Best Home Security Systems of 2021

About Our Rankings

Curious about how we ranked our top 10 list? Well, we never shoot from the hip. Everything we do is a labor of love — with thousands of hours of research and hands-on testing to back it up.

We personally unbox the security systems and try them out first-hand to see how they measure up against the competition. And we have a proven process of getting to the “who’s who” in home security. Have a look for yourself!

About Our SecureScore™

Our ranking system, SecureScore™.

We use a proprietary ranking system to give every home security system a numbered score, from 1 to 10. We call it the SafeHome.org SecureScore™, and it takes into account all of our research, testing, and a handful of other important factors. We think you’ll find our SecureScore™ to be a simple way to compare your options. It also helps you to see our research at-a-glance.

So why does Vivint get a 9.0, but Ring only gets a 7.8? And why don’t any of the systems get a perfect 10 SecureScore™? Keep reading to find out!

Our Approach & Methodology

Keep in mind that a whole range of factors goes into narrowing down and ranking the best home security systems out there. Our SecureScore™ ranking factors include:

• Key features and tech
• Ease of use
• Installation type
• Equipment options
• Contract length
• Customer service
• Overall value
• Current sales and discounts
• Insider buying tips
• Available packages and plans
• And of course, pricing!

Our Home Security Experts

Travis Goodreau, Safety and Security Expert

Our team of security experts includes retired Burglary Detectives, Private Investigators, Security Directors, expert researchers, data analysts, and other home security pros. They have over 260 years of combined experience and 10,000+ hours of research under their belts. Our team is in the industry trenches every day, learning about new security products and other ways to protect your home and family.

Home Security System Buyers Guide

We’ll be honest, choosing a home security system is a big deal. There are lots of options out there, and each company promises to turn your house into the safest home in the neighborhood. So if you’re not sure where to start in your search, we recommend digging into our buyer’s guide below. We’re going to outline exactly what to consider when looking for a home security system.

Here are the basics that you’ll want to consider:

• Equipment Cost
• Monitoring Fees
• Contracts
• Installation
• Connectivity Options
• Smart Home Features
• Money-Back Guarantee

Homeowner vs Renter

If you’re a homeowner and have a decent budget to work with, we usually recommend going with a comprehensive home security system. This will give you burglary detection + home automation + video surveillance. Premium packages will set you back $400-$800 for the equipment, and around $40-$60 per month for 24/7 monitoring.

If you own your home and don’t plan on moving soon, you might want to buy hardwired equipment and go for professional installation. We’ve found that companies like ADT and Vivint are a great choice for homeowners. In our experience, professional installation takes the fuss out of getting up-and-running.

If you rent, we’ve also found some quick, nimble, and affordable security systems for renters. These DIY products tend to be simple to set up and take down yourself. We recommend going with a wireless system, as you won’t have to drill any obnoxious holes in your walls. Instead, the sensors go up using removable adhesives. As a bonus, this will keep you in good graces with your landlord. Check out SimpliSafe and Frontpoint, two options we’ve used that work great for renters.

Consider Your Home Size

You’ll definitely want to consider the number of rooms and square footage of your house when looking for a security system. Let’s say you live in a large home with 15 windows and 6 doors. If that’s you, you’ll need to purchase additional door and window sensors with your package. And trust us, this can rack up quite the tab.

Now, if you live in a smaller apartment, you can just go with a base package for about $200-$250 and upgrade from there (no need to complicate things). Most security companies sell 5-piece, 10-piece, or 14-16 piece kits. Of course, the larger the system, the more it’ll cost you.

Securing Your Front Yard & Backyard

Securing your front door is essential.

To secure your front yard or backyard, you’ll want to install a doorbell camera and outdoor security cameras. This might seem expensive and complicated, but you’ll be surprised at how easy and affordable it is to put an extra layer of security around your home.

The typical doorbell camera costs between $100-$160 and only takes 5-10 minutes to install yourself. While Ring is the most popular choice for doorbell cameras, we think there are plenty of other top contenders — like Nest Hello and the Arlo Video Doorbell. Look for features like 1080p HD resolution, night vision, a wide-angle lens (for the nooks and crannies!), and a cloud storage plan to save video.

Then you’ve got home security cameras, which run between $80-$300 depending on features. For instance, the Lorex 1080p Outdoor Cam is priced at $89.99 and offers wire-free home surveillance. But if you want a high-tech camera with facial recognition and other AI technology, expect to pay $300+ for a camera like the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor. Both options will secure your perimeter, but the more you spend, the more control you’ll have over your home security.

Garage Security

Keeping your garage light on helps to deter criminals, but you need more than that1. The best security systems can secure your garage, too. After all, many folks store expensive tools and other valuables in their garages. So the unprotected garage beckons thieves and burglars to help themselves. Thankfully, security systems like Frontpoint, Vivint, and ADT offer garage door sensors to help keep tabs on your car cave.

Maybe you just got to work and have that feeling in your gut that you forgot to close the garage door. Well, with many alarm systems, you can open and close your garage door remotely using your smartphone. You can also set up notifications to receive an alert when you accidentally leave your garage door open (hey, it happens). We recommend you take just as much care securing your garage as you do your front door.

Rural or City Living

Another thing to consider is your location. Perhaps you live out in the country where Wi-Fi signals are weak or nonexistent. Or maybe you live in the heart of the city, with ultra-fast Wi-Fi and cellular connections. Either way, you’ll want to find the service that’s right for your living situation. And remember, connection matters, especially if you want 24/7 professional monitoring. Not to worry, we’ve found a handful of home security systems that work great for both city and rural living.

