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Our top pick is ADT, thanks to its white-glove professional installation; we didn’t lift a finger to set up the wired system.
Updated July 8, 2026
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Spotty Wi-Fi and minimal cellular coverage are no problem for wired security systems, but you may be wondering if any good hardwired options are still around. Aren't they a thing of the past? Not quite. Many security companies, including ADT, Vivint, Ring, and Lorex, offer top-of-the-line wireless equipment alongside excellent wired devices ideal for larger dwellings and rural home security.
After hands-on testing, we found ADT and Vivint to be the best options thanks to their customizable equipment packages and professional installation services. If you know your way around your home's wiring, Ring and Lorex are great DIY alternatives. We'll break down these four systems to help you choose the best one for your home.
>> Get Started: Home Security Systems: Your Options for 2026
The only way to make unbiased and trustworthy recommendations is to test products ourselves. So we buy the security systems, install them in our own homes, and test them for weeks and sometimes months. This approach helps us get a feel for the features, usability, response time, and app of each security system so we can give you our honest recommendations.
We do our best to compare apples to apples, which is why we install every home security system we test in the same environment. We use a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home owned by one of our experts. In our experience, testing security systems in a real home provides the most accurate results.
We also purchase the same equipment for each security system and place them in identical locations. You can see below our typical system setup.
Using our extensive experience in the security industry, we narrowed down the most important factors for hardwired home security systems. These factors are top priority:
Using this criteria, here’s how we scored our top picks.
Rating the Best Hardwired Home Security Systems
Unlike other review sites out there, you won’t find reviews for hammers, frying pans, and every other household item on our website. Our team of experts only reviews safety and security equipment. That means we know our stuff. The experts assigned to this review were:
Our experts at SafeHome.org have over 75 years of combined industry experience, making us the most accomplished home security team online. Since 2016, our work has been featured in several major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Together, we have achieved:
Every recommendation we make is based on first-hand product experience and a thorough understanding of the home security industry. Now, let’s learn more about the best hardwired home security systems.
We think ADT is the best home security system on the market because of its high-quality equipment, professional installation, and award-winning monitoring service. While ADT now offers a separate line of DIY security systems (ADT Blu), we recommend leaving the hardwiring to ADT technicians and getting professional installation. You’ll pay an installation fee, but it’s worth it if you’re getting hardwired equipment.
We found installation to be about as easy as installation gets, by which we mean we didn’t have to do it. While there’s an option now to self-install ADT equipment (see our ADT Blu review), we’ve come to love ADT for its white-glove professional installation service.
Our ADT installer even had to climb up a six-foot ladder to install our security camera.
We paid over $200 for the professional install, and honestly, it was money well spent. Hardwired systems aren’t a weekend DIY project for most people. Even experienced technicians typically need a couple of hours to route cables and connect everything properly. Once the job was done, the system ran without a hitch, and we’d be the first to admit we couldn’t have pulled it off ourselves.
ADT operates the best security monitoring in the industry, with six centers located across the country. We especially love SMART Monitoring, which is included in all ADT professional monitoring plans. If an alarm is triggered, you’ll receive a text message within seconds. You can reply to confirm or cancel the alarm; if you don’t respond, ADT will follow up with a call.
Pro Tip: We found that setting up text alerts sped up ADT’s response to our break-in simulations. We used to get calls about 30 to 45 seconds after a sensor had been tripped. Now, we get a text in less than 10 seconds. If there’s a real emergency, we’d be able to verify and confirm it so ADT could immediately send police to our house.
Hardwired ADT systems start at around $599 for equipment. You can finance the equipment for up to 60 months, making it possible to get a full setup with little to no upfront cost. Monitoring starts at $49.99 per month for professionally installed systems, with higher-tier plans that include cloud storage for your cameras. It’s on the upper end of the industry, but the reliability of ADT’s monitoring network alone makes it worth the premium.
Know More: ADT contracts can last up to 60 months if you finance your equipment. To compensate, the company gives you six months to decide if you’re happy with your ADT equipment and service.
ADT understands the value of hardwired systems and continues to offer some wired components. But, it’s true that ADT’s number of wired equipment is dwindling. Still, we appreciate that ADT continues to make sure their systems are reliable despite them being mostly wireless. While testing our ADT system, our internet went down during a thunderstorm, but ADT stayed online. It switched to its cellular backup to maintain a connection to ADT’s monitoring centers. That’s why we find cellular systems more reliable than landline alternatives.
>> Learn More: The Best Security Systems That Don’t Require a Landline
ADT’s equipment range has improved with additions like the Nest Cam with Floodlight.
