Best Affordable Home Security Systems of 2023

1. SimpliSafe - Best DIY Installation

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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How We Review

“Cut the middleman” is SimpliSafe’s business model. It makes, sells, and maintains its own equipment, allowing SimpliSafe to offer security systems at incredibly low prices without compromising quality.

In addition, SimpliSafe is one of the best security systems with a no-monthly-fee option. You can self-monitor the system for free, thus allowing you to use the system indefinitely without ever paying a monthly fee. That’s not to say you can’t have professional monitoring, as SimpliSafe’s 24/7 monitoring fees start at just $17.99.

How SimpliSafe is the Best DIY System

SimpliSafe started as a home security system designed for renters. It had to innovate to cater to the specific needs of renters, one of which was an easy DIY installation process that didn’t require any drilling. Renters need to protect their security deposit, and the last thing they want are screw holes in their walls.

Eventually, SimpliSafe became known as one of the easiest to install security systems. As it turns out, a lot of homeowners want that, too, and so the market took notice of SimpliSafe.

In our experience, SimpliSafe offers the best DIY installation because of its wireless equipment. The sensors run on batteries so there is no hardwiring required. As for the base station, it’s plug-and-play. Just plug it into a wall outlet and you’re good to go. All in all, it took us less than 30 minutes to set up and install a comprehensive SimpliSafe system complete with cameras.

SimpliSafe’s DIY aspect doesn’t end in the installation, though. Even monitoring can be DIYed, and that’s another factor that makes SimpliSafe affordable. There are no monthly fees if you monitor the system on your own. You’ll receive email and app alerts and you can live stream security camera footage to check on things.

Note, however, that when used as a self-monitored system, SimpliSafe is quite limited. It won’t call for help on your behalf and the cameras won’t record. Home automation features and cellular backup won’t be available as well.

If you want to enjoy the full features of SimpliSafe, a paid monitoring plan is recommended. The good news is that SimpliSafe is still affordable even with a monthly fee. SimpliSafe’s pricing for monthly subscriptions is either $17.99 for basic professional monitoring or $27.99 for advanced monitoring with video recording and home automation.

Take a look at the subscription options to help you decide if self-monitoring (free) is possible or if an affordable SimpliSafe monitoring plan is better suited for you.

About SimpliSafe Equipment

A basic SimpliSafe set costs about $250, but most of the time, you’ll find SimpliSafe deals that slash the price by up to 60-percent. The best place to look for those deals is SimpliSafe’s website itself.

Now, SimpliSafe offers a number of packages, ranging in price from $250 to $700. Take a look:

The most affordable home security system from SimpliSafe includes:

• A base station
• Two entry sensors
• One motion sensor
• One SimpliCam (limited time only)
• Keypad
• Remote control

Now, let’s talk about what each piece of equipment does.

• Base station: The base station is a small tower with a loud alarm. It plugs into a wall outlet and has a battery backup. A soft blue light indicates that it’s working, and if someone tampers with the system, it will notify the police automatically if you’re on a professional monitoring subscription.
• Entry sensors: The entry sensors detect when someone opens the door or window you attached them to, triggering a chime sound. But if you’re out of earshot, they can notify you through texts or app notifications.
• Motion sensors: The motion sensors follow the same security protocols as the entry sensors, but instead of opening or closing doors, motion sensors detect movement. They use PIR technology, which can detect people within 30 feet from the sensors.
• SimpliCam: The SimpliCam captures video with high-definition footage, and it can even live stream to the SimpliSafe mobile app. Unlike the rest of the system, you can monitor the SimpliCam using the app without paying for any subscription. However, you’ll need to pay a $9.99 monthly fee if you want your cameras to store videos in the cloud.

You can expand the basic set with additional pieces of equipment, like sensors, indoor or outdoor cameras, or a video doorbell. Better still, you can save at least 20-percent if you add a free trial for the Interactive monitoring plan upon checkout. The free trial will renew automatically, but if you cancel before the last day, you won’t be charged and the discount is yours to keep.

In sum, SimpliSafe provides affordable home security with savings on equipment, installation, and monitoring.

2. Frontpoint - Best Customer Service

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

844-933-2405

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How We Review

Frontpoint offers slightly more equipment options than SimpliSafe, but a starter kit costs just $129 with online discounts. Installation is also free, as Frontpoint is a self-installed system. In fact, it’s one of the best DIY security systems because of Frontpoint’s wireless equipment and stellar customer support and wireless equipment. You can reach out anytime via email or phone calls, and in our experience, Frontpoint has a knowledgeable and customer-friendly support staff.

