The Best Home Security Systems of 2025

1. ADT - Best Equipment and Professional Monitoring

SecurityScore:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

View Packages Links to ADT

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $349
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $24.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month or 36 months and up
Installation Options	Professional and DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

855-908-4461

View Packages Links to ADT

ADT Overview

ADT may be 150 years old as a company, but it’s still at the top of its game. Its latest security system uses some of the most advanced equipment. ADT security cameras, for example, are from Google Nest and they come with facial recognition. We have ours pointed at where we hid our backup keys, and it notifies us anytime it sees a stranger.

ADT has also become more flexible, now allowing DIY installation and self-monitoring. Still, we think ADT is best for those who want a full-service security system – professionally installed and monitored. It’s the best in the industry at offering those services, and while it’s not the least expensive security system, it has gotten more affordable over the past couple of years.

>> Related: Google Nest Cam (Battery) Review

Equipment

In addition to security cameras, Google Nest also provides video doorbells and smart home equipment for ADT.1 Our package included one each of the indoor and outdoor cameras, a smart video doorbell, and the Google Nest Hub Max — a smart display. You can read our independent Nest Hub Max review for more details, or you can check out our guide to the Google Nest Cam.

Of course, ADT primarily offers security and safety equipment, and it’s got that part well-covered. We bought motion sensors, door and window sensors, glass break sensors, and even smoke alarms. It doesn’t have a garage tilt sensor, but there are workarounds if you ask the technician installing your equipment.

Speaking of installation, ADT used to require all customers to have their systems installed by a technician. It’s the best professionally installed security system, so we had no problem with that, but to those who want it, ADT now also offers DIY installation. See our ADT Self Setup review for more details.

>> Check Out: DIY vs. Professionally Installed Security Systems

Monitoring

Similar to how it offers DIY installation now, ADT has also made self-monitoring possible, but only for ADT Self Setup systems. Since we had ours professionally installed, we had to sign up for professional monitoring and sign a three-year contract. It’s probably not the most ideal for renters (try ADT Self Setup if that’s you), but if you’re looking for professional monitoring anyway, we highly recommend ADT.

One reason is ADT’s monitoring network that consists of 12 facilities spread throughout North America. These centers act as backup for each other so the service stays up no matter what. In comparison, Vivint (#3 on this list) has only two facilities,2 and Frontpoint (#6 on this list) outsources the job to Rapid Response.3

With ADT monitoring, we got response times of between 30 to 45 seconds after an alarm is triggered. That’s pretty good. We would have preferred it a little bit faster (around 15 seconds), but that’s the industry average.

>> Compare: Vivint vs. ADT Home Security Systems

Cost

ADT’s prices are reasonable, at least compared to brands of similar recognition. There are predefined packages available, but we built our own system with security sensors, security cameras, and some smart home gadgets, and all this cost us about $800. We didn’t pay it upfront either; we’re paying about $35 monthly over a 24-month term. You can even pay over 36 or 60 months.

Just keep in mind that professional monitoring isn’t free. It’s costing us $49.99 per month because we have security cameras, so we had to sign up for the highest monitoring tier. That said, systems without cameras start at $34.99. If you want to save more money, sign up for ADT Self Setup. Its monitoring plans cost $10 less than the professionally installed system. Or, you could go with a different system entirely if budget is a priority. SimpliSafe and Cove, for example, offer monitoring starting at about $20 per month. Both systems also made this list.

ADT isn’t the most affordable home security system. But if you’re looking for top-notch protection with quality equipment and reliable monitoring, we know for a fact that ADT provides great value.

>> Discount Guide: ADT Deals and Discounts for 2025

ADT User Experience

All in all, we appreciated how hassle-free ADT made it to secure our home. It handled everything from professional installation to monitoring. That kind of service obviously didn’t come cheap, but we feel that we got our money’s worth.

