SafeHome.org may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
We may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
Vivint's advanced technology and wide-ranging home automation features make it the best security system for those who need alternative alerting options.
Updated March 16, 2026
copied!
Vivint capitalizes on its home automation abilities to provide alternative alerting options that don’t involve audible alarms. That includes alert texts and automatic threat deterrence through its outdoor camera equipped with an LED light and siren.
ADT combines home automation and its state-of-the-art monitoring service to provide accessible home security. Text alerts give deaf users alternative alerting options. Plus, video verification enables monitoring teams to dispatch appropriate emergency personnel during real, verified emergencies.
SimpliSafe’s live security camera monitoring helps ensure that help is on the way whenever your family needs it. Using your camera’s two-way talk, monitoring agents can scare off intruders and communicate with emergency personnel when it’s needed most.
Most security systems rely on audible alarms to alert users to life-threatening emergencies. But, if you or someone you live with suffers from hearing loss, sirens might not be enough. You need a security system that offers alternative alerting systems such as text-based alerts and automated smart and/or strobe lights.
The good news is you don’t have to look far to find security systems with those components. Some of the most trusted names in the industry — the best security systems, so to speak — offer inclusive technology that can help keep all of us safe from home dangers.
We've personally tested over 30 security systems to find the best options for people with hearing loss. Out of those 30, we narrowed it down to three top recommendations. Vivint is our top pick thanks to its home automation capabilities and specialized equipment, but ADT and SimpliSafe are both strong contenders as well. Read on to find out why we recommend them.
We’ve found the best way to make unbiased reviews is by testing home security systems ourselves. Our team buys the equipment, installs the devices in our homes, and tests them for weeks and sometimes months. We want to get a feel for what it’s like to live with the security system while experiencing the features, app, and response time. That way we’re able to make honest recommendations based on our real-life experiences.
Several factors affect testing home security systems, but we find ways to compare apples to apples. For example, we install the test units in the same house. We use a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home owned by one of our experts. Testing in a real home means we can gather accurate data and make better real-life observations.
We also buy the same devices for each security system and set them up in identical locations. You can see the places where we typically install equipment below.
We looked beyond loud sirens when choosing security systems for the deaf. There needs to be multiple ways to alert people to life-threatening situations if they’re hard of hearing. To pick our top six options, these were the criteria we deemed most important:
After reviewing each system with these criteria, here is how we ranked the top six:
Rating the Best Home Security Systems for the Deaf
We’re different from those other websites that review everything from coffee mugs to beach towels. Our team of experts exclusively covers home security and safety equipment. This means we can dedicate our attention to the security systems and make recommendations you can actually trust. The team who worked on this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team online. Since starting in 2016, our work on SafeHome.org has been showcased in several major outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times. Together, we have achieved:
All of our recommendations come from first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the security industry. Now, let’s learn more about our top picks.
| System |
Vivint
|
ADT
|
SimpliSafe
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking |
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
| SecureScore™ | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Text-Based Alerting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automation | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Strobe Lights | Yes (via Spotlight Pro) | Yes (via Nest Cam with Floodlight) | No |
| Monthly Cost (for Professional Monitoring) | $24.99+ | $24.99+ | $22.99+ |
| Our Hands-On Review | Vivint review | ADT review | SimpliSafe review |
Vivint combines home automation with robust security features to create an accessible system for everyone, including those with hearing loss. It’s easy to use too, earning a spot on our list of the best security systems for seniors. With its centralized hub that orchestrates a connected response to security events, Vivint can provide visual cues throughout your home to notify you of alerts.
Vivint is an excellent home automation system. It excels at creating customized alert scenarios that go beyond traditional audio alarms. You can program sensors to trigger smart lights throughout your home, creating highly visible notifications when motion is detected or doors are opened — a game-changer for people with hearing loss.
Here’s every component of the Vivint security system we tested.
Another accessibility feature worth highlighting is Vivint’s text alert system. Alongside standard phone notifications, the app sends SMS messages during alarm events. During testing, we received messages along the lines of “Vivint has detected an alarm at your property. Tap here to respond.” From there, we could confirm or dismiss the alarm directly from the text without ever needing to speak with a monitoring agent.
The Spotlight Pro attachment for Vivint’s outdoor camera adds a meaningful layer of visual deterrence. The 2,000-lumen light activates when the camera’s AI identifies suspicious activity, flooding the property with enough brightness to discourage intruders. Through Vivint’s automation platform, the same trigger can simultaneously activate bedroom lights or other interior fixtures, giving you a visual alert even while you’re asleep.
Our Vivint Outdoor Camera kept watch over our driveway and alerted us if someone was lurking outside.
We fully understand why Vivint calls their system a smart home security system. They offer industry-leading automation capabilities perfect deaf and hard-of-hearing users. During our testing, we built a custom scene that automatically activated our bedroom lights, triggered our outdoor camera’s built-in siren, and illuminated the spotlight pro when our Vivint cameras detected someone lurking outside. This creates a multi-layered response that combines visual alerts with active deterrence.
