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Our top pick, ADT, has everything you need to secure your garage and the rest of your home.
Updated February 12, 2026
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With more than 150 years of experience in home security, ADT is a trusted name offering the high-quality equipment you need to secure your garage.
Vivint has state-of-the-art sensors, devices, and automation features to secure and automate your home, including your garage.
For complete privacy, you can manage alerts and notifications yourself with a free self-monitoring plan from SimpliSafe. You can also live stream from cameras if you want to find out what’s making that noise outside.
The best home security providers protect your entire home — and that includes your garage. Nearly 10 percent of burglars enter through the garage, so securing it is as important as any other entry point to your home.1 While you can use a workaround, like an entry sensor on your garage door, we recommend products made for garages. In our tests, ADT offers the best garage protection — thanks to its high-quality equipment and impressive whole-home monitoring.
ADT is not our only pick, though. Vivint, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint are also great. Plus, they each offer features you’ll want to have to protect your valuables and secure every entry point — including your garage. Let’s break down each system to see which one you need for your home.
Our trustworthy and unbiased recommendations come from testing home security systems ourselves. We buy the equipment with our money, install the systems in our homes, and test them for weeks and even months. It helps us get a feel for what it’s like to live with the security system and understand how the response times, apps, and features perform. We then incorporate these experiences into our reviews and recommendations.
Several factors impact testing home security systems, but we have ways to compare apples to apples. For example, we test all the equipment in the same house — a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home with a single-car garage owned by one of our home security experts. Using a real house instead of a lab means we can simulate real-life scenarios and make better recommendations.
We also buy the same equipment for every home security system and install them in identical locations. You can see our usual testing setup below.
We consider many criteria when choosing the best home security systems. Using our experience and knowledge of the industry, these are the factors we believe are the most valuable to homes with a garage:
Using these criteria, here is how we scored our top five picks:
Rating the Best Home Security Systems for Garages
Our team of experts only covers safety and security equipment. You won’t see reviews on everything from headphones to surfboards on our site like you would on other review sites. We are trained to thoroughly evaluate security systems so we can give our readers honest and insightful recommendations. The experts who worked on this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team on the internet. Since beginning in 2016, SafeHome.org has been featured in many major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. As a team, we have achieved:
Every recommendation we make comes from first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the security industry. Now, let's learn more about our top picks.
ADT remains one of the best professionally monitored systems. With 12 monitoring centers strategically located across North America, your garage gets round-the-clock protection from trained professionals. The system integrates high-quality ADT equipment with Google Nest smart devices, giving you flexibility in installation. You can either handle it yourself or have an ADT technician do the heavy lifting for a fee.
ADT offers a garage door controller that works with most major automatic garage door brands and can run on either hardwired or battery power. When reviewing ADT, It took our technician a few hours to set up the system and walk us through the ADT+ app’s garage door controls. That’s where you can remotely open or close your door. The app also sends alerts when someone else opens or closes it.
FYI: We receive notifications if we drive off without closing the garage door. Instead of turning back and being late for work, we can close the door from the ADT+ app.
Pairing the system with Google Nest cameras takes your garage security up a notch. These cameras use AI-powered features like facial recognition to alert you when someone’s near your vehicles or tools. You can even set up personalized notifications that differentiate between familiar faces and strangers. It’s perfect for knowing when your teenager borrows the car without asking.
>> Learn More: Google Nest Cam Review
We chose the wired Google Nest Cam for our garage, as it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
The biggest downside? ADT’s price tag. Equipment packages start at $349 for a basic setup that includes a base station, three entry sensors, and a motion detector — not the cheapest option on the market.
The new ADT Entry Sensors might not match our door trim, but at least they’re slimmer than Ring’s.
The upside: you can finance your equipment over 36 or 60 months if you’d rather not pay everything upfront. Keep an eye out for ADT promotions and sales to snag a better deal, or build your system gradually. Start with the Security Starter package and add sensors, cameras, or other devices as your budget and security needs evolve.
Did You Know? You can save yourself $100 by installing the products yourself. Professional monitoring plans are also cheaper for ADT Self Setup customers. The equipment doesn’t need hardwiring and even includes some Google Nest products. Check out our full ADT Self Setup review to learn more.
| 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 |
Vivint built its reputation on sophisticated home automation capabilities. The platform excels at creating seamless security routines that work in the background — like automatically locking your back door when the garage opens, or setting your system to "Away" mode when you drive off. These automations eliminate the mental burden of manual security checks.
