Reviews Report

• SimpliSafe is our highest-rated home security system, thanks to its flexible packages at an affordable rate.
• SimpliSafe and Ring offer the most comprehensive list of devices, including both sensors and smart home devices.
• Abode and Arlo are lacking some basic features but offer the lowest rates.

When choosing a home security company, you want a system that’s guaranteed to keep your family safe while still charging an affordable rate. Thanks to the rise of DIY home security systems, there are plenty of options for Ohio residents to choose from. When selecting the best home security systems in Ohio, we considered the price, equipment cost, contracts, customer satisfaction and installation of each company.

The 5 Best Home Security Systems in Ohio

• SimpliSafe: Best for Flexibility
• Ring: Best for Ease of Use
• Abode: Best for Self-Monitoring
• Arlo: Best for High-Quality Cameras
• Blue by ADT: Best for Professional Monitoring

Compare the Best Ohio Home Security Systems

Information accurate as of March 2021

*J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Security Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

Home Security in Ohio: What You Need to Know 

Ohio crime statistics

It’s important for Ohio residents to understand crime statistics for their home state. Here are a few recent stats on crime in the buckeye state:

• Ohio’s property and violent crime rates are both below the national average.
• Your chances of being the victim of a violent crime in Ohio are one in 341, while your chances of being the victim of a property crime are one in 49.
• After a spike in the late 1980s and early 1990s, violent crime has steadily decreased in Ohio, leveling off over the past decade or so.

Research your city

Not only is it important to know the crime data in your state, but it’s even more critical to know the crime rate in your own city. While Ohio overall has a relatively low crime, its large cities have crime rates significantly higher than the state as a whole.

The three cities with the highest populations in Ohio are Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Let’s look at the crime in those cities, based on recent FBI data:

Columbus

• Population of 872,205
• 4,478 violent crimes
• 34,408 property crimes
• 20 police precincts 

Cleveland

• Population of 385,351
• 5,999 violent crimes
• 18,944 property crimes
• Five police districts

Cincinnati

• Population of 299,116
• 2,833 violent crimes
• 15,105 property crimes
• Five police districts

Register your home security system in Ohio

Depending on where you live, you may be required to register your home security system with your city government. Ohio cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dayton require residents to register their home security systems. Other cities such as Clayton and Huber Heights have optional registrations for the purpose of helping police collect video evidence of neighborhood crimes.

Another thing to know is that some cities have a false alarm fee, which residents must pay if a false alarm from their security system requires a police response. Cleveland has a fee of $130 for the third and subsequent false alarms to a single location. Cincinnati’s fees start at $50 for the third offense and increase with each subsequent offense.

How To Choose Your Ohio Home Security System 

• Interior/exterior cameras: For many families, security cameras are an important component of their home security system, as they allow people to keep an on on their homes at any time. Most companies offer interior, exterior and doorbell cameras, though Abode has limited camera options. It’s important for Ohio residents to do their research when choosing an outdoor security camera, as different devices come with different weather ratings and some may not be able to withstand the cold midwest winters.

• Control panel: Your control panel is the heart of your security system. Traditionally, home security systems have had a keypad control panel, and many still do. But many companies also now offer touchscreen control panels. Additionally, just about every company has a mobile app through which you can control your home security system. Consider what type of control panel you’d prefer before choosing a provider.

• Compatibility: As technology advances, many homeowners want a home security system that either includes smart home capabilities or can integrate with their existing smart home. Many of the companies we compared integrate with basic smart devices like mobile phones and Alexa devices and many have far more integration capabilities. Research your company’s compatibility before purchasing your security system.

• Storage: Security cameras are an important component of many home security systems, but what happens with the video data? In many cases, free self-monitoring plans don’t include video storage — you can only watch the live stream. If you want video storage, you may have to upgrade to a paid plan. For example, Ring’s free plan allows you to view your live stream, but it doesn’t store the data. You can’t even retroactively retrieve it by upgrading your plan.

• Window/door sensors: Window and door sensors can alert you when someone has entered your home, either by opening an unlocked door or window or by breaking in. Some also have a feature to alert you if the glass of a window has been broken. As you choose your security system, consider what sensors you want. Arlo offers only security cameras, meaning it may not be the company for you if you want window and door sensors.

Local vs. national companies

There are many national security companies with excellent reputations, but some individuals may prefer to work with a local company. Both options have pros and cons.

Ohio Home Security Systems FAQ 

Methodology

We evaluated home security companies based on equipment cost, monthly costs, contract options, installation and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best home security reviews. To compare home security companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Monthly Price: The lower the cost of a home security company’s monthly contract, the higher the score. Inversely, the higher the cost of the monthly contract, the lower the score in this metric. 
• Equipment Cost: Affordability is important with home security, so we awarded higher scores to home security companies with lower prices on equipment.
• Contracts: Reviews.com reviewed the flexibility in contracts of the home security companies. The more flexibility, like having no contracts to bind customers for long periods, the higher the score. 
• Customer Satisfaction: With J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Security Satisfaction Study, we assigned a score to each company based on the rating it received.
• Installation: Just like with contracts, we award higher scores to companies that have flexible installation options, like DIY or professional options.

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