Best Home Security Systems of 2022

1. ADT

Editors Rating:

9.6 /10

855-908-4461

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How We Review

Back in the days of telegraphed security alerts, ADT was already a solid company. Since its founding, ADT has guarded more than six million homes and businesses with hardwired and wire-free alarm systems, all professionally installed.

Their home automation platform was called ADT Control. We appreciated that ADT Control enabled the use of voice commands with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It was something we’d gotten used to with our smartphones.

We also thought it was extremely convenient that we could use the system’s high-end control panels via the ADT Control app. Systems guarded against burglaries, gave environmental alerts, and automated our home. Additionally, we also liked ADT-monitored medical alert devices. This was good to know in case one of our parents needed to move in with us for a while. Read on for more details about why ADT was so popular.

Professional Installation

Many new security companies design products for DIY installation only. We definitely saw that there were advantages that resulted from ADT staying old-fashioned and setting up each security system themselves. One advantage we noted with professional setup was that we could be almost certain everything was installed 100% correctly.  This gave us the peace of mind that all access points were guarded. We also found professional installation was also especially helpful in large homes, which made for stressful DIY installations.

For us, the best part about ADT or ADT Control installation was that it was essentially free. We learned from the salesperson that we’d only have to pay between $99 and $199, depending on our home layout, and ADT offered us a $100 VISA Reward Card as a rebate. We’ve also seen ADT offer same-day installation if you order by 2 p.m., which is great if you’re in a hurry to get started.

We learned that once installed, the ADT system was valued at $850 or more retail. It was very helpful for us that we weren’t required to buy any equipment upfront. Instead, our charges came with our monthly monitoring bills, which you can dive deeper into on our page on ADT’s costs.

Hardwired, Wireless & Hybrid Security

Many of the best home security companies we discussed focused exclusively on wireless communication among components. ADT was an exception. For decades, they installed and monitored hardwired security systems, and we liked that these were still available. We also noticed that ADT was among the minority of modern security companies that supported landlines. We figured this was one of the reasons they were a popular choice in remote regions that lacked cellular coverage.

Medical Alerts

We also discovered that ADT monitored medical alerts. Our options included a variety of bracelets and neck pendants capable of sending emergency signals. Three plans were available:

• $29.99/month – Home-based medical alert
• $34.99/month – Home-based medical alert, plus fall detection
• $39.99/month – Fall detection included, Medical alert wearables had GPS tracking for emergency medical support at home or away

While we felt pricing for ADT medical alerts was clear, we recognized that costs for ADT home security were more complex and varied from home to home.

2. Cove

Editors Rating:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

One way that we saved money with Cove was by installing the system ourselves. Cove pre-programmed the system even before it shipped to us. Once it arrived, we stuck our sensors on our walls via their 3M-backed adhesives. We called Cove’s customer support to ensure each sensor worked correctly, which made our installation take a little longer. However, you can set a Cove system up in under half an hour if you don’t need that extra confirmation. The average Cove customer installs their system in 27 minutes. This is definitely a system that’s easy to install and best of all, free to install.

24/7 Professional Monitoring

Being a newer company, we were surprised that all of Cove’s systems require 24/7 professional monitoring for either $17.99 or $27.99 a month. That extra $10 a month got us remote control, Alexa and Google Assistant integrations, a lifetime lock on our monthly rate, plus a $5 monthly credit if we wanted to buy extra equipment. We think that’s worth it for the remote control and smart home integrations alone!

Text Communications with Cove Plus

We loved that during emergencies, Cove’s team could text us, which could be really helpful if, god forbid, we’re ever in a hostage situation. That’s one of the reasons why Cove’s response rate is three to four times faster than its competitors. Even if you’re part of a family, Cove can text the whole group at once!

Plus, Cove frequently offers markdowns on some or all of its equipment, helping you save even more cash on an already affordable brand.

Currently, you can get up to 50-percent off Cove equipment plus a free security camera.

3. Vivint

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

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How We Review

Vivint installed and monitored our wire-free home security system. We got to choose from Vivint for basic security and environmental protection, but home automation with voice commands made this company stand out to us.

Vivint worked with some of the major smart home assistants such as Google Home and Alexa to develop a fully autonomous home. In our research, we found that most Vivint customers were homeowners with long-term security contracts and the majority gave Vivint excellent reviews. And if you’re on the lookout for bargains on Vivint, don’t miss their fall sale, which includes free professional installation and a $50 gift card with any new system purchase. But even without that deal, read on for three reasons Vivint was one of our favorites:

Voice Commands

Vivint partnered with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Nest’s Google Assistant to offer voice control of home systems. Some of the possible commands were:

• Arm the security system “away”
• Close our garage door
• Dim our lights
• Turn on our lights
• Turn the heat up three degrees

When we started feeling old-fashioned, we controlled our Vivint security with a key chain remote, a mobile app, or the main control panel.

