Best Home Security Systems of 2022

1. ADT - Most Trusted Home Security Brand

The biggest name in home security known for professional installation and monitoring you can trust.

Editors Rating:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

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How We Review

ADT invented telegraphed security alerts over a century ago, and it continues to innovate security systems today. The most advanced feature of ADT systems today is home automation through a platform called ADT Control. ADT Control enables the use of voice commands through Google Assistant and Alexa, something we had gotten used to when we tested ADT.

Beyond voice control, we also conveniently controlled ADT through our smartphones. In fact, the ADT Control app served as our mobile control panel, giving us complete access to the system at home and outside. The system guarded against burglaries, gave environmental alerts, and automated our home, all from the smartphone app.

Lastly, in case you or someone you live with needs close medical attention, ADT has medical alert systems that are monitored alongside their security systems.

Professional Installation

Many new security companies design products for DIY installation only, but there are certainly advantages that result from professionally installed systems like ADT. With professionals on the job, you can be almost certain that it will be done correctly, giving you peace of mind that your home is truly guarded. Professional installation also takes the stress off of installing so many components, especially if you live in a large home.

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.

Impressively, we also learned that our ADT system was valued at $850, but we didn’t have to pay anything upfront. Instead, charges for the equipment came with our monthly monitoring bills, which is a lot easier on the wallet. You can dive deeper into pricing in our ADT costs guide.

Hardwired, Wireless & Hybrid Security

A lot of new security systems focus on wireless systems that use cellular signals or Wi-Fi to communicate, which is better than landline systems in most cases. However, in certain situations, a wired, landline system is better than wireless. For instance, for those living in rural areas where cellular and internet connectivity are sparse, a landline system is more reliable. ADT doesn’t discriminate in that regard. It’s one of the few remaining alarm companies that offer landline, wireless, and hybrid (wireless and wired at the same time) systems. No wonder it’s a popular choice in remote regions that lack 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. SimpliSafe - Best Home Security and Automation

A popular choice for no-contract, easy DIY setup, and refreshingly affordable home security. (Right now you can get 45-percent off a new system plus a free indoor security camera.)

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

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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 one of the cheaper home security solutions we tested. We had to pay for the system up-front — that’s the only caveat — but the overall expense was relatively low compared to other options. Entire security systems were available starting at $200, and SimpliSafe was kind enough to offer us discounts. Right now, you can save up to 45-percent if you purchase a system.

Watch out for discounts on special days, as well. That 45-percent deal is the company’s Fourth of July special offer, but there are discounts on other special days like Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. In fact, we’ve seen SimpliSafe discounts up to 60-percent several times a year. On top of that, if you want a really budget-friendly option, you can always opt for a refurbished system. The hardware may not be brand new, but SimpliSafe makes sure refurbished systems meet their high standards. In fact, refurbished systems are covered by the same warranty terms as brand new systems.

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.

3. Vivint - Best Pro Installation

An intelligent approach to home security with an impressive lineup of home automation features.

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

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How We Review

Vivint gave us professional installation at no cost. In addition to basic security, we also got environmental protection. What really made this company stand out for us, though was its home automation with voice commands.

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.

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.

Vivint’s security lineup also includes the Ping indoor camera and the Doorbell Camera Pro which features a 180-degree by 180-degree field of view.

4. Frontpoint - Best No Contract Home Security System

DIY home security systems offering cutting-edge technology, outstanding service, and total home automation.

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.

Frontpoint mitigates that $49.99 monitoring price tag with an offer you won’t find from most other security companies: Identity theft protection from Allstate at no additional cost.

Rich In Features

Frontpoint is one of the leading security systems thanks in part to its feature-rich security systems. As stated, the Ultimate plan includes everything from home security to home automation and video monitoring. To complement it, Frontpoint offers basic and advanced systems that are not only scalable, but also offer a wide range of features.