Installation

We think a professionally installed system is ideal if you don’t like fussing with new technology. But keep in mind, a one-time installation fee of $100 is typically required for turnkey installation. Also, you’ll have to allow a technician into your home, which isn’t always a pleasant experience. The good thing about professional install is that you won’t break a sweat, and you’re sure to have your system installed correctly.

On the other hand, DIY home security systems are exploding in popularity. We recommend these systems if you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and doing some troubleshooting if needed. In our experience, DIY installation is normally fast, easy, and even kind of fun. Honestly, it only takes about 10-20 minutes to install and set up most do-it-yourself systems.

So should you go with professional install or DIY home security? Well, we think it really depends on the type of person you are.

Connectivity

Understanding how your device connects to power, the internet, and emergency response are important.

This can be a tricky topic, so we’ll keep things simple. Connectivity is what keeps your alarm sensors and other devices communicating with your base station. And if you sign up for 24/7 professional monitoring, it’s also what keeps your system connected to the monitoring center for fast response.

We usually recommend going with a cellular home security system — as we’ve found cellular signals to be more reliable than Wi-Fi and landline connectivity. With that said, most DIY systems these days run off of Wi-Fi with a cellular backup, which tends to work great. If your Wi-Fi ever goes down (or moves like molasses), you’ll be glad to have the cellular backup.

You can also go with a wired system. A hardwired security system offers a constant power source by connecting to your home’s wiring. And if you spring for Power over Ethernet (PoE), you’ll enjoy a super-fast and reliable connection. PoE simultaneously powers your equipment and transmits data4. If you can swing it, a PoE connection is great. But otherwise, we think a wireless battery-powered security system will do the trick.

Smart Home Automation

Alexa, lock my front door! We believe that smart home automation is the 21st century way to do, well, everything. If you like fancy tech, we recommend choosing a security system with smart home automation. It should only set you back an extra $10-$20 per month (plus the cost of smart devices).

You’ll be able to control your smart lights, garage door, smart locks, and more — all from your smartphone. We always enjoy setting up smart gizmos and gadgets. And note that it’s surprisingly simple to integrate third-party smart products into the best security systems out there. Here’s a sample of what you can expect in the smart category:

Smart Locks – August, Yale, and Schlage are three big names in smart locks. You’ll pay between $150-$250 for a quality lock (they aren’t cheap), but you can expect fast and easy install, smartphone controls, remote locking and unlocking, text alerts, and more. We really like how top smart locks can be controlled using Alexa or Google Assistant.

Smart Doorbells – Ring popularized the smart doorbell, but many security brands now offer them. You’ll pay about $150+ for a video doorbell, and you’ll enjoy features like night vision, text alerts, live-video streaming on your smartphone, and more. One of our favorite features is two-way talk, allowing us to hold a conversation with visitors and even tell porch pirates to scram (whether we’re in our room or on vacation).

Smart Assistants – Smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit offer hands-free voice control. Thankfully, the best home alarm systems have this capability built right into them. That’s why it’s important to find a system that works with smart assistants like Alexa (not all companies offer this!).

Smart Lighting – Another neat home automation is smart lighting. Brands like Philips Hue let you control the mood straight from their app. You can also set custom rules and schedules so that, for instance, your living room lights dim at 8pm every night. All you have to do is pop the popcorn (although you can automate that, too, using a smart plug).

Smart Thermostats – One of our favorite smart devices is the ever-popular smart thermostat, and specifically the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. This device and others like it allow you to control your indoor temps even when you’re not home. It’ll help to lower your energy bill, and it’s great for the environment, too5. We’ve found that the best home security systems play well with smart thermostats.

Professional Monitoring vs Self-Monitoring

One is free. The other costs you month after month. If you like the idea of a monitoring center keeping a close eye on your home — ready to dispatch police, fire, or EMS — then we recommend a system with 24/7 professional monitoring. Sure, it comes at a cost, but it also comes with peace of mind. Your other option is to self-monitor with a DIY system.

Both options have their merits. We like self-monitoring because it saves us another monthly bill (it’s free!). And it’s pretty easy to self-monitor with a user-friendly mobile app, which most companies offer these days. On the other hand, if we happen to miss the in-app alert if someone breaks into our home when we’re not there, the bad guys will have a field day. So that’s why 24/7 professional monitoring is the safest way to go.

The Cost of Home Security

Consider the costs of all the equipment you will need for your home.

Now, if you think home security is too expensive, we think you’ll be surprised at how downright affordable some systems are. We’ve seen packages that cost as low as $200, with no monthly fees or contracts. Our top 10 list above will give you plenty of great options to choose from. But expect to pay about $300-$500 for a basic- to mid-range setup. The equipment might include:

• Central hub or base station
• 3-5 door/window sensors
• Motion sensor
• Keypad control panel
• Range extender

A system that requires a contract might be a smart choice if you’re cash-strapped. Why? Because contract-based security systems generally don’t require upfront equipment fees. Rather, the costs are spread over the length of the contract. We’ve seen 1-year, all the way up to 5-year contracts! But we recommend contract-free systems if you don’t want to sign on the dotted line and be locked into a long-term agreement (and who does?).

You’ll also want to think about monitoring costs. We touched on this above, but you should budget for about $40 per month if you want your system monitored by the professionals. Of course, $40 is the average, but you can spend as little as $10 per month with Ring, or as much as $60+ per month with the premium provider ADT. Remember, we do recommend professional monitoring if you can afford it. The extra protection is well worth the price.

Other costs to consider are installation fees and activation fees. While we seldom see activation fees these days, they can range between $35 and $65. On the other hand, installation fees are a necessary evil to get set up with top brands like ADT and Vivint. That said, it’s not uncommon for these brands to waive installation fees, so it never hurts to ask.

Home Security FAQs