Best Home Security Systems of 2020

Our top picks for the best home security systems have had quite a shake-up since last year. We’ve seen so many companies upgrade their equipment or add in new smart home features that we had to take a totally new look at the alarm systems out there.

But good news: we’ve done all the hard work for you and we’re back again with the best home security options on the market. Whether you want to turn your house into a robot home of the future or you just want people to stop stealing your Amazon packages, we’ll help you pick the right system.

<sup>Data effective 11/18/2019 Offers subject to change.
* Self-monitoring is free, but professional monitoring costs extra.</sup>

1. Vivint SmartHome: Best overall

Vivint kept its top spot this year. It’s still the best option if you want a powerhouse combo of home security and smart home devices.

^{Source: Vivint SmartHome}

Why we chose Vivint

Vivint is the champagne of our best home security systems list. It makes high-end equipment, it offers a bunch of smart home devices, and it’s ahead of the curve when it comes to innovative features.

You know your neighbor who always has the latest and greatest of everything? Yeah, they have a Vivint system.

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High-end equipment

For all its fancy new tech, Vivint is a pretty traditional security provider. It offers only professional installation and its equipment is not some lightweight keypad you pull out of a box. Vivint’s control panel and sensors are sturdy, and once they’re in your house, it’s gonna stay there awhile.

Sorry, renters; if you move a lot, then Vivint might not be the easiest choice for you, but there are some super portable security options out there. But if you want a home security centerpiece that will stick around, Vivint’s an easy pick.

Smart home integration

If you want to control everything—from your lights to your thermostat and your garage door—all from your phone, then Vivint’s smart home integrations will serve you well.

Vivint lets you automate almost anything you want to. You can even turn off your curling iron from your phone with one of Vivint’s smart outlets. Plus, Vivint’s systems work with Amazon Alexa and Nest, so you don’t have to ditch your favorite smart thermostat.

The downside: pricey equipment

The main downside with Vivint is price. Not so much its monthly plans—those are on par with other companies—but Vivint doesn’t offer a ton of equipment discounts. And if you want to finance your sensors and equipment, you’ll have to sign a 3- or 5-year contract.

Want to learn more? Check out our Vivint review.

2. ADT Pulse: Most reliable

You know the name for a reason. ADT Pulse gives you the most trusted name in home security plus total home automation and control.

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Why we chose ADT Pulse

Anyone who’s heard of home security has heard of ADT. It’s been in business for over a century, and all that experience means ADT knows what it’s doing. (But you’ll definitely pay for that expertise.)

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Ultra reliable monitoring

You pay for a professionally monitored alarm system because you want peace of mind. But it’s not great peace of mind if your security provider has only one call center and a single bad storm could put it out of commission.

ADT has six different monitoring centers across the country, which means nothing short of an outright zombie apocalypse will put your system at risk.

Smart home integrations

Like Vivint, ADT’s Pulse plans have all the smart home integrations your automation-loving heart could want. ADT has plans other than Pulse that don’t offer so many smart home features, and we really don’t recommend them. If you want the best, then ADT Pulse is where it’s at.

The downside: expensive monitoring

ADT Pulse plans are some of the most expensive we’ve seen. Its prices for equipment—like your control panel and entry sensors— are about the same as everyone else’s, but those monthly monitoring service prices will deal a serious blow to your wallet. You just have to decide if it’s worth it.

Want to learn more? Check out our ADT review.

3. Frontpoint: Best customer service

Frontpoint overhauled its security equipment and we like the new look—and the fact that it’s backed up by excellent customer service.

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Why we chose Frontpoint

Frontpoint overhauled its equipment last year and introduced an encrypted hub that lets you use smart home devices without also opening a door for potential hackers.  (Some other companies, like SimpliSafe, have had security issues in the past.)²

Plus, with Frontpoint’s new system, you also get Frontpoint’s consistently good customer service.

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Reliable customer service

We’ve had consistently positive experiences with Frontpoint’s customer service team, and we’re not the only ones. Frontpoint’s constantly topping home security lists for best customer service, and it has top ratings from organizations like the Better Business Bureau³ and TrustPilot.⁴

Secure equipment

Frontpoint’s equipment line is designed so that you can add in smart home devices and still keep your system secure.

Frontpoint’s new hub is encrypted and has cellular backup, so your system stays protected all the time. And the system now uses a keypad instead of a full control panel.