That’s not the only thing ADT improved over the last decade. Even though ADT’s equipment isn’t quite as sophisticated as Vivint’s, it is top of the line. Not only are ADT cameras highly rated, but every system comes with full smart platform integration with both Google Home and Alexa. You can even get the Google Nest Cameras we recently tested with your ADT system. This allows you to automate your ADT system for full voice control.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $349 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $49.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly or 3 years minimum |
| Installation Options | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
While Vivint offers wireless equipment, it also has several devices requiring a wired connection. Like ADT, Vivint sends a professional to take care of it. In fact, there’s no option to install Vivint equipment yourself. They’ll also select the best locations for maximum coverage. Proper placement is especially important for the outdoor camera, which uses AI to detect and deter intruders.
You won’t have to lift a finger while installing your Vivint home security system. Much like ADT, they send someone to set up every device. Our technician even explained why they chose specific spots around our home. This expertise was particularly valuable.
Installation Specialist Don, installing the Vivint Outdoor Camera.
Vivint charges a one-time professional installation fee that varies based on the equipment you choose. A system with outdoor cameras, smart home integrations, and a full sensor suite will naturally run higher than a more basic setup. The good news is that Vivint frequently offers promotions that waive the installation fee entirely — so it’s worth asking before you commit.
Even without a deal, we think it’s worth every penny. Our technician didn’t just mount hardware and leave. He walked us through setting up automations for the smart thermostat and smart lock we added through Vivint, which made the whole system feel a lot more intuitive right from day one.
Pro Tip: We originally wanted to put the outdoor camera above the front door on our porch, but our Vivint installation specialist recommended it to be mounted on an exterior wall. Indeed, the camera ended up getting a clearer view of our driveway and a wider portion of the front yard.
Vivint’s monitoring plans start at $24.99 per month and increase depending on your equipment and the features you want. However, unlike ADT, Vivint doesn’t publish its full pricing online. You’ll need to speak with a consultant to get an accurate quote tailored to your specific setup.
The technician’s placement of the outdoor camera gave us a better view of our driveway.
We also know that Vivint sends text messages when an alarm is triggered. You can respond to let Vivint know if it was a false alarm or to send help. Like ADT, these messages are sent instantly and are followed up with a phone call if there’s no response.
FYI: We’re an Android household, so we set our phones to prioritize SMS from Vivint by pinning the conversation. That way, they always appear at the top of the notifications. You can do the same on an iPhone.
Vivint customizes every security system to fit your home, so pricing varies. This means you’ll need to reach out to their team for an actual quote. Some devices do carry a higher price tag than competitors like Cove and SimpliSafe. The Outdoor Camera Pro, for example, costs $399, which is pricey compared to the typical sub-$200 pricing for outdoor cameras.
The good news is you can finance the equipment for up to five years, though this locks you into a Vivint contract. If you pay upfront, you’ll only be charged the monthly monitoring fee.
Vivint’s equipment is top-of-the-line. The cameras have exceptional image quality regardless of the time of day, and with AI built in, they can distinguish between people who live in your household and visitors — and even detect potential prowlers. During our simulation tests, we had a friend linger near the house. The Outdoor Camera Pro immediately shined a spotlight on him and tracked his movement until he was out of the frame.
Person detection on the Vivint Smart Hub.
When an alarm triggers, Vivint notifies you within 10 seconds via text. You typically have 30 seconds to respond, which gives you time to check the live camera feeds. If you don’t cancel, their monitoring center calls you to verify the emergency. That gives you two chances to respond before they dispatch emergency services. We prefer this approach to companies that only provide one touch point before dispatching emergency services.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $199 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $24.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Up to 60 months when financing equipment |
| Installation Options | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Ring doesn’t come with a lot of strings attached. Unlike ADT and Vivint, you have choices when it comes to equipment and monitoring. That makes it a great option for anyone wanting more control over their security. Our full Ring Alarm review goes into this in more detail.
Ring Alarm (2nd Gen) equipment.
Ring makes setup about as painless as it gets. You can book professional installation if you’d rather hand it off to someone else, but the DIY route is genuinely simple. The app walks you through each device step by step as you add it. Even when we threw a few wired cameras into the mix, the whole setup only took about 30 minutes.
The Ring Doorbell we installed came with all the mounting tools needed out of the box.
Pro Tip: Once you have one Ring camera set up, it’s easy to add more. You can even group cameras and change their sensitivity settings at once.
Ring offers subscription plans starting at $4.99 per month. That base plan (Ring Solo) includes 180 days of cloud storage for recorded video events, but it only covers a single device. For whole-home coverage across unlimited cameras, you’ll need the Ring Multi plan at $9.99 per month.
