Best Home Security Systems of 2023

You have a lot to choose from when it comes to home security systems. After trying all the top systems on the market, we identified our 10 favorites. Our top pick is the premium-grade, smart home-ready Vivint home security system. It’s pricier than some, but you get what you pay for. And you don’t have to install anything yourself.

For something that may be easier on your wallet, we recommend SimpliSafe’s DIY home security system. Its straightforward, reliable protection is our choice for Best Value.

The best home security systems are easy to use, have fast response times, and give you a range of smart home features and integrations. It’s also important to research monthly fees and contract options.

• A good balance of cost to features
• Professional monitoring option
• Contract terms that fit your lifestyle
• The right installation for your needs (DIY or professional)
• Smart home integration(s) that work with your other devices

The most important question to ask with any home alarm system you’re considering is how well it will protect your home, belongings, and loved ones. A close second is figuring out if it’s worth your money.

Things that can impact your overall cost:

• Equipment costs: Most DIY home security systems require you to buy all of your equipment upfront, which can cost between $200 and $1,000 or more. The good news is you can choose the equipment that works best for you—multiple security cameras or none at all? Just the basics (base station, motion detector, window sensor) or the latest and greatest security and smart home innovations?
• Fees: You may be charged fees for installation or activation. These fees can depend on the size of your system and whether or not you choose professional installation.
• Long-term contracts: Some alarm companies require contracts that can last anywhere from 36 to 60 months. Most contracts come with steep termination fees (up to 100% of the remaining contract) if you cancel early. The plus is that contracts can mean no big upfront costs for equipment.
• Professional monitoring: We recommend professional monitoring with every home security system. It’s a direct link to help when you need it, whether you’re home or on vacation. The average cost for pro monitoring, based on all the systems we’ve tested, is around $32 per month.
• Smart home control, mobile apps, and video monitoring: These features are usually upgrades that depend on the type of plan and equipment you want. The more perks you add to your system, the higher the monthly price may climb.

We recommend picking a system that offers professional monitoring, just in case you need it. While self-monitoring sounds doable in theory, most folks find they can’t be on alert 24/7 and would rather leave it to the professionals. So even if you plan to self-monitor, it’s good to choose a system with a professional option available.

We especially like home security companies that use enhanced resources and technology to deliver assistance as quickly as possible. Both Cove and SimpliSafe use RapidSOS, a data platform used by emergency response centers to help provide faster, more accurate help to people in need.

We also appreciate home alarm companies that let you opt in to short-term monitoring for vacations, like Abode.

If you prefer to save money by DIYing your home, look for security systems you can set up yourself. If the idea of figuring out installation makes you feel faint, look for systems with professional installation.

On top of pro installation by trained experts, full-service home security companies like ADT and Vivint include a complimentary security assessment of your home that includes identifying all security vulnerabilities and recommendations to maximize your home’s security.

If you’re all about that smart home life or think you might get into home automation in the future, know that not every system works with every piece of smart home equipment.

Some of the benefits of integrating your security system with smart home devices include:

• Voice control of your system
• Ability to check on and control locks, cameras, sensors, and more from anywhere
• Energy efficiency and possible savings on utilities
• Extra security to let in kids after school, dog walkers, house sitters, etc.

• Best Home Security Systems for Apartments and Renters
• Best Smart Home Security Systems
• Best No-Contract Home Security Systems
• Best Self-Monitored Security Systems

If you want a beautifully designed security system that works even better than it looks, then Vivint is for you. Vivint offers high-end smart home technology alongside some of the best cameras in the industry. 

Everything Vivint does, it does well. Where other alarm companies offer a hodgepodge of third-party equipment, Vivint designs its own stuff. 

Some options, like ADT, have good equipment but so-so cameras. Vivint’s cameras have some of the best features on the market, including video analytics and 4K image sensors (as well as more standard fare like motion detectors, two-way audio, and night vision).

Vivint home security also has professional installation, so you don’t have to break a sweat setting up your system. And it has full smart home support, so you can automate everything from your door locks to your bedside lamp.

If you want a security system that will protect your home and also make your neighbors say, “Wow, where’d you get that?” then Vivint’s got what you need.

To learn more, read How Much Does Vivint Cost?.

