Best Smart Home Security Systems of 2024

1. ADT - Best Smart Home Security App

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 $30 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month 36 months and up
Installation Options	Professional and DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

855-908-4461

View Packages Links to ADT

Smart Capabilities

ADT works with one of the leaders of the smart home industry, Google Nest, to provide top-of-the-line smart security equipment. We’re talking about Nest Cams that can detect and recognize people, Nest thermostats that automate temperature control, and Nest smart displays that orchestrate everything with just your voice.

To tie it all together, the ADT+ app provides all the necessary management and control features. We found that the web dashboard made it easy to create automated routines. However, we wish ADT still offered its smart touch screen hub. They replaced it with a screenless base station that really does nothing to control smart home devices. If you prefer using a touch screen hub, you’re better off with our second pick, Vivint. Otherwise, we can confidently say that the ADT+ app is the best smart security app available.

>> More Options: Best Security Systems for Google

Monitoring Options

If you want to integrate smart home devices into your ADT system, you will need a monitoring plan. More specifically, you will need either the top-tier or mid-tier plan that costs $44.99 or $34.99, respectively. Professional monitoring is required if you’re having your ADT system installed by a technician, which we recommend given its status as one of the best professionally installed systems. If you end up installing your own system like we did when we tested ADT Self Setup, you can cancel your monitoring at any time.

ADT’s plans are pricier than SimpliSafe by a few bucks, but we’re big fans of ADT monitoring. It has 12 monitoring centers across the U.S. for redundancy and it uses advanced alerting protocols like SMART Monitoring. Instead of waiting 30 seconds or more to alert you through a phone call – the traditional process for alarm monitoring – ADT sends alerts via texts in mere seconds. We still got a call from ADT when we didn’t respond to the text.

Pricing

Speaking of pricing, ADT’s packages start at around $260 for the most basic configuration. That’s affordable, considering that ADT’s features and equipment are more in line with full-service security systems such as Vivint rather than DIY systems like SimpliSafe. For reference, SimpliSafe starts at about $250, while Vivint basic packages range from $500 to $700.

Of course, that basic ADT package doesn’t include any smart home equipment. The cheapest option with smart home equipment is the Video Essentials package which includes one Google Nest Cam or Google Nest Doorbell. It normally costs $449, but if you have it professionally installed, it requires a 36-month contract.

>> Related: ADT’s Best Deals Throughout The Year

ADT may be the oldest home security company around with 150 years of experience under its belt. But that doesn’t mean it’s old-school. ADT has been at the forefront of the evolution of home security technology. For example, when we got alerts while testing ADT, we knew they were current thanks to its cutting-edge Alarm Messenger service that reduces ADT false alarms. It uses text messenger to notify users immediately of potential break-ins. We liked this real-time responsiveness.

On the smart home front, we saw how ADT works with Google Nest. But in case you’re wondering, it works with Alexa too. ADT can also pair with over 4,000 other smart home products that use Z-Wave, such as Kwikset and Yale smart locks and smart lights from Philips Hue and LIFX. Connecting our Z-Wave products let us control them with the ADT+ app as well as integrate them into our automated routines. We connected ADT to our Android TV so we could review video footage from our ADT cameras from the comfort of our couch.

Of course, full-service home security comes with a full-service price tag. ADT isn’t cheap in terms of equipment or monitoring. Even the self-installed system requires a serious investment in gear. And you have to play the company’s game: signing up for the right monitoring plan and committing to a long contract. If you’re looking for top-notch security and convenience, though, it’s tough to beat ADT.

2. Vivint - Best Smart Home Security With 24/7 Monitoring

SecurityScore:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

View Packages Links to Vivint

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment costs	Starting at $449
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

Smart Capabilities

Speaking strictly about smart home capabilities, Vivint is the strongest option. As we explain in detail in our Vivint review, it works with a wide range of third-party equipment. Vivint integrates with Alexa and Google Home, Kwikset, Philips Hue, and even Chamberlain garage door openers. We integrated it with our Z-Wave smart gadgets as well.

