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ADT has the high-quality equipment and award-winning professional monitoring you need to watch over large properties.
Updated July 14, 2026
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The ADT+ app gives you remote control over your house, so you can save money and live easier. Turn off lights, change the thermostat, and arm/disarm the system from anywhere. You also get six months to try out the system and service risk-free.
Vivint’s smart home security equipment can outfit your entire home—no matter how big it is. During installation, a Vivint technician will make security recommendations for every entrance and floor. The company even offers garage door control and outdoor video surveillance.
Step into custom home security that’s perfect for larger homes. SimpliSafe customers enjoy 100% wireless equipment, no contracts, and surprisingly affordable prices. If you’re looking to safeguard your home and family, SimpliSafe will not disappoint.
Securing a large home comes with real challenges. More rooms, extra entry points, and wide-open outdoor areas mean more opportunities for something to fall through the cracks. It also makes the cost of covering every corner add up fast. That's why we tested over 50 home security systems to find the ones that deliver genuine protection and great value, no matter how big your property is.
ADT stands out for its extensive equipment selection and industry-leading monitoring service, making it our top pick for large properties. That said, it’s not the only option—Vivint, SimpliSafe, Frontpoint, and Ring Alarm also offer robust features and professional support. Here’s a closer look at how each system performs so you can choose the right fit for your home.
We make trustworthy and unbiased reviews by testing home security systems ourselves. We buy the equipment with our money, install the systems in our homes, and test them for weeks and sometimes months. It helps us get a feel for what it is like to live with the security system and learn first-hand about the response times, apps, and features. We then use these experiences to make our recommendations.
Many factors impact testing home security systems, so we find ways to make like-for-like comparisons. One way is to test all the equipment in the same environment. For this review, we used a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home owned by one of our home security experts. It’s not a mansion, but using a real house means we have real-life experience with the security systems and can make accurate recommendations.
We also buy the same equipment for every security system and install them in identical places. You can see the locations where we regularly choose to place devices below.
We have to consider multiple factors when recommending the best home security systems for large homes. Using our knowledge and experience in the industry, these are the factors we believe are the most important:
Using these criteria, here is how we arrived at our top five picks:
Rating the Best Home Security Systems for Large Homes
We’re not one of those websites that reviews everything from bookcases to slippers. Our team of experts exclusively covers safety and security equipment. They know how to effectively evaluate a security system so our readers get in-depth and insightful recommendations. The team that contributed to this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team online. Since 2016, SafeHome.org has been featured in several major outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times. As a team, we have achieved:
Every recommendation comes from our first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the security industry. Now, let's learn why we chose our top picks.
| System |
ADT
|
Vivint
|
SimpliSafe
|
Frontpoint
|
Ring Alarm
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking |
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
| SecureScore™ | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 8.2 |
| Allowed number of sensors | 220 | 100 + 232 Z-Wave devices | 100 | 100 + 232 Z-Wave devices | 100 |
| Home automation and integrations | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Outdoor cameras with built-in security lights | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Continuous video recording | Possible | Possible | Not Possible | Possible | Possible |
| Special monitoring features |
|
|
|
|
|
| Monitoring Costs | Starting at $49.99 per month | Starting at $24.99 per month | Starting at $22.99 per month | Starting at $44.99 per month | Starting at $19.99 per month |
| Equipment Costs | Starting at $349 | Starting at $199 | Starting at $250.96 | Starting at $69 | Starting at $199.99 |
| Read our review | ADT Review | Vivint Review | SimpliSafe Review | Frontpoint Review | Ring Alarm Review |
ADT stands out for large homes thanks to its proven combination of wired and wireless equipment options. This combination ensures your equipment maintains a reliable connection across your expansive estate. After all, ADT is our top hardwired security option as well. Plus, ADT offers in-house professional installation to optimize the layout of your security equipment — something that proved challenging when we set up our abode package on our own.
ADT’s security cameras come directly from Google Nest. They offer the full lineup at consistent pricing — including outdoor cameras with integrated floodlights for enhanced perimeter lighting and deterrence. You’ll also find battery-operated indoor/outdoor models that can be placed virtually anywhere on expansive properties without worrying about nearby power outlets.
Google Nest cameras use intelligent detection to distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles in their field of view. With a Complete Monitoring plan, you also get facial recognition capabilities that power intelligent alerts. In our testing, we got distinct notifications when our neighbor dropped by versus when our enthusiastic aunt arrived with her latest collection of unusual home décor finds.
The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight unboxed and ready for our technician to install.