There are a few potential pain points, like ADT’s lack of a touch screen keypad. We have to arm/disarm our sensors using a physical keypad. It’s not the end of the world. It actually helps make ADT approachable no matter how comfortable you are around technology. Plus, there’s always the ADT+ app if you’re more of a “tapping” than “pressing” type. We found the app refreshingly simple to use, but intuitive. It’s a great experience overall.

2. SimpliSafe - Best Video Security Monitoring

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

View Packages Links to SimpliSafe

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $249.96
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starts at $21.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

800-544-5942

View Packages Links to SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe Overview

SimpliSafe is versatile just like ADT. You could go with professional installation or the DIY route, whichever floats your boat. You could also choose to monitor the system on your own or pay for professional monitoring. We signed up for the Core plan because of the Intruder Intervention feature, but even when we tested SimpliSafe without a monitoring plan, it provided us great coverage.

There are also no long-term contracts. You can upscale or downscale your monitoring service according to your budget and needs. We’ve had a SimpliSafe system for three years now, and whenever we need to test it, we just reactivate our monitoring plan and pay for one month at a time. That’s the flexibility of one of the best DIY security systems on the market.

Equipment

Even though Simplisafe has roots as a DIY home security system, the company doesn’t have cheap products. All of these sensors and cameras we’ve tested are more than capable of protecting our homes. Although you’ll never need 100 devices to secure your home, SimpliSafe can support that many. To put it in more practical terms, you can easily scale a SimpliSafe system if you want to start out with just a few sensors and add more devices over time.

To test SimpliSafe’s video monitoring capabilities, we set up the Wireless Indoor Camera, Outdoor Camera, and Video Doorbell Pro. We placed the Outdoor Camera in our backyard because the video doorbell was able to cover the front of our house. While the camera selection isn’t as large as some other companies’ on this list, SimpliSafe has enough devices to monitor and secure your home.

>> See It Here: SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro Review

Monitoring

Although you can self-monitor SimpliSafe, signing up for a monitoring plan has great perks. One is cellular backup, which means your SimpliSafe system can continue to send you alerts even if your internet is down. It’s actually one of the top cellular security systems right now.

As for which plan to sign up for, we recommend the Core plan if you have security cameras, especially the Wireless Indoor Camera. With this plan, SimpliSafe monitoring centers can use any SimpliSafe camera to verify alerts. In addition, when we ran our break-in simulations, SimpliSafe used the Wireless Indoor Camera to talk to us via its speakers. That feature is called Intruder Intervention, and it’s meant to deter burglars.

>> See More: The Best Self-Monitored Security Systems

Cost

SimpliSafe is somewhere in the middle in terms of equipment cost. It’s cheaper than traditional systems like ADT and Vivint, but it’s a little pricier than some DIY options like Cove.

Our 14-piece kit with cameras and a video doorbell cost us just over $500, which we paid upfront. Much like ADT, though, you can finance your equipment but only for up to 24 months. There’s also a $150 minimum order required to finance equipment.

Other than the equipment fee, there were no mandatory fees to use SimpliSafe. DIY installation cost us nil. Professional monitoring was also optional, but we highly recommend it. Here’s SimpliSafe’s pricing:

• Standard plan: Offers just professional monitoring with cellular backup for $21.99 per month
• Core plan (formerly Fast Protect): Includes Standard plan features, plus video storage for 10 cameras, Live Guard Protection for the Smart Alarm indoor camera, and video verification for $31.99 per month
• Pro plan: Includes everything in the Core plan plus Active Guard Outdoor Protection between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. (local time) for $49.99 per month.
• Pro Plus plan: The same features as Core and Pro, but offers Active Guard Outdoor Protection 24 hours a day for $79.99 per month

SimpliSafe User Experience

SimpliSafe is built on simplicity, so before buying one, make sure it’s the type of system you want. You’re not going to get a touchscreen control panel and a bunch of home automation features from it. Instead, you’ll rely on a semi-digital keypad and an app to control your security system.