Even without third-party integrations, Vivint still stands out. Its equipment is built with smart security in mind. For example, as we saw first-hand while testing the Vivint video doorbell, Vivint cameras can tell the difference between people, animals, and packages, and send customized alerts accordingly. The features of Vivint equipment felt very intentional, from the touchscreen Vivint Smart Hub (pictured below) to the cameras that utilize sounds and lights to scare off intruders by themselves. With a system like that, you can expect a great deal of personalized features.

>> Compare: Vivint vs. ADT

Monitoring Options

Vivint only offers professional monitoring. If you’re the type of person who has a smart home for convenience, that’s perfect. It’s one more thing you don’t have to think about.

Vivint’s monitoring isn’t on par with ADT, but it’s a close second. For instance, while Vivint doesn’t have a feature exactly like ADT’s Alarm Messenger, we still got text-based alerts. All of our system notifications came through SMS. Vivint also has two monitoring centers, one in Utah and one in Minnesota. That’s not as many as ADT’s twelve monitoring centers, but two still give enough redundancy to keep your home safe.

>> Check Out: Best Self-monitored Security Systems

Pricing

One thing that might hold you back from choosing Vivint is the price. Simply put, Vivint’s pricing is one of the highest on the market, with equipment packages starting at a steep $499. And yes, that doesn’t include smart home equipment yet. If you go all in, you can easily rack up a $1,200 bill. To give you something to ponder on, Vivint’s outdoor camera alone costs $399. We think we got what we paid for, but we did pay a lot. So keep that in mind if you’re considering Vivint.

We should also mention that monitoring a system with smart home equipment will likely cost $49 per month or more. That’s on the higher end as well, although not ridiculously so. ADT charges $44.99 for the top-tier plan and Frontpoint – another pretty good smart security system – charges $49 for its only monitoring plan. So while it’s more expensive than a typical DIY smart security system (see our next pick, SimpliSafe), we think Vivint’s pricing is reasonable.

Vivint put us in charge of our system. We didn’t just get a notification when a sensor was triggered. Vivint let us see footage from any Vivint camera either on Vivint’s Hub or through our mobile device to find out what triggered the center. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro even let us create rules that trigger its LED ring light and audible alarm automatically which we used to scare off anyone lurking on our property for more than 60 seconds. And monitoring isn’t just someone at a call center checking on you. When a smoke alarm went off while we were making dinner (don’t ask) we had a real conversation with Vivint personnel about how to reset the detector, and they stayed with us until we’d tested it.

Vivint works seamlessly with both Google Home and Alexa, and with Z-wave compatibility, we could link every smart device in our home to our system. Vivint’s own equipment is pretty smart as well. The video doorbell, for instance, didn’t just tell us when the sensor picked up some activity; we got a message telling us whether it detected a person, an animal, or a package. All these features were easy for us to use. The app is well designed. And all the features and controls were right at our fingertips.

If there’s a downside to Vivint, it’s their business model. With Vivint, signing up for a system and picking out components involved calling the company and dealing with a customer service representative. During that conversation, we needed to be firm with our no’s to avoid a few upsells for equipment we didn’t need. But, we were able to finance all of our equipment to avoid paying over $1,000 up-front.

>> Dig Deeper: Vivint FAQ

3. SimpliSafe - Best Google Home-Compatible Smart Home Security

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

View Packages Links to SimpliSafe

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $250
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$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

Smart Capabilities

SimpliSafe being here might raise some eyebrows. After all, SimpliSafe is known for its limited smart home integrations. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and August smart locks, but that’s all. If what you want is a security system that can control third-party smart home devices, then SimpliSafe isn’t the best choice for you. We recommend ADT or Vivint for that use case.

That said, SimpliSafe works great as a security system connected to either Alexa or Google Assistant. We found it to have better integration with Alexa, but there are such few systems that work with Google Assistant that we named SimpliSafe as the best Google home-compatible system.

