We get this question almost daily. The Bosch Solution 3000 and Solution 6000 are both excellent panels: both made by Bosch, both supported in Australia for years to come, both upgradeable to app control. The honest answer is that 90% of homes are best served by the 3000, and most of the rest are best served by the 6000. Here's how to tell which is which.
The short answer
Choose the Bosch 3000 if: you want a great residential alarm with optional app control, the property has up to ~16 zones, and you don't need integrated access control on doors.
Choose the Bosch 6000 if: you have a larger home or commercial site, you want alarm and access control on the same panel, you need more keypads or partitions, or you plan to add card readers later.
Hardware and capacity
Both panels support 16 zones out of the box and expand from there. The 3000 typically maxes out at 32 zones with expanders; the 6000 scales much further with multiple keypads, partitions, and door-controller modules.
- 3000: up to ~32 zones, 4 keypads, 2 partitions
- 6000: up to 144 zones, 32 keypads, 16 partitions, native access control
App control
Both panels support the Bosch app via an Ethernet/IP module. From the user side the experience is identical: arm/disarm, push notifications, multiple users. The IP module cost is similar; that's not a deciding factor.
Integrated access control
This is the headline difference. The 6000 can drive door-strike readers natively, so a single panel handles intrusion and access. On a 3000 you need a separate access controller.
Cost (Melbourne, fitted)
A typical Bosch 3000 wired package with 3 PIRs, keypad, siren and battery, professionally installed, lands around $1,400–$1,800 depending on access. The Bosch 6000 equivalent starts higher at $1,900–$2,400 fitted, before any access control extras.
Our recommendation
If this is a single home with a typical layout, get the 3000 with the IP module: you'll spend less and end up with a system you'll actually use. If you're protecting a large home, a small business or a multi-tenant property, spend the extra and get the 6000: the moment you want to add card readers or partitions, you'll be glad you did.