You can make these same types of automated responses to alerts for any Vivint sensor or camera. Another useful automation you could set up involves the Vivint Doorbell Pro. It can tell the difference between packages and people. Set an automation to turn on a light in your house when someone’s waiting at your door. Then, you can pull up the live feed, see who it is, and then decide what to do next.
>> Learn More: Vivint Home Security System Cost and Pricing
Pro Tip: When buying your Vivint system, we recommend adding their smart light devices. That way, when Vivint’s technicians come to install your system, they can also set up all of the home automation you need to receive visual alerts instead of audible ones.
Vivint requires professional monitoring with all of their systems. We think that’s a smart approach, as we always recommend professional monitoring for comprehensive protection. Vivint’s monitoring offers text-based alerts, which makes it easier for people with hearing loss to respond. Plus, Vivint can keep you updated on the alert through text if you’re away from home. Here’s how much Vivint’s professional monitoring costs:
| Monitoring Plans | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Smart Security | $29.99 |
| Smart Home | $39.99 |
| Smart Control | Starts at $49.99 |
If you get security cameras, which we recommend, you’ll need the Smart Control plan. That unlocks video verification as well, so Vivint’s monitoring agents can assess the situation and get emergency personnel to your house faster.
FYI: Although we liked Vivint’s professional monitoring service, we didn’t like Vivint’s long-term contract. They lock you in for the long haul, so make sure you’re ready to commit before buying a Vivint system. However, there are no-contract options if you’re ready to pay for all of your equipment upfront.
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | Starting at $199 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $24.99 |
| Contract Length | 60 months |
ADT has been protecting homes for over 150 years, and their latest system blends time-tested reliability with modern smart home features. What really impressed us wasn't just ADT's technology, but their professional monitoring service. They own and operate 12 monitoring centers across North America, ensuring your system stays monitored 24/7 — no matter what. Add in cellular backup and battery backup, and you've got one of the most dependable security systems on the market.
ADT’s monitoring response procedure includes System Monitoring and Response Technology (SMART) built around the ADT Alarm Messenger web app. It’s similar to Vivint’s text alerts, but it incorporates a group messaging system. That means anyone in your household can respond to the monitoring center during emergencies. Since it’s a group chat, everyone stays informed throughout the response process. That makes ADT’s alert messaging platform a little better than that of Vivint.
Here’s a look at the small form factor of the new ADT entryway sensors, with a quarter for scale.
Unlike Vivint, ADT doesn’t have a touch-screen control panel. We still appreciate the LED light around the top of the base station that communicates the system status. Based on the color of the light and how fast it blinks, it tells you whether your system is armed, if any sensors have a low battery, and if there’s an alert. Of course, there’s still a siren to make any intruders think twice. Take a look at our ADT vs. Vivint guide for a detailed comparison of their approaches to home security.
>> Read More: ADT Sensor Options: Door, Window, Glass, and Motion
Unboxing our Nest Cam with Floodlight.
Through a recent partnership with Google, ADT significantly enhanced their smart home capabilities. The integration provides native compatibility with Google Home and all Google Nest equipment. This gives ADT customers access to some of the most advanced smart home features currently available.
One of our favorites is the Google Nest Cam’s familiar face feature; it uses facial recognition to identify people who regularly visit your home. Using this feature in the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight allows your floodlight to turn on anytime your camera sees someone it doesn’t recognize. Pair the floodlight turning on with a specific light in your home going on and you have visual notifications anytime a stranger walks on your property. That’s the power of ADT’s home automation features.
Did You Know? ADT’s Trusted Neighbor feature lets you take advantage of the safe community you and your neighbors have built. It lets you use the Nest Cam’s facial recognition to give people of your choosing access to your home during alerts or specific times.
We already mentioned ADT’s SMART Monitoring feature. It really is the best text-based alert we’ve tested. Their monitoring also alerts you if your ADT Smoke & CO Detector goes off. That’s a nice plus for people with hearing loss, as you’ll receive a text instead of relying on its siren. You can also tie those alerts to a smart light for a visual cue as well. Here’s an overview of ADT’s monitoring prices:
| Monitoring Plans | Secure Monitoring | Smart Monitoring | Complete Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price for DIY Systems | $24.99 per month | $29.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| Price for Professionally Installed Systems | $34.99 per month | $39.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
Read our ADT Self Setup review to find out if a DIY ADT system is right for you. It has all the same components as the professionally installed system and lower monthly monitoring costs. So, in most cases, we recommend it.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $269 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $24.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
| Installation Options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
SimpliSafe is a leading DIY security system. It’s known for its wireless equipment that can be installed in under 30 minutes; our SimpliSafe installation took only 22 minutes. They go well beyond typical DIY security with unique active monitoring subscriptions. Those plans mean SimpliSafe monitoring agents actively respond to threats to you and your home using the two-way audio in your security cameras.
Like ADT and Vivint, SimpliSafe offers text-based alerts. While not as sophisticated as ADT’s SMART group messaging, we appreciate that text alerts are included even in SimpliSafe’s self-monitoring plan. You can add multiple primary contacts to receive alerts, though messages aren’t sent in a group chat. Unlike ADT and Vivint, you respond directly via text instead of using a web app link, so alerts remain actionable even if your internet is down.
