The Best Home Security Systems: Your Complete Guide?

Is your home security giving you the peace of mind you desire?

Of course, the feeling of safety offered by a home security system is greatly influenced by how well it’s set up. It’s hard to find a system that would fit your purposes with so many to choose from. We understand this problem as we have tested these solutions ourselves! It’s not always possible to tailor solutions to the individual’s needs, but we will try our best.

Months of actually doing the work of installing different systems made us realize that ADT is among the best in terms of the equipment and monitoring service provided. But this is an industry where one solution cannot satisfy every client. This guide will introduce ADT and eight other security systems that are ranked among the top including Vivint, Cove, Alder, and SimpliSafe. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

What are Home Security Systems?

The purpose of home security systems is to protect properties and the possessions within them from intruders and theft. Security systems usually consist of entryway sensors and doors, motion sensors and security cameras, as well as a base station that acts as a hub for all these devices. Basic systems can start at around two hundred dollars, while a complete construction normally does not go beyond five hundred dollars.

Still, homeowners have the option of subscribing to monitoring services, which are geared towards watching activities twenty-four hours a day and responding to confessions very quickly. These systems therefore ensure that people’s homes are secure and bring about more confidence to the individuals.

The Best Home Security Systems?

1. ADT: Best equipment with professional monitoring services.
2. SimpliSafe: Excellent video monitoring features for home security.
3. Vivint: Known for top-notch professional installation services.
4. Alder Security: Offers the best response times in professional monitoring.
5. Cove: The most affordable option for DIY security systems.
6. Frontpoint: Renowned for outstanding customer service and support.
7. Brinks Home Security: Best for smart home integrations.
8. abode: Offers no-contract monitoring options for flexibility.
9. Ring Alarm: Leading in security cameras and video doorbells.

Comparison Table For The Home Security Systems?

Which Home Security System Is Best for You?

1. ADT: Best equipment with professional monitoring services

ADT is known for its professional monitoring services, which are integral to systems like the monitored alarm systems we discuss in our article. The latest ADT offering – ADT Plus, however, allows a DIY installation like that of SimpliSafe or a professional installation. We consider ADT’s equipment to be top-of-the-line. The security cameras are from the Google Nest range of products, which are capable of AI person and facial recognition features.

When we placed one of our Nest Cams directed at the place where we keep our spare keys, we received notifications every time the dog walker was in our sight. A notification comes up that it is indeed her, so there is no need to search through the recordings or look at the camera. This is how advanced our ADT system is.

In addition to controlling our devices, the new Trusted Neighbor feature also enhanced the integration. If ADT controlled our Yale smart lock and our dog walker showed up between 3:00 and 4:30 PM, ADT could disarm our sensors and let her in. This feature is based on face detection to know who gets in, and ADT has to use its smart home integration to take the appropriate steps.

Not that it is a foolproof system, however, there are two of the countless many factors that we think make ADT the best in terms of the devices and security features presently. But let us not stop there, let’s have a look at some more.

2. SimpliSafe: Excellent video monitoring features for home security

SimpliSafe provides flexibility that ADT does not. The user can decide whether to mount the system on their own or pay the technician to do it. And even in case one opts for the DIY installation, SimpliSafe is quite supportive and expandable, A Dummy security system for home is rather preferred at the moment.

SimpliSafe offers great video monitoring options with high-quality camera resolutions and live feed access, which can significantly deter potential intruders as detailed in our article on the benefits of surveillance cameras. In particular, we appreciate the Fast Protect professional monitoring offered by SimpliSafe. This is one of the few if not the only, services that provide live monitoring of security cameras along with video verification. Besides, there are no binding contracts.

The monitoring service can be upgraded or downgraded, depending on the customer’s resources and requirements. We had a SimpliSafe system in place for three years already, and whenever we needed to put it up for monitoring, we would just pause it and reactivate our plan for one month only. You know us, all about that all custom folded.

3. Vivint: Known for top-notch professional installation services

Vivint’s advanced systems include features that are similar to those offered by sight sensor cameras, which are known for their ability to detect movement and enhance security. Equipment from Vivint — such as the tablet-like, wall-mounted control panel above — is smarter and more sophisticated than equipment offered by SimpliSafe. (Visit our comparison of Vivint with SimpliSafe for details.)

We would go as far as saying that Vivint is rather a home surveillance system since it is fully automated. And of course, managing a system like that comes with a hefty learning curve. Thankfully, Vivint has professional installation services that can be compared with that of ADT.

Over the years, our homes have had Vivint systems installed on several occasions and it has been good all through. This service consists firstly of an expert consultation during which the specialist assesses the necessary protection zones, then the installation phase. Then the technician played us a welcome video on his iPad and introduced the working of the system. This additional care and attention further enhanced the already existing premium feel of Vivint.’