We’ve seen this kind of equipment from other companies like Abode. Frontpoint is just jumping on a growing trend.

Another trend Frontpoint’s jumped on? Getting rid of contracts. You used to have to sign a three-year agreement to get a Frontpoint system, but now you just pay month-to-month. That’s always a development we like to see.

The downside: expensive monitoring plans

One downside of Frontpoint’s edgy new look: its monitoring plans are pretty expensive. The average price for professional monitoring is under $40 per month. Frontpoint’s plans start at $44.99 per month.

Want to learn more? Check out our Frontpoint review.

4. SimpliSafe: Best DIY installation

Strapped for cash? We love SimpliSafe’s affordable take on home security. Just don’t expect a lot of smart home stuff.

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Why we chose SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe is like the opposite of a traditional security provider. It lets you order online, it has you install the equipment yourself, and it doesn’t charge you an arm and a leg for professional monitoring (or equipment either, honestly).

<sup>Data effective 11/4/2019. Offers subject to change.
* SimpliSafe cameras work as standalone devices.</sup>

Super affordable

Have you always wanted an alarm system but would rather eat fire ants than pay those massive monthly monitoring bills? SimpliSafe to the rescue.

If there’s one thing you can say for SimpliSafe, it’s that it’s cheap. You’ll pay way less for SimpliSafe sensors and equipment than you would for something like Vivint or ADT.

Plus you can get professional monitoring (where someone calls you if an alarm goes off) for as low as $14.99 per month. That’s a pretty good deal in our book.

Easy to use and install

We tested out a SimpliSafe system ourselves and had it up and running in about an hour. The new equipment (SimpliSafe upgraded it in 2018) looks way better than the old stuff and we felt good about displaying the hub on our kitchen counter.

SimpliSafe does still use a keypad rather than a full touchscreen control panel, which is nice and simple but not quite as fancy looking.

The downside: Not many smart home options

It might be one of the best home security systems, but if you’re a home automation junkie, then skip the SimpliSafe system.

SimpliSafe is slowly adding in more smart home options, but in the meantime, it doesn’t have Z-Wave or Zigbee, it doesn’t work with IFTTT, and its Amazon Alexa and Nest integrations are pretty sparse.

Want to learn more? Check out our SimpliSafe review.

5. Abode: Best self-monitoring

Prefer a total DIY approach? Abode lets you monitor your security system yourself without paying a monthly fee.

^{Source: Abode}

Why we chose Abode

If you just want some standard alarm equipment and don’t want to deal with contracts or paying for monthly monitoring, then Abode is a DIY dream. It gives you affordable alarm equipment you can monitor yourself from your phone.

If you decide you do want professional monitoring, Abode has an option for that—although it’s relatively pricey for this kind of system.

<sup>Data effective 11/4/2019. Offers subject to change.
* Self-monitored only. No professional monitoring.
** Abode’s camera does not require a plan subscription.</sup>

No mandatory monthly fees

Most security companies make you pay a monthly fee for something. Whether it’s professional monitoring or just access to its mobile app, it’s hard to escape the monthly fee trap.

But if you want a one-and-done cost, then Abode is a great choice. It includes full access to its smartphone app when you buy a system, so you don’t have to keep paying for mobile control. (Looking at you, SimpliSafe.)

Innovative motion detectors

If you don’t want a full-on indoor camera but want to see what’s going on when an alarm goes off, then Abode’s motion sensors are perfect for you. They combine motion detectors with a camera and they automatically take three pictures when they detect movement.

So you can see if that alert is just because your dog jumped on the couch or if it’s actually something you need to worry about.

The downside: mediocre camera quality

Abode makes an indoor camera, but its quality isn’t the best. The livestreaming can be a bit glitchy and the image isn’t super clear despite the little cam having HD vision. Not our top camera pick.

Plus, while we love the motion detector camera idea, the image quality isn’t great.

Want to learn more? Check out our Abode review.

6. Nest Secure

Nest’s security system is beautiful to look at and has some cool features. Nest Cam fans, this one’s for you.

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What we like about Nest Secure

First of all, let’s admit it: Nest products are just pretty. They’re nice to look at and they’re usually nice to use, and Nest Secure is no different.

