Best Home Security System of 2024

When it comes to home security, ADT is a household name. How did it get there? Well, for one thing, the company has been in business for nearly a century and a half. And it shows. ADT knows how to build a comprehensive security system. Don’t think, for instance, that their age means they’re stuck in the past. Far from it, in fact. In our test drives of ADT home security systems, we’ve found they’re constantly innovating, offering customers some of the best equipment and monitoring available. History and knowledge coupled with cutting-edge technology? That’s a winning combination.

From a cost perspective, ADT does tend to be on the higher end. It’s not prohibitively expensive — and they do offer financing options — but you will be paying more than you would with some of the newer DIY-friendly companies. That said, in the security industry, you get what you pay for. If you want the best protections in the industry, ADT is certainly one to check out.

That being said, we’ve experienced inconsistencies in customer support. Here’s the problem: ADT operates as a franchise business with dealers all over the country. When you’re dealing with local dealers rather than a centralized company headquarters, there are bound to be significant differences in what components and whole systems cost. And, as you might expect, there are also significant differences in how different dealers treat customers.

Even still, ADT once again makes our list of best home security companies. Read our full ADT Review for more

Why Choose ADT

• 100+ Years in the Industry
• Fast Response Times
• 6-Month Guarantee

Our next top-contender is SimpliSafe. It started out as a renter-friendly DIY security system over a decade ago. And while it still is a great DIY option, its innovative security features have made it capable of going toe-to-toe with ADT and other more traditional security systems. 

We noted in our SimpliSafe review how advanced its protections are, particularly with the Fast Protect plan. For about a buck per day ($29.99 per month), SimpliSafe will monitor your security system, give you cloud storage for up to 10 security cameras, and offer you Live Guard Protection, Alarm Texts, and video verification. 

Those last three features take simple professional monitoring to the next level, in our opinion. Take Live Guard Protection, for example. It’s one of SimpliSafe’s best features exclusively for the newly released Smart Alarm wireless indoor camera. When the system detects an intrusion, the camera will stream live video and audio to the monitoring center and a monitoring agent will be able to speak through the camera. Video verification works the same way but without the two-way audio link, while Alarm Texts provide text-based alerts for faster confirmation of alerts. And note that this is all included in SimpliSafe’s affordable $29.99 per month pricing. 

It’s certainly not a perfect home security system. We’d like to see more outdoor security camera options from SimpliSafe. And what’s with that push-button control panel? The top brands these days all have sleek LCD touchscreen panels, so we’d like to see SimpliSafe upgrade their panel options. 

But because of its contract-free and affordable monitoring, flexible installation options, high-quality equipment, and innovative Fast Protect monitoring features, we strongly believe SimpliSafe is one of the most versatile security options out there.

Why Choose SimpliSafe

• Easiest DIY Installation but with optional pro installation
• Low-Cost Monitoring with innovative features
• Generous 60-Day Free Trial

What impresses us most about Vivint is just how well the company seems to have mastered the art of automation. In fact, the company earned its spot on this list largely by impressing us with its home automation options, among the best we’ve seen on the market. That’s not to say Vivint sacrifices security for flashy AI and smart home integration. Quite the opposite, in fact. In this case, the technology isn’t just about flash. It really adds layers of security other companies can’t match. But be warned: top-of-the-line security comes with a hefty price tag.

You should also keep in mind that Vivint is definitely not a DIY system. For instance, it requires professional installation, and that’s not free. Monitoring is professional as well, and you have to sign a contract. That said, everything at Vivint is negotiable. We’ve heard a rumor, for instance, that if you ask nicely, Vivint will sometimes waive its installation fee.

This can help because the equipment is a bit pricey. You certainly get what you pay for, though — it’s the smartest security equipment we’ve ever tested, including a brand-new line of AI-powered cameras. And even though the equipment prices are steep, Vivint’s monthly monitoring cost is on-par with other top brands.

Overall, we think Vivint is a great fit for folks who want it all, but in one fully-integrated and streamlined system. See if it’s the right fit for you in our Vivint review.

