The Best Security Systems for the Deaf

1. ADT - Best Security System for the Deaf Overall

Editors Rating:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

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If you’ve heard of one security system, it’s probably ADT, and for good reason: ADT has been around for more than 140 years, but it still innovates when it comes to smart home security.

Rather than from a physical siren, you’ll find out about alerts through the ADT Pulse app, which sends mobile notifications. And even if you miss these notifications, all ADT systems come with 24/7 professional monitoring. In the event of a home invasion, the monitoring team can view footage from your cameras and contact 911 for you, saving you the trouble of having to communicate over the phone.

App Notifications

ADT has multiple businesses under its brand. This includes Blue by ADT, which was preceded by ADT’s acquisition of LifeShield, and the traditional ADT systems; it’s the latter that we’re talking about here.

With ADT’s traditional systems, you’ll control everything remotely and receive notifications through the ADT Pulse app. No matter whether you have an iPhone or an Android device, the app works really well, and we agree with its 4.8 and 4.6 ratings, respectively. Just set your phone to vibrate and turn on notifications, and you’ll be kept up to date on what’s happening at home, without having to hear any alarms.

Package Options

We recommend that you sign up for ADT’s Complete Package so that you can livestream footage and have cloud storage for recorded video. However, the Smart Package also provides remote control and notifications, so it could work if you don’t care as much about video. However, we don’t recommend going with the Secure Package, as you won’t receive notifications or have remote control, essentials for the hearing impaired.

As you can see, ADT gives you a lot of physical components to choose from, including environmental monitoring and smart home security devices. Explore your options more on our ADT subscriptions page.

2. SimpliSafe - Best Security System for the Deaf With an App

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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How We Review

Since you can’t hear sirens or speak to the monitoring team over the phone, your mobile app is your lifeline when it comes to your home’s security. It’s where you find out when alarms go off, see your baby cry remotely, and arm your system from anywhere.

Fortunately, SimpliSafe has a strong mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. We always knew what was going on at home, as long as we had an internet connection. We recommend signing up for the Interactive Monitoring Plan to fully take advantage of what the app has to offer.

Wireless Setup

Although SimpliSafe offers third-party professional installation starting at $79, we opted to install the system ourselves, including the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro. The final verdict? No regrets.

After plugging in the base station, we created a PIN on SimpliSafe’s (excellent) app. From there, the app took us through the setup process, and since most of the components are wireless, the installation was as easy as putting stickers on the walls. Then, we used the app to test and name our devices.

An hour later, we were back on the couch, catching up on premium television.

Packages for All Homes

Whether you want a security system for a large home or a security system for an apartment, SimpliSafe has affordable packages to choose from.

Our package, the discontinued Summerfort system, contained a base station; a keypad; a SimpliCam (learn more in our SimpliCam review); a panic button; key fobs; an auxiliary siren for hearing members of a home; and entry, motion, and glass-breakage sensors. Later, we added a doorbell camera; learn more about it in our SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro analysis.

Here are the packages currently available:

SimpliSafe Equipment

Learn more on our SimpliCam pricing and SimpliSafe FAQ pages.

3. Ring Alarm Security Kit - Best DIY Security System for the Deaf

Editors Rating:

7.7 /10

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How We Review

Another popular option is Ring Alarm, an Amazon-owned security company that’s known for its affordability. Not only can you install your Ring security system by yourself for free, although professional installation is an option through OnTech and Clear Pro, but you’ll also get remote control, notifications, and smart home integration without having to pay a dime. All in all, you’ll enjoy Ring Alarm, one of the best security systems without monthly fees.

Wide Array of Smart Lighting

If you are a deaf or hearing-impaired person, auditory alarms may not be able to alert you. You may need other cues, like light. Out of all the security companies we’ve reported on, Ring has by far the greatest number of smart lighting options.

Some cameras, like the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, have built-in spotlights that illuminate whenever they detect motion. Another advantage of spotlights is color night vision for your outdoor cameras, which you can experience on the Ring – Always Home app. Learn more in our Ring Spotlight Cam Battery review, or check out these Ring standalone lights:

• Pathway lighting and step lights: Direct these lights at your walkways and driveways, and they’ll turn on whenever they detect motion. Just as security cameras deter crime, so can smart lights.
• Floodlights and spotlights: Securing your home starts with the outside. Floodlights and spotlights can cast light on a larger area of your home, like a driveway or a porch. Of course, they’re motion activated, so they’ll turn on when they sense any motion, even from neighborhood squirrels.
• Smart light bulbs: Another way to prevent crime is to make it seem like you’re home when you’re not. You can program Ring’s smart light bulbs to turn on and off periodically throughout the day. If intruders think someone is home, they’re much less likely to choose your home to rob.

