The Best Security Systems for Large Homes

1. ADT - Best Commercial Grade Security

Editors Rating:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

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For especially large homes, a DIY home security system may sound like a nightmare. From installing security cameras outside in your large backyard to installing the CO monitors in your garage, the larger your property, the more work it takes to install a home security system. If that’s the case, you may want to sign up with ADT, the oldest security company in the U.S. Professionals install the original security system, so you can spend time on the dozens of other tasks your big house requires. Sure, it costs $99, but that is a small price to pay for convenience and time.

Rates Locked In

A negative of ADT is that it requires three-year contracts. However, if you’re planning on staying in your home for the next few years, you could see it as a positive way to lock in rates. And for the first time, ADT is pretty clear about its monitoring plans.

While ADT doesn’t have the most affordable monitoring costs on this list, you will get $850 worth of free equipment with any plan, which is nothing to sniff at. Of course, for a home of your size, you may end up paying a lot more, but you can call ADT directly to get a quote, as equipment prices aren’t listed clearly on its website.

The ADT Pulse App

Since we signed up for the Premium Protection plan, we got usage of the ADT Pulse app, and we’d recommend it to anyone who wants a truly smart home security system. Through the app, we could see what was happening in every room of our home as well as outdoors, speak through our cameras’ two-way audio, and receive notifications when alarms went off. This made the $52.99 monthly price tag worth it for us.

IoT Integrations

ADT doesn’t just work with Alexa, but also these other smart home devices:

• Nest Mini
• Kwikset smart locks
• LiftMaster smart garage door controllers
• Smart lights
• Smart light switchesSmart thermostats
• Amazon Echo speakers like the Echo Flex and the Echo Dot With Clock
• Z-Wave (learn more about Zigbee vs. Z-Wave vs. Bluetooth, the wireless protocols that security systems use commonly)

Our large home is full of smart home products and services, so we had fun linking them up with our ADT home security system. For example, when we arm our system (using Alexa, of course), we have our lights turn off, our thermostat turn down, and our doors lock automatically. One of our best home security tips is to use automation to make your life easier, and ADT hit the mark.

2. Vivint - Best Smart Security System for Large Homes

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

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How We Review

Now that we’re on the topic of smart homes, let’s talk about Vivint, as it works best for those already enmeshed in the Amazon or Google ecosystems. As the system also works with Nest thermostats and Philips Hue smart lighting, among other IoT devices, we could control our lighting, temperature, locks, and even our smart garage doors with Alexa and Google Assistant. By setting up automation, we didn’t have to worry if we left our doors unlocked when our security system was armed; we could have our voice assistants check, or simply control them through the Vivint iOS or Android apps, both highly rated.

Free Professional Installation

More square footage means more space to cover with door and window sensors, security cameras, motion detectors, and the like. But while most companies with professional installation charge for the service, Vivint offers it for free … the first time, anyway (if you move, you’ll have to pay $129 to get your system reinstalled). However, most people who live in large homes are staying there as long as they can, and with so much space to cover, you’ll appreciate the professional installation, completely on the house.

High-Quality Cameras and Video Doorbells

Vivint is always coming out with new and improved products, most recently the Vivint Doorbell Camera and the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. Let’s start with the video doorbell, one of our favorite devices in smart home security. Waterproof and available in both plug-in and wireless versions, the doorbell camera boasts the widest possible field of view (180 degrees), two-way audio, and infrared night vision.

Another plus is that it only alerted us when it detected a person, so we could greet our guests from anywhere in the world from the Vivint app without being notified of every passing squirrel. We have a lot of people coming in and out of our house, from maintenance workers to friends, so it was great to be able to answer the door without actually having to, well, answer the door.

The Outdoor Camera Pro was equally impressive but with better (1080p) HD video, person detection, and a light and siren combo that sounded whenever anyone was on our property for too long. Vivint sent us a photo of that person so we could see if they were the neighborhood boy shoveling snow or an actual intruder. Now that’s preventative home security!

