The Best Home Security Systems of 2023

Overview
A security system is an excellent investment. Burglary cost Americans about $3.4 billion in property loss in 2017 alone, so it never hurts to invest in home security.¹ But in over a decade of researching and writing about home security systems, we’ve learned the perfect security system for one homeowner could be entirely wrong for someone else.

That’s why our home security reviews dig into what each company is best at. With our advice, you can find a system tailored to your needs. We can help whether you want a cheap security system, the latest home automation gear, or a system with no-contract monitored security.

Keep reading to find a home security system that’s right for you. 

That’s a lot to take in, so if you need some help, jump down to our guidelines on comparing home security systems.

Our best home security systems ranking is our definitive security brand list. But if you want to narrow down your search more specifically, we’ve also ranked systems by renter friendliness, price, and more.

• Best Home Security Systems for Renters
• Best Cheap Security Systems
• Best No-Contract Home Security Systems
• Best Home Security Systems with Professional Installation
• Best DIY Home Security System without Monitoring

Otherwise, read on to learn more about the best home security systems.

You can get a SimpliSafe home security system without a contract. That makes SimpliSafe the best option if you need the flexibility to pause your monitoring for a month here and there.

SimpliSafe is also a sensible choice if you’re on a tight budget. You get lower-cost monitoring and less-expensive equipment than you would from most competitors.

A few other companies (like Ring, Abode, and Nest) have no-contract systems. But SimpliSafe has lower prices and more industry experience, so it’s still our favorite contract-free home security system.

You’ll have to buy your equipment up front. But SimpliSafe’s highest-tier monitoring plan is cheaper than the lowest-tier plans from all the companies listed above, making it one of the most affordable security options out there.

Photo source: ASecureLife team

Equipment is where SimpliSafe falls short of the competition. SimpliSafe’s gear looks decent, works fine, and is easy to install, but it’s behind when it comes to home automation. Other systems work with Z-Wave devices or Zigbee, but SimpliSafe systems work only with Alexa, the August door lock, and the Nest thermostat.

If you want cameras to complement your system, SimpliSafe has one video doorbell, an indoor camera, and an outdoor camera.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: SimpliSafe is a great pick when you’re looking for affordable equipment and the ability to opt out of a contract. When buying, it’s best to get mobile access with the Interactive plan. It’s still cheaper than similar plans on the market, and it makes your SimpliSafe system compatible with more smart home devices.

>>Learn more: Read our full SimpliSafe review

>>Ready to buy? View SimpliSafe plans.

We’ve been in the home security review space for years, and Frontpoint Security consistently impresses us by improving its equipment, experience, and smart home compatibility. The installation is slick and customer-friendly, and the brand really seems to care about its customers’ feedback. Sure, the price is a little higher than some other brands’, but you get an outstanding experience in return.

A perk of choosing Frontpoint is the lower up-front costs. These equipment prices are right in line with the rest of the industry. Monthly monitoring is a bit more pricey but still affordable. It starts at $24.99.

Frontpoint provides a discount on equipment when you sign up. You can often get everything you need for a Frontpoint home security system at a lower price than you’d get with a comparable system from Vivint. And Frontpoint's starting equipment monthly cost is as low as $10 a month with consumer financing.

Customer service is Frontpoint’s forte. While the company doesn’t offer quite as many hours of customer support as other brands, it has a fantastic reputation with lots of vocal, happy customers.

Frontpoint also has remarkably easy DIY installation. Instead of blocking out a whole day to wait for a professional installer, you can set up your system on your own schedule.

Your equipment comes preprogrammed, and you install most of it by peeling and sticking. You’ll spend only about 20 minutes setting it up. And if you run into any questions, customer support is always ready to take your call and walk you through any issues. Nice and easy.

Photo source: ASecureLife team

Frontpoint’s equipment comes from Alarm.com, a reputable brand. But Frontpoint’s control panel is totally its own. Frontpoint also recently added a sleek security hub that learns your day-to-day patterns and adjusts accordingly. Most other security systems come with hubs, but a learning security hub is unique. That kind of tech is usually in smart speakers, not security hubs.

Since your equipment comes preprogrammed, you can pair it with the hub and control it through one app. It’s also easy to add third-party smart home devices. Most of those can still be controlled through your Frontpoint app. That way, you don’t have to open five or six different apps to use your cool smart home tech with your security system.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We’d recommend a Frontpoint system to almost anyone. Generally, we suggest going with the Interactive plan.

>>Learn more: Read our full Frontpoint review

>>Ready to buy? View Frontpoint plans.

Vivint’s not for everyone. If you’re frugal, this’ll be a no for you, but if you want the best alarm system money can buy, Vivint might just be it. You get easy home automation integration, unique high-end equipment, and flexible payment options.