But as far as the user experience goes, we loved our SimpliSafe system, especially its responsiveness. It arms and disarms quickly – almost instantaneously when using the keypad. It has a loud 105 dB siren. It also has backup power and cellular connectivity for when the power and internet goes out. That cellular connectivity requires a monitoring plan. Still, SimpliSafe is simple and reliable.

3. Vivint - Best Professional Installation

SecurityScore:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

View Packages Links to Vivint

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment costs	Starting at $599
Monitoring options	Professional
Monthly monitoring costs	Starting from $30 per month
Contract lengths	Starting at 42 months
Installation options	Professional
Smart platform integration	Alexa and Google Home

844-922-0575

View Packages Links to Vivint

Vivint Overview

Vivint’s equipment – like the tablet-like, wall-mounted panel above – is smarter and more advanced than that of SimpliSafe. (See our Vivint vs. SimpliSafe comparison.) We can best describe Vivint as a smart home security system because of its extensive automation capabilities. And of course, a system like that requires expertise to set up. Fortunately, Vivint offers professional installation services that rival ADT.

We’ve had several Vivint systems installed over the years and it has been consistently good. The service consists of an expert consultation where the technician looks at the key areas of protection, followed by the installation. After that, the technician showed us a welcome video on his tablet and explained how the system works. That level of service added to Vivint’s premium feel.

>> Learn More: The Best Professionally Installed Security Systems

Equipment

Vivint has sensors, some smart home devices like smart thermostats and smart locks, and smoke alarms for fire protection. It’s all pretty standard.; that is, until you get to the security cameras. In our opinion, Vivint cameras are the smartest in the industry.

We say that because of the Smart Deter feature. When we tested the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, we saw it use AI to detect people just like the Nest Cams do. On top of that, it uses rules and algorithms to detect suspicious behavior.

For example, when a neighbor stopped in front of our yard to admire our Halloween decorations (we presume), Vivint warned us that there could be a lurker on our property. He had been standing there for a couple of minutes, which the camera thought suspicious.

The custom automations from Vivint make it even more capable of deterring would-be criminals. For example, we made a rule that an alarm would sound if anyone stays in front of our house for more than two minutes. Sure enough, our neighbor lingered in front of our house for that amount of time and a warning tone sent him scurrying away. Naturally, we apologized and explained the situation to him.

>> Also See: Vivint Doorbell Camera Review

Monitoring

One of Vivint’s downsides is that if you don’t pay for the equipment upfront, you’ll have to sign a contract. That contract will be as long as your equipment financing term, which is usually four to five years. That’s longer than ADT’s standard three-year contract. Vivint also doesn’t give users much leeway to change their minds, as there’s only a three-day cancellation period. If you cancel beyond that, you’d have to pay a termination fee. SimpliSafe gives users 60 days to change their minds.

Was Vivint’s monitoring worth it, at least? Of course! It wouldn’t have made this list if it weren’t. In fact, it’s better than most systems because Vivint has two monitoring centers. There’s one in Utah and another in Minnesota. We know that’s not as many as ADT’s 12 facilities nationwide, but Vivint’s monitoring centers have proven themselves fast, responding to our simulated break-ins within 30 to 60 seconds.

>> Learn More: Vivint FAQ

Cost

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: Vivint is a bit pricey. The outdoor camera from earlier cost us $399.99. The indoor camera and video doorbell, both of which have the same AI features, each cost $249.99. That’s nearly double the standard security camera cost in 2025. Those cameras are also better than most you’ll find in the market though. And that’s true for most of Vivint’s products. They are expensive, but they are top-of-the-line.

Vivint’s monitoring plans are also pricey. They start from $29.99 for basic monitoring and can go as high as $49.99 per month if you want home automation and security camera support. This puts it on par with ADT’s professionally installed monitoring subscriptions.

Watch out for the installation fee. It can cost up to $200 if you’re having security cameras installed. That’s $200 that you could better spend on additional equipment. But if you’re willing to wait, Vivint occasionally offers free installation deals. Check out our page on Vivint deals for more information on that.