Both of those are self-monitoring tiers. If you want 24/7 professional monitoring, that’s the $19.99 per month Ring Pro plan, which also includes cloud storage for unlimited cameras, and cellular backup in case your Wi-Fi goes down.
At first glance, Ring appears more budget-friendly compared to full-service security systems like ADT and Vivint. Professional installation remains optional, and cloud storage plans begin at $4.99 per month for one camera or $9.99 per month for unlimited cameras. However, these systems are not apples-to-apples comparisons.
Since you don’t have to buy the whole system at once, you can spread out the cost of your Ring Alarm security system without financing. For example, we bought the Ring Indoor Cam to review for $60 one day and then came back a month later to buy a Ring Doorbell camera.
>> Compare: Best Ring Alternatives
FYI: Adding equipment to an existing pro-installed system isn’t as easy. With Vivint, for example, we had to schedule another installation appointment when we decided to test the Vivint doorbell camera. You don’t need that with DIY systems like Ring, since you can just set up new equipment yourself.
We were drawn to Ring because it’s one of the few companies that offers a hardwired doorbell. You can even install it where your original doorbell was and use the same wiring. That’s what we did when we tested the Ring Doorbell Elite.
Our Ring Floodlight Cam also required hardwiring, for which we paid a local electrician.
Ring’s not just about doorbells; it produces a wide range of cameras. We added a Ring wired indoor camera for just $60. It let us keep an eye on our cat, and with two-way speakers, we were even able to talk to him. Keep in mind that Ring doesn’t offer a fully hardwired system. Components communicate via Wi-Fi. Hardwired, in this case, means the equipment plugs into outlets. But, you still get the advantage of not worrying about changing batteries or recharging components, no matter how often you use cameras.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa |
| Equipment Cost | From $199.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $19.99 |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month or 1-year |
During our review of Lorex, we learned they only sell security cameras. But, they are some of the best security cameras on the market. While you’ll have to install the devices and monitor the system yourself, there are still plenty of good reasons why you should have these in your home.
Our Lorex indoor camera connected to Wi-Fi but plugged into a power outlet.
As with Ring systems, Lorex systems are entirely DIY installations. However, the setup process isn’t exactly plug-and-play . Lorex doesn’t walk you through things step by step in the app like Ring, so you’re largely on your own. Still, we managed to set everything up in about an hour. That includes untangling wires and hiding them so they’re not an eyesore.
We eventually had to use a drill to hide the wire dangling from our ceiling-mounted Lorex camera.
Did You Know? The fewer cables, the better. Lorex offers PoE cameras that use the same cable both for power and connectivity. They are significantly easier to install than the ones we tested that had to be plugged in using a power cable and connected to the DVR via an Ethernet cable.
Monitoring with Lorex is DIY, but you don’t need to watch live feeds all day. The system sends push alerts for events, and the Lorex app lets you quickly review what’s happening. Unlike Ring, Lorex cameras use local storage, so you can save and review footage without paying for the cloud.
That said, we would still prefer professional monitoring. Lorex doesn’t currently offer security sensors, so it can’t provide full-service monitoring like SimpliSafe. We recommend using Lorex alongside a separate security system for comprehensive coverage—especially since Lorex has no monthly fees.
We mentioned earlier that there are plenty of Lorex cameras available. They range in price from around $30 to over $500 for a single camera, and bundles start from roughly $400. That said, you can start with one camera and expand your setup over time as your needs grow. We used the Lorex Solution Finder to help put together the right system for our space. It’s a genuinely helpful tool if you’re not sure where to begin.
This Lorex outdoor camera cost us less than $100, which is below the average price of outdoor cameras.
Installation took us about an hour, and once set up, everything ran smoothly. As one of the best no-subscription camera systems, Lorex relies on local storage, and it also offers DVRs and NVRs for continuous 24/7 recording.
We admit we missed a few alerts, which highlights the advantage of professional monitoring with teams responding in seconds. Still, we appreciated Lorex’s smart notifications. Its cameras use facial recognition to distinguish people, animals, and packages, so most alerts were just for deliveries and didn’t require calling 911.
>> Check Out: The Best Facial Recognition Cameras of 2026
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or PoE |
|---|---|
| Power | Wired, battery, or PoE |
| Field of View | Up to 180° |
| Resolution | Up to 4K |
| Storage | Free local, optional cloud |
| Smart Platform Compatibility | Alexa and Google Home |
Our Brinks security system with the plug-in control panel and hardwired SkyBell doorbell.
