Which Is Better for Home Security: Professional or DIY Installation?

Brianne Sandorf
Nov 18, 2022
Icon Time To Read3 min read

Is a professionally installed home security system or a DIY one better?

We say this a lot, and we probably sound like a broken record (or a more modern equivalent—maybe a YouTube video stuck on repeat?), but what's "better" in home security depends entirely on your needs.

Professional installation is the better choice if you:

  • Want to save time
  • Don't feel comfortable DIYing it
  • Have cash to spare
  • Can work around technicians' flighty schedules

DIY installation will suit your needs a lot better if you:

  • Have the time and tools on your hands
  • Love to do home improvement projects
  • Want to save money
  • Prefer not to wait on others

Professionally installed security systems

Professional installation is a fixture of traditional security systems. A professionally installed system is often (but not always) old school. That means more expensive and hardwired into your walls, with longer contracts, higher monitoring prices, and fewer opportunities for self-monitoring.

Because professionally installed systems are more complicated to install, and because you’re dropping enough money to cover the cost, the security company sends a technician out to your place to install everything. And we can’t lie: the convenience is niiiice.

For national security providers, the DIY craze has taken over, and the pro install model is slowly dying off. But there are a few providers still going strong! (Professional installation is also thriving in the local security provider scene, should you choose that route.)

Here are some of the best security systems with professional installation.

Best professionally installed security systems
Provider
Monitoring price
Installation type
Details
$29.99–$44.99/mo.Professional
$27.99–$62.99/mo.Professional

Data effective 09/21/2022. Offers subject to change.

The professional installation experience

We've sat through a professional installation experience and also read about other customer experiences. Here’s what we expect you can expect.

You won’t get an exact installation time, just a window of time. For instance, you might be assigned the 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  window. That means the technician might show up anytime after eight but before noon.

Sounds easy enough, right? But if the technician runs behind, you might get bumped to the 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. window. Or, if things really don’t go as planned, you could get pushed to a later date altogether.

That’s no biggie if you have a flexible schedule. But if you have to take time off work to meet the technician, it becomes more of an issue.

Once the technician arrives, they’ll unpack the equipment, go over the installation plan and contract with you, and get to work. In some cases, they might ask you about your installation preferences (like where you want cameras). If they don’t ask, but you have a strong opinion, make sure to share before they get started.

The technician usually won’t need anything else from you until the installation is complete, so you should be free to do whatever while they work. However, you should plan on hanging around the house—depending on security company policies, the technician may have to leave if you aren’t there.

After the equipment is installed, the technician will show you how it works. In our experience, this quick demo isn’t sufficient to get a grasp on things. You'll probably want to try it again later to ensure you understand.

Professional monitoring vs. self-monitoring

Professional monitoring means that someone besides you has eyes on your home security system. That’s in contrast to self-monitoring, which relies on you to notify the police if something goes wrong.

You can usually get professional monitoring with a DIY home security system, but it’s rare to get self-monitoring with a professionally installed system.

To learn more, read What Is Home Security Monitoring?

DIY security systems

DIY is the new horizon for security. It cuts out a professional installer in favor of—well—you. Congrats; you’re responsible for getting the equipment connected and in its place.

Outsourcing your DIY system
Light Bulb

DIY means "Do It Yourself," but you don't actually have to do it yourself. You might be able to find a tech-savvy friend or neighbor to install your system for you for a reasonable price.

But the benefits of DIY outweigh the weirdness of installing it yourself. DIY systems are usually cheaper and contract-free, with wireless connections and more opportunities for self-monitoring and smart home customization.

And the best part of DIY home security is that you get hands on with your new system. It’s easy to quickly learn how everything works as you set it all up, and you won’t have to wait on anyone else’s schedule or expertise.

A DIY security system used to be a novelty, but nowadays, they’re everywhere.

Best DIY security systems
Provider
Monitoring price
Installation type
Details
$17.99–$27.99/mo.DIY
$49.99/mo.DIY
$17.99–$27.99/mo.DIY
$6.99–$21.99/mo.DIY
$3.99–$20.00/mo.DIY
$9.99–$19.99/mo.DIY
$30.99–$47.99/mo.DIY

Data effective 09/21/2022. Offers subject to change.

The DIY installation experience

We’ve installed a few different DIY systems, and here’s how it usually goes.

With DIY, you buy all the equipment at a retail store or through the mail. You’ll unpack your system, read the instructions, and follow them as you install everything.

Typically, you’ll need to download the system app and create an account as part of setup.

DIY systems are designed to be super user-friendly, so in most cases, you can get everything sorted in an hour or so. Some DIY equipment is even what we call “peel and stick”: it comes with an adhesive already applied for an incredibly effortless installation.

If you run into problems at any time, DIY security companies provide resources and sometimes even live help to walk you through the process. But TBH, not all of these resources are created equal. The quality of support you get depends on your service’s customer experience strategy.

Recap

There are pros and cons to both professional installation and DIY. Ultimately, the only person who can decide which is best is you.

Brianne Sandorf
Written by
After five years with Reviews.org, Brianne can and will tell you which internet or mobile provider you should sign up for. She’s talked with internet customers across the U.S. and beyond and addresses their real-life concerns in every piece she writes. Brianne also created the ratings system for the Reviews.org internet service provider reviews and wrote most of them. Brianne channels her lifelong interest in detective work by hunting for obscure, need-to-know information about internet service providers. She’s always learning so that she can pass her knowledge on to Reviews.org readers. Her writing and expertise have appeared in numerous other publications, including Move.org, Parents.com, and the Stanford student blog. Her work for Reviews.org is also cited in a research paper about smart home assistants titled “Expert-Generated Privacy Q&A Dataset for Conversational AI and User Study Insights.” Brianne is a homegrown Utahn who loves to travel and see new places. She graduated from Westminster College with a double major in honors and creative writing. After 20 years in a 8,000-person city, she now lives in Murray, a bustling metropolis of 50,000 where she and her husband raise their two little girls.

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