Vivint User Experience

Vivint may seem like a complex system at first, what with all that talk about the system’s advanced automation and smart features from the cameras. But in reality, it’s user-friendly. It’s the type of system you can set and forget. And because it’s installed by an expert, there’s not much setting up to do.

We programmed our system to arm everyday at 11 p.m., making sure it’s armed before we sleep. We also have lights that turn on when our front door sensor is triggered. Its automation-rich app might make Vivint seem complicated to use, but in our opinion, those automations are exactly the reason that Vivint is user-friendly.

4. Alder Security - Best Professional Monitoring Response

SecurityScore:

9.0 /10

844-965-1405

View Packages Links to Alder Security

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $0
Monitoring Options	Professional only
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $35
Contract Lengths	36 months
Installation Options	Professional or DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

844-965-1405

View Packages Links to Alder Security

Alder Overview

Alder flies under the radar, but it’s a good option for those who want a professionally monitored system but are looking to save money with DIY installation. It’s because of that that we think it’s a good ADT alternative. Alder is more affordable than ADT, yet it offers one of the fastest monitoring response times in the industry. More on that later.

As for the overall quality of the security system, Alder is a notch lower than our top three picks. It doesn’t make its own equipment like SimpliSafe does; it doesn’t offer as many equipment options as Vivint; and while it gets cameras from a third party like ADT does, Alder’s cameras are from eufy. eufy is a solid brand (we tested the eufy 2K camera), but it’s not on the same level as the Nest Cams ADT uses.

Equipment

We were satisfied with the options we got from Alder. When we called to get a quote, the sales rep offered us security sensors; safety sensors; some accessories, like panic buttons and remote key fobs; and indoor and outdoor cameras made by eufy. We agreed to get one of each, and two days later, they all arrived in a well-packaged box, ready for DIY installation.

DIY installation with Alder is easier than most. The company had already paired our equipment together, so we just had to install it and connect the control panel to our Wi-Fi network. This took us less than 35 minutes, which, to be fair, is similar to other DIY systems.

>> Related: Are Wireless Security Systems Reliable?

Monitoring

We were eager to test Alder’s professional monitoring service because, it reportedly had a response time almost 10 times faster (3.4 seconds) than the industry average (30 seconds).4 It wasn’t as fast as that in our actual testing, but it was indeed faster than most. In all three instances where we purposely triggered the alarm, we were on the phone with an agent in less than 20 seconds. That surpassed our results from ADT (30 to 45 seconds) and Vivint (30 to 60 seconds).

It’s worth noting, however, that Alder’s monitoring plans don’t include smart home features. In fact, it doesn’t look like the Nintendo Switch-looking control panel supports home automation at all, so if smart home security is what you’re looking for, look elsewhere.

>> See Here: The Best Smart Home Security Systems

Cost

You won’t find any pricing information on Alder online, so calling to get a quote is the only option. To our surprise, they charged us only $150 for the comprehensive system we got. According to the bill, they charged us only for the smoke alarm and the outdoor camera. The rest of the equipment – the motion sensor, door sensor, control panel, and key fob – was all free. Or was it?

The catch was that we had to sign a three-year monitoring agreement, and for the features it offered, we believe the cost of those “free” pieces was rolled into the $55 monthly fee. Most companies that charge that much per month include smart home features. Vivint, Frontpoint, and ADT are some examples. Alder doesn’t offer any such features. By our estimate, about $10 to $15 of that monthly fee goes to the equipment cost. That’s about $350 to $450 in three years. Still a fair price.

>> For Reference: How Much Is a Home Security System?

Alder User Experience

The tablet-like touch screen control panel was the center of our user-experience. It didn’t take long for us to learn how to use it, and once we got the hang of it, managing our Alder security system came naturally. We also liked that it has physical buttons, such as the call button that calls the emergency response center with one press. The voice prompts were also a nice touch and could be helpful for someone who has vision impairment.

And lastly, all the controls you’d ever need for your Alder system are packed into the touchscreen panel’s interface. You can arm and disarm the system, test your sensors individually, create zones, and more. It may not be as advanced as Vivint’s control panel (the gold standard in our opinion), but we found that Alder’s keypad is solid all around.

