Best Security Systems in Phoenix

Overview
While there’s no definitive research on whether a burglar in Phoenix breaks into a home for the valuables or just to escape the heat, it’s a fact that burglary is a routine occurrence in the Valley of the Sun.

In 2018, there were approximately 82 burglaries every day in Arizona, with the majority committed in Maricopa and Pima counties. This comes out to roughly one theft every 17 minutes and 32 seconds, according to the 2018 Crime in Arizona Report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.¹ A home security system can deter burglars, so we researched the best providers near Phoenix.

Whether you live in the Valley or anywhere else in Arizona, we’re here to help you find a security system to meet your needs.

Envision Security has over 1,500 reviews positive reviews on Google Maps, far more than any other Phoenix security company we reviewed. That’s a great sign for a company with such a large service area, which covers Arizona, California, and Denver, Colorado.

Customers praise the professionalism and helpfulness of the installation technicians. Our experience was similar: we had pleasant interactions with Envision Security when we called the company. The sales agent and Envision’s website helped us answer all of our questions.

We like that the company is an authorized Brinks dealer, which means you get the same quality of equipment and professional monitoring that Brinks sells. You won’t find pricing information on Envision Security’s website, so you have to call in to get a quote. This is a little disappointing and makes it harder to shop around when you’re trying to find the right alarm system.

Envision Security charges $34.99 a month, which is slightly above the $30 average among local Phoenix security providers. The three-year contract is average but not as restrictive as some national security companies, like Vivint’s five-year contract.

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ARCO Lock & Security Phoenix is our runner-up for the best alarm systems in Phoenix because of its numerous positive customer reviews on Google and Yelp. Many of these reviews point out how quickly the company installs equipment, often the next business day after the customer calls in.

The system uses Alarm.com security equipment, which is a reliable brand used by many national home security companies. The monitoring contract for this company lasts for three years, which is average compared to nationwide companies like Frontpoint and ADT but not as competitive as the no-contract option from JPG Security Consulting. We found ARCO’s monthly fees were about $10 higher than average among companies we reviewed in the Phoenix area.

We also like that ARCO offers a no-contract option if you pay for your equipment up front. Monitoring on the no-contract plans starts at $29.95 a month, though you’ll pay at least $699 for equipment.

The company also offers a no-contract security package specifically for apartment dwellers, so you don’t have to worry about extra fees when you move to a new apartment.

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JPG Security Consulting, also known as AZ Alarm Company, has many five-star reviews on Yelp, which means customers really like this company. The company is the best value we’ve seen in an alarm system in Phoenix, costing only $19.99 on its cheapest plan.

You pay up front for your equipment, installation, and activation, which can be more expensive than other security companies but helps keep the monthly fees low. There’s also no contract so you can cancel anytime without paying an early termination fee.

JPG gives you the option to sign a three-year contract if you don’t want to pay for equipment up front, but this increases your monthly costs. Even then, the monthly fees start at $29.99, which is very competitive with other companies on this list.

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Bulwark Security goes beyond merely listing plan prices online. It also provides comprehensive pricing for all of the security equipment it sells. This way, you’ll know what it costs to add extra motion detectors, fire safety devices, or a thermostat to your burglar alarm. Even better, as long as you’re a subscriber, you get a lifetime warranty on the equipment you buy from Bulwark.

The Bulwark Security website also provides quick links to various city alarm permit applications to help out when you get a new system. Although Bulwark requires a two-year contract, we like that it’s shorter than the three-year contract of most security systems.

There aren’t very many customer reviews for Bulwark Security on Google and Yelp, but most of the reviews are positive. A major drawback of this company is that they don’t sell systems outside the greater Phoenix area, which is understandable considering how large the area is, but still inconvenient if you have a home anywhere else in Arizona.

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We like that Black Hat Security doesn’t use mobile app controls as a way to upsell equipment to customers. Instead, the company offers mobile app controls to all users, no matter which monitoring plan you sign up for. Mobile app controls are so convenient since you can arm and disarm your alarm system from anywhere.

Black Hat also throws in a free video doorbell with every monitoring equipment package, which is a nice bonus you normally pay extra for with other providers. Doorbell cameras are one of the most useful security devices because they make it easier to watch for deliveries and greet guests at your front door.

Online customer reviews for this company are very positive, with most customers praising the installation technicians for their helpfulness and equipment knowledge. During our research, we found that Black Hat Security had some of the highest alarm-monitoring fees among Phoenix security systems, which might be a deal-breaker for some customers.

Also, the Black Hat Security website has an annoying full-screen pop-up on every page, which is more of a minor gripe than a real complaint.

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Before we could review the top security companies in Phoenix, we identified 20 local companies to research. To narrow our list of candidates, we read customer reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Angie’s List.

Of these 20 companies, we chose eight to highlight based on the positive reviews we read. After selecting our list of companies, we emailed and called each business to get information on contracts and pricing to get objective information for our comparison. We also evaluated what customers said in online reviews. We used our knowledge of security systems to make simple recommendations based on each company’s strengths.

Here are some local Phoenix security providers we looked at that didn’t make our top rankings.

Titan Alarm was one of the only companies to specifically mention Tucson on its website, making it a good choice if you live in Southern Arizona. While we found positive reviews on Google Maps, the overall rating on Yelp was too low to include the company in our comparison.

Lanza AV | Security primarily specializes in home automation, which makes it a great choice if you want to get a home theater alongside your home security system.

During our research, we couldn’t find very many customer reviews relating specifically to the company’s security offerings (most focus on home automation and home theater installations). Because of this, we excluded Lanza AV | Security from our top rankings.

Yes, Phoenix requires an alarm permit, as do many other cities in Arizona. Alarm permits can help lessen the expense of responding to false alarms. Even with an alarm permit, you may need to pay a fine if your security system produces an excess of false alarms during one calendar year.

>>Learn more: Prevent false alarms

Bulwark Security provides a list of some cities in Arizona that require you to get a permit for your alarm system.

The fee for alarm system permits in Arizona ranges from $0 to $25.

We’ve compiled a list below of cities in Arizona that require an alarm system permit. Most cities require you to renew your alarm permits yearly, so it’s essential to check if your city is one of them.

Note: If your city isn’t on the list below, you should ask your local police department about permits.

Yes, the state of Arizona requires professional installers to have a license to install security systems.

You can ask for the company’s registration number with the Arizona Board of Technical Registration. The Arizona Board of Technical Registration also maintains a website where you can search for registered firms.

Each of the local Phoenix home security systems we reviewed is an excellent choice on its own. Before choosing a security company just because it tops a list, consider what you want most in a burglar alarm. That's why we recommend companies based on specific needs.

Here’s a quick rundown of the top alarm companies in Phoenix:

• Want a company with excellent customer reviews and an extensive service area? Go with Envision Security
• Want a company that can install your security equipment on the next business day? Go with ARCO Lock & Security Phoenix
• Want an affordable, no-contract security system? Go with JPG Security Consulting
• Want to plan your costs in detail down to the last dollar? Go with Bulwark Security
• Want a mobile app without paying extra for it? Go with Black Hat Security

Sometimes a local home security company isn’t the right fit. In these cases, consider choosing a national provider like the ones in our review of the best home security systems.

1. Arizona Department of Public Safety, “Crime in Arizona 2018”