Home Security with AI

We could definitely tell the Vivint security control panel, dubbed the Vivint Smart Hub, had artificial intelligence. With our permission, it adapted automatically to our routine.

The benefits of AI have cost savings and convenience. One example was smart energy management:

• If our security system detected that nobody was home, it could set our thermostat to conserve energy.
• If it learned that we usually returned home at a certain time, it would reset the temperature in time for our arrival.

Vivint reported that intelligent energy management saved customers about 10 to 15% on home heating and cooling.

We could control Vivint Sky’s adaptation. Under our direction, our security system gradually transitioned along a three-point continuum:

1. Only taking orders
2. Making suggestions based on our previous interactions
3. Taking actions on its own

High-Quality Cameras

Vivint made cutting-edge security cameras for our indoor and outdoor use. We could record video anytime with cloud storage and remotely adjust each camera’s settings.

We were most impressed by the newest Vivint security camera, the Outdoor Camera Pro with night vision. It provided 24/7 “lurker detection,” thanks to artificial intelligence.

A doorbell camera and the indoor Ping camera were also in our Vivint home security lineup.

4. Frontpoint

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

844-933-2405

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How We Review

Frontpoint sold home security systems with do-it-yourself setup and professional monitoring that we found very impressive. We liked that each DIY system supported burglary prevention, environmental protection, and/or home automation.

We could order online or by phone, and the Frontpoint sales agents were refreshingly low pressure. They told us the cheapest security system was priced at just $129. All our equipment was wire-free and portable for renters’ convenience. Read on for three great reasons why we recommended Frontpoint.

Rapid Response Emergency Monitoring

As Frontpoint customers, we installed the equipment ourselves but enrolled in a professional monitoring plan.

Frontpoint’s salespeople explained to us that the company partnered with Rapid Response Monitoring Service to dispatch emergency personnel. We were told this was a top-notch service with robust backup plans in case of power blackouts and national crises. As we learned more about Rapid Response, we also found out they played a big part in helping Frontpoint maintain a great reputation among customers and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

With Frontpoint, there’s only one monitoring plan available, which costs $49.99 a month. While that’s a downside for those who are looking for a simple and affordable security system, it’s an upside if you want flexibility and scalability. The $49.99 plan includes everything Frontpoint has to offer, including home automation and video monitoring. If you want to add more devices to your system down the line, it’ll be easy to do so thanks to Frontpoint’s single-tier monitoring approach and DIY installation.

Many Features Were Available

Frontpoint sold basic and advanced systems, plus we could choose custom combinations of equipment.

We liked the variety that the cheapest bundle combined. It included protections against burglary and environmental factors our home might face. We listed its components below.

• A touchpad control panel
• Remote control keyfob
• Three entry sensors
• A motion sensor
• Detectors for fire, smoke, water leaks, and carbon monoxide

We could add features such as:

• Glass break sensors
• A doorbell camera
• Wireless indoor cameras
• Automated door locks
• Remote-control thermostat

We were very interested in the newest Frontpoint control panel, which separates the keypad from the main hub. That way, we could hide our hub so even if an intruder smashes the keypad, our system would remain active. Even if the intruder finds the hub, though, it had Crash & Smash protection, which meant that Frontpoint would notify police if someone tampered with it.

5. Alder Security

Editors Rating:

9.0 /10

844-965-1405

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How We Review

Every Alder system, including ours, came with 24/7 professional monitoring, but Alder did things a little differently than some other systems we tested. Their response times were up to ten times faster than competitors we looked at, with an average of 3.4 seconds in 2017. In home invasions or even hostage situations, every second matters, so we felt super safe knowing that help was only a few seconds away.

Trial Period

When we signed up for Alder, we were shocked to find out that our only option was to agree to a three-year period. Since we’re single and living in New York City, three years could feel like a lifetime. We had no idea what city we’d be living in by then? Fortunately, our Alder salesperson told us we could try our system out for 30 days. Of course, we only returned our systems once we were done testing them thoroughly over about a year, so we couldn’t make this 30 day time period. However, if we had returned our system within 30 days of purchasing it, we would’ve gotten a complete refund, except for return shipping, which seemed pretty fair.

Alexa Integration

We were deep into the Amazon smart home ecosystem, so we had fun controlling our Alder system with Alexa, arming it, checking its status, and with the GC2 touchscreen control panel, controlling our smart thermostats.

DIY Installation

It literally took us less than 15 minutes to install our Alder security system. All we had to do was plug in the control panel and set it up on the screen, stick the sensors on our walls, doors, and windows, and download the Alder Security app to our iPhones and Androids. Alder also offered us professional installation on the house!