We’re also fans of Vivint’s efforts to adapt and improve. Vivint stays up to date with smart home tech. The brand’s added lower-priced, pared-down plans for customers who need fewer features and introduced contract-free options for customers who buy equipment up front. The customer service has also improved by leaps and bounds over the years.

Vivint isn’t known for low prices—the equipment is some of the most expensive on our list—but the brand recently added a base plan that’s cheaper than those of most competitors. In fact, at $29.99 a month, Vivint’s base plan is a competitive way to get monitored security with mobile access.

If you’re contract-averse and can afford to spend more initially, no problem. Vivint lets you purchase all your equipment first thing and get monitoring without signing a long-term contract. That means you’ll be able to cancel your monitoring without paying big cancellation fees—something we wish more brands would do.

Vivint’s customer service team is available 24/7, and you can contact them over the phone or through online chat.

We’ve noticed that current Vivint customers are leaving more positive reviews than they have in the past. While Vivint’s customer service hasn’t always been stellar, it seems like the company has made strides to improve its reputation and your experience.

Photo source: ASecureLife team

When it comes to equipment, Vivint is ahead of everyone else. Some security companies use third-party equipment, but Vivint designs and manufactures some of its own equipment. If you have a problem with the equipment, you can go directly to Vivint customer service, not to a third-party manufacturer. This makes for a more unified customer experience.

Depending on your plan, you can get a unique Vivint doorbell camera, a smart thermostat, a data storage drive, or security cameras. Vivint even offers recessed door sensors that work where typical door sensors wouldn’t. Plus, if you sign up for premium service, you get a lifetime equipment warranty on all that cool gear.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you want the best of everything, you’ll want Vivint. And if you’re paying for a Vivint security system, it makes sense to get the smart home tech. Spring for the midlevel plan and get the automated door lock and smart thermostat for the price of equipment and $10 extra a month. If you can’t afford the extra equipment, we still like Vivint’s basic package. It includes mobile access to your system (something some companies make you pay extra for).

>>Learn more: Read our full Vivint review

>>Ready to buy? View Vivint plans.

Ring embodies the ease of the DIY home security movement. A Ring alarm system is easy to buy, easy to set up, and easy to monitor. And as one of the cheapest systems on the market, it's comparatively easy to afford.

Ring’s basic equipment package comes at a below-average price. While introductory security packages on our list cost an average of $237, Ring’s runs about $199. Its next-level package (the one we recommend for the average home) comes in at $239.

Ring also offers a variety of cameras you can buy separately. They cost between $99 and $499. That’s an unusually large range for brand camera prices, but it speaks to the many different cameras Ring sells.

Ring can be either professionally or self-monitored, which we love. Ring’s monthly fee for professional monitoring is $10 a month, or you can do $100 for a year. We suggest that you go with professional monitoring since no one’s available to watch a security system 100% of the time. And Ring’s price is a bargain

Ring’s non-camera security equipment is still pretty new on the scene, so we were cautious in evaluating the brand’s reviews. It’s still a bit early to definitively say how the brand handles its full security systems, one way or another.

We can say, though, that the brand is responsive to online reviews, most of which complain of equipment blips. For instance, many customers say the keypads sometimes freeze up. Ring recommends unplugging the keypad from time to time to prevent this issue, which is annoying, but a more permanent solution hasn’t yet been found.

Photo source: ASecureLife team

When we tested the Ring alarm equipment, it worked well. The door sensors are a bit large, which can be inconvenient for doors with small or molded frames. (To counteract this issue, Ring’s released a slim magnet, which can be bought separately.) And the $199 five-piece kit doesn’t have enough equipment to guard most homes completely. Overall, though, everything did what it was supposed to do.

Ring’s security cameras are competitive in price, quality, and selection. The brand offers five different door cameras, including a battery-powered peephole camera for renters. Ring also sells stick-up, spotlight, and floodlight cams for both indoor and outdoor use. (All have night vision.) Any of these would complement a security system and let you watch out for suspicious activity.

We’re also a big fan of Ring’s Neighbors app. This app lets you, your neighbors, and police send alerts if there’s trouble in the neighborhood. You can use it even without a Ring alarm system, and if you have a Ring camera, you can upload and share clips of suspicious activity or lost pets.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Go to Ring for a well-priced DIY system that you can self-monitor or get professionally monitored for a small fee. We recommend the eight-piece kit because it comes with multiple door and window sensors for full coverage. We also recommend adding a doorbell video camera at some point.

>>Learn more: Read our full Ring security review. Or check out our Ring video doorbell review.

>>Ready to buy? View Ring plans.

Abode makes its own equipment and works with a decent number of hubs and other smart devices so you can create an Abode-centered smart home. You’ll have to fork over a little extra cash though. Abode’s starter kits don’t include some of its best equipment.