Smart home security with SimpliSafe works differently than ADT and Vivint though. Instead of controlling smart devices using SimpliSafe, you’ll control your smart devices alongside SimpliSafe using either Alexa or Google Assistant. And while that means you won’t integrate smart devices with SimpliSafe directly, you can create integrations using either voice assistant as a middleman.

>> Find Out More: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint

Monitoring Options

One of the nice things about SimpliSafe is that you can choose between DIY and professional monitoring. In fact, you can buy a system and pay nothing else, ever, if you’re willing to monitor things yourself. There are no contracts; plus, you get real-time alerts and access to live video feeds. Pay a bit more and you can add cloud storage to your plan. That’s what we did to test out SimpliSafe’s Google Home and Alexa integrations since SimpliSafe requires at least their $9.99 per month plan for integrations. Or go all the way and sign up for full 24/7 professional monitoring.

Pricing

Yet another thing we like about SimpliSafe is its upfront pricing. SimpliSafe offers several equipment packages, ranging from the four-piece Foundation to the 14-piece Haven. You can frequently find SimpliSafe deals, and prices are subject to change frequently, which can make it hard to know exactly when is the best time to buy a system. Black Friday regularly comes with the best deals. This year, they offered their basic package for under $100. All the prices are published on the site, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Monitoring is also cheaper than with some of the full-service systems. If you want to integrate SimpliSafe with either Alexa or Google and professional monitoring, you’ll need to pay $31.99 per month for the Core (formerly Fast Protect) plan. However, its main advantage is that it also comes with live camera monitoring for the Smart Alarm indoor camera. We upgraded to this plan after testing their $9.99 per month self-monitoring plan. If you have that camera in your security system, SimpliSafe emergency response agents will be able to check on you via the camera’s two-way audio – or if you’re not home, turn the intruder away.

Our favorite thing about SimpliSafe is that it gives you choices. You can choose one of its packages or build your own. You get monitoring choices: full professional monitoring or complete self-monitoring, plus a few options in between (See our SimpliSafe FAQ for more information). That flexibility lets SimpliSafe fit almost any budget.

We should mention that to get access to all of SimpliSafe’s smart features, we had to sign up for the most expensive monitoring plan or forego monitoring and use their self-monitoring with cloud storage plan. We opted to combine them. At $31.99 per month, it’s about 30 percent less than what we paid for Vivint and ADT. And it was totally worth it to be able to remotely arm our system and view live video footage on our smartphone at work.

Our only complaint is that SimpliSafe’s cameras don’t have many artificial intelligence features. See, for example, our review of the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera. The company also doesn’t offer much choice when it comes to cameras: two indoor models, an outdoor model, and a video doorbell. If you like options, you might want to consider SimpliSafe alternatives.

4. abode - Best DIY Smart Home Security

SecurityScore:

8.0 /10

View Packages Links to abode

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $160
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monitoring Costs	Starting at $69 per year ($5.83 per month)
Contract Lengths	Yearly
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

View Packages Links to abode

Smart Capabilities

abode offers three plans, each one with a different level of technology. To outfit our smart home, we needed either the Smart Security package or the Iota package. We went with the Iota package but both come with their own hubs to control everything. Of course, we could also use abode’s app or connect everything to Google Home or Alexa and use our voice. As a bonus, abode also works with Apple HomeKit — a rarity that makes it one of our best systems for Apple — and it’s compatible with IFTTT.

Monitoring Options

Like SimpliSafe, abode gave us the option to sign up for a professional monitoring plan or self-monitor. With professional monitoring, we could sign up for a single month of service or save money by signing a one-year contract. We ended up signing up for a month to test out the service first. We would have had choices if we self-monitored too. We could avoid monthly fees altogether and still get push notifications and access to live video. Or, for $7 per month, we could add seven days of cloud storage. One note: The price for professional monitoring goes up considerably if you stay with abode after the first year. We don’t love to see that.