A sampling of SimpliSafe equipment on our dining room table.
Text alerts are SimpliSafe’s only alternative notification option. It doesn’t offer advanced automation for visual cues through smart lights like Vivint or ADT. On the upside, SimpliSafe has the loudest sirens of the three, making it a strong choice if you have partial hearing loss and need the best chance of hearing an alarm.
>> Learn About: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint Comparison – Which System Is Best?
Tip: SimpliSafe is also a good security system for self-monitoring because of its loud siren. If you’re self-monitoring SimpliSafe, make sure to put sirens on every floor of your house and on the exterior — not only to alert your family and your neighbors, but also to scare away intruders.
To put it bluntly, SimpliSafe’s smart home capabilities are its weakest point. Sure, it can integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but it barely offers any functionality. All we could do with those integrations was arm our security system and check its status with our voice. Not very useful for anyone with hearing loss.
SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents intervened when our SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera identified a potential threat.
While SimpliSafe can’t beat ADT’s reliability when it comes to professional monitoring, they give ADT a run for their money when it comes to unique features. The most notable is their Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Check out our ADT vs. SimpliSafe comparison guide for more details on the differences between their monitoring services.
Both features enable SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents to access your security cameras during an active alarm or when the camera detects a potential threat. They can view the camera’s live feed, use its two-way talk, and activate any built-in lights or alarms. The Core plan and above enable this feature for the Indoor Camera while the Pro and Pro Plus plans add it for the Outdoor Camera. Check out our review of SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera to learn more.
Here’s an overview of SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans:
| Monitoring Plan | Self-Monitoring | Standard Monitoring | Core Monitoring | Pro Monitoring | Pro Plus Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 per month | $22.99 per month | $32.99 per month | $49.99 per month | $79.99 per month |
>> Read About: Best Cheap Home Security Cameras of 2026
FYI: SimpliSafe also offers a free unmonitored plan. The free plan doesn’t offer any alternative alarms, though, so we recommend at least the self-monitoring plan for anyone with hearing loss.
| Monitoring options | Professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional and DIY |
| Smart platform integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $250.96 |
| Monthly monitoring cost | From $22.99 |
| Contract length | Monthly |
Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe are the security systems that stood out to us the most for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, but they’re far from the only systems that can work. If you’re looking for other options, here are a few more of our top contenders:
The abode App made it easy to integrate our smart home devices from other brands for home automation.
From Anthony Travaglia, retired police officer and home security expert
While it's critical to protect your home from break-ins and intruders, fire safety is equally important. Since most fire alarms use audible alerts, home fires are particularly dangerous for households with members who have hearing loss.
In our latest home security statistics, we learned that:
This SimpliSafe smoke detector can trigger the base station’s siren and all the other auxiliary SimpliSafe sirens we installed.
Most fire detectors depend on loud sirens to alert residents, and residential settings rarely include active prevention systems like sprinklers. If you or someone in your household has hearing loss, we strongly recommend using smart fire detectors. They allow you to trigger other devices, like a strobe light or vibrating wearable to provide non-audible alerts.
Equally important is professional monitoring. Alarm centers don’t just watch for burglaries—they also monitor for fires. Having your home monitored increases the likelihood that the fire department will arrive quickly, helping contain emergencies before they escalate.
People with hearing loss can use smart lights as visual alerts when their security system detects a potential threat. Not every system supports this feature, so confirm your security system includes home automation compatibility — such as IFTTT or its own automation platform. Here are some tips to get the most out of this setup:
This setup gives a reliable, visible way to stay safe even if you can’t hear traditional alarms.
If you or a family member has hearing loss, it's important to take extra precautions to stay safe. Not every security system includes these features, but many do. In our experience, Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe provide the best options, offering alternative alerting methods, advanced protection features, and professional monitoring you can rely on during emergencies.
That said, the right system depends on your specific needs. Many modern systems now include accessibility features for users with hearing loss. Check out our list of the best security systems we’ve tested for more options, and consult our security system buying guide to learn how to choose the right system for your home and family.
Still have some questions to figure out which system is best for you? We have the answers.
Yes, people with hearing loss can still use a home security system. Most systems these days offer alternative alerting solutions aside from a standard home security siren. They can send you texts for alerts or turn on a smart light to give you a visual alert.
Some security systems do require you to speak with their agents so that you can verify or cancel alarms. There are systems — such as Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe — that offer text-based alerts so you can respond to alarms without a phone call.
Yes, a siren does more than just alert you of a potential threat. It also acts as an effective deterrent against intruders. When they hear a siren, it can scare them away. Sirens can also notify neighbors so that they call the cops.
We recommend choosing a video doorbell that offers some type of home automation so that you can have a smart light turn on when someone rings your doorbell. These types of video doorbells can also send you a push notification when someone’s at your door.
While there aren’t any security systems made specifically for people with hearing loss, there are systems that offer accommodations for people with hearing loss. Such features include text-based alerts and visual cues. Our favorite systems that work for people with hearing loss are Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe.