Abode’s basic kits are the Gateway kit and the Iota kit. The Iota kit comes with a fun three-in-one Iota hub: security hub, motion detector, and camera, all rolled into a single device.

Visit our Abode review to learn more about what you can get in an Abode kit.

>>View Abode plans

7. Brinks | Competitive pricing

When it comes to professional monitoring, Brinks has tons of experience. Besides monitoring its own packages, Brinks also contracts with other security companies to provide monitoring. If you’re looking at a local security company, there’s a good chance it outsources monitoring to Brinks. Even some big companies like Nest use it.

Brinks also directly sells Nest Secure equipment and monitors it for you. If you love the look of Nest or already have Nest equipment you want monitored, Brinks has options.

Though it’s well-known and widely used, Brinks has surprisingly so-so customer reviews. Find out more about Brinks security plans in our full review.

>>View Brinks plans

That’s a lot to take in, so let’s break down comparison points.

Not all monitored security is equal. We like companies to have multiple monitoring centers or keep monitoring in-house. Our top five recommendations have multiple monitoring centers, so if one goes out of commission when you need help, another will be there. 

We generally recommend going with professional monitoring, but self-monitoring is a good option for saving money if you have a budget squeeze. And you can save money if you choose a system with optional professional monitoring like Ring, Abode, or Nest. When you need to tighten your budget, you can cancel your professional monitoring penalty free. Just remember, though monitored security tends to run more expensive than a self-monitored system, the extra cash puts a trained set of eyes on your home 24/7.

All our top recommendations offer cellular monitoring, which we recommend over landline. But if you live in a place with spotty cell reception—maybe in a mountainous area or a rural spot by the ocean—you may need landline monitoring. In that case, Protect America has a basic package for you.

Some monitoring costs in our table don’t include things like mobile access, home automation, or camera monitoring. You may have to pay more for those features. Vivint, Ring, Abode, Brinks, and Nest stand out here—they give you mobile monitoring with any plan. With other companies, we think mobile access is worth the extra cost so you can check in at any time and control your system from anywhere.

Vivint send professionals to install your system. On one hand, this lets you know your system is installed correctly and gives you the chance to ask questions about your system. On the other hand, you have to pay for it.

That’s one significant benefit of DIY. DIY-installed systems like Frontpoint, SimpliSafe, and Ring send you the equipment to set up, saving you some money.

Standard contracts in the home security industry run 36 months. That’s a long time, especially if you change careers, get married, have kids, or do anything else that might prompt you to move during your contract.

We suggest choosing a package that lets you access your system on your phone or mobile device. That way, you can check on your home when you’re at work or out of town. Some systems, like Vivint, let you use the app and control panel for two-way communication, turning it into an intercom system. You can use it to check in with the house sitter while you’re on vacation or remind the kids to walk the dog when you’re stuck at the office.

You don’t need Marvel-level tech to get useful home automation. Just invest in a few select devices that can do lots of things for you and keep your family safe.

With standard smart home devices like automatic door locks, you can stay in bed and check that you locked your doors. And a video doorbell lets you watch out for would-be package thieves or talk to visitors who stop by.

Vivint, Frontpoint, Link, and Brinks all offer smart locks, video doorbells, thermostats, and other home automation devices that you can control from your smartphone. Other brands, like Ring and Nest Secure, offer a handful of cool smart devices. And some brands don’t sell smart equipment of their own but do integrate with common smart home systems.

On the simpler side, with SimpliSafe, you trade the bells and whistles of smart home equipment for flexibility and low prices. SimpliSafe does have a video doorbell with two-way audio, but you can’t add a ton of other smart home tech to the system. It won’t work with loads of smart home equipment from other companies.

Basically, if home automation is important to you, look for a system that has lots of options to build out your safe, smart, and secure home. Vivint and Link Interactive are our top choices for unique smart home equipment.

There’s a lot to consider when evaluating home security systems, but it boils down to price, customer service, and equipment/features. We compared every aspect of price, customer service, years in business, equipment, and features in our research. To get information for each of these areas, we tested several of these systems. Our tests included setup, installation, arming and disarming, and remote access.

We also mystery shopped and grilled company reps for detailed information. We combined all of that knowledge to determine our rankings.

Costs vary depending on what you want from your home security system. If you’re looking for a camera that you can watch on your own, you could spend less than $150 for a cheap camera and call it good. Or you could monitor your security equipment and be on your way for less than $500 (more on that below).

For the pros to install and monitor your alarm system, you’ll spend significantly more up front, and you’ll have monthly costs to consider. Some systems let you control your security equipment and smart devices from your phone. But you might spend as much as $40 and $60 a month for monitoring and about $1,000* (or more, if your house is larger) for equipment. That can still be significantly less than a break-in, which can cost thousands of dollars in property damage.

What kinds of home security systems are there?