6. SimpliSafe

Editors Rating:

9.8 /10

How We Review

SimpliSafe made it easy and affordable to install a home alarm system ourselves. We were able to set up security and environmental protection in an hour or less.

Our full price for the cheapest SimpliSafe system was $244. Professional monitoring was optional and started at $17.99 per month. DIY monitoring was always available with the free SimpliSafe mobile app. In general, the costs of SimpliSafe are much lower than companies like ADT.

Read on for our reasons why SimpliSafe was best for no-contract home security.

Low Prices for Equipment & Monitoring

SimpliSafe was our favorite lower-budget home security solution. We paid for a system upfront but the expense was relatively low. Right now, you can get up to 20-percent off of your equipment fee plus a free indoor camera. That’s just one of the many promos and discounts that this brand launches every year, peaking at 50- to 60-percent off around Black Friday, Christmas, and 4th of July. On top of that, you can get refurbished systems for less than the MSRP of brand new systems. It’s a great way to save, if you don’t mind using refurbished systems, since they also come with a standard one-year warranty.
Along with yard signs and stickers, our SimpliSafe starter set included:

• A base station
• A wireless keypad
• A keyring remote
• One motion sensor
• Two entry sensors

We were excited that the deal also included a SimpliCam, a high-definition video security camera with a motion sensor and that could send alerts.

A free SimpliSafe mobile app helped us monitor the system. With SimpliSafe our professional monitoring cost $17.99 or $27.99 month-to-month. The $24.99 plan gave us basic home automation and video verification on top of 24/7 monitoring.

Quality Equipment

Although SimpliSafe security systems were inexpensive, they weren’t shoddy. Our equipment was low-priced mainly because SimpliSafe manufactured it themselves. Meanwhile, their competitors included middlemen who passed along big markups.

One example of SimpliSafe’s high quality was their SmashSafe backup against tampering: If someone tried to disable our system, the monitoring service alerted police. Another example was the Heartbeat feature, which continuously checked that the security system was working as intended.

In terms of SimpliSafe’s cameras, the brand just added a wire-free outdoor camera to their lineup. The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is $169, the same price as SimpliSafe’s video doorbell and about $70 more than the original SimpliCam. It’s IP65-rated for weather protection and records in up to 1080p, the industry standard for security camera video quality. Though the camera has its limitations – it only works when it’s paired with a SimpliSafe system, for one – we’re glad to see SimpliSafe finally offer an outdoor camera.

Simple to Install and Move

Setting up our SimpliSafe system was easy. From our understanding, most customers set up the equipment on their own and only about three percent order help. We installed our system in about 20 minutes and estimated it would take someone inexperienced about 30 minutes to manage. All equipment was freestanding or attached to surfaces with removable adhesive. We could easily move a SimpliSafe security system to a different home. The portability combined with no contracts helped make SimpliSafe a favorite for both renters and homeowners.

7. Brinks Home Security

Editors Rating:

8.6 /10

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How We Review

Not only do we love DIY installation because it’s free, but with Brinks, we got help over the phone anyway, without having to pay. Plus, if we had signed up for the Smart Security Ultimate Package, we could’ve gotten professional installation for free! But we digress.
When we set up our Brinks security system, we talked on the phone with an installation expert who helped us every step of the way. After we set the system up, we did a test medical alarm call (with the guidance of the support agent we were on the phone with) and talked more about how the system worked. The entire process took us 35 minutes and was actually, dare we say, pleasant, as far as home security installation goes.

Smart Home Integrations

We controlled our Brinks system using Alexa and Google Assistant, because who doesn’t love a good voice command? After figuring out that Brinks only works with the Alarm.com Google Assistant action, we used Google to:

• Arm our system
• Control IoT devices
• Ask if our system was armed

Alexa had one more capability, disarming the system as well. We had fun telling our voice assistants to play our live footage on the big screen, as Brinks works well with Echo Shows, Fire TV Sticks, Nest Hubs, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc. In fact, Brinks systems can act as a hub for up to 119 smart home devices.

Professional Monitoring

While Brinks has professional monitoring as an option, we could also choose to self-monitor our system on our own, if we wanted. Regardless, Brinks has three packages to choose from, all with different monthly monitoring costs.

While these aren’t the lowest prices for monitoring we’ve ever seen, they’re also not the most expensive, and for 24/7 protection, we felt that the monitoring plans are worthwhile. Plus, the plans include cellular backup, which kept us connected to the monitoring center evcen during a neighborhood blackout.

