# Alarms Licensing
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This article is a guide for new Alarms. Refer to this [article](/classic-alarms/compliance-and-licensing/classic-alarms-licensing.md) if you have classic Alarms. See [New Alarms vs Classic Alarms](/new-alarms/getting-started/new-alarms-vs-classic-alarms.md) if you are unsure which version of Alarms you have.
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***
Alarm licensing is imperative for an organization to monitor the number of devices that the organization has and the number of licenses a customer maintains.
## License tiers
**Each alarm site in Command requires an Alarms license.** Verkada offers two Alarms license tiers with different monitoring capabilities. Both license tiers include complete access to the full Verkada Alarms software platform and 24/7 professional monitoring service:
* **Cloud-based management**— Arm/disarm remotely, set schedules, assign or revoke user key codes, update response contacts, and more.
* **Alarm responses** — SMS notifications, call lists, police dispatch, automated deterrence devices.
The following table illustrates the difference between the two license tiers:
| | | |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
| **Capability** | **LIC-BX-MB** | **LIC-BX-MA** |
| Number of alarms | 15 | 15 |
| Number of sensors (including access control doors) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of cameras that can be paired with sensors | ❌ | Unlimited |
| Number of cameras as alarm triggers | ❌ | Up to 15 |
***
## Trials
### Start a trial
Alarm site trials last for 90 days. To enable a trial, select the trial option when creating an alarm site.
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**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
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**At the top, click** :plus-large:.
1. [Select a site from the dropdown or create a new site.](/new-alarms/configuration/alarm-sites.md)
2. Select an [Alarm admin contact](/new-alarms/alarm-specifications/alarm-admin-contact-requirement.md).
3. Enter your business name.
4. Enter your business address.
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**Click Start a trial.**
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If you have a license key for your Alarm site, click **I have a license.**
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### Convert a trial
Once you purchase and claim a license for a site you've been trialing, you should convert the trial to active for the license to take effect immediately.
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**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.**
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**In the left navigation, select Licenses & Renewals > Trials.**
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**Next to your trial, under the Convert column, click** :arrow-right:**.**
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**Click Convert to confirm.**
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### Delete a trial
The system marks the site as an active product after 90 days. You can delete the alarm site if you choose not to convert the trial.
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**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
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**Select your Alarm site.**
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**In the left navigation, click Settings.**
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**Under Other Settings, click Remove Site.**
1. Type **"Confirm"** in the dialog box.
2. Click **Confirm** to remove the site.
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### Cellular backups
By default, all cellular backups added to Command begin with a 30 day trial. After the trial ends, the cellular backup appears in your active product list on the [Licensing](/command/licensing/manage-your-licenses.md) page.
***
## FAQ
What should I do if I do not intend to convert my trial site?
Delete the trial site as described in the [Delete a trial](#delete-a-trial) section above. Otherwise, after 90 days from creation, the system marks the site as active, and your Command organization becomes subject to enforcement.
Do false camera detections count towards the 15-alarm limit?
No. Camera triggers do not raise an alarm until an agent has video-verified the activity. Therefore, false camera detections do not count towards the 15 alarm limit. In contrast, all sensors raise an alarm immediately upon triggering. Even if the alarm is resolved by the agent because no person was present, it will still count towards the 15-alarm limit.
What if an alarm site raises over 15 alarms in 1 calendar month?
Each alarm site has a monthly limit of 15 Verkada-monitored alarms. If a site exceeds this limit for two consecutive months, enforcement activates in the third month. After the 15th alarm in that third month, the site switches to self-monitored for the remainder of the month.
If the site continues to exceed 15 alarms in subsequent months, enforcement remains active. Staying under the limit for one full month resets enforcement. See [Alarm Limit Enforcement](https://help.verkada.com/new-alarms/troubleshoot#alarm-limit-enforcement-policy) for more information.
What if I need more than 15 cameras?
If more than 15 cameras are needed in a site, you can stack LIC-BX-MA licenses to reach the needed number of cameras.
Do I need any hardware licenses?
Only the BZ11 Horn Speaker and Cellular Backup Communicator require a separate license. All other alarm devices are covered by the Alarms License per site.
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