Similar to ADT, Vivint offers garage control with its award-winning app. We can control the door not just from our property but from anywhere in the world. That’s not the only similarity we found. Check out our ADT vs. Vivint comparison for a full breakdown.
Even more impressive? Vivint’s Outdoor Camera Pro can automatically detect and deter threats. It monitors for anyone lurking for an abnormal amount of time, which triggers a customized response. You can have its built-in siren sound, flash an LED light, or turn on your front porch light so the threat thinks you’re home. It became one of our favorite features when testing Vivint.
Pro Tip: The Vivint app also lets us customize our notifications. Instead of wondering if we closed the garage door, we get a notification confirming it’s shut.
A view of our cars in the driveway from the Vivint Camera.
Vivint’s prices aren’t cheap. Packages start around $500 to $600. But, you’ll need to call for a quote to get the exact price for your system. Our system cost around $1,200, including add-ons like an outdoor camera to watch over the garage.
Vivint’s equipment isn’t cheap and neither are the professional installation and monitoring costs.
Vivint sells packages starting at $199. But you’ll need to call for a quote to get the pricing for the system you want. Mine cost a little more than $800. And then after choosing a package, Vivint will let you customize your system with add-ons. I got an outdoor camera for an extra $400.
When you add professional installation and Vivint’s monitoring — starting at $24.99 per month — the bill was pretty steep, but not entirely unmanageable. Just like with ADT, you don’t have to pay for it all up front, but you will pay a solid chunk of it every month for at least four years.
If you’re looking for something a little easier on the wallet, you can check out our guide to the best affordable home security systems. Or, stick around for our next choice!
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $199 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $24.99 |
| Contract Length | 48 to 60 months |
SimpliSafe offers flexible home security with customizable equipment packages and monitoring plans to fit any property type. Their monitoring options range from free self-monitoring to professional plans that live guard threat deterrence. With these services, SimpliSafe agents actively monitor camera feeds and can verbally intervene to deter intruders in real-time.
Technically, SimpliSafe doesn’t have a sensor designed specifically for garages like ADT or Vivint. But its Entry Sensor works a treat. We installed the main component to the frame and the magnet on the roller door, ensuring both parts were two inches apart.
This is the same Entry Sensor we use for our garage door.
When the door opens, the security system is alerted, and the countdown to disarm begins. We use the app to avoid false alarms and the siren blaring so all the neighbors can hear.
Pro Tip: We recommend setting the Entry Sensor to Secret Alert. This way, you’ll only get notifications when the garage door is open, and you won’t need to rush inside to disarm the security system before the monitoring center is notified.
A free self-monitoring plan is great for budget-conscious homeowners, but it means you’re responsible for every alarm. With a SimpliSafe professional monitoring plan, their agents provide 24/7 protection, ensuring every alert receives an appropriate response. You can also choose a premium plan with video verification and live guard intervention. Best of all, plans start at just $22.99 per month, although premium outdoor live guard intervention costs $79.99.
We were able to fully protect the interior of our home with our six-piece SimpliSafe security system
FYI: We recommend Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection for garage owners. When an intruder is detected, SimpliSafe agents will access the camera feed and deter the intruder. It’s like Vivint’s Smart Deter, but it adds a human element.
You can build your own home security system with the products you need, and it’s easy to add more devices if something changes in the future. The website makes it simple to pick your equipment by breaking it up into categories.
If you’re not sure what products to buy, you can get one of SimpliSafe’s equipment packages, which are designed for different households. These packages start at $250, and you can often find discounts on SimpliSafe’s website that will mark them down by 50 percent or more during promotional periods.
| 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 |
Frontpoint bridges the gap between traditional and DIY systems. While professional monitoring is required, you can save money by installing the equipment yourself. The devices are a bit bulkier than ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, but they’re reliable. You can even add third-party Z-Wave and Zigbee products and set up schedules and automation rules. It’s one of the reasons why Frontpoint is on our list of the best smart-home automation security systems.
Frontpoint doesn’t offer any sort of remote control for your garage door. What it does offer, though, is a tilt sensor that will trigger an alarm if someone opens the garage while the system is armed.
The Frontpoint sensors are larger than most other brands on our list.
Here’s how it works: The sensor attaches to your automatic garage door and sends an alert to your hub if the door changes position by more than 45 degrees. If the system is armed, it will cause the alarm to go off, get the authorities on their way, and hopefully scare away the intruder before they take anything of value. It took us a while to get used to it while reviewing the Frontpoint system.
Pro Tip: You need to open your garage door before you arm the system, not after. We have a detached garage, which triggered a few false alarms almost every time we left the house, but we eventually got the hang of it.