The ol’ Vivint razzle-dazzle comes from the impressive equipment. Vivint not only makes most of its own stuff—it provides an advanced in-app smart home platform through Z-Wave technology. Everything connects to create an ultra-smart experience.

You can see some of Vivint’s best work in its cameras: the Vivint Indoor Camera, the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, and the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro. These cameras have some wicked smart theft-deterrent features, like anti-loitering and anti-package theft alarms. We talk more about them in our Vivint Cameras Review.

View Plans | Read Full Vivint Review

Everyone knows ADT. It’s been in business for over a century, and it’s available all across the US. (And a few other countries as well. For any Canadians out there, it used to be one of the most popular alarm systems in Canada. It's since become TELUS SmartHome Security.)

If you want the system with the most clout, then ADT delivers. Potential burglars will see the yard sign and skip your house faster than you can say “break-in.” Not to mention that ADT uses professional installation so you don’t have to do the work yourself.

ADT also offers a DIY system with lower costs, self-monitoring and no contracts. Check out our Blue by ADT review or read on to learn more. 

Aside from its famous name, ADT has a wide range of security equipment to protect your home. And the system requires professional installation, so you don’t have to worry about sticking sensors on your doors backward or something.

ADT also works with Z-Wave and supports a bunch of different smart home devices as well as some indoor and outdoor cameras. But you have to subscribe to the right monitoring plan to get support for stuff like that.

Check out How Much Is ADT? to learn more.

ADT home security equipment isn’t the most original; it uses the same equipment as other big-name brands and small, local companies. When you pay for ADT, you’re really paying for the name value, not the latest and greatest pieces.

ADT doesn't have the best cameras for a massive, well-known home security company, but they get the job done. The main draw with ADT cameras is the 24/7 video recording that comes with all packages. ADT also allows its customers to customize any service plan with their desired equipment.

View Plans | Read Full ADT Review

SimpliSafe changed the way home security companies do things. It lets you order online instead of getting on the phone, it doesn’t do contracts, and it’s super affordable. We love that SimpliSafe makes it easy to set up a basic security system without draining your savings.

SimpliSafe is perfect if you want a well-known brand that will protect your house for way less money than you’d pay for the ADTs of the world. Most people know the name “SimpliSafe” by now (potential burglars included), and it makes it cheap and easy to set up an alarm system in your house.

Plus, SimpliSafe is no slouch on the equipment front. You can find everything from window sensors to leak detectors to carbon monoxide sensors.

To learn more, read How Much Does SimpliSafe Cost? and SimpliSafe Cameras Review.

Like a Vivint system, the SimpliSafe home security system comes with its own unique equipment. SimpliSafe is the OG DIY system, so everything is super easy to set up yourself.

While SimpliSafe isn’t great at home automation and smart home stuff, its cameras are effective and affordable, and it has a few special pieces like its very own in-house smart lock.

View Plans | Read Full SimpliSafe Review

Cove is like a slightly fancier version of SimpliSafe. Both systems cost the same, but if you like the look of a touchscreen control panel, then Cove will give your style a bit of a boost.

We recommend SimpliSafe over Cove because it has a wider range of equipment. But Cove is a nice alternative for people who want something affordable yet sleek.

Cove has a full range of support articles and videos in case you get stuck while you’re setting things up, but we doubt you’ll need them.

Cove’s equipment doesn’t just look good. It's also super easy to set up and backed by good customer support.

Right now, Cove offers about a dozen pieces of equipment, and four of them are cameras. While the equipment covers most home safety needs, like motion detection and water leak detection, the amount pales in comparison to most companies’ range.

The four cameras include an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, a Kami doorbell camera, and the good old Skybell doorbell.

Read Full Cove Review

Blue by ADT is a DIYer’s dream. It has a bunch of smart home integrations that let you add third-party devices. Plus, Blue by ADT offers a free self-monitoring option and affordable professional monitoring if you don't want to monitor your system yourself.

As far as home automation goes, Blue by ADT is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Z-Wave Plus. Some other Blue by ADT equipment is also compatible with HomeKit so you can connect a Blue by ADT security system to almost anything.  

Blue by ADT offers proprietary equipment, and the pricing is pretty competitive. There are three different cameras to choose from. A wireless outdoor camera, an indoor camera, and a video doorbell. The company also offers door, window, flood, and motion sensors. 

