Best Home Security System for Customer Satisfaction
SimpliSafe
Best Home Security System for Self Monitoring
abode
Best