Lease $5/day
- You are starting a new program and want $0 upfront
- Cases are short or your caseload changes month to month
- You want repairs and normal wear covered by Guardian
Lease vs Buy
Lease or buy your monitoring devices? Run the numbers.
Lease with no upfront cost for $5 a day, or buy the device and pay $2.50 a day for software. Compare the two side by side for your own caseload, term and client rate.
- No minimum to start
- Month-to-month leases
- You run your own monitoring
- Unused owned devices cost $0
$5/daylease, device and software included
$450 / $200to buy an X14 or alcohol device
$2.50/daysoftware for purchased devices
6 / 3 monthsto break even on an X14 / alcohol device
Side by Side
Lease vs buy at a glance
Both options include the tracking software license and the check-in app, and you monitor your own participants. The difference is who owns the hardware.
Swipe to see all columns →
| Lease | Buy | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $450 per X14 $200 per alcohol device |
| Daily cost per device | $5 | $2.50 |
| Device sitting unused | $5/day until you return it | $0 |
| Software license and app | Included | Included, at half price |
| Lost or unreturned device | $300 per device | No fee; replacing it is a new purchase |
| Repairs and normal wear | Covered by Guardian | At your cost, no warranty |
| Your profit per devicecharging $300/month | $150/month | $225/month after break-even |
| Break-even vs leasing | – | X14: about 6 months Alcohol device: about 3 months |
| Best for | New programs, short cases and caseloads that change month to month | Steady caseloads where devices stay in use for a year or more |
Calculator
Compare the cost for your caseload
Enter how many devices you run, the rate you charge and how long you expect to keep them in use.
Caseload
Term
Apply nowor call (336) 307-6162
Lower cost
Lease
- Upfront
- Monthly to Guardian
- Total cost over term
- Your profit over term
Lower cost
Buy
- Upfront
- Monthly to Guardian
- Total cost over term
- Your profit over term
Total paid to Guardian over time
LeaseBuyYour term
Show the numbers as a table
| Month | Lease total | Buy total | Difference |
|---|
Assumes every device is in use for the whole term and billed for 30 days a month at your rate. Software for purchased devices is only charged for months a device is in use, so time between cases makes buying cheaper still. Your actual profit depends on the rate you set and on what you bill and collect from your own clients. Lease fees for lost devices and repair costs for purchased devices are not included.
Which Fits
When to lease and when to buy
You don’t have to pick one. Many partners buy for their steady caseload and lease extra devices for busy months.
Buy $450 / $200 + $2.50/day
- Devices stay in use for 6 months or more (an X14 breaks even in about 6 months)
- You run alcohol devices, which pay for themselves in about 3 months
- You want the higher margin: $225 a month per device when you charge $300 a month
Lease, buy or both
Apply in a few minutes. Tell our partner team how many devices you want to lease and buy, and we will confirm your rates and get your account ready.
Common Questions
Lease vs buy FAQ
It depends on how long the device stays in use. Leasing is $5 a day with no upfront cost. Buying is $450 for the Model X14 plus $2.50 a day for software. Buying comes out ahead after about 6 months for an X14 and about 3 months for an alcohol device.
Both options include the tracking software license and the participant check-in app. You monitor your own participants. Leased devices also include repairs and replacements for normal wear. Purchased devices are yours, with no warranty.
Every device you enter is in use for the whole term and billed for 30 days a month at the client rate you enter. Purchased devices only pay the $2.50-a-day software fee while in use, so idle time between cases makes buying cheaper than the calculator shows. Your actual cost and profit depend on how often devices are in use and what you collect from your clients.
Yes. You can buy devices for new participants at any time while keeping your current leases. Talk to your account manager about moving an existing caseload.
More answers in the full reseller FAQ.