Why Choose Vivint

• Best-in-class Smart Features
• Award-winning Mobile App
• Professional Installation

We were initially drawn to Alder security systems because the equipment is so well designed. Sensors, monitors, and cameras look great–sleek and modern–and we found them all to be incredibly durable. The touch screen is just as impressive, with intuitive controls that put your entire system at your fingertips. Alder is more than just a pretty face.

Alder is more than just a pretty face, though. Where Alder really impressed us was with their incredibly fast response times — just 3.4 seconds on average. That’s lightning fast when you consider the industry standard is anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. This is a major selling point for Alder. After all, the whole point of a security system is to keep you and your family safe. In an emergency situation, every second counts.

That said, there are a few downsides to Alder. We didn’t love the lack of camera options. There’s one indoor model, one outdoor model, and no video doorbell option at all. We were sort of forced to invite professional installers into our home. Installation was free, but we sort of like being in charge of where we set up our equipment. And we were also a little thrown by Alder’s high prices. The thing is, while you pay a high monthly fee, you can save a ton upfront on equipment. You can actually get $850 worth of equipment for free when you sign up for a three-year contract. Alder even throws in an outdoor security camera for 50 percent off. Overall, we think this up-and-coming security brand is a safe bet for anyone looking to marry top-tier security with stylish design.

See more in our full review of Alder.

Why Choose Alder

• 4G LTE Cellular Monitoring
• Alexa & Z-Wave Compatible
• 7” Touchscreen Control Panel

Cove flies under the radar, but it offers exactly what many homeowners and renters are looking for. It’s an affordable home security system with simple setup and no-contract monitoring that you can rely on.

After taking it for a test ride, we can even say that Cove definitely has the potential to give industry giants like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint a run for their money, with money being the operative word. Unlike SimpliSafe, there’s no option with Cove to self-monitor. However, professional monitoring is just $18 per month, significantly lower than Simplisafe’s $30 per month. And Cove’s price is a full $32.00 less than Frontpoint charges. We’re also pretty high on Cove’s DIY process, which we found even easier than SimpliSafe’s. Plus, we don’t know any other companies out there that offer a lifetime guarantee on their equipment.

So why isn’t Cove higher on our list? Well, for starters they could use an update on what they offer in terms of features and hardware. Things are a little lean over at Cove, and stepping up their game in terms of home automation would really go a long way. We cover all of this in our Cove review, so head over there for more information.

Overall, though, we think Cove has a lot of staying power — especially with their generous 60-day money-back guarantee and month-to-month service starting at only $17.99.

Why Choose Cove

• Simple DIY Installation
• Touchscreen Control Panel
• RapidSOS Emergency Dispatch

We were initially drawn to Frontpoint by its “what you see is what you get” approach. We can’t tell you the number of times we’ve been burned by hidden fees and features that we had to pay to unlock. Frontpoint was upfront about everything. It helped that the system is so simple and straightforward. That simplicity extends to setup as well. Read our Frontpoint review, and you’ll learn we had no hiccups during the process, and had everything up and running in no time.

Affordability is another strong suit of Frontpoint’s. Their home security packages range from around $400 to $800, but they’re always running sales. Right now for instance, these packages are all between 69 and 85 percent off. That makes their Starter Home Security package just $79. A hub, keypad, three entry sensors and an indoor camera for less that you’d pay for a lot of cameras by themselves? Call us impressed.

In the end, though we discovered that Frontpoint offers a fresh take on DIY security with innovative, high-tech features like geofencing and home automation capacities. Overall, they offer solid products with great user experience at reasonable prices.

Why Choose Frontpoint

• High-quality Security Equipment
• Custom Features & Tech
• Excellent App Experience

Despite the fact that the Brinks company has been around since 1859, Brinks home security is actually a relatively recent entry on the home security market. For most of its history, Brinks was known as an armored car company. Later it provided ATM security. The company did establish a home security arm in 1982, but over the next twenty years that arm fizzled. It wasn’t until 2018 that the brand was revived a home security.

Despite that complicated history, and the fact that Brinks remains–oddly–a very new contender in home security, it has begun establishing itself. The Brinks model is full-service, which makes it a direct competitor with ADT. And, like ADT, the Brinks system comes with professional installation and 24/7 professional monitoring. It manages to provide those features, though at a lower cost than ADT. Brinks’s most affordable package is the Smart Security Essential package, which you can get for $360. ADT’s most affordable package, the Secure Package is $600, nearly double that. Similarly, Brinks’s monitoring plans are all around five to six dollars cheaper than ADT’s.