In our reviews, we break security systems down into three main categories:

• DIY installation with self-monitoring
• DIY installation with professional monitoring
• Professional installation with professional monitoring

DIY installation with self-monitoring: Some brands we recommend, like Ring, Abode, and Nest, offer both professional and self-monitoring. They let you monitor your equipment on your own after you install it if you don’t want to pay the pros.

DIY installation with professional monitoring: Frontpoint, SimpliSafe, Link Interactive, Brinks, and Protect America all monitor your systems, but you install the equipment on your own.

Professional installation with professional monitoring: Brands like Vivint professionally install and monitor your system—you don’t have to lift a finger or babysit alerts.

How much are home security systems without monitoring?

You can save significant dough if you monitor your system yourself and cut out the monthly monitoring costs. If you’re strapped for cash, fully DIY systems like Ring and Abode let you monitor your system for free. You just buy the equipment—both base packages start at $199—and you’re off. From there, you can add cameras for another $110–$300 to see what’s happening at home before calling the police or fire responders.

A few caveats. First, as we’ve said, we recommend professional monitoring. You can’t always be on the job when you’ve got other things to attend to, like sleep or a real job. Self-monitoring is better than nothing, but be realistic about the amount of attention you can give it.

Second, you’ll need a way to verify that something is happening at your house. You’re liable in some states if you call 911 with false alarms. That’s why we recommend a camera of some kind with your DIY security system.

Third, watch out for added fees like video cloud storage. Cost of storage varies by brand, so make sure to look into that before purchasing.

If you’d like a more detailed look at specific systems’ costs, check out our cost comparison article.

What are monitored and unmonitored security systems?

Monitored systems rely on professionals to watch for triggered alarms, contact system owners, and dispatch emergency services. Unmonitored security systems aren’t connected to a monitoring center. Instead, they usually connect with an app that the system owner watches for suspicious activity.

We almost always recommend you bring in the pros to monitor your system because you can’t always watch it yourself. They’re professionally trained to dispatch emergency services and work with people during moments of crisis.

Learn more in our article about the differences between monitored and unmonitored security systems.

What should I look for in a home security system if I’m a renter?

There are lots of good home security system options out there for renters. You’ll want equipment that you can install without drilling holes through the walls. Wireless systems are ideal for renters because you don’t have to run phone lines to them. Plus you can put the control panel wherever is most convenient for your space.

You’ll also want a system that you can take with you whenever you move. If you’re renting because you move often, you can bring your system wherever you land next without having to start your contract over.

We like Frontpoint for renters, but if you want more options, check out our best home security systems for renters article.

What is the best home security camera system?

With Frontpoint, Vivint, and Ring, you can get indoor, outdoor, and video doorbell security cameras. Other companies, like SimpliSafe, also offer some type of camera. We like that several of these brands will professionally monitor your cameras for you. You don’t have to be glued to your phone, looking at the live feed whenever your camera detects motion at home. Instead, the pros will keep an eye out and let you know if there’s a problem.

If you want a video surveillance system without a home security system, we’ve got lots of recommendations in our best home security camera systems post.

What do I do if my house is broken into?

Security systems deter break-ins, but they don’t always prevent them. If you’ve experienced a break-in, you should file a police report, create records of what was damaged or lost, contact your insurance, and fix the damage. Find out more in our article about what to do if your house is broken into.

The state of property crime in the US

Property crime map

As the map shows, property crime hits some states harder than others. For example, DC experiences a property crime drop of almost 10% year over year, yet it’s still number one for property crime instances. Another interesting fact: New Jersey is the only state in the bottom ten to experience an increase in property crime each year. Even New York’s property crime rate is dropping.⁵

More to know about property crime in the US

• As we mentioned earlier, burglary cost Americans about $3.4 billion in property loss in 2017 alone.⁶
• Aside from vehicles, currency is the highest-value item stolen in 31 states.⁷
• Close to 64% of burglaries happen during the day when people are more likely to be away from home.⁸
• Burglaries and robberies are much more common in December than any other month of the year.⁹

Property crime map methodology

Contributing authors: Celeste Tholen, Matt Halpin

Sources

1. FBI, “2017 Crime in the United States: Burglary”
2. Leagle, “Venditto v. Vivint, Inc.”
3. CBS News, “Doorbell Cams Raise Privacy Fears and Concerns About Bias”
4. Timeline, “This African American Woman Invented Your Home Security System”; ADT, “Our History”
5. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, “Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data: Property Stolen and Recovered, United States, 2016”
6. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, “Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data: Property Stolen and Recovered, United States, 2016”
7. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, “Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data: Property Stolen and Recovered, United States, 2016”
8. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, “Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data: Property Stolen and Recovered, United States, 2016”
9. National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, “Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data: Property Stolen and Recovered, United States, 2016”