With Frontpoint, contracts can be flexible as well. Frontpoint monitoring costs $49 per month. You can sign a long-term contract (up to three years) if you decide to finance the equipment, but you can also go with a month-to-month contract if you purchase the system upfront. And remember, a basic system costs just $129.

Why Frontpoint has the Best Customer Service

As we made abundantly clear in our Frontpoint review, it’s a great security system for those looking to self-install their equipment. Part of what made that true is Frontpoint’s stellar customer service driven by the company’s customer-first culture.

While the installation process is DIY, we didn’t feel like we’re on our own. There were plenty of educational posts and videos on Frontpoint’s website, and whenever we encountered hiccups, Frontpoint’s customer support was always ready to jump in and help almost around the clock, seven days a week.

Additionally, Frontpoint makes shopping for a security system easy and worry-free. For starters, every piece of equipment is covered by a three-year warranty. On top of that, there’s a 30-day risk-free trial on every purchase. During that period, you can return your equipment, request a refund, and cancel your monitoring contract without penalties or fees.

The one caveat of Frontpoint is that it requires professional monitoring, and it isn’t cheap at $49 per month. That’s the only option available, so if you’re going for a simple home security system with just intrusion and environmental hazards monitoring, it’s probably not the most practical choice.

That said, Frontpoint is a great option if you want an advanced home security system with high-tech features that won’t hurt the wallet. For $49 per month, you’ll gain access to the best home security features like home automation, video monitoring, cloud video storage, and an intuitive home security app. Plus, you’ll enjoy stellar customer service and support.

About Frontpoint Equipment

Frontpoint equipment is wire-free for easy DIY installation. You can choose a cheap home security bundle or customize a kit. The $129 Frontpoint starter set includes:

• Hub
• Keypad
• One sensor
• One motion sensor
• Set of door stickers, window decals, and a yard sign

Sometimes, a free doorbell camera or outdoor camera is included as well. You can also add a wide range of cameras, sensors, and control panels for extra fees. Some examples are:

• Keychain remote control
• Panic pendant
• Indoor camera
• Outdoor camera
• Keypad door locks
• Remote-controlled thermostat
• Garage door sensor
• Glass break sensors
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Smoke and heat sensors
• Water leak sensors

In sum, Frontpoint sells basic and advanced security systems. Starter sets are low-priced; monthly monitoring is competitively priced, and installation is free.

3. ADT - Best Money Back Guarantee

Editors Rating:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

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How We Review

ADT is America’s oldest home security company, but it remains competitive both in terms of price and technology. With ADT, you can get the latest in home security and safety features like home automation, home hazard monitoring, and even medical alert systems.

Prices for ADT equipment and monitoring (required) depend on your home’s layout. If you want, you can consult with an ADT agent to help you pick the right size and components for your system. You could also DIY the buying process through ADT’s website.

Either way, you’ll get industry-best purchase protection through ADT’s six-month money-back guarantee, which would give you a full refund on installation and monitoring expenses if the system doesn’t work as promised. For comparison, other companies we’ve tested have trial periods between 15 to 60 days.

Here are some ADT quick pricing facts:

Why ADT is Best for Money-Back-Guarantee Home Security

ADT is North America’s best-established home security company. Its generous money-back guarantee shows great confidence in ADT equipment and emergency monitoring. Additionally, ADT security contracts provide $500 in theft insurance.

The money-back-guarantee applies when the system doesn’t work as intended and ADT can’t fix the issue. The refund covers monthly monitoring fees ($29 and up) and any installation fee.

Some ADT customers get free installation. The maximum installation charge is $99 after a rebate.

As for the theft protection guarantee, if your home is burglarized under ADT’s watch, you’ll get up to $500 reimbursement in your insurance deductibles. This just shows ADT’s confidence in its monitoring service and equipment.

About ADT Security Equipment

ADT sells an especially wide selection of equipment. You can guard against intruders, monitor your home’s environment, and automate your home. The final cost will depend on your customized system, but packages are available starting at $480. In our case, our equipment total when we tested ADT totaled to $850, and that came with enough equipment to test almost every ADT component.

An ADT electrician can hardwire the sensors and control panel, or they can install wire-free devices.

