Best Home Security Systems of 2022

ADT is a household name, so we frequently try out their systems to ensure they’re still up-to-task. In our latest round of testing, we realized that ADT home security systems are so popular for a reason. We think their home protection + home automation + video packages are top-notch. That is, they made us feel secure in our home and kept us plenty busy with nifty smart home features. We especially liked the ADT Control App and how much more accessible it made our home security system.

Premium features often come with a premium price tag, though, and ADT is not an exception. We found it to be slightly more expensive than DIY systems. However, if your heart is set on the best security system there is, you won’t be disappointed with ADT. That being said, because ADT operates a franchise business, that can mean inconsistent customer support and professional installation depending on your location.

Even still, ADT once again makes our list of best home security companies.

Why Choose ADT

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

We must admit: When we first saw SimpliSafe about a decade ago, we were skeptical. We were used to seeing companies like ADT and Vivint, so how can a system that you install yourself, doesn’t require professional monitoring, and doesn’t have as many components even protect you? Well, SimpliSafe is actually a simple yet functional system. The DIY installation that we doubted initially, actually turned out to be a great experience, taking only 20 minutes to install.

And the features weren’t too basic, either. With their recent release of a dedicated outdoor security camera, SimpliSafe has made the statement that they mean business with whole-home protection. Sure, we would like to see the company offer additional camera options (right now you’re looking at one indoor camera, one outdoor camera, and one doorbell camera, and none of the three have smart features like person detection). But if easy DIY installation, no-contracts, and low-cost monitoring is your thing, we think you’ll love SimpliSafe.

We think it’s also a great option for people who rent. You can take the equipment with you, and you don’t have to worry about penalties or installation fees at your new place. So if you want home security — without the steep prices or long-term contracts — we highly recommend looking into this provider. Read more about Simplisafe’s pricing and plans.

Why Choose SimpliSafe

• Easiest DIY Installation
• Low-Cost Monitoring
• Generous 60-Day Free Trial

There’s a certain feeling that comes with using Vivint. We can’t put our finger on it, but this intelligent home security system did leave us feeling pretty secure, and even a little smarter! The home automation options were the most impressive we’ve seen from any company.

We found their cellular monitoring to be responsive and reliable, but it was nothing worth writing home about. However, we think you’ll like Vivint’s award-winning Vivint App, which made it ultra-easy to access and control our system remotely.

Security cameras and smart video monitoring is another area where Vivint excels. Just last month, Vivint refreshed its lineup of cameras with the all-new Vivint Indoor Camera Pro, the revamped Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro and Outdoor Camera, and the new smart accessory called Spotlight Pro. The outdoor camera remains the star of the show, with the ability to connect to the Spotlight Pro. We’d also like to point out that all new Vivint cameras now have slots for a microSD card for local storage, something we don’t see in cameras from more traditional security systems.

Keep in mind though, Vivint is not a DIY system — it does require professional installation (pro tip: it never hurts to ask your sales rep to waive the installation fee). Also, the equipment is a bit pricey, but you certainly get what you pay for; it’s the smartest security equipment we’ve ever tested. 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.

Why Choose Vivint

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

Compared to other top brands, we think Frontpoint offers the best all-around app experience and helpful customizations — it’s their competitive advantage. And as far as securing our home and adding a touch of convenience to our lives, well, Frontpoint had just enough features to keep us happy.

Thankfully, Frontpoint is a DIY system. We installed the system ourselves, and we’re pretty proud that we did it in about 25 minutes. Feature-wise, Frontpoint’s intrusion protection features are on-point. However, we weren’t satisfied with the smart home options that were available out of the box, but we have to remember it’s a sub-$500 system.

Another thing to note here is that Frontpoint is Z-Wave compatible, so we were able to link third-party Z-Wave devices we had at home. The best part is that we didn’t have to upgrade our plan. The $49.99 Ultimate plan from Frontpoint — which, by the way, is the only monitoring plan available — already includes home automation and video monitoring. That said, the only way to get the best out of your Ultimate plan monthly fee is to use as many features available. That, however, means buying more equipment like smart devices and cameras, which eventually leads to higher upfront fees.

What you see is what you get with Frontpoint. There are no hidden fees, and their GE devices are high-quality and reliable. But Frontpoint does lack some of the best features that companies like Vivint and ADT bring to the table. It’s not as streamlined on the home automation front as Vivint, for instance. All in all, we think Frontpoint is a great system for most families and lifestyles. For a more in-depth look at cost, see our Frontpoint pricing and plans page.

Why Choose Frontpoint

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

Cove entered the market just when everyone was looking for affordable home security, simple setup, and monitoring they can rely on. And the company offers all of this and then some. After using the system for over 100 hours, we can say that Cove gives other similar DIY brands that have been around for longer like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint a run for their money.

For starters, Cove’s pricing is downright affordable. You can get a full security system setup, including some cameras, for $200. As for professional monitoring, those plans run $17.99 to $27.99 per month. A typical security system costs about $30 per month to monitor, so all things considered, that’s not a bad price range.

Cove DIY appeal is also noteworthy. It took us less than 20 minutes to install the system, cameras included. The sleek touchscreen panel functioned as our one-stop control center once the system was set up. Plus, it worked with our Alexa and Google Home ecosystems. Granted, it wasn’t the smartest system we’ve tested, but for its price and the quality of its products, Cove really gave us lots of bang for our buck.

