your testing history.

Those details matter when you're choosing a monitoring service for yourself, a family member, or a legal requirement. A low monthly rate won't tell you much about the full commitment until you understand the cancellation process, refund rules, and what happens to the device when you're finished.

We compared five alcohol monitoring services: BACtrack View, Soberlink, Keepr, Smart Start, and SCRAM Systems. Here's what each service discloses about monthly billing, minimum commitments, and cancellation.

Which alcohol monitoring services offer month-to-month plans?

BACtrack View, Soberlink, and Keepr all offer month-to-month alcohol monitoring, although their cancellation rules and device commitments differ. BACtrack View's monthly plans have no minimum term, Soberlink's flexibility depends on whether you purchase or rent the device, and Keepr requires five business days' notice to cancel [2][6][9].

Smart Start and SCRAM Systems publish less information about their contract terms, making it harder to compare their cancellation requirements without contacting a provider directly [11][12]. The table below breaks down what each company discloses about billing, minimum commitments, cancellation, and equipment.

How five alcohol monitoring services compare

The comparison reflects information published on each company's own pages. Where a term is marked "Not stated," the reviewed sources did not provide enough detail to confirm it. That doesn't necessarily mean the provider has no requirement, so request the full agreement before signing up.

How BACtrack View handles monthly plans and cancellation

BACtrack View offers three monthly monitoring tiers priced at $79.99, $99.99, and $129.99. Each tier is also available through prepaid three-, six-, or twelve-month plans, with no activation fee [1]. The monthly plans offer more flexibility for people who aren't sure how long they'll need monitoring, while prepaid options require a longer commitment.

Monthly subscriptions begin with a 14-day free trial and have no minimum term. Once the trial ends, payments are billed in advance and are non-refundable. If you cancel partway through a paid month, you can continue using the service until the billing period ends, but you won't receive a refund for unused days [2].

Prepaid plans don't include the free trial. New prepaid customers are charged seven days after sign-up, and submitting the cancellation form within those seven days avoids the charge [2]. Once the prepaid term begins, unused time is non-refundable, and the subscription renews automatically for the selected three-, six-, or twelve-month period. BACtrack sends an email reminder three days before renewal [2][4].

To cancel either type of subscription, customers must submit the online cancellation form before their next payment date. Sending an email, leaving a voicemail, uninstalling the app, or returning the breathalyzer doesn't cancel the subscription. Customers who subscribed through Apple must also cancel through their Apple account [2][3].

The breathalyzer is included with the subscription and becomes yours after three full paid months. If you cancel sooner, you can return it within 30 days using the prepaid shipping label or purchase it for $99.99. If the device isn't shipped back within that window, BACtrack View charges the card on file [2].

How Soberlink's device options affect your commitment

Soberlink's contract terms depend largely on whether you purchase or rent the monitoring device. Buying a Soberlink 7.0 costs $599, while the Cellular 2 costs $799, with no stated minimum monitoring commitment for either purchase option [6][7].

Renting lowers the initial equipment cost but requires a longer commitment. The Soberlink 7.0 rental costs $19 per month with a 365-day commitment or $29 per month with a 120-day commitment. Monthly monitoring fees are separate, with Level 1 parenting-time plans listed at $135, $190, and $245 per month [6].

After the initial 120-day rental commitment, Soberlink states that monitoring continues month-to-month until canceled. Monitoring fees begin five days after shipment unless the device is activated sooner [8].

Customers cancel through Soberlink's online cancellation form or by email, and requests can take up to two business days to process [15]. The General Terms and Conditions state that existing financial obligations, including minimum use periods and early-termination fees, remain payable after cancellation [14]. Soberlink's FAQ sets the early-termination fee at 35% of the remaining contract days, calculated at the current plan's daily rate, and prorates the final invoice for the days the device was active [16]. Rented devices keep accruing a daily rental fee until Soberlink receives them [15].

Keepr's month-to-month plans and cancellation notice

Keepr offers monthly monitoring at $129 per month, along with three-month billing at the equivalent of $99 per month and annual billing at $79 per month. The breathalyzer costs $149 and belongs to the customer, while an active subscription is required to sync, store, and share testing results [10].

Choosing a longer billing term lowers the monthly-equivalent price but increases the upfront commitment. A three-month subscription costs $297 per billing period, while an annual subscription costs $948 [10].