At retail price, Frontpoint’s equipment packages start at $414.93. However, they almost never charge full price. That package is usually discounted to just $69 making Frontpoint one of the most affordable options on the market, at least in terms of equipment. We built a comprehensive system with cameras and smart-home devices for around $500.
The downside is that unlike SimpliSafe — the second-most affordable here — Frontpoint requires a monthly fee for monitoring. The only plan available online costs $49.99 per month, which includes professional monitoring with full smart home integration. For lower-cost options, you’ll need to give Frontpoint a call. Those plans start at $4.99 per month for self-monitoring.
Did You Know? Frontpoint’s monitoring uses the local cellular network. Our internet can drop out from time to time, so this was a bonus as it didn’t rely on our dodgy connection to stay online.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $99 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $49.99 per month |
| Contract Lengths | Month-to-month |
| Installation Options | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, and Siri |
While Ring has some quality outdoor cameras, it doesn’t have an official garage-specific product. That’s why it’s only an honorable mention. However, you’ll find on their website some products that integrate with the Ring ecosystem, like the Chamberlain Next-Gen Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener.
You can manage the product directly from the app and receive notifications like any other Ring device. When combined with products like the Floodlight Cam Pro or Wired Spotlights, it makes for a solid security system for garages.
According to our recent research, most burglars enter via open windows or doors. But another tactic involves breaking into garages, especially if it has access to the main home. Some of the other interesting facts we learned include:
Garages don’t just house cars. A garage is also a great place to store tools, outdoor equipment, and valuables you don’t have room for in the house. Criminals know this and won’t hesitate to take advantage if there is easy access to it.
This is the door that goes to our garage and where we put an ADT Entryway Sensor.
We’ve talked a lot about tilt and entry sensors, but they’re just one piece of equipment to consider when securing a garage. Here are some other devices we recommend adding to your security system.
The automatic garage door is the obvious vulnerability — and it should be protected by a tilt sensor or remote access control and alerts — but don’t overlook windows or standard doors that could serve as an entry point for a burglar. They should be covered by glass-break and entryway sensors. An internal motion sensor is a good idea, too.
Security cameras are another obvious component. We recommend using them whether you’re securing a tiny home or designing a security system for a large house. Cameras not only trigger alarms but can also deter intruders with lights, sirens, and two-way audio features.
Our Vivint Outdoor Camera flashes lights and blares sirens to deter intruders.
Criminals like to sneak in and out of garages unnoticed, which is why a motion-activated floodlight, like the Ring Floodlight Cam, is a great investment for keeping your property safe. Make sure you test the devices to ensure they will trigger at the appropriate times. Some models have blind spots that thieves can get around easily.
Pro Tip: Don’t try to hide your security system. Our report found that homes without a visible security system are up to 3.5 times more likely to be targeted by thieves. So, we recommend making sure thieves will spot it, especially at night.
Unfortunately, even with security systems armed, cameras pointed in the right direction, and floodlights ready to go off, garages still get burglarized. If you find yourself victimized, there are a few steps you should take.
A burglary is a traumatizing event, and you may not feel safe at home for a while. Don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professional counselors if you’re struggling with sleep, intrusive thoughts, or anxiety.
It’s important to have motion detectors, security cameras, and video doorbells around the main part of our house — but don’t forget the garage. Tilt sensors, entry sensors, and security cameras can prevent your garage from becoming a weak spot.
We recommend ADT because it offers equipment specifically designed for garages. They’re easy to install and monitor with the intuitive ADT+ app. If you want something more advanced, Vivint’s state-of-the-art equipment and home automation features are the way to go. But, for something more affordable and DIY-friendly, check out SimpliSafe or Frontpoint.
Garages often store valuables like vehicles and tools. They can also serve as an alternate entry point for intruders. Installing security equipment around your garage can alert you to lurkers or unauthorized access.
We recommend securing entry points between the house and garage, adding motion-activated lights around the perimeter, and installing window locks. You should also try to keep valuable items out of sight to avoid tempting thieves.
Yes, ADT and Vivint offer garage-specific components that integrate with your home security system. This lets you manage everything through the smartphone app and set up automations with other security devices.
If your garage is detached, we recommend installing motion sensor lights and security cameras you can monitor remotely. You should also consider professional monitoring so immediate action can be taken if an alarm is triggered.
Wireless systems are easier to install, but wired systems are more reliable if your Wi-Fi signal doesn’t reach the garage. Cellular systems or solutions with cellular backup might be your best bet.
The Zebra. (2026). Burglary Statistics. https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/burglary-statistics/