Nest Secure has pretty innovative devices. It gives you little key tags you can use to turn the system on and off so you don’t have to fiddle with a key code or your phone. It also combines motion sensors with its door and window sensors so you get at two-in-one device.

If you already use Nest products, like Nest’s smart thermostat or its indoor camera or outdoor camera, then Nest Secure will fit nicely into your existing system.

What we don’t like

Unfortunately, Nest Secure is uber expensive for what you get. You’ll pay hundreds of dollars for just a few pieces of equipment. Nest Secure also keeps its system exclusive. That’s a nice way of saying it doesn’t integrate with a lot of other smart home devices, which is pretty annoying.

Want to learn more? Check out our Nest Secure review.

7. Protect America

Protect America backs up its equipment with a lifetime guarantee. Plus, it has super affordable basic packages.

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What we like about it

Protect America gives you a lifetime guarantee on its equipment, and it lets you install everything yourself. The equipment itself is pretty standard, but it’s easy to put together. And if you don’t want to pay a super high monitoring price, Protect America has landline plans starting at $19.99 per month.

What we don’t like

Protect America’s super-basic plans might be cheap, but when we say basic, we mean basic. Landline security systems are old-fashioned at this point, and it’s really easy for potential burglars to disable them. (Seriously, all you need is a pair of scissors.)

If you want to go with Protect America, we recommend a broadband or cellular plan over the landline options.

Want to learn more? Check out our Protect America review.

8. Link Interactive

Link Interactive’s equipment is pretty standard, but it carries more types of security devices than anyone else we’ve seen.

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^{Data effective 11/4/2019. Offers subject to change.}

What we like about Link Interactive

If you want some super-special or particular security device, like a gun lock or a stovetop sensor, then Link Interactive is the place to go. It carries more types of home security devices than other security companies we’ve seen. No matter what you want to secure or lock down, Link Interactive can probably help.

Link Interactive also helps you add in basically whatever third-party devices you want. Its reps will even help you figure out how to install a smart lock you bought on Amazon.

What we don’t like

Link Interactive’s equipment and monitoring is pretty on par with other alarm companies such as Protect America, otherwise. And that’s our only real complaint—there’s not much about it that stands out from the crowd.

Because Link Interactive uses third-party equipment, you can get the exact same system from other companies. But on the bright side, Link Interactive does give you more contract options than basically anyone else. (You can choose from no contract, 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months.)

Want to learn more? Check out our Link Interactive review.

9. Brinks Home Security (formerly LiveWatch and Moni)

Brinks also offers standard equipment, but its monitoring alert features set it apart.

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What we like about Brinks

Just like Link Interactive and Protect America (among others), Brinks uses third-party security equipment. That’s fine with us—it just makes it harder to stand out from the crowd of other companies who use the same stuff.

Brinks does have a couple of features that set it apart. First of all, we like that its monitoring centers can call, email, or even text you if an alarm goes off. (A lot of other companies can only call.) Brinks also gives you a group chat feature that lets you message everyone on your emergency contact list at once to check in.

What we don’t like

Brinks does make you sign a contract for professional monitoring, which is a bummer. But Brinks also has a longer cancellation period than a lot of other companies (30 days when most companies limit you to three).

Want to learn more? Check out our Brinks Home Security review

10. Xfinity Home

Xfinity Home lets you bundle your cable, internet, and home security into a single bill. Plus, you can bring your own equipment.

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^{* Price goes up from $29.95 to $39.95 after the first 12 months of a two-year agreement.}

What we like about Xfinity Home

If you already have Xfinity cable TV or internet, then it’s easy to add on an Xfinity Home system. It lets you keep everything on one bill and you might even get a couple discounts.

We also like that Xfinity Home lets you use equipment you already have, as long as it’s compatible with its system.

What we don’t like

Like most things Comcast, Xfinity lures you in with an intro price and then jacks the price up after the first year—all while you’re locked into a 2-year contract. That’s not fair, Xfinity. We’d rather have transparent pricing up front.

Want to learn more? Check out our Xfinity Home review.

11. Cove: Honorable mention

Cove is a new system but we’re already into its affordable equipment.

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Cove is still a super new system—it debuted in 2018. But its pricing and equipment is just as affordable as SimpliSafe’s low-priced stuff, and we think it works a little better.

The Cove system is super easy to set up and everything from its equipment prices to its monitoring plans are accessible to people who might not otherwise think they can afford a security system. Plus, the system looks nice. (Always a perk.)