Easy Installation

Sure, you can get your Ring security system professionally installed. However, we prefer DIY over professional home security system installation, so we installed our Ring Alarm five-piece alarm kit by ourselves. The process was simple:

1. We plugged the base station into a power outlet.
2. We connected the base station to our home Wi-Fi network through the Ring mobile app.
3. We stuck the motion detector, keypad, contact sensor, and range extender on our walls, doors, and windows.
4. We added each component to the app and named them based on their locations.

Later, we added different Ring cameras and Ring video doorbells, which are all easy to install, especially if they are wireless. Learn more in our review of Ring cameras and our review of Ring video doorbells.

4. abode - Best Smart Home Security System for the Deaf

Editors Rating:

8.0 /10

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How We Review

Sure, voice assistants may not be of much use to you, but there’s more to smart homes than Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri; namely, home automation. How does home automation work, exactly?

Well, with abode, you can have third-party Internet of Things devices trigger one another. For example, when we armed our abode security system and left the house, we had our Kwikset smart locks secure our doors and our smart lights turn on away mode, making it seem like we were home. Abode has the largest number of smart home integrations of nearly any security system we’ve tested, so if you’ve already set up a smart home, you’ll love adding it to the mix.

Smart Home Integrations

As a security startup, abode brings a lot of innovation to the table when it comes to smart platform integrations.1 When we tested the abode Essentials Starter Kit and the abode iota, we set up integrations with the following items:

• Nest cameras, which you can learn more about in our Nest cameras review
• Philips Hue smart lighting
• Ecobee thermostats
• LIFX smart lighting
• Yale smart locks
• Kwikset smart locks
• First Alert smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms

We programmed our thermostat to turn on the air conditioning whenever we disarmed our abode system, meaning we were home. We don’t want to be too hot for even a second. And since we’re so tired by the end of the day, we also had our bedroom lights turn on at the same time and dim by bedtime. Finally, because the doors locked automatically whenever we armed our system, we never had to worry about robbers entering our home through an unlocked door.

On-Demand Professional Monitoring

If you’re going to be home for a long period of time, say, during a global pandemic, then you may not want to pay for 24/7 professional monitoring. After all, burglars prefer to break in when no one is home, typically in the early morning or afternoon, so if you’re home all day, self-monitoring might be sufficient.2 But what about securing your home while on vacation?

Abode is the only company we’ve seen that offers professional monitoring on demand, meaning that you can sign up for as little as one day. Of course, you’ll get a discount if you sign up for a month or a year, but we love the flexibility of the abode’s pricing.

With any plan, you’ll get livestreaming, notifications, and smart platform integrations, unlike companies like SimpliSafe, which charge extra for the latter two. Compare abode and SimpliSafe in more detail.

5. Cove - Best Professionally Monitored Security System for the Deaf

Editors Rating:

8.7 /10

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How We Review

Cove may not be as well known as ADT and Ring, but we think it’s a compelling option. In your busy life, you may not be able to respond to every text or notification you receive. That’s where 24/7 professional monitoring comes in.

If any alarms go off, you don’t have to respond to them; rather, the monitoring team will verify that an emergency is taking place and contact the proper authorities, whether it’s the police, the fire department, or even a local hospital. Cove takes things a step further, however, with its InstaText feature, which is ideal for those that are hard of hearing.

Cove InstaText

InstaText is the reason why Cove is such a great option for those that are hard of hearing. If any of your alarms go off, you can communicate with the monitoring team over text, a feature we haven’t seen from any other security company. You can even add your entire family to a group text, keeping everyone apprised of your home’s security.

We like that Cove accommodates deaf people, as most people communicate with the monitoring team using their voices. Learn more about Cove’s subscription options.

24/7 Professional Monitoring

All of Cove’s systems come with 24/7 professional monitoring, letting you choose from the Basic plan or the Plus plan. While Cove doesn’t have the absolute lowest prices on the market for monitoring (that would be Ring, with its $10-per-month plan), Cove starts at only $15 a month. Considering that more established companies like ADT charge up to $60 a month for the same service, Cove is a relatively affordable home security option.

We recommend choosing the Plus plan for remote control, but you’ll get InstaText and 24/7 professional monitoring with either plan.