Monthly Contracts

Assuming you pay for your equipment upfront, you don’t have to commit to a long term with Vivint. Although we plan to be in our home for the foreseeable future, it was nice to know that we’d never run into any pesky cancellation fees.

3. SimpliSafe - Best for Business

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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How We Review

Although it was originally designed with renters in mind, SimpliSafe’s scalability and affordability make it a great choice for owners of large homes. And with professional monitoring starting at $14.99 a month, there’s no long-term commitment when you sign up with SimpliSafe.

SimpliSafe Equipment

Our system from SimpliSafe originally included:

• Base station
• Wireless keypad
• Entry sensors
• Motion sensors
• Glass-break sensor
• Security camera
• Panic button
• Key fobs
• Auxiliary siren

Later, we added on the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro, but it was nice to know that if we wanted more coverage, we could’ve bought add-on equipment from SimpliSafe’s website whenever. Everything was easy to install by ourselves, although we could’ve had it installed professionally for only $79. For those with particularly large homes, this cost may be worth it, even though most of the components are wireless.

SimpliSafe Monitoring

With a large home and many components to your security system, it can be hard to keep track of all the alerts you get throughout the day. That’s why we signed up for SimpliSafe’s Interactive plan, which gave us not only notifications but also 24/7 professional monitoring.

When a dog walker accidentally set off one of our door sensors, for example, we got an alert while we were in a meeting. Seconds later, the monitoring team called us to make sure that no burglary was taking place, which we confirmed on the livestream. But in the event that we were traveling, they could’ve called the police for us (or the fire department, if our smoke and carbon monoxide alarm had gone off).

SimpliSafe Smart Home Integrations

We’re all on busy schedules, so voice commands are a godsend. Luckily, SimpliSafe works with both Alexa and Google Assistant, so we could arm our system and check its status with either assistant under the Interactive plan. Not only were the voice commands convenient, but SimpliSafe also allowed for home automation with Nest smart thermostats and August smart locks. For homes with many doors on the ground level, making sure your smart locks are locked down when your security system is armed is a necessity for home security, so you’ll enjoy having these IoT devices trigger each other.

4. Frontpoint - Best Security System for Large Homes for Customer Support

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

844-933-2405

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How We Review

There are few things more frustrating than trying to get in touch with a company’s customer support team, especially when you’re dealing with something as important as home security. But Frontpoint has a reputation for being, well, supportive. Although the email support left something to be desired, the phone support was great, and the company answered all of our questions during installation.

One Plan For All

As of April 8, 2021, Frontpoint has done away with its Interactive plan. Now, when you sign up as a new customer, you’ll get Ultimate monitoring for $49.99 a month or, if you pay with an ACH transaction, $44.99 a month. This plan includes not only 24/7 professional monitoring, but also video monitoring and the mobile app. While this certainly isn’t the lowest price around, you get a lot of other things with this one-size-fits-all subscription:

• Cellular backup
• Crash and smash protection
• Geolocation services
• Sensor history
• Video and image history
• Light and smart lock control

In other words, you’ll be able to receive notifications when your sensors go off, check in on your live footage, and see past footage. Between your Frontpoint app and the monitoring center, that’s a lot of eyes on your home.

Package Financing

Another feature of Frontpoint’s new and improved package list is financing through Bread. If you lack the funds to pay for your system upfront, then you can pay over 36 months through Bread. No, you won’t be charged interest; this is a simple way to avoid paying hundreds of dollars upfront, paying it over three years instead. Of course, you will be locked into a three-year contract, but again, if you’re going to be in your home during that time, you might not mind the commitment.

Smart Home Integrations

Did you know there were 4.2 billion digital voice assistants used all over the world in 2020? In 2024, that number is expected to double to 8.4 billion. If you’re one of the billions who use Alexa or Google Assistant, you’ll love how Frontpoint works with either voice assistant, letting you arm the system, check its status, and control smart locks, thermostats, and lights. You can even have Alexa record with your indoor camera, making Frontpoint one of the best security systems for Alexa.