Brinks has been in the security business for decades, and that heritage shows in its equipment — a lot of it is hardwired, which is great for reliability. The flip side is that some of its policies feel a bit behind the times. Like Vivint, Brinks doesn't advertise monitoring prices on its website. And if you read the fine print, you'll find that becoming a customer means committing to a multi-year contract (typically two to three years). Check out our full Brinks review to find out more about this security system.
So why choose a traditional wired security system when wireless options are everywhere? Turns out, there are some pretty compelling reasons to go the hardwired route, such as:
That said, the best wired systems are actually from brands that offer both wired and wireless equipment. In this day and age, we don’t recommend using a fully wired security system. Burglars know they’re easy to tamper with – just a pair of wire cutters will do the trick. Plus, smart features like home automation require connection to the internet, which is usually wireless.
What we do recommend is using a mix of wired and wireless components. Really, the only pieces of equipment that are good when wired are security cameras, some smart home gadgets (such as smart thermostats), and control panels (as long as they have cellular and battery backup). Sensors work best when they are wireless and battery-powered.
You might think because of those benefits we mentioned that wireless systems are less reliable. And indeed, in certain situations, wireless systems are not as dependable as wired ones. But generally, we don’t have a problem recommending wireless systems. In fact, here’s our list of the best wireless home alarm systems. We’ve personally tested and vetted those.
Frontpoint was one of the first 100-percent wireless systems we tested.
Wireless technology has nearly caught up with wired technology in terms of reliability. They can even cover large homes. Our top-pick systems for large homes all offer wireless equipment. Unless there’s a specific reason you’re opting for a wired system – like if your Wi-Fi is unreliable or you don’t get good cellular coverage for reliable alert transmission – either type of system will work for you.
Pro Tip: Mixing wired and wireless equipment also works. For example, you can have wireless sensors but wired security cameras. That setup worked out great for our ADT system with a Nest Cam with floodlight.
Our home security research supports the idea that security systems in general help in keeping burglars out and helping homeowners feel safe. For example:
Adding a wired Ring Doorbell helped us monitor our package deliveries and prevent package theft.
The truth is that wired security systems do just as much as wireless ones in deterring burglars. The main difference is that they’re more reliable in certain situations. A wireless system might stop working when Wi-Fi is down, but wired systems offer alternatives like landline connectivity or local video storage. Security systems with cellular backup are the new standard, providing a fallback when primary connections fail.
FYI: Cellular backup uses cellular signal when the primary communication line is unavailable. For example, our Vivint system switched to cellular signals during a power outage that turned off our Wi-Fi router.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
Picking the right security system comes down to your home's layout, your lifestyle, and how hands-on you want to be. If you're leaning toward a wired setup, here are the key factors to keep in mind:
Pro Tip: Comparing two or more security systems can help you in finding the best-value system for your home. We made a tool just for that – see our security system comparison tool.
ADT and Vivint remain our top picks for professionally installed wired systems. Both deliver the dependability of hardwired components while incorporating wireless sensors for added flexibility, giving you the best of both approaches without forcing you to choose one or the other. Ring and Lorex take a similar hybrid approach, which is what earned them spots on our list, and both are worth a closer look if you'd rather handle installation yourself and save on upfront costs.
Whichever system you choose, you're getting solid, round-the-clock protection you can count on. And if your needs change down the road, whether you move to a larger home, add a rental property, or simply want more cameras, all four of these systems make it easy to expand your setup rather than starting from scratch.
Need answers about hardwired home security systems fast? Check our FAQ section below.
ADT makes the best hardwired home security system. It offers high-quality components and the industry’s best professional monitoring for an affordable price. Professional installation means you can be certain equipment is placed in the best possible locations to secure your home, and you can choose between wired and wireless systems.
Wired home alarm systems are better in some circumstances. Wired systems won’t go down just because your Wi-Fi goes out. In fact, if you live in a rural area, you may not be able to get a Wi-Fi signal at all, making a wired system a necessity. However, Wi-Fi does offer some convenience, especially when it comes to installation.
Vivint is not a better home security system than ADT. While Vivint offers some of the most technologically advanced equipment on the market, ADT has more monitoring centers across the country and backs its service with a six-month money-back guarantee. Those are two reasons why we typically prefer ADT.
Wireless systems sometimes make use of power cords. Wire-free systems operate with no cords whatsoever. Communication occurs via Wi-Fi or cellular connection, while components receive power from batteries, solar panels, or Power over Ethernet (PoE) setups.
Cellular backup plays a key role in keeping wired systems online when internet connections fail. Some wired systems rely on Wi-Fi to communicate outside the home — meaning even a physically wired setup can go dark during an outage. Systems with cellular backup automatically switch to cellular when Wi-Fi drops. Since cellular networks are far more resilient than home broadband, this adds a critical layer of reliability to your overall security setup.