>> Head-to-head: abode vs. SimpliSafe

Pricing

abode’s prices are very affordable. You can get the Smart Security package, with hub, entry sensor, motion sensor, and key fob, for $279. Another option is to buy the more advanced Iota system, with hub, entry sensor, and fob, for $379. That’s what we went with. Both packages are scalable, or you can build your own.

The cameras are real bargains, with the abode Cam 2 available for just $59.99 so we had to add it to our system. That’s similar to the Ring Indoor cam’s price. As for monitoring, it was a full $5 cheaper than what we paid for SimpliSafe monitoring, even when paid by the month. And, if you purchase a full year, you’ll pay just $169 total. That’s just over $14 per month, cheaper than anyone else out there. The price increases for year two, but it’s still lower than just about every other provider.

Outside of Vivint, you won’t find a system with more smart home compatibility than abode. In fact, don’t tell anyone, but the truth is, it has more compatibility. Vivint doesn’t work with HomeKit, for instance; abode does. In fact, abode even offers its own smart system — CUE — so if you haven’t yet started building a smart home, there’s no need to invest extra money in Google Home or Alexa.

We were most excited to discover that abode works with IFTTT. That meant we could set up some nifty routines connecting our security system to other smart devices in our home. When we went away for the weekend, for instance, we set the TV to turn on every time a motion detector was triggered. That way, anyone who happened to be lurking on our property would think we were home.

>> Find Alternatives: Best Home Security Systems for Alexa

Meanwhile, abode’s prices are well below Vivint’s. In fact, they’re comparable to SimpliSafe’s, and in some cases even cheaper. You can buy an equipment package and pay nothing more ever if you’re willing to monitor the system yourself. But why do that when professional monitoring costs as little as $12 per month?

Of course, this system isn’t nearly as sleek as Vivint’s, and you won’t get the same level of service. The abode app, for example, can be a little clunky, and response times with abode can’t compare to those of ADT or Vivint. If you’re looking for a great app, you might check out our list of the best security systems with apps. Still, if you’re looking for a low-price alternative that still gives you tons of smart functionality, abode could very well be the right system for you.

5. Ring Alarm - Best Alexa-Compatible Smart Home Security

SecurityScore:

7.7 /10

View on Amazon Links to Ring Alarm

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $179
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $4.99
Contract Lengths	1-12 months
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

View on Amazon Links to Ring Alarm

Smart Capabilities

Ring offers the standard range of equipment: entry sensors, motion sensors, and chimes. Where the company really excels is in its range of cameras. We could get anything from a simple indoor camera to an outdoor spotlight camera. And we decided to test the Spotlight Cam with our Ring Alarm system. We also got a choice of Ring doorbell cameras and we found that we could even get a car cam through Ring if we needed it. There isn’t any fancy facial recognition software, but most cameras do come with person detection, provided you sign up for a Protect Plan.

Monitoring Options

Ring offers a nice range of choices when it comes to monitoring. This is another company that let us self-monitor. Without a monthly plan at all, we still got real-time alerts and live video. For less than the price of a Starbucks latte, we could upgrade to get video recording for one camera. Get a Ring doorbell (see our Ring doorbell review), and you can watch footage any time. Go one step up at $10 per month to get recording for an unlimited number of cameras. Or, for $20 per month, you can get full 24/7 professional monitoring.

We always recommend professional monitoring, since you never know when you’re going to be too busy to respond to a push alert. And with Ring, you’re not going to break the bank getting professional monitoring. Still, it’s nice to have options, and we respect how many Ring offers.

Pricing

Ring can be an incredibly affordable system if you’re careful about what you buy. An indoor camera, for instance, costs just $59.99. Pair that with true self-monitoring, and you can protect your home — in theory, anyway — for $60. On the other hand, Ring has never been great about putting together equipment packages. And we find it easy to blow through our budget when buying items individually. We can say that Ring offers one of the best professional monitoring plans on the market at $20 per month. That’s not quite as good as abode, but let’s call it second best.