But what really stood out to us about Cove was their 24/7 monitoring. It really (really) works. Our alarm went off and the monitoring center was on the line within 30 seconds, and the police were at our door within 15-20 minutes. This is made possible because of Cove’s AT&T 4G LTE cellular monitoring. It’s a big improvement in terms of speed over the standard Wi-Fi connection we normally see in DIY systems. Plus, cellular signals are more reliable than our Wi-Fi, which goes out almost every other week. With Cove, our system was perpetually up and running, even during power outages. Did we mention that is has a battery backup, too?

We do think Cove’s smartphone app experience could be improved. 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

The Brinks home security brand was revived by the merger of LiveWatch and Moni, both home security brands with a checkered past. That being said, the new branding is working, and Brinks is off to rebuild its reputation. From a user standpoint, Brinks is easy to set up and use. It may not be quite as simple as SimpliSafe or Cove, but the system works efficiently.

We really liked Brinks’ straightforward package options. You’ll have three options to choose from, which range from basic intrusion protection to full-on intrusion protection + home automation + video surveillance. We really enjoyed using Brinks’ video features, and we like how their top-tier package comes with an HD video doorbell for good measure.

Overall, we have to tip our hats to Brinks for making a comeback after falling off the map for a while. Based on our experience, we think their affordable DIY security systems will find a nice home in the market. But time will tell if they can compete with other low-cost providers out there.

Why Choose Brinks

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

Ring might not be the most advanced system on our list (Vivint takes that prize), but it sure has gained quite the fanfare over the years. We’ve been testing Ring Alarm quite a bit lately, and we actually like the system for what it is. So what is it? Well, it’s a prepackaged security kit that offers basic intrusion protection with super-low monthly monitoring fees. Or… no monitoring fees at all if you choose the free “self-monitor” option.

So we mounted the sensors and set up a few security cameras, along with a video doorbell camera to see how well it secured our home. The results weren’t exactly glowing, but we thought the monitoring center was responsive, the cameras offered crisp video, and the home automation was decent. Remember, Ring is owned by Amazon, so it does work with Alexa (and now with Google Home, too). And you can integrate some third-party devices into the system. But don’t expect a fully outfitted smart home.

If you’re looking for a deal, note that Ring is offering the Video Doorbell Pro for $99 for a limited time (normally $139.99). Ring also offers the innovative outdoor contact sensor (new!) for only $49.99. These sensors protect outside gates, sheds, and guest homes.

Editor’s Note: Ring recently announced the Ring Alarm Pro and Ring Protect Pro plans. They’ve teamed up with the connectivity wizards over at eero to bring the best in cellular connection, with Pro kit bundles starting at $249. The monitoring fee for the new Protect Pro plan has bumped to $20 per month, but you’ll enjoy 24/7 backup internet, 3 GB of cellular data per month if your Wi-Fi goes down (if you have the new Ring Alarm Pro system), and loads of other features. Be sure to see our Ring Alarm plans and pricing page to learn all about it.

Why Choose Ring Alarm

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

It’s small, it’s smart, it’s functional. Abode has two types of security systems. The Classic abode Kit includes a hub and a bunch of sensors, while the upgraded iota Kit uses a hub with a built-in HD camera. We think it’s the best option, considering the very small price difference (around $30). Whichever 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.

If you’re interested in smart home features, we think this system brings a lot to the table. We were able to create custom automations that controlled everything from our smart lights, to our smart garage controller. We think you’ll like abode’s integration potential, too. It works with a handful of third-party platforms to add a dash of convenience to your life.

And don’t forget that it secures your home! All things considered, it’s not a flawless system, but we think abode works great for home protection and automation. Read more about their offerings in our abode cost and monitoring options page.

Why Choose abode

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

From what we’ve seen, Deep Sentinel is a clear winner when it comes to proactive home security and putting a stop to crime before it happens. They secured our home by using a high-tech combination of live surveillance and AI technology. With flashing lights, two-way talk, and a blaring-loud siren, Deep Sentinel’s human guards proactively monitored the perimeter of our property.

We actually liked having human guards always on watch. But as you might imagine, this comes at a steep price. You also have to keep in mind that Deep Sentinel is a camera-only system. That is, there are no door/window sensors to alert you of an actual break-in. So if a bad guy somehow bypasses the cameras, you’re pretty much out of luck. We didn’t exactly love that.

Still, Deep Sentinel is quite effective, and we’ve found it to be a whole lot cheaper than setting up private home surveillance and monitoring. So if you don’t mind paying high monthly monitoring fees, or signing a 1-year contract, we recommend what Deep Sentinel has to offer.

Why Choose Deep Sentinel

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

We liked Alder security systems for their fast response times and overall versatility. And controlling our system with their touchscreen panel was effortless and pretty darn sleek. Otherwise, this company offers a similar feature-set as brands like Frontpoint and Brinks.

Where Alder really impressed us was with their sub 5-second response times. Compared to the industry average, that’s lightning fast! They use 4G LTE cellular monitoring, which is the gold standard for monitoring these days.

That said, we didn’t love the high prices, lack of camera options, and the required professional installation. (Note: Professional installation is free with Alder, but for DIYers like us, we hope there’s an option to self-install the system.) But overall, we think this up-and-coming security brand is a safe bet.

Why Choose Alder

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