5. Cove - Most Affordable DIY System

SecurityScore:

8.7 /10

View Packages Links to Cove

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Systems start at $99
Monitoring Options	Professional only
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $19.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	Professional or DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

View Packages Links to Cove

Cove Overview

A security system doesn’t have to be expensive to be good; we’ve seen that many times today, but none compares to Cove’s affordability. We’ll go more into the details of that later on. All we will say for now is that we got a comprehensive security system for less than $300. That’s hard to beat.

Cove is a DIY system that requires professional monitoring. In that regard, it’s similar to Alder and — as you’ll see after this — Frontpoint. We think Cove is a better option for renters than homeowners, though, due to its limited equipment. Nonetheless, it’s the best option available if you want a reliable security system without breaking the bank.

>> Other Options: Affordable Home Security Systems

Equipment

We noticed that Cove’s equipment is exactly the same as Alder’s, from the control panel to the eufy cameras. In fact, we didn’t bother buying cameras from Cove because we already tested the same cameras from Alder. That’s kind of a normal thing in the industry though. Many brands offer equipment from the same suppliers. Very few actually do their own research and development, like SimpliSafe and Vivint. So Cove seemingly “copying” Alder’s equipment wasn’t a dealbreaker to us.

What’s more important is that Cove can protect homes. It offers enough types of sensors to detect security and safety threats.

Monitoring

Cove has a self-monitoring option that includes camera streaming. It’s only $9.99, but like ADT, you need to pay for one month of professional monitoring before you can access the package.

But we recommend holding on to the professional monitoring plan. The packages come with 24/7 live monitoring, cellular backup, and environmental protection monitoring. You’ll need the more expensive option if you’re installing security cameras. But as we mentioned earlier, we didn’t buy any cameras. So we went with Cove Basic, which gave us all the protection we needed.

>> Learn More: The Best Contract-Free Home Security Systems and Services

Cost

Cove’s biggest selling point is the low cost of its equipment and monitoring. Basic costs $19.99 per month, while Plus costs $29.99. Cove’s pricing is $2 cheaper than the SimpliSafe plans and offers similar features.

As for the equipment, while we had to pay for it upfront, we got a massive discount. Cove packages were at 60 percent off at the time of our purchase, so we got a security system that originally cost over $500 for only $260. We suggest timing your purchase to get a deal as good as ours. Cove runs monthly deals that range from 20 to 65 percent off.

Cove User Experience

Given they have the same equipment, Cove gave us the same level of usability as Alder. Alder’s app gave us slightly more customizability, but Cove stood out for its uniquely low monthly fees. Since we didn’t get any cameras from Cove, we paid only $19.99 per month for security and fire monitoring. No other top-tier security system we tested offers professional monitoring at that price point. The only other one is SimpliSafe’s $19.99 Standard plan. Because it’s so cheap to use, we believe Cove is a top option for folks who want a monitored security system for a fraction of its usual cost.

6. Frontpoint - Best Customer Service and Support

SecurityScore:

8.9 /10

844-933-2405

View Packages Links to Frontpoint

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $69.00
Monitoring Options	Professional only
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $14.99
Contract Lengths	1-36 months
Installation Options	DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

844-933-2405

View Packages Links to Frontpoint

Frontpoint Overview

Frontpoint also forces you to sign up for a professional monitoring plan for the security equipment to work. The only difference between Frontpoint and Cove is that Frontpoint requires a three-year commitment. It’s not ideal, but if you were going to get professional monitoring anyway, then it might not be a dealbreaker.

What stood out the most during our testing was Frontpoint’s customer service. Even in the early 2010s, Frontpoint was already known for its customer-friendly policies. It took things up a notch lately by adding live chat support and extending phone support hours to as late as 11 p.m. (EST). Those are vital for a DIY system. You’re doing all the work yourself, so you deserve to have easy access to support whenever you need it.