5. Deep Sentinel - Best Security System for Large Homes With Professional Monitoring

Editors Rating:

7.9 /10

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How We Review

If you always need the latest gadgets, then Deep Sentinel is for you. Its cameras go beyond normal artificial intelligence that can differentiate between people and other moving objects. They can sense things like attempted robberies, burglaries, auto theft, violence, attempted package theft, and other specific, suspicious behaviors. The best part is that the Sentinel Guards, aka the professional monitoring team, will respond to these threats within 30 to 60 seconds. By combining advanced AI with human monitors, Deep Sentinel takes a preventative approach to home security that’s ideal for anyone who wants high levels of surveillance.

Minimalist System

Deep Sentinel believes that having cameras and sensors inside your home doesn’t do much to prevent crime from happening in the first place. Its equipment is limited to outdoor security cameras, a security sign, and a hub to be placed indoors. This way, the monitoring team can surveil your home’s perimeter and stop attempted burglaries or violence in their tracks. And although all Deep Sentinel camera systems include 24/7 professional monitoring services, you’ll also be able to track everything through the Deep Sentinel app.

The cameras themselves are impressive, with 1080p HD video, 130-degree fields of view, infrared night vision, two-way audio, cloud and local storage, and ring lights and sirens that go off at potential threats. Wireless, the cameras come with rechargeable batteries that can last up to nine months. If you want a system that’s just outdoor cameras, Deep Sentinel is the way to go.

Monthly Contracts

It’s no secret that Deep Sentinel is one of the more expensive security systems for large homes, both in terms of equipment and monitoring. However, one thing that might assuage your concerns is the company’s month-to-month contracts along with its 30-day return policy. If you don’t like the system, you can return it within 30 days of your shipment date and get all your money back, guaranteed.

Easy Installation

Since all of Deep Sentinel’s cameras are wireless, you’ll only have to mount them on the outside of your home, which is relatively easy compared to wired cameras. All you’ll need, aside from your smartphone, is a screwdriver and a ladder. Read our full review of Deep Sentinel to learn more about the installation process, linked to in the table above.

6. Cove

Editors Rating:

8.7 /10

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How We Review

There are on-going costs associated with living in a large home. One of those costs is professional home security monitoring. Although we recommend having your system professionally monitored 24/7, having the option to pause the monthly fees is a breath of fresh air only available from companies such as Cove. Without contracts, Cove lets you opt in and out of professional monitoring without obligations and additional fees. Just inform Cove in advance when you want to pause your monitoring and when you’re ready to activate your system again.

Scalable Security Systems

So what makes Cove great for large homes, besides its no-contract monitoring? Well first, it’s scalable. You’re free to build your system from the ground up, starting with a touchscreen control panel and then adding sensors, cameras, and other components. The touchscreen alarm panel, which is the heart and brain of the system, can handle dozens of sensors, so feel free to add as many sensors as you want (you’ll want a sensor for every ground floor door and window, at the very least). You can choose from a number of security and environmental sensors, such as entry sensors, motion sensors, glass break sensors, and smoke alarms.

Besides sensors, we recommend adding security cameras for video monitoring. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need the more expensive (but still relatively affordable at $27.99 per month) Cove Plus plan to use their security cameras. Your options, as far as security cameras go, are an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and two video doorbells. These cameras are monitored via the Cove app, so you can watch over your property anytime and from anywhere.

Affordable Equipment and Monitoring

Another reason to like Cove is its pricing. You need a lot of equipment to protect a large home, but with Cove, you don’t need to invest a lot. Like we said, you’ll start with the Cove Touch Alarm Panel, which with discounts costs $124.50. After that, sensors cost less than $30 a piece, the cheapest being the entry sensor that sells for as low as $7.50. Buy 10 of those and you’d only have spent $75, while with other companies, you could get only two entry sensors for that price.

As for professional monitoring, your options are Cove Basic and Cove Plus, $17.99 and $27.99 a month, respectively. Cove Basic gives you 24/7 professional monitoring with Smash and Grab protection, InstaText, LiveAssist, and alert transmission through cellular signals. Add $10 for the Cove Plus plan and you’ll get extra features like camera integrations, Google and Alexa integrations, smartphone control, and seven days of camera footage backup.