As we mentioned, all Blue by ADT equipment is DIY and pretty simple to install, making it a great choice if you're interested in saving some $ on installation fees. 

View Plans | Read Full Blue by ADT Review

The Ring Alarm security system came out just two years ago, and it’s been making waves ever since for its radically affordable pricing plus smart home support. If you want the ultimate affordable alarm system, then you’ll pay less for a Ring starter kit than you did for those new AirPod Pros you just lost.

Equipment’s not the only thing that Ring Alarm sells on the cheap; just look at the professional monitoring. Normally, we’d expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $60+ per month for professional monitoring. Ring Alarm gives it to you for a cool $10 per month with Ring Protect Plus. That’s pretty much the lowest price possible.

You can also self-monitor your system for free (although you won’t get all the features you’d get with a paid plan).

We also love that Ring still has decent smart home support. Some other cheap security systems, like SimpliSafe and Cove, don’t work so well with smart home devices like lights and locks. Ring Alarm supports Z-Wave so you can integrate your smart outlets with your overall security system.

The only thing we don’t like about Ring is the privacy concerns that have caused some users to turn to other systems.

Ring is one of the most popular DIY systems, and it’s super easy to install. And everything it sells is made by Ring, so you’ll never have a problem with integration.

Ring has a decent home security selection, but its true power is in the cameras you can add to your Ring Alarm security kit. Seriously—there are so. Many. Cameras. Whether you’re looking for a doorbell camera, floodlight camera, or something else, Ring’s got you covered.

View on Amazon | Read Full Ring Alarm Review

Frontpoint’s system works for just about everyone: big house or small house, renter or homeowner, technophile or aspiring Luddite. We like Frontpoint’s simple, secure equipment and its smart home features (especially the Yale smart door lock). Just expect to pay a bit more for the monitoring service.

Frontpoint is friendly. Its customers routinely leave glowing reviews,^2,3 and our own experience with Frontpoint’s reps has always been that they’re helpful and easy to talk to.

If you’ve ever tried to call in to something like your internet service provider and had a horrible customer experience (*cough* Comcast *cough*), then you know how important it is to have good support when something goes awry. And Frontpoint is like the Tom Hanks of home security companies—just so nice, you know?

If you’re having trouble installing your doorbell camera or telling your door sensor from your flood sensor, Frontpoint has a bunch of support resources on its website. And you can even contact its reps through social media platforms (like Twitter) if that’s your jam.

Frontpoint also has flexible monitoring options for your convenience. You can pay more for no contract or less with 24- and 26-month commitments.

Frontpoint home security equipment is an eclectic mix of unique and generic pieces. You can get some neat stuff you can’t find anywhere else, but you also might find yourself with the same items you get with an ADT home security system or another big brand. Just something to keep in mind before you pay big bucks for things you can get anywhere.

Frontpoint has several different cameras (we count four). Two of them, the premium indoor and outdoor cameras, are suspiciously similar to Vivint cameras. But hey, Vivint cameras are some of the best around, so we’ll take that as a good sign for Frontpoint’s camera vision.

View Plans | Read Full Frontpoint Review

If you hate digging for your phone or punching in a code every time you walk in or out the door, then Scout might be a good fit for you.

Scout has something we haven’t seen from any other security company: an RFID door panel. Never heard of RFID? You’re not alone.

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. For this purpose, it basically means you can use little stickers or tags (with RFID functionality) to arm and disarm your security system instead of the traditional keypad.

Scout's door panel is unique, but that's not all Scout has going for it.  Scout also has good support for that smart home you’re working on. It’s one of only two systems on our list that supports both Z-Wave and Zigbee smart home protocols. (The other one is Blue by ADT.)

You’ll also save some money with Scout. Its equipment, including cameras, is super affordable. Scout’s doorbell camera costs only $99, which is cheap for a doorbell cam that still records in crisp 1080p HD.

Scout is no Blue by ADT, but it’s the next best thing—it works with every major smart home player except Apple HomeKit. So if you dig the smart home scene, Scout’s a good friend to have.

Scout is also one of the few security companies with beautiful equipment. Whether you go with black-on-white or white-on-black, your security system will be downright stunning. If you have a signature aesthetic of elegance, you’ll want Scout equipment.