We want more home automation options from Cove. Right now, there aren’t many to speak of. But we’re excited to see what comes next for this little system.

12. Ring Alarm: Honorable mention

Ring Alarm is super affordable, and it has smart home support.

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Ring Alarm is almost brand new (it debuted in 2018). It’s one of the most affordable security systems on the market (with the cheapest professional monitoring plan we’ve ever seen), and it integrates with Z-Wave, Amazon Alexa.

If you already have some Ring cameras then you can control the Ring Alarm system through the same app. The only real downside is it doesn’t work with Google Assistant (or Apple HomeKit).

13. Scout: Honorable mention

Scout has great smart home integrations, but you have to buy the keypad separately.

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^{Data effective 11/4/2019. Offers subject to change.}

Scout Alarm actually has a nice little system. Its equipment has both Z-Wave and Zigbee capabilities, and it’s easy to install and use.

The only real quirk is that Scout uses a door panel instead of a keypad (unless you order one separately). So instead of entering a code, you scan an a little RFID tag. We’d like to have the option to either enter a code or swipe a tag (like with the Nest Secure system), but if you’re a tag-only kind of person then Scout is for you.

Want to learn more? Check out our Scout Alarm review.

Home Security FAQs

How much does a home security system cost?

There are two parts to how much a home security system costs: equipment and monitoring.

Equipment includes things like your door and window sensors, motion detectors, control panel, etc. The cost totally depends on which provider you choose, but expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a basic package—$200 would be considered cheap for a starter pack of home security equipment.

If you can’t afford to pay for all of your equipment up front, that’s okay. Most companies offer some kind of financing option where you can pay for your equipment over the course of your contract (although some contract-free systems don’t give you this option).

Should I choose a DIY or professionally installed security system?

There are benefits to both!

When to choose DIY: When you don’t want to have to pay an installation fee (which usually run around $100, sometimes more). Also, when you want to spend less money on equipment. DIY systems tend to cost less than professionally installed ones.

When to choose professionally installed: When you want to know for sure everything will be done right the first time around. If technology isn’t your favorite thing, it might be easier for you to just let the professionals handle it.

Professional installations also come with an in-home consultation where the technician will help you assess which parts of your home could be potential targets.

Should I choose a self-monitored or professionally monitored security system?

The best home security systems have professional monitoring. We know it’s an extra expense every month, but we almost always recommend it.

Who knows when your alarm system will go off and you won’t be paying attention to your phone. These things happen fast, so it’s better and easier to have someone watching your system 24/7—whether for real intruders or just false alarms.

That said, some people just don’t want that monthly professional monitoring bill. If you really want to self-monitor, great. But if you’re just worried about the cost, we recommend looking into low-cost plans like SimpliSafe’s or Scout’s.

How much equipment do I need?

This totally depends on your house. If you have 15 doors and a million windows, then you’ll need more sensors and equipment than someone who lives in a studio apartment.

It also depends on how secure you want your house to be. You don’t have to cover every conceivable entrance to still be protected. And sometimes a single motion detector can cover for several entry sensors.

When you think about how much equipment you’ll need, you should also think about which home automation devices you want and which disaster-prevention devices you’ll need (like smoke alarms, CO sensors, and flood sensors).

The best home security systems let you order your equipment à la carte, so you can choose exactly what you need and skip what you don’t.

What are disaster home security devices?

Disaster security devices include things like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide (CO) sensors, and flood sensors. Basically, anything that warns you if your house is in danger of an environmental issue, like fire or water damage.

Most security companies sell disaster home security devices, and smart versions of these devices can alert you on your phone when there’s something going on.

How do I set up a home security system?

If you choose a professionally installed system, then just sit back and let the experts get to work. If you choose a DIY system, then your equipment will arrive in a box along with instructions on how to set everything up.

DIY systems are usually easy to install. If you run into any questions, security companies offer support over the phone. Their representatives can help you put the system together.

How do I use a video doorbell?

Video doorbells are awesome! You can see and talk to whoever’s on your porch without opening the door. Heck, you can do it even when you’re not home. Video doorbells help deter package thieves and just let you see who’s coming and going.

As for how to use one, they work the same as most other security cameras and hook into your existing doorbell setup. Sometimes you don’t even have to hardwire them, depending on which model you choose.