Equipment

Frontpoint doesn’t make its own equipment, but instead gets it from reputable suppliers like Alarm.com, GE, and Honeywell. It also offers smart home equipment and security cameras from various brands, such as Yale, Kwikset, and SkyBell. The SkyBell Video Doorbell we reviewed is the same one Frontpoint offers.

The best Frontpoint component we tested by far was the hub itself. It was roughly the size of the PlayStation 1 we had growing up, but it was packed with features. It had a 24-hour battery backup, built-in cellular chip, and wireless modules for Zigbee and Z-Wave, both used for smart home connectivity. You can connect Zigbee and Z-Wave smart home devices to the hub even if they didn’t come from Frontpoint.

Monitoring

On its website, Frontpoint gives you a hard sell on its Ultimate Monitoring Plan, which costs about $49.99 per month. This is a one-size-fits-all plan that includes monitoring, smartphone access, home automation, and cloud video storage. This plan is great if you have the full range of devices from Frontpoint. However, it’s a bit overkill if you have a basic system.

The company also says it has monitoring plans “starting as low as $14.99” on its website. However, you have to call and talk to a sales rep to learn about those options.

>> Compare: ADT vs. Frontpoint

Cost

So we know Frontpoint’s monitoring is $49.99, but what about the equipment costs? Well, Frontpoint’s pricing is quite competitive. We started with a basic system for $129. That included a hub, a keypad, and a couple of door sensors. We also added a few different sensors, which ranged from $35 to $75 each, depending on the type. Frontpoint’s cameras are all over $100 ($119 to $299). In total, our Frontpoint system cost us more than $600, which was less than what we spent with ADT and Vivint.

Frontpoint User Experience

There are two sides to our Frontpoint user experience. On one hand, it was easy to arm and disarm the system using either the app or the keypad. On the other hand, the keypad’s lack of a screen means it can’t do much else besides that. That’s why we had to rely heavily on the Frontpoint app, which was fortunately very intuitive. It was through the app that we accessed our cameras and controlled our smart home equipment. Additionally, it was the only home security app we tested with built-in geofencing. It arms the system when you leave a geofenced radius and disarms it when you get back inside. Not even our top smart home security pick, Vivint, offers that feature.

7. Brinks Home Security - Best Smart Home Integrations

SecurityScore:

8.6 /10

View Packages Links to Brinks Home Security

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment costs	Starting at $360
Monitoring options	Professional
Monthly monitoring costs	Starting at $39.99 per month
Contract lengths	36 months
Installation options	DIY or professional
Smart platform integration	Alexa and Google Home

View Packages Links to Brinks Home Security

Brinks Overview

Brinks was a big name in home security back in the 1990s, and after a couple decades of silence, it has been making a resurgence lately. Now, it offers wireless security systems with a strong focus on smart home integrations.

We’re big fans of Alexa and Google Assistant. You can see as much if you read our Echo Show 8 review and Nest Hub review. With the security system we got from Brinks, we were able to control and monitor our home security using both smart displays. That, plus Brinks’ integration with third-party smart home brands like Kwikset (smart locks), myQ (garage door controller), and Alarm.com, makes it the best option for smart home enthusiasts.

Equipment

Brinks offers the whole shebang in terms of equipment — from sensors to smart home products. It actually provides more smart home automation options than any other system we tested, given that it has smart garage door controllers in its lineup.

At the center of our Brinks system was the touch screen control panel, which functioned as a hub and then some. For example, it doubled as a glass break sensor, alerting our phones when we accidentally dropped and broke a salad bowl. It also had a built-in camera designed to capture snapshots whenever someone enters the wrong disarm PIN. If someone’s secretly trying to guess your PIN, you’d know. It’s those little thoughtful features that made Brinks a sensible choice.

Monitoring

Thankfully, unlike Frontpoint, Brinks offers multiple levels of monitoring subscriptions. The cheapest option provides just smartphone access and professional monitoring. The mid-level option provides the same, plus smart home features (e.g., the ability to control Brinks using Alexa). The most expensive one, which is what we went for, adds access to cameras and video recording.