Other than the cameras, ADT offers a complete suite of sensors. They have motion and entry sensors, garage door sensors, glass break sensors, smoke alarms, water leak sensors, and gas leak sensors, just to name a few. And the best part is, all those ADT sensors are monitored professionally.
Speaking of professional monitoring, ADT is simply a cut above the rest because it has 12 monitoring facilities across North America. For comparison, Vivint has two monitoring centers and most other companies have only one or they outsource their monitoring service.
ADT maintains that many facilities for redundancy — if a storm or outage disrupts one location, others can seamlessly pick up the slack. ADT’s monitoring plans start at $49.99 per month. With cameras, rates can climb up to $59.99 per month. If that’s outside of your budget, consider ADT Blu. It’s ADT’s DIY system with professional monitoring that starts at $24.99 per month.
Having home automation is a blessing for large homes. Instead of going around the house turning off lights or locking doors, you can use an app to make a schedule or control them manually. You can also have automation rules. “If I arm my system, then turn off the lights” — that sort of thing.
ADT offers home automation. We control our smart lights from the ADT+ app and schedule them to turn on and off at all hours. We’ve also set our smart thermostat to enter energy-saving mode when we arm ADT to Away mode.
When we arm our ADT system from this simple-looking base station, our schedules for other devices kick in.
Pro Tip: If you’re interested in home automation, secure your network with a firewall and by using strong Wi-Fi passwords. You don’t want criminals gaining access to your home through smart devices.
| 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 |
Vivint has earned its reputation in the industry as one of the best smart security systems, and that impression held up the moment our technician walked us through the Vivint Smart Hub during installation. Calling it just a touchscreen panel undersells it. Plenty of security systems have a touchscreen, but Vivint's goes well beyond the basics in our testing. It streams live camera video, lets you build and control automations directly from the panel, and includes two-way voice for speaking with a monitoring agent in an emergency.
Vivint sensors have come a long way design-wise since earlier generations, with a noticeably sleeker profile than the bulkier door sensors Vivint used to offer. Once you get past the equipment’s look, there’s some genuinely interesting hardware in the lineup.
Our Vivint’s entryway sensor looks clunky, but is reliable.
Our personal favorite, and our recommendation for large homes, is the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. The standout feature is Smart Deter, which uses person detection and personalized rules to scare off intruders with lights and sound.
The Outdoor Camera Pro is also highly customizable in our experience. You define the monitored area, set the parameters for triggering Smart Deter, and choose the light type (strobe, soft glow, and others) along with the alarm tone. It pairs especially well with the Spotlight Pro, which uses AI to track the movement of anyone who walks into frame, literally shining a spotlight on intruders as they move.
All Vivint systems require professional monitoring, backed by two monitoring facilities for redundancy — one in Utah and another in Minnesota. Pricing isn’t publicly listed, so getting a number means calling in for a personalized quote. When we called, Vivint’s sales agent told us monitoring plans start at $24.99 per month and can reach $49.99 or higher for large systems with cameras. Our own plan landed on the higher end since we added a few cameras.
Vivint also stands out as one of the faster-responding systems we’ve tested. In our testing, text message alerts arrived in under 10 seconds, with phone call follow-ups landing within 60 seconds, right in line with the industry average.
Pro Tip: Remember, the response time has nothing to do with how quickly the police will arrive at your door. That has everything to do with the capacity of local law enforcement. That said, the faster an alarm company responds to alerts, the quicker they’d be able to report the emergency.
Vivint excels when it comes to home automation capabilities. The Smart Home Hub supports up to 232 third-party Z-Wave devices, including smart locks, dimmer switches, and thermostats. You can even integrate Google Nest devices like the Nest Thermostat. During our installation, the technician told us that the hub can connect up to 100 Vivint sensors as well.
Vivnt’s Outdoor Camera
The Vivint app offers impressive customization options. You can create automations that connect your Vivint devices with third-party Z-Wave products. For example, you could set hallway lights to dim automatically when the system enters Stay mode at night using compatible smart switches. This level of flexibility has earned Vivint recognition as one of the best security systems with an app.
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | Starting at $199.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $24.99 |
| Contract Length | 60 months |
SimpliSafe started as a security system for apartments. But today, it protects large homes just as well as ADT and Vivint. One of the reasons is its Active Guard Outdoor Protection feature, which works similarly to Vivint’s Smart Deter. However, when SimpliSafe’s outdoor camera detects a threat, live monitoring agents access the camera feed and use the two-way speaker, siren and strobe light to communicate with — and deter — potential intruders. It's also a form of video verification, which can help speed up police dispatch..