4. Alder Security: Offers the best response times in professional monitoring.

Alder does not attract wide attention, however, it is a great option for users who prefer to set up the system on their own, albeit having to pay for professional monitoring. We believe that it’s a worthy replacement for ADT.

Alder costs a lot less than the cost of services offered by ADT and can boast one of the quickest monitoring response times in the market. Alder Security’s response times complement the functionality of monitored alarm systems, ensuring rapid action during emergencies, which we explore in our detailed overview of monitored systems.

With regards to this specific home security system, Alder offers a slightly lower quality than the remaining three options. It doesn’t make its hardware as SimpliSafe does; it doesn’t have a wide range of hardware options like Vivint provides; and even though it sources external cameras like ADT, Alder sources its cameras from eufy. eufy is a decent brand (we tested the Eufy 2K camera), but nowhere close to the quality of the Nest Cams employed by ADT.

5. Cove: The most affordable option for DIY security systems

There is no need to spend a lot on a security system for it to be effective, this has been proven over and over again but none is quite like Cove. We will entertain the specifics of that later. For now, all I can say is we managed to get a good security system for below $300. That’s rather impressive.

Cove is a system that offers monitoring only without installation. In that aspect, it is quite like Alder and Frontpoint as you will see later. However, we consider that Cove is more suitable for tenants than homeowners because of the very limited equipment. Still, it is the most affordable security system that is still useful.

6. Frontpoint: Renowned for outstanding customer service and support

Frontpoint is yet another do-it-yourself alarm system, but with a professional monitoring service that one cannot opt out of. The monitoring subscription comes along with the system as a package. Unlike Cove, however, this comes with a three-year binding contract. This is not for everyone, but if you are going for a monitored system anyway, then you can add Frontpoint to the pile of systems that are worth looking into.

In the course of testing, customer service was exemplary and stood out the most. Frontpoint was not one of those residential alarm systems which most people had to tolerate in the early years of the 21st century. Most recently, it decided to do even better by including live chat as a service and also expanding the provision of phone support until as late as 11 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). These are significant in a do-it-yourself system. You are doing everything, thus support must be readily available when required.

7. Brinks Home Security: Best for smart home integrations

Brinks was known for its home security services back in the 1990s, and after a few decades of silence, it has been making a comeback recently. It has repositioned itself in the market and introduced wireless security systems with an emphasis on smart home technology.

We love Alexa and Google Assistant quite a lot. You can tell as much from reading our reviews of the Echo Show 8 and the Nest Hub. The particular Brinks system we had came with a smart display interface that let us manage and check on the safety of our house. Together with Brinks’ ability to work with other consumer brands like Kwikset (smart locks), myQ (garage door opener), and Alarm.com among others – it is ideal for any smart home fans

8. Abode: Offers no-contract monitoring options for flexibility

Abode, on this list, is the next best smart home security solution provider after SimpliSafe. It’s a DIY system with professional and self-monitoring monitoring options, although, unlike our No. 2 pick, abode has several systems which are mainly oriented towards home automation.

Apart from the product range of the abode, we appreciated that it had monitoring plans which are quite easy to change. Self-monitoring at the basic level is always free, but the premium self-monitoring level and professional monitoring services are quite affordable. Most importantly, all those subscriptions come with no contracts whatsoever. We have been able to go back and forth between professional and self-monitoring without any extra costs or hidden charges.

9. Ring Alarm: Leading in security cameras and video doorbells.

The final point on this list is Ring Alarm, but the reason it is included is not just because of the security system but because of the entire Ring brand. A household name in video doorbells and security cameras, we have tested a few of its cameras, for instance, Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, and Ring Video Doorbell Pro. We can confidently state that when it comes to outdoor security cameras, Ring cameras are among the best that are available in the market.

There comes Ring Alarm now. Where Ring makes it possible to use their cameras and video doorbells on the same app, Ring Alarm adds features that the cameras don’t cover, so to speak. It is concerned particularly about indoors while cameras are concerned about the outside. This is the reason why they are the perfect combination of conventional home security systems with video surveillance because they are not just limited to one aspect.

How do We Evaluate and Rank Top Home Security Systems?

In conclusion, we would like to touch on our testing approach and the criteria we adopt in selecting security systems that we endorse.

Equipment
First, we look at the equipment available from every manufacturer. Security systems commonly include:

Door sensors
Motion sensors
Glass break sensors
Smoke alarms
Gas leak detectors (CO detectors)
Security cameras
Video doorbells

In addition to the above, some of the security systems provide smart home gadgets such as smart locks, smart lights and so on.

After knowing the different types of equipment available, we then design and assemble our security system. In most of our tests, we procure security sensors, safety sensors, security cameras, and video doorbells just to have an idea of what the system encompasses