Brink’s monitoring was decently quick. It beat the 30-second industry average one time, but we clocked a 45- to 60-second response time from all the other tests. We’d say it’s about as fast as Vivint, but not as fast as ADT and certainly not Alder.

>> Compare: Brinks vs. ADT

Cost

Brinks’ pricing isn’t available on its website, and that lack of transparency might give some a pause, but in our experience, Brinks is an affordable option. We’d say its equipment costs about the same as Frontpoint’s, give or take $5 to $10. For example, Brinks quoted us $40 for a door sensor, which costs $35 from Frontpoint. The Brinks glass break sensor costs $80; it’s $75 from Frontpoint.

As for the monitoring rates, Brinks offers three levels. Based on the quote we got, the cheapest one is $39.99 per month, followed by $45.99, and $49.99 for the complete package.

Brinks User Experience

We wouldn’t call it the most user-friendly security system, but Brinks is up there with the best of them in terms of usability. It has an easy-to-use touchscreen control panel that reminds us of the ADT control panel in design and size. It’s a low-profile, seven-inch touchscreen tablet. Brinks also offers its own app now, which it didn’t when we previously tested it. It used to offer the Alarm.com app. Now with the Brinks Home app, users can customize their systems, create basic automations using compatible smart home products, and customize the arming modes (i.e. set which sensors are active in home and away modes).

8. abode - Best No-Contract Monitoring

SecurityScore:

8.0 /10

View Packages Links to abode

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $109.99
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monitoring Costs	Starting at $74.99 per year for the first year ($6.25 per month)
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month or Yearly
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

View Packages Links to abode

abode Overview

abode is SimpliSafe’s closest competition on this list. It’s a DIY system with professional and self-monitoring monitoring options, but unlike our No. 2 pick, abode offers multiple systems focused heavily on home automation.

Besides the diversity of abode’s offerings, we liked that it has flexible monitoring plans. Basic self-monitoring is always free, but there’s also a premium self-monitoring option and an affordable professional monitoring plan. Best of all, all those subscriptions are contract-free. We’ve been able to switch between professional and self-monitoring as needed without any penalties or hidden fees.

>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. abode

Equipment

For any abode system, choosing a hub is always the first step. This part confused us at first, but we went with the most practical (but also most expensive) one: the Iota All-in-One hub. We call it practical because for just a few bucks more than the other hubs, we got one with a built-in camera and motion sensor. That’s good use of money and space.

After that, we built a system of sensors and cameras. Take note that abode offers only one choice for security cameras and another one for video doorbells. The camera works inside and outside the house, but we still think abode should have a dedicated outdoor camera.

>> Other Options: The Best Outdoor Security Cameras

Monitoring

Once we set up the DIY abode system, we were given the option to self-monitor for free, upgrade to a paid self-monitored plan, or buy a professional monitoring subscription. We recommend trying out each option since abode is one of the few companies that will let you do that, due to its being contract-free.

We started with free self-monitoring, which didn’t suit us because of its lack of access to home automation (one of the main selling points of abode). Next, we upgraded to the paid self-monitoring plan, which worked great at first. It gave us video recording options for our cameras plus automation through the CUE feature. However, it remained internet-reliant, so when our Wi-Fi cut out, our home was left unprotected for hours. That’s when we upgraded to the professional monitoring plan, which gave us cellular backup, 24/7 live monitoring, and priority customer support.

>> Check It Out: The Best Security Systems Without Monthly Fees

Cost

abode’s price is another strong selling point for the brand. The system is designed for scalability, since the hubs can handle up to 160 individual devices (60 more than the SimpliSafe base station). The compatible devices range from simple sensors to smart devices like smart lights. You can also pair your existing smart home equipment if it’s compatible with Zigbee or Z-Wave.

To encourage users to build out their systems, abode kept its pricing low — as low as $39.99 for the weatherproof Abode Cam 2 security camera. That’s almost on par with the Wyze Cam v3 we reviewed, one of the most affordable security cameras there is.

