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 produces high-end wireless security equipment with a focus on home automation end-user conveniences. They also offer professional installation, no activation fee, 24/7 monitoring, and have a free equipment replacement policy in place as well. In addition, they offer a wide variety of home security and home automation equipment that works well with Alexa. Another great thing about Vivint is they have a very intuitive app that is highly rated among its users.
Vivint takes home security to the next level. When we reviewed Vivint, the system gave us incredible peace of mind, with state-of-the-industry equipment from sensors to cameras. To sweeten the deal, Vivint’s home automation options were the most impressive we’ve seen.
Vivint’s well-regarded Smart Home app made it super-easy to access and control our system remotely, and Vivint’s technology is compatible with lots of third-party devices like smart lighting, smart locks, and smart assistants. Vivint’s monitoring service got high marks for emergency response times as well as smart home integrations. They’re also one of the best home security systems overall.
And while it’s not the cheapest option out there, they do offer high-end wireless equipment on either a four- or five-year contract. Vivint doesn’t offer any DIY options; therefore, everything they sell has to be professionally installed. On the bright side, you won’t have to go through any installation hassles, which most people appreciate.
There’s much more on costs in our full Vivint pricing breakdown, but keep in mind that financing equipment is the most common option Vivint users choose.
Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional only |
---|---|
Installation | Professional |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Equipment Cost | $600 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | $20-$70 |
Contract Length | 42-60 months |
SimpliSafe is an excellent pick if you’re looking for a system with top-notch Alexa automation. SimpliSafe doesn’t have any long-term contracts or monthly fees and their equipment is extremely user-friendly. Additionally, the SimpliSafe equipment is of a very high-quality, as well as being durable and versatile. Here are some of the SimpliSafe pros and cons.
SimpliSafe is a great home security system because it can be used as is or customized, so you can easily add on to it as your needs change. SimpliSafe produces its own equipment, which we consider a huge benefit. As noted in our full SimpliSafe review, the system is also loved by renters, as it can be easily moved from one place to another without wires and complex setups. Additionally, SimpliSafe was named one of the most affordable security systems, with monthly monitoring costs as low as $24.99. Learn more in our complete SimpliSafe cost breakdown. Additionally, the SimpliSafe system comes with a battery backup that lasts for days versus only 24 hours like others in this category.
The SimpliSafe equipment packages range from approximately $229 to $499 and come with a three-year warranty. Additionally, SimpliSafe’s indoor camera, the SimpliCam, does a great job of handling visual surveillance. Though its resolution only produces standard-definition (720p) video, it didn’t miss any crucial details in our full SimpliCam review.
Most people find the SimpliSafe system very easy to use because all you have to do is plug-in the base station, place the sensors where you want them, adjust the settings and you’re done. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Newer SimpliSafe systems are fully compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, which gives you some great home automation features. It’s important to note that older SimpliSafe systems, such as SimpliSafe Original, are not compatible with Alexa, so make sure you are picking up the newer equipment!
Monitoring Options | Professional Monitoring Available |
---|---|
Installation | DIY |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa, Google Home, and August Smart Locks |
Equipment Cost | From $249.96 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $9.99 |
Contract Length | Month to Month |
As the largest and oldest home security provider in the U.S., ADT offers more options than many rivals in the industry. We covered it all in our full review of ADT. ADT provides wired and wireless systems that come with free installation and a six-month money-back guarantee. Here are some of the ADT pros and cons.
With ADT you have the option of a wired or wireless system. They also offer environmental protections and home automation features that work with Alexa as well. Additionally, they have five equipment packages and two different monitoring plans. Alternatively, they offer customized solutions if you prefer.
ADT has monitoring centers across the country; however, their monitoring plans are more expensive than other security companies in the industry. Their monitoring plans range from $36.99 to $52.99 per month and the associated equipment will vary depending on the plan you choose. ADT does require a three-year contract which is pretty standard; however, you can cancel and have your monitoring fees refunded within the first six months without penalty as long as you return all their equipment.
If you already own ADT equipment, your monthly prices will be lower than if you don’t. ADT offers several different brands of equipment such as Honeywell, General Electric, ITI, and more. Additionally, with some of the ADT equipment plans, you will have the option of video security cameras and home automation features that are also compatible with Alexa.