8. abode

Editors Rating:

8.0 /10

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How We Review

Abode was one of the best security companies that allowed us to monitor activity for free; we loved that we could access all features of their mobile app without paid service. We had the options for long-term and very short-term contracts, too. If we were away for a long weekend, for example, we could order three days of professional monitoring.

We bought our equipment through the Abode website, the only place it was available. We built a high-quality Abode system for security alerts, environmental monitoring, and home automation. Additionally, we used the option for voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Read on for details about why Abode security was one of our favorites.

DIY Monitoring and Control

For DIY monitoring our Abode security system connected to a mobile app. Without paid service, we could arm our system, watch live video surveillance, adjust lighting and temperature, and use all other app features.

For three days, the Abode app stored our system activity for free. Longer storage was available to us with paid contracts.

Professional Monitoring

We could select professional monitoring by Abode, which added emergency dispatch service and kept a 90-day log of our system’s activity.

We could easily switch from one monitoring plan to another within the billing section of our app. The best Abode monitoring deal we found required one year of prepaid service.

Advanced Equipment

Abode’s high-quality sensors detected movement and environmental threats in and around our home. For the ultimate simplicity, we could have chosen an all-in-one security tower with a video camera. We chose the following components as part of our Abode set:

• Motion sensors that take pictures
• Glass vibration sensors
• Acoustic glass break sensors
• Wide-angle video cameras

One of our favorite aspects about Abode, was the Abode home security app also integrated automation devices from third parties. Hue lights, Kwikset locks, and Nest thermostats were some of the options we had.

We could use voice control integrations with both Amazon and Google through Abode. These let us get hands-free help around the home. All we had to do to adjust our home’s lighting, blinds, temperature, and more, was talk.

9. Deep Sentinel

Editors Rating:

7.9 /10

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How We Review

While other security cameras can simply distinguish people, pets, vehicles and packages from other moving objects, Deep Sentinel is designed to detect suspicious behaviors. That includes attempted robberies, vandalism, car theft and burglary, making your notifications matter more.

DIY Installation

After we watched the instructional video, setting up our Deep Sentinel system took about half an hour. All we had to do was plug the cameras in and sync them with our mobile app and the hub. Of course, we had to mount the cameras as well, but we loved the fact that Deep Sentinel gave us a screwdriver plus step-by-step instructions in the app.

Fast Response Times

In 30 seconds, we would have gotten alerted of any robbery attempts, break-ins involving our doors or windows, violent behavior, package theft attempts and more. Within 60 seconds, we would’ve gotten confirmations of packages deliveries, notifications that someone was standing at our front door or that police were on our property. Leveraging advanced AI capabilities with 24/7 professional monitoring, Deep Sentinel has some of the fastest response times in the business, next to Alder of course.

Live Guard Monitoring

All Deep Sentinel systems come with 24/7 professional monitoring, which the company calls Live Guards. But unlike with other systems, we could actually see the exact guards who were on duty and when, ensuring us that yes, we were protected by real humans.

10. Ring Alarm Security Kit

Editors Rating:

7.7 /10

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How We Review

We were obsessed with our Alexa, so we were thrilled to test out Ring, which is owned by Amazon and was compatible with Alexa. When we did our shopping, we found out Ring also sold high-decibel alarm systems compatible with video cameras, environmental monitoring, home automation, and voice control.

This system allowed us to self-monitor or pay for an affordable month-to-month monitoring service. Note that Ring now has the Ring Alarm Pro system available, which is a security system with a built-in router with extra features built for digital safety.

Low-Cost & Free Features

Our most affordable option was Ring’s simplest home security package, which cost $179 retail. Optional monitoring started at just $20, and we could cancel anytime without penalty. Another option is to self-monitor for free, but if you have Ring cameras as well, we recommend paying for cloud storage, at least, which starts at $3 a month for one camera or $10 for unlimited cameras. Exclusive Ring security discounts were available to teachers, military members, and first responders.

We were able to self-monitor our home with Ring’s free mobile app. Ring also developed a free Crimewatch app, Neighbors App that we could choose to join or not join. In our area, it added community power to home security with safety alerts from neighbors, police, and Ring.

Video Security with Low Bandwidth Demand

Our Ring video security cameras were high definition, but they were set to record only when motion was detected. This put less demand on our home Wi-Fi service compared with popular competitors systems which recorded constantly. This would have mattered a lot to us if we didn’t have an unlimited Wi-Fi data plan or were concerned our home security would slow down our other online activity.

Third-Party Integration

Ring was so easy for us to use because its security hub was compatible with devices from so many brands. Some examples included:

• First Alert smoke/carbon monoxide detector
• GE light dimmers
• Schlage smart deadbolts

However, not all our third-party gadgets could be monitored by emergency dispatchers. To save us time, we found a list of certified products that were available on the Ring security website.