For monitoring, the premium self-monitoring plan costs $6.99 per month, but once you’re sure about it, we suggest going with a one-year subscription for $69.99 to save $14. The professional monitoring plan, on the other hand, costs $22.99 monthly, or $219.99 for one year (save over $50).

abode User Experience

Abode’s lack of a touchscreen panel could pose a problem for homeowners who prefer a physical keypad over an app to control their systems. But we must say, abode’s app is a game-changer. We liked the CUE feature in particular – abode’s built-in automation engine. It rivaled Vivint’s custom home automation rules. In fact, you could say it’s slightly better because it supports more integrations. It can control Z-Wave and Zigbee devices that are compatible with the abode Iota hub, while the Vivint hub supports only Z-Wave. You’d need a Zigbee bridge to pair Zigbee devices to Vivint, and even then, only smart lights will work.

9. Ring Alarm - Best Security Cameras and Video Doorbells

SecurityScore:

7.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $199.98
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$10 with the purchase of a Ring Home plan
Contract Lengths	1-12 months
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

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Ring Alarm Overview

Our last entry on this list is Ring Alarm, and the reason it’s here isn’t just the security system itself, but the Ring brand as a whole. Ring is best known for its video doorbells and security cameras. We tested a number of its cameras ourselves, including the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. We can say that Ring’s security cameras are some of the best in the market.

Now, here’s where Ring Alarm comes in. In addition to working with the Ring cameras and video doorbells via the same app, the Ring Alarm covers areas the cameras don’t. More specifically, it focuses its protection indoors, while the cameras focus outdoors. They complement each other, which is why they are the best choice if you want extensive video security with a conventional home security system.

Equipment

Ring Alarm equipment is pretty standard. There are security sensors and smoke alarms, but no smart home devices at all. Ring makes up for that with a bunch of security cameras and video doorbells, though.

For security cameras, Ring offers an indoor camera, a semi-outdoor camera called the Stick Up Cam (weather-resistant but not weatherproof), a spotlight-equipped camera, and a floodlight-equipped camera. For the outdoor models, including Stick Up Cam, you can choose from different power options (battery, plug-in, solar, or wired). You can access our review of the complete Ring lineup for more details.

For video doorbells, Ring offers eight models, from simple and affordable, like the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, to smart but slightly more expensive, like the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. There’s a selection of wired and battery-powered options, all of which we covered in our Ring Video Doorbell review.

Monitoring

Monitoring was completely optional, but we highly suggest getting a Ring Protect Pro subscription, especially if you’re buying security cameras. Protect Pro includes 24/7 monitoring. Ring monitored our security system (but not the cameras like Deep Sentinel did), but on top of that, it also provided cloud video storage for our Ring cameras. It doesn’t matter how many cameras you have, they will all have cloud storage.

Cost

We went with the Premium plan and added professional monitoring. The total cost came to $29.99 per month, and there were no contracts to sign. That’s a good deal, considering we’d have to pay an extra $10 per month for a lot of the same features with ADT.

As for the equipment, however, prepare to spend at least a few hundred bucks. The smallest kit costs $200, which is good for small homes or apartments only. It includes only one motion sensor and one door sensor, plus the hub, keypad, and a wireless range extender.

If you want to save, we suggest getting bundles. The bundles typically include a Ring Alarm starter kit (five to 14 pieces), a security camera, and a video doorbell. The price range is from $300 to $700.

>> Learn More: Ring’s Pricing, Monitoring Plans, and Packages

Ring Alarm User Experience

The Ring App puts camera feeds front and center, making it easy to visually monitor your surroundings. Ring made sure not to push aside the Ring Alarm, though. You can choose an arming mode (Disarm, Home, Away) at the top part of the app’s interface. Better yet, you can make the Ring cameras arm the same time you arm your Ring Alarm. That ties them all together as one comprehensive system rather than just individual devices from the same brand.