ADT also offers medical alert pendants. The ADT Health medical alert system is compatible with the rest of ADT’s equipment and can be monitored through the company’s monitoring centers. However, as with all the ADT equipment, fees, and services, they will vary by dealer. You can get all the details on costs in our ADT plan and pricing page.
Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional only |
---|---|
Installation | Professional |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Equipment Cost | Starting at $109 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | Starting at $45.99 |
Contract Length | 36 months |
If you’re an Amazon Alexa user, you simply can’t overlook Cove. The system played extremely well with the Alexa voice assistant in our in-depth Cove review, allowing us hands-free control of our home’s security. It’s not a perfect system, but if you want low monthly costs and plenty of intelligent features, we think Cove is worth a shot.
We had a blast testing Cove in our home (as evidenced by the police showing up at our door!). The professional monitoring really does work, and even though the systems only cost around $250, we were surprised by the smart features included.
You can set custom “rules” that arm or disarm your alarm based on time of day and other factors. And it works great with Alexa, too. Once we set the Alexa skill, we flexed our vocal cords to activate our alarm and secure our home. So if you already have Alexa running your home, Cove might make sense for your home security setup.
We do wish Cove sold an outdoor camera. As it stands, they only offer the Yi indoor cam, but it’s a pretty good value for a $25 camera. Take a look at our review of YI cameras for more features and benefits. The costs of a Cove system are pretty low compared to competitors. A premium plan from Cove costs $24.99 per month and comes with 24/7 professional monitoring (4G LTE cellular monitoring), a lifetime warranty, and Alexa and Google Home compatibility.
In our experience, you really can’t go wrong with Cove.
Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional and DIY |
---|---|
Installation | DIY |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Equipment Cost | $87 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | $50 |
Contract Length | Month-to-month |
Alder first caught our eye with their ultra-responsive 24/7 monitoring. It’s true that they can respond to break-ins and emergencies in under 5 seconds flat. But they also have some neat home automation options, too. Alder works with Alexa and Z-Wave devices. Once the system is set up (which only takes a few minutes), you can control everything with Alder’s touchscreen control panel, smartphone app, or by using your voice with Alexa. Here are Alder’s pros and cons:
Alder might not be the most popular home security system out there. But they sure have the market cornered (in the best way) when it comes to Alexa-compatible home security. Alder’s wireless system took only 15 minutes to install in our full testing and review of Alder. Its home automation features allowed us to connect with Alexa for hands-free voice control. Their 4G LTE cellular monitoring is included with every system, and it allows for super-fast response times. Like 3.4 seconds fast!
Users do have to sign a contract, but that’s typical for premium systems like Alder. Thankfully, they offer a handful of customer-friendly guarantees that we really like. Among these are free installation and a lifetime equipment guarantee. If it breaks, they’ll fix it or replace it free of charge, no questions asked. One last thing that’s worth mentioning is their customization options. During your free phone consultation, a helpful agent will guide you in exploring systems and finding the right fit for your budget and living situation. Alder’s fees certainly aren’t the lowest in the market, but the system still makes the grade.
Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional only |
---|---|
Installation | Professional or DIY |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Equipment Cost | $0 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | $35 |
Contract Length | 36 months |
Frontpoint provides high-quality DIY security equipment and still manages to be one of the most affordable systems out there. Our full Frontpoint analysis covered the ins and outs of this system, which included Alexa automation for hands-free voice control as well as fast and effective professional monitoring. Additionally, they also provide exceptional 24/7 customer service that everyone raves about. Here are some of the Frontpoint pros and cons.
Frontpoint works well with Alexa. And between their exceptional customer service, quick and easy 30-minute installation process, low startup costs, generous equipment packages, and popular home automation features make Frontpoint a serious contender. Additionally, Frontpoint is frequently rated as one of the best home security companies for emergency monitoring with “smarthome” enhancements.
Frontpoint’s costs for equipment and monitoring are relatively low, but keep in mind you do have to sign a contract with Frontpoint. They also give you a 30-day risk-free trial as well. And, they use General Electric equipment which means it can be monitored by another security company if you prefer.
Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional |
---|---|
Installation | DIY |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Equipment Cost | $219.99 |
Monthly Monitoring Cost | $18 |
Contract Length | 1-36 months |
Amazon’s voice assistant is useful for so many things, and home security is one of them. Here are some of the benefits to using Alexa in your home security setup:
Alexa Home Security uses home automation features to allow you to control many functions of your home and lifestyle. This is commonly referred to as a smarthome. Home automation features are easily integrated and controlled through Alexa and other compatible products for things such as security systems, lighting, climate control, entertainment systems, appliances, door locks, and more.
Alexa can be integrated with Amazon Echo, which comes with any Amazon home security package. The Echo is a hands-free voice-controlled device that uses voice recognition to enable you to perform many home security and home automation functions with your voice rather than doing it manually.
Alexa can be an extra layer of peace of mind, whether you’re a smart home enthusiast or just a homeowner trying to keep her family safe. Many of the best home security cameras in the market have Alexa automations, including Ring, Wyze, and Reolink.
With Alexa paired to your cameras, you can control and monitor your home. With Wyze, for example, we learned in our latest Wyze Cam review that Alexa can actually talk to us, instead of the other way around. If a person enters the camera’s field of view, Alexa will say, “Person detected in living room,” without you having to lift a finger (or use your own voice).
Additionally, you can have Alexa control your door locks, as long as you have the proper locks and set up a four-digit pin code which enables you to use this feature. Just remember that voice recordings can be captured and replicated so you need that second layer of security such as a pin number so a criminal can't use a recording of your voice, then manipulate that recording using a speech synthesis system like WaveNet to trick your voice identification system.
Alexa compatible home security systems have a number of features. Most of these features are related to home automation and these home security systems that work with Alexa help to create a safe and secure smart home.
Alexa fits seamlessly into many home security systems, offering Voice Recognition among its suite of features. We’re talkin’ hands-free voice control via Alexa-controlled Echo device. This puts your home security and automation controls at the tip of your tongue — which is far more elegant and sophisticated than having to manually input requests and commands. Manual controls are so last year.
Home security systems that work with Alexa come stacked with entryway sensors — a standard feature that you can customize to fit your home. Simply mount the magnetic sensors on your doors, windows, and other entry points. The moment a sensor is tripped, your system sounds the alarm and alerts you of the potential security breach.
Amazon’s Alexa and Echo make it easy to “self-monitor” your home security system with real-time mobile alerts. Both devices can be configured to send activity alerts. These alerts go straight to your mobile device via the Amazon app, allowing you to take necessary action to keep burglars at bay. It’s another helpful feature that saves you a monthly monitoring bill.
Security systems that work with Alexa also offer Remote Access. Simply login to the companion app and take total control of your home security system — no matter where you are. Depending on your system’s features and technology, you can lock and unlock your doors, arm and disarm the system, control your lights, thermostat, and much more.
Similar to the remote access feature, Heat/AC controls and customization is another way Alexa supercharges security systems. Simply say, “Alexa, turn up the heat!” and get ready for toasty. You can set the thermostat to any specified temperature using only your voice. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right. Alexa dials in home automation like never before.
You thought Heat/AC controls were hot — wait till you see what Alexa can do to set the mood. She can control both on/off switches and dimmer switches too. Just say the words. You can also give commands via the companion app. Home security systems that work with Alexa and Echo are a solid investment — especially if you’re into home automation.
If your home is outfitted with smart locks, have Alexa do your bidding. “Alexa, lock the door.” After all, you might be watching your favorite flick and don’t want to be bothered (who could blame you?). This is yet another convenient benefit of having a home security system that works with Alexa. Your home is your kingdom, rule it with Alexa.
The majority of security systems that are compatible with Alexa offer Motion Detectors. As an added layer of security, this feature is especially useful in difficult to monitor areas and/or rooms that hold valuables like art and jewelry. The system sounds the alarm and sends alerts when triggered. Thankfully, many motion detectors can distinguish between, say, your dog Bailey and a burglar.
Even garage doors listen to Alexa. But you first have to buy Alexa-compatible garage door equipment like Nexx. Once you do, flex your vocal chords by opening and closing the garage door without lifting a finger. Certain third-party equipment comes with a nifty companion app and lets you assign permissions for other users. That’s the value of a security system that works with Alexa.