>> Compare: Ring vs. SimpliSafe

You’d expect a company owned by Amazon to have great smart home compatibility. And you’d be right. Ring products integrate well with Alexa and, to a lesser extent, Google Home (and you get nice Ring Prime Day deals to boot). We certainly had no trouble using voice commands to arm and disarm the system, and we were able to pull camera video up on our Echo Show while we were making dinner.

Ring’s equipment, on the other hand, isn’t what we’d call sophisticated. It still has everything we need for basic home security. All cameras come with at least 1080p HD resolution as well as two-way audio. At that resolution, we knew instantly that the guy who showed up on our doorstep asking for “Ray” was a stranger. And we were able to tell him in the clearest possible terms that we weren’t answering our door.

There’s also person detection, which cut down the amount of false alerts we received. Otherwise, there aren’t a lot of extras: no facial recognition and no privacy zones, except on the Stick Up Cam (see our Stick Up cam review).

In the end, Ring is a home security system for those who like to be in control. You won’t find a lot of full-service options–no one is going to walk you through purchase options or offer to install your equipment for you (though Ring does recommend some installers if you need them). On the other hand, you get more choices than you do with the full-service companies, and you get a lot of smart home compatibility.

6. Cove - Easiest to Use Smart Home Security

SecurityScore:

8.7 /10

View Packages Links to Cove

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Must customize package
Monitoring Options	Professional
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $19.99 per month
Contract Lengths	No contract required
Installation Options	DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

View Packages Links to Cove

Smart Capabilities

Cove offers everything you need to keep your home safe: entry sensors, motion detectors, environmental monitors, panic buttons, key remotes, and cameras. Everything runs through the Touch alarm panel, and we connected it to our Alexa and Google Home voice assistants. We needed Cove’s top monitoring plan for that integration. Unfortunately, Cove didn’t give us much choice when it comes to equipment: Cove offers just one type of each component. With a lifetime guarantee on everything, it should all do what it’s supposed to.

Monitoring Options

Cove requires a monitoring plan. They gave us a choice between two plans: Basic and Plus. Basic comes with 24/7 monitoring, cellular backup (Cove is one of the best security systems with cellular), and hourly automated system checks. To control our system through the app, Alexa or Google Home, we needed the Plus plan, so that’s what we went with. We still paid less than we would with SimpliSafe.

Pricing

Cove doesn’t offer any equipment packages. That can be a headache if you’re not great at decision-making. But Cove’s prices are low — a door sensor costs $4.50, $15.50 less than Ring charges — and you can buy only what you need. With prices like that, we were able to build a comprehensive system without going over budget. Monitoring prices are extremely reasonable as well. The top plan is $29.99 per month, $2 cheaper than SimpliSafe, or you can give up smart home functionality and save an additional $10 per month.

Cove offers an interesting mix of full-service and affordable security system features. On the one hand, the company requires you to sign up for professional monitoring. We can appreciate that, as we firmly believe everyone should have professional monitoring. And Cove makes it easy to justify signing up, with two low-cost subscription options. The cheapest of these costs the same as a Ring monitoring plan, making it competitive with the most affordable systems on the market.

Of course, if you want your equipment to work with your smart home, you have to pay for the more expensive plan at $29.99 per month. That’s still cheaper than SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring, but you can get smart home compatibility without the monitoring from Ring and abode for much less. In other words, a Cove system can be an incredibly affordable system, but if you want the extras, it will cost more.

Equipment costs can be similarly deceptive. We managed to get a motion detector, an entry sensor, a smoke detector, and an indoor camera for under $50. That’s pretty remarkable. It helped that Cove threw in the camera for free. The thing is, to make all that equipment work, we also had to buy a Touch Alarm Panel and Hub which added $90 to the overall price. That means an initial investment with Cove costs about the same as you’d pay for abode or SimpliSafe, but adding equipment can be considerably cheaper. Easily expandable is a very particular niche, but it’s an important one.