SimpliSafe’s equipment is one of the best DIY security systems. The components are wireless, lightweight, and remarkably easy to install. You can opt for professional installation starting from $124.99. That said, we don’t think it’s worth it as we had our system up and running in about 30 minutes.
Here’s how easy it is to install the SimpliSafe motion sensor.
As for your options, SimpliSafe offers sensors that detect intrusion and safety hazards like fire and gas leaks. There is one item missing though: A garage door sensor or tilt sensor. SimpliSafe recommends using the typical door sensor for that.
>> Other Options: The Best Security Systems for Homes With a Garage
SimpliSafe is one of the most affordable home security systems around. However, if you want live agent intervention, you’ll pay prices comparable to ADT and Vivint. You’ll need at least the $32.99 per month Core plan for professional monitoring with indoor live agent intervention. Expanding that coverage to your outdoor cameras costs at least $49.99 for the Pro plan. Note that active intervention requires a Wi-Fi signal and cannot work off of SimpliSafe’s cellular backup.
Pro Tip: If you’re worried about someone spying on you through SimpliSafe’s indoor camera, rest easy. It includes a privacy shutter that is always closed when the camera is not actively recording.
All but the free self-monitoring and Standard monitoring plans include cloud storage for 30 days of video clips for up to 10 cameras. That’s plenty of coverage for multiple entry points across a large home.
SimpliSafe’s home automation is its biggest weakness. Unlike Vivint, which integrates with Z-Wave products, and ADT, which offers smart devices like smart bulbs, SimpliSafe focuses primarily on home security. SimpliSafe sells a smart lock, and you can control the system with your voice via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but that’s about it. For larger homes seeking comprehensive smart home integration, you’ll need to use third-party devices.
The SimpliSafe app makes it easy to add more SimpliSafe devices in the future.
| 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 delivers solid, reliable protection at a more accessible price point than premium options like Vivint. That makes it a solid security system for renters. It also works great for large homes that need lots of devices without a sky-high equipment bill. You get home automation features, fully customizable setups, and handy extras like geofencing so you can keep tabs on specific zones around your property.
Side by side with ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, Frontpoint’s hardware feels a step behind on aesthetics. The sensors and batteries hold up well, but the overall design is more utilitarian than sleek. The keypad, in particular, is a bit of an eyesore compared to the competition.
Here’s Frontpoint’s cheaper analog keypad.
The camera lineup has grown considerably and now covers most use cases for large homes. We tested the Premium Floodlight Camera. It uses AI to distinguish between people, animals, and objects, and includes a built-in siren plus 3,000-lumen flood lights to deter intruders. You can also trigger the siren manually straight from the app if something looks off.
Frontpoint keeps its monitoring straightforward with one main plan priced at $49.99 per month. That flat rate applies regardless of how large your system is. The plan includes text alerts, 24/7 police and fire dispatch, and home automation support. If you want a more stripped-down option, you can opt for a sensor-monitoring plan at $44.99 per month, a video self-monitoring plan for $14.99 per month, or call Frontpoint for a basic self-monitoring plan at $4.99 per month.
Vivint is the top home automation option for smart homes, but Frontpoint has unique features like geofencing. The Frontpoint app syncs your phone’s location with the security system. If you forget to arm it when you leave the house, you’ll get a notification. We once got an alert when we were halfway down the street. Instead of turning back, we used the app to arm the system.
Frontpoint’s home automation also supports third-party products, particularly those using Z-Wave. Like Vivint, Frontpoint can connect with up to 232 Z-Wave devices. The main difference is Frontpoint’s reliance on its app, so expect to be on your phone more often.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $69 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $44.99 per month |
| Contract Lengths | Month-to-month |
| Installation Options | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, and Siri |
Ring earns its spot for two reasons: the scalable Ring Alarm system and the impressive lineup of Ring security cameras that shine when it comes to perimeter coverage. Ring puts no limit on how many cameras you can connect to your account — a big deal for larger properties with multiple entry points and blind spots to cover.
Ring Alarm doesn’t have an extensive equipment range like other companies on its list. However, the equipment it does offer works great. Our sensors blend into the house better than Frontpoint’s, and the keypad has a more modern design.