Keepr automatically renews subscriptions for the original billing term and requires at least five business days' notice to cancel [9]. Subscription payments are non-refundable, although customers retain access through the end of the period they've paid for. The device itself can be returned within 30 days if it remains unopened and unused [9].

For customers who prefer owning their equipment from the start, Keepr offers that option without a rental commitment. However, the cancellation notice and non-refundable prepaid terms are important to consider when choosing a longer subscription.

What Smart Start and SCRAM Systems publish about contracts

Smart Start and SCRAM Systems provide less public information about their alcohol monitoring contract terms than the other services reviewed.

Smart Start's SmartMobile family law page describes one plan with one lease price made up of three components, but the current page does not list the amounts [11]. The reviewed page does not specify a minimum commitment, cancellation notice period, or subscription refund policy.

SCRAM Systems' Remote Breath Pro page does not publish pricing, minimum commitments, or cancellation requirements [12]. Instead, prospective customers are directed to a local provider finder or contact process, depending on their monitoring needs [12][13]. SCRAM's FAQ says charges vary by program and typically include a one-time installation fee plus a recurring monitoring fee, usually charged weekly or every two weeks [13].

Neither company's lack of published terms necessarily indicates unfavorable requirements. However, ask for a complete written quote and agreement before enrolling, especially when monitoring is arranged through a court, agency, or local provider.

What happens to your testing history after cancellation?

If you're using alcohol monitoring for a legal or family matter, make sure you know how long your testing records will remain available after cancellation. Some providers may require you to request copies before your subscription ends, so it's worth checking their data retention policies in advance.

BACtrack View offers continued account and testing history storage for $9 per month. Without that option, your account and records are permanently deleted 15 days after cancellation. Only the account holder can request an activity report after cancellation by contacting support [5].

The other four services did not publish comparable data-retention deadlines on the pages reviewed. Before canceling, ask your provider how to download or request your records, especially if an attorney, court, or family member may need them later.

Six questions to ask before choosing an alcohol monitoring service

Before signing up, ask for the cancellation and device terms in writing. These six questions can help you identify costs and deadlines that may not appear alongside the advertised monthly price.

1. Is there a minimum commitment? Find out whether it applies to the monitoring subscription, device rental, or both.
2. How do I cancel? Ask whether cancellation requires an online form, email, phone call, or another process.
3. How much notice do I need to give? Confirm the last date you can cancel without triggering another payment.
4. Will I receive a refund for unused time? This is particularly important for prepaid subscriptions.
5. Who owns the device after cancellation? Check whether you must return it, pay to keep it, or meet a minimum subscription period.
6. What happens to my testing history? Ask how long records remain available and whether storage or report retrieval costs extra.

Keep a copy of the terms you agree to, especially when the service is connected to a court order or monitoring agreement. If you're enrolling through an agency or local provider, ask that organization to confirm any additional requirements.

When BACtrack View fits your situation

BACtrack View is worth considering if you want flexible monthly alcohol monitoring with clearly published cancellation and device terms. Monthly plans have no minimum commitment and include a 14-day free trial, while prepaid options are available for people who prefer to pay for several months at once [1][2].

Before choosing a plan, consider how long you'll need monitoring and whether you want to keep the breathalyzer afterward. The device becomes yours after three full paid months, and monthly subscriptions can be canceled through the online form before the next payment date [2][3].

For families, attorneys, and individuals who need remote alcohol monitoring, explore BACtrack View's plans and pricing to find an option that fits your monitoring requirements. If monitoring is court-ordered, confirm that the selected service meets the requirements of your court or supervising authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. BACtrack View, Pricing 
2. BACtrack View Help Center, Refund & Cancellation Policy 
3. BACtrack View Help Center, How Do I Cancel My Subscription? 
4. BACtrack View Help Center, Do Pre-Paid Subscriptions Auto Renew? 
5. BACtrack View Help Center, Is My Testing History Saved After I Cancel My Subscription? 
6. Soberlink, Soberlink Pricing
7. Soberlink, Family Law Level 1 Get Started 
8. Soberlink Shop, Soberlink 7.0 Rental, 120-Day 
9. Keepr, Keepr FAQ 
10. Keepr, Keepr Portable Breathalyzer & App Subscription 
11. Smart Start, SmartMobile Family Law Program 
12. SCRAM Systems, SCRAM Remote Breath Pro 
13. SCRAM Systems, Frequently Asked Questions 
14. Soberlink, General Terms and Conditions 
15. Soberlink, Cancel Service Request 
16. Soberlink, FAQs