Once it’s installed, you’ll get alerts whenever the camera detects motion and you can see who’s at your door and talk to them through the camera mic.

Should I get a security camera package?

A security camera can be a nice extra burglar deterrent, but most people don’t really need them if they already have a security system.

If you don’t want to spring for an entire security camera package, then consider just getting a doorbell camera. Indoor cameras can also come in handy for keeping an eye on your kids and pets.

How do I build a smart home?

Smart homes are totally customizable, and you can build one however you want. But the standard feature is some kind of hub that all your other devices connect to. (With home security systems, it’s usually the control panel.)

Once you have your hub, you can add in whatever you want, including smart locks, smart lights, smart wall outlets, and smart garage door openers. If you can link all your smart home devices into a voice control unit, like Amazon Alexa or Google Home, then that’s even better.

Cities with the Most and Least Property Crime

While you’re on the hunt for a security system, keep in mind that it matters where you live.

When you think crime, big cities like New York and Los Angeles come to mind. And maybe for some types of crime, that’s fair. But if, more than anything, you just want to keep your house safe from burglars or protect your investment property? When it comes to property crime, your city’s stats might surprise you.

Methodology

We used FBI crime data from 2017 to find the cities with the most and least property crime. The FBI defines property crime as burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

For this article we didn’t want to focus too much on cars, so we excluded motor vehicle-related crime to find the safest and most dangerous cities to own houses, as well as rental, vacation, and investment properties. We also excluded any city with a population under 100,000, because that’s how the US Census Bureau defines a metropolitan area.

If you’re wondering why we used 2017 data instead of 2018, it’s because 2017 is the most recent year for which the FBI has complete information. We’ll let you know how 2018 stacked up when we have the details!

Interesting finds

We compiled these same lists last year using 2016 FBI data, and there have been a few changes since then.

Changes to most dangerous cities list from last year:

• SLC can sleep a little bit safer. Salt Lake City, Utah dropped from the #1 most dangerous city for property crime down to #2. SLC’s property crime rate fell from 75.4 to 70.82.
• Springfield, Missouri rose up from #2 to snag that #1 title for the most dangerous city. Springfield went from having 74.88 property crimes per 1,000 people to having 76.86. That’s even higher than Salt Lake City’s 2016 rate!
• Good news for Pueblo, Colorado—it skipped this year’s list entirely. Pueblo’s no longer the 10th most dangerous city for property crime. In our list last year, Pueblo had 57.33 property crimes per 1,000 people. According to the FBI’s 2017 report, the rate’s gone down to 50.6.
• Tucson, Arizona, also gets a pass from the worst cities list this year, since the property crime rate went from 54.95 down to 48 per 1,000 people.
• We had two Florida cities on our most dangerous cities list last year—Tallahassee and Fort Lauderdale—but Floridians have brought down their crime rates! Property crime numbers dropped in both these cities. Tallahassee’s rate went down from 52.07 down to 45.12, and. Fort Lauderdale’s went from 53.59 to 50.18.
• Tacoma, Washington, also took its leave from the most dangerous list this year, with a property crime rate that went from 53.02 to 45.97 property crimes per 1,000 people.
• San Francisco is a newcomer to our most dangerous cities list. Its property crime rate per 1000 people went from 48.18 to 56.19.

Changes to safest cities list:

• Rialto, California gets kudos for moving even higher up our safest cities list—it shot up from the #8 spot to the #3 spot. Rialto went from 11.15 property crimes per 1,000 people down to 10.3.
• Chula Vista and Vista, California, took the #9 and #10 spots from their fellow Cali cities Simi Valley and Santa Clarita. Simi Valley dropped down to #23 on the list and Santa Clarita sank to #14.
• Allen, Texas, lost its top-10 spot on our safest cities list this year. In its place is Port St. Lucie, Florida. While Allen went from 10.79 to 11.95 property crimes per 1,000 people, Port St. Lucie improved its rate—it went from 12.8 down to 10.81.

Did your city make one of our lists? How do you feel about property crime in your area? Do you think installing a security system helps prevent property crime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Sources

1. Trustpilot, “Vivint“
2. The Verge, “SimpliSafe’s Home Security System Can Be Compromised by a $2 Wireless Emitter“
3. Better Business Bureau, “Frontpoint Security Solutions, LLC”
4. TrustPilot, “Frontpoint”