ADT designs each system according to the needs of its customers. At a minimum, a set includes:

• Digital keypad
• Entry sensors
• Motion detectors
• Wireless remote

You can add video monitoring with indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, and the ADT doorbell camera. Google Nest Cams are also available, and they integrate smoothly with ADT control panels. Environmental monitoring is an option, and ADT can automate your home as well. Furthermore, ADT supports medical alert bracelets and neck pendants.

As for monitoring, ADT uses landline, cellular, or both. A hybrid system with both landline and cellular gives the best home security, with cellular monitoring acting as backup in case of power or landline outages.

In sum, ADT is an experienced company with cutting-edge features. It’s a great choice for households that want long-term security and automation but are wary of contracts. The company is so confident of its systems that it offers a six-month money-back guarantee if it can’t fix system issuers within the first six months.

4. Cove - Best Monitoring Rates

Editors Rating:

8.7 /10

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How We Review

All of Cove’s systems come with one of two plans, Basic or Plus, but both include 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, which starts at $17.99 a month. This is a very low price, equal to that of SimpliSafe’s monitoring packages. Cove’s Plus plan throws in even more features, like Alexa and Google Assistant integrations plus remote control, for $27.99 a month. Even though it’s $10 more than the Basic plan, we think it’s worth it to be able to arm and disarm our system remotely and control it with our voices.

Why Cove is the Best Affordable System for Professional Monitoring

We’ve already told you about Cove’s low prices for 24/7 professional monitoring, but those weren’t the only costs that struck our fancy. Cove’s equipment is also affordable, and we even got an indoor camera, completely free. You can learn more about the exact prices on our page on Cove costs, but keep in mind that its most expensive component, the Touch Panel, still comes in at less than $150.

One more thing we like about Cove is the no-pressure sales process. Unlike more traditional security companies that require a walk-through of your home and a face-to-face consultation, you can use Cove’s online test to get recommendations on which security components are best for your home. You can take the recommendation or leave it; either way, you’ll have the freedom to buy exactly what you want.

About Cove Equipment

Equipment-wise, Cove offers the following:

• Touch Alarm Panel
• Door, motion, window, smoke, heat, freeze, flood, and CO sensors
• Indoor camera
• Outdoor camera
• Video doorbells
• Medical button
• Key remote.

The free indoor camera was an especially nice touch. And even if you want more cameras, they would have just been $49.50 each, a strikingly low price.

Despite Cove’s already affordable pricing, we still see a lot of deals on Cove’s website. These are usually percentage-off deals, with the lowest being 20-percent off. However, during special holidays and sale events, we see Cove drop its prices by up to 60-percent. If you time your purchase right, you can save a lot with Cove.

5. abode - Best Home Security Without a Contract

Editors Rating:

8.0 /10

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How We Review

Similar to Frontpoint, abode can support home security, environmental sensors, and automation. A big difference is that you can self-monitor abode security systems for free. And with smartphone alerts, remote control, and home automation all included in the self-monitoring plan, you can effectively use abode without ever paying monthly fees. A basic set costs about $200, and that’s all you’ll need to pay if you decide to self-monitor.

How abode is Best for No-Contract Home Security

Abode sells high-quality yet affordable security systems for DIY installation. After buying equipment, you can monitor it yourself or add pro monitoring anytime. Abode’s pricing is as follows:

If you choose no-contract home security, you can monitor and control the system with a free mobile app. For example, if the system detects motion, it will send alerts to your phone. The app also lets you access security cameras, control lights, and more.

Voice commands are also an option with compatible Google Home and Amazon Alexa equipment.

About Abode Security Equipment

With abode, you can build a customized system or buy a pre-packaged set. The cheapest security set is the Smart Security Kit. For $231.99, it includes:

• A gateway
• An entry sensor
• A motion sensor
• A key fob

Another cheap home security system ($229) is abode’s iota All-In-One Security Kit. This unit combines an HD camera with a motion sensor and two-way voice communication.

Abode starter sets are compatible with various devices such as:

• Glass break sensors
• Automated lights
• Remote-control door locks
• Smart thermostats

Voice commands are an option with Amazon Alexa and Google Home products.

In sum, abode sells a la carte systems and ready-made sets. You can choose security and environmental monitoring only, or add home automation. Equipment can be low-cost, installation is DIY, and paid monitoring is optional.