Ring makes up for its more limited sensor lineup with a seriously impressive camera selection. Here’s an overview of a few of our favorite options:
| Camera | Outdoor Cam | Floodlight Cam Plus | Indoor Cam | Battery Doorbell Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power source options | Battery | Plug-in, wired | Plug-in | Battery |
| Resolution | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 1536p HD |
| Indoor, outdoor, or doorbell | Indoor/outdoor | Outdoor | Indoor | Doorbell |
| Field-of-view | 130-degrees | 140-degrees | 143-degrees | 150-degrees |
| Price | Starts at $79.99 | Starts at $179.99 | Starts at $49.99 | Starts at $179.99 |
For large estates and sprawling properties, we recommend the premium Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro. It features motion-activated LED floodlights, built-in radar-based 3D motion detection to reduce false alerts, and two-way talk. Plus, you can add as many as your property requires with no camera cap on your account.
>> Keep Reading: Ring Security Camera Review
With Ring, you don’t need to pay a monthly fee for real-time alerts or to view your cameras’ live feeds. For video recording, you’ll need a Ring Protect plan — starting at $4.99 per month for one device or $9.99 per month for unlimited devices. Professional monitoring is included with the Ring Protect Pro plan at $19.99 per month.
Ring also offers a Virtual Security Guard plan with live agent monitoring for your camera feeds at $99 per month. It’s a valuable add-on for large homes, but we recommend SimpliSafe if you’re looking for active monitoring capabilities.
Ring Alarm and SimpliSafe are similar. But Ring is slightly better in the home automation department. It supports third-party Z-Wave devices including smart lights, smart switches, smart locks, and smart thermostats, all controllable through the Ring App.
We could manage every component of our Ring system in the app.
Speaking of the Ring App, it’s the all-in-one control center for all Ring and Ring-connected devices. But you can also control Ring devices using an Amazon Echo smart speaker or display. Our Echo Show 8 announces when someone rings the Ring doorbell and displays the live video feed, so we can see who’s there.
| 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 |
Every home has unique security needs, influenced by factors like location, property size, and budget. For most large homes, four essentials provide comprehensive protection: sensors, security cameras, reliable professional monitoring, and home automation capabilities. Let's break down each component and why it matters for keeping your spacious home secure.
A strategically placed glass break sensor can monitor multiple rooms.
Home security sensors come in a range of types: motion sensors, door and window sensors, glass break sensors, and garage door sensors, to name a few. There's no universal answer for how many you need — your floor plan, entry points, and layout all play a role. However, we can help you decide where to place security sensors so you can better determine how many you need.
These Google Nest Cams are safe to use inside and outside.
Next, let's talk about security cameras. Just like sensors, proper camera placement is crucial, and you should know which type works best for different areas of your large home. Here are a few examples.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
The third thing you need is monitoring, and industry-wide, the two most common options are DIY and professional monitoring. For large homes, we strongly recommend going with the latter.
The top professionally monitored security systems offer around-the-clock protection. DIY monitoring isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you have such a large space to monitor. You’ll need to be on top of every sensor going off and every security camera detecting movement. With professional monitoring, you can at least rest easy knowing someone has your back. This is increasingly important, especially considering what our research found:
There are downsides to professional monitoring, including monthly fees ranging from $20 to $65 per month and potential fines if the police are called to a false alarm. But we think the pros outweigh the cons.
Finally, let’s dive into home automation. In security systems, this usually means connecting your system to smart devices for both manual and automated control. You can adjust lights from an app or touchscreen, schedule routines that start your coffee maker, or have lights turn on and off at set times.
Home automation is optional—you can always pair a basic security system with a separate smart home setup. But for those who want convenience without extra work, security systems with built-in home automation make managing your home safer and easier.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
ADT remains our top pick for large homes thanks to its broad equipment lineup and rock-solid professional monitoring network. Vivint, SimpliSafe, Frontpoint, and Ring are all strong alternatives — whether you're after cutting-edge smart home integration or a flexible, scalable DIY setup.
Wired systems are more reliable for large properties, but wireless systems are easier to install and scale. Wireless security systems will stay online if you have a strong internet connection or cellular backup.
We recommend getting motion detectors, entry sensors, and security cameras at a minimum. You may also want to consider glass break sensors if your home has a lot of glass doors or windows.
Most large home security systems cost at least $500 and can climb well into the thousands for a fully loaded setup. The final price depends heavily on square footage, the number of entry points, how many cameras you want, and whether you go with professional installation or a DIY approach.
You should prioritize equipment range, professional monitoring services, and remote monitoring capabilities. Choose a system with reliable sensors and multi-camera support. Monitoring centers must have fast response times, even for text alerts.
We suggest installing motion-activated lights, security cameras with AI capabilities, and garage door sensors. Ensure you can access camera feeds and alerts through your app.