Of course, Brinks doesn’t quite live up to ADT’s standards, but it does offer some high-quality equipment that integrates well into either the Echo or Google Home eco-systems. If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to ADT, Brinks definitely fits the bill.

Discover more in our Brinks home security review.

Why Choose Brinks

• Reliable 24/7 Monitoring
• Works with Google Home
• 2-year Equipment Warranty

Ring has become one of the most popular security systems on the market, and it’s easy to understand why. Ring isn’t the most advanced system on our list–Vivint holds that distinction–but it does offer innovative security options. Take the Ring Alarm Pro package, for example. Ring teamed up eero connectivity specialists, to add cellular connectivity to the base station’s existing Wi-Fi capabilities. With the Ring Protect Pro plan you get a full three GB of backup cellular data for all your connected devices — not just your motion detectors and cameras but your smartphones and laptops as well. That way you’re protected even if your internet should happen to go down.

Want even more advanced security technology? The Ring Always Home drone camera is now available for pre-order, although by invitation only through Amazon. These all-new drone cameras are at the cutting edge of the industry. If you’re looking for something new that you can actually get your hands on now, give Ring’s line of pet products a look. For just $10, you can tag your pet and always know where they are.

Ring’s prepackaged security kits offer intrusion protection with super-low monthly monitoring fees. Or… no monitoring fees at all if you choose the free “self-monitor” option. Plus, the company offers a wide range of camera options. Don’t forget to check out our Ring Alarm review for even more information about features and pricing.

Why Choose Ring Alarm

• Affordable Equipment & Monitoring
• Extensive Product Lineup
• Modern Design & Aesthetic

Abode has three types of security systems. The Classic abode Kit includes a hub, a keypad, a fob, and a handful of sensors. The Smart Kit comes with a Smart hub, cellular backup, and a built-in 93 decibel siren to scare away problems. Finally, the upgraded iota Kit uses a hub with a built-in HD camera. We think it’s the best option, considering it’s just $70 more than the Smart Kit.

Whichever camera you choose, though, installation is simple enough, and you can’t go wrong with the black and white equipment design that really adds a modern touch anywhere you place them. Plus, all of these systems work with abode’s proprietary CUE home automation system.

Abode isn’t a flawless system by any means. We found equipment options to be limited and the equipment we got took us a while to connect. The instructions weren’t exactly intuitive, and the customer service representatives we managed to get on the phone weren’t trained well enough to answer our questions.

Still, the system worked great once we got it installed. Overall, we think abode works great for home protection and automation. Read more about their offerings in our abode review.

Why Choose abode

• Hub has Built-in HD Camera
• Mini Door/Window Sensors
• CUE Home Automation Platform

Deep Sentinel’s real selling point is its multi-layered, proactive approach to monitoring. Every system comes with an AI hub that analyzes video footage the moment that footage is captured. That hub can process fifty frames per second and uses sophisticated algorithms to filter out harmless activities keeping you and your family safe while eliminating false alarms.

The AI hub is just the first level of Deep Sentinel monitoring, though. In addition, trained security guards keep an eye on your property 24/7. When they detect an intrusion, they follow a series of guidelines that differentiate guests from criminals. They report all criminal activity immediately to emergency personnel, then use two-way audio to prevent dangerous situations from escalating.

This kind of protection isn’t cheap. You’ll pay premium fees for both equipment and monthly monitoring. And, like all full-service security companies, Deep Sentinel requires you to sign up for a minimum one-year contract. If you can afford it, though, you can count on Deep Sentinel to fully secure your home. In our experience with Deep Sentinel, we definitely felt secure having their monitoring center watching over our home. Did we feel a little invaded in the privacy department? Sure, but you have to take the bad with the good.

Read our full Deep Sentinel review to learn more.

Why Choose Deep Sentinel

• 24/7 Surveillance by Live Guards
• Fastest Response Times
• Snapdragon AI Processing