Just look at the mid-range equipment package from Frontpoint and what it includes. It has the usual home security components such as motion sensors and entry sensors, but you can also get an indoor security camera and a video doorbell for monitoring your entryway. Mid-range packages also include a heat and smoke sensor to protect your home from fire.

Even if you buy a pre-set bundle, you can still add components to your system. Your options include glass break sensors, indoor and outdoor cameras, garage door sensors, CO and flood sensors, and a whole lot of home automation devices. And remember, you can use all of these devices without having to pay any more than the $49.99 monthly fee.

5. Alder Security - Best Security System for Response Times

With response times 10 times faster than the rest, the professional monitoring from Alder was top-notch.

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. Cove - Best for Installation and Convenience

Cove is a newer security company that's disrupting the market by providing self-installed home security with professional monitoring and equipment. If you want a quick and easy setup, it's one of the best security systems around.

Editors Rating:

8.7 /10

How We Review

Cove is another DIY option that rivals SimpliSafe in terms of simplicity and budget-friendliness. Cove’s monitoring plans start at $17.99 per month, and you can get started on a system for under $200.

Our favorite thing about Cove is the installation process. When we ordered a system, Cove sent us pre-programmed equipment that was ready to work out of the box. We simply plugged in the control panel and pulled out the battery tabs out of the sensors and they paired right away. To activate the system, we just called Cove’s customer support. All in all, including the customer support call, we spent less than 30 minutes installing Cove.

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, but since we prefer professional monitoring over self-monitoring anyway, it wasn’t a big deal. 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

It might seem counterintuitive, but we found Cove’s text communications to be quite useful. Whenever the system gets tripped, Cove sends a link to a text-based communication system, where everyone in your family circle can communicate. Unlike traditional alarm systems that only call one member of the family to verify alerts, Cove’s InstaText system allows for a more efficient and faster emergency response. That’s one of the reasons that Cove’s response rate is three to four times faster than its competitors.

The InstaText system also reduces false alarms, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in false alarm fees. If the alert turns out to be a false alarm, you and your family circle can easily waive it off through InstaText. In a traditional system, if you miss the call, the cops might be called to respond, which could lead to false alarm fees from your city or local police department. In a way, Cove is also helping the government reduce unnecessary spending due to false alarms.

7. Brinks Home Security - Best DIY Home Security System

Easy to install home security system that works with Google Assistant and Alexa.

Editors Rating:

8.6 /10

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

Brinks doesn’t allow customers to self-monitor, but that’s not a turn-off considering Brinks’ relatively affordable pricing. We say “relatively” because it’s more expensive than monitoring from the likes of Cove and SimpliSafe, but Brinks is on the cheaper end compared to brands like Vivint and Frontpoint. And unlike Frontpoint, Brinks lets its customers decide the level of protection and amount of features they want with its three-tiered monitoring plan pricing.

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 even during a neighborhood blackout.

8. abode - Best No Monthly Fee Home Security System

Get home security and smart home automation without all the contracts and monthly fees.

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, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. 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

In addition, we were able to add an Abode Cam 2 indoor/outdoor camera for just $27.00. We splurged and bought a couple of the company’s smart light bulbs as well.

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 - Best Security System for Artificial Intelligence

Deep Sentinel’s cameras can distinguish suspicious behaviors from non-suspicious behaviors, the only AI of this type in the home security industry.

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.

Advanced Equipment

Deep Sentinel offers some of the best equipment in the business, packed with all sorts of AI technology. The system hub can process more than fifty images a second and label each one with a security classification. In addition, Deep Sentinel offers both wireless and PoE options. With Power over Ethernet, you don’t have to connect your cameras to an outlet. Just plug in the ethernet cord, and you’re all set.

10. Ring Alarm Security Kit - Best Alexa Home Security System

The Amazon-owned Ring Alarm plays well with Alexa and offers 24/7 monitoring for just $10/mo.

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 $199.99 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
• Chamberlain garage door openers
• Honeywell thermostats

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.