How about them cameras? Scout hasn’t broken in to the outdoor camera world yet, but it offers perfectly functional indoor and doorbell cameras.

View Plans | Read Full Scout Review

Link Interactive is the king of choices. You can choose a contract or no contract—and if you opt for a contract, then you can choose the length. Link Interactive also has more diverse equipment options than any other company we’ve seen, and it’s pretty affordable to boot.

If you need some super-specific sensor you can’t find anywhere else, then Link probably has it.

Link Interactive has flexible contract and equipment options, reasonable pricing, and super friendly customer service. It gives you a ton of different ways to protect your home with a bunch of smart home integrations so you can smartify your family’s lives.

If you need specific devices, like an outdoor sensor for a pool cover or a stovetop sensor so you can stop wondering if you’ve left the burner on, then Link Interactive has what you need. And if you buy some random Z-Wave smart home device on Amazon, Link’s customer service reps will even tell you how to install it.

Link Interactive doesn’t offer equipment packages, so you can pick and choose what you need. It offers some cool options we don’t see often, like garage tilt sensors or outdoor door and window sensors.

You can also get a whopping six different cameras with Link Interactive. Two of them are identical to Frontpoint cameras, and none are Link Interactive-specific—which means that if you love these cameras, you might be able to move them to another system later down the road.

View Plans |Read Full Link Interactive Review

Brinks Home smart home security equipment comes with some pretty neat monitoring alerts.

False alarms can be a huge pain in the you-know-what. If you have enough false alarms that make their way to police dispatch, you might even have to pay a fine. That’s why when your alarm system goes off, most monitoring centers will try to call you before they get the cops involved.

Brinks Home security takes that a step farther, though. Its reps can contact you through text message, phone, or email, depending on which you prefer. If, like us, you avoid answering your phone as much as possible, then text messages might be a better way to reach you.

Brinks Home can also notify other people on your contact list in case you don’t pick up.

Brinks Home isn’t known for its innovative equipment, and it’s not the smartest system out there, but it allows you to connect up to 119 smart devices to your system. That’s way more than most homes ever need.

The Brinks Home alarm system also offers both DIY and professional installation. You get to choose what works for you.

And while its cameras don’t make us jump for joy, Brinks Home has three okay-ish options. The best one is a SkyBell doorbell camera that Frontpoint also sells.

View Plans | Read Full Brinks Home Review

Want to compare security systems you can install yourself? Check out our Best DIY Security Systems review. And let us know about your alarm system of choice in the comments.

• Vivint is like the BMW of home security systems. It’s professionally installed, it will look good in your house, and it supports a ton of smart home devices.
• ADT is super expensive for what you get, especially if you go for ADT Command. But, like Vivint, ADT comes professionally installed, and its monitoring centers are super reliable.
• SimpliSafe is the poster child for easy-to-order, super affordable security systems. Plus, installation is a cinch.
• Cove is a lot like SimpliSafe as far as pricing goes, but its equipment is a little fancier overall. But Cove’s camera options aren’t the best.
• Blue by ADT gives you unique equipment features plus affordable professional monitoring. Quite the powerhouse combo.
• Ring Alarm has the most affordable equipment and monitoring around. This is the one for you if you want a security system that will be easy on your wallet.
• Frontpoint gets an A+ for its excellent customer experience. Its system is pretty good too—but with pricey monitoring plans.
• Scout Alarm is the only option on our list that offers RFID tags for arming and disarming your system. If you prefer the keypad-less route, Scout’s a good pick.
• Link Interactive has a huge array of devices available. (And we mean huge.) If you want a super customizable system, this one’s for you.
• Brinks Home uses multiple channels to contact you in the event of an alarm so you won’t miss the memo.

We research, test, and compare home security systems based on these five categories:

1. Price
2. Equipment
3. Smart home integrations
4. Security cameras
5. Customer experience

To decide which home security system is the best, we looked for innovative technology, a wide range of smart home integrations, reliable security sensors, and professional monitoring. We looked for more than just basic contact sensors and a control panel; we wanted the full smart home plus security experience with value trumping cost.

We’ve performed hands-on testing with several of these systems (Vivint, SimpliSafe, ADT, Blue by ADT, and Ring), and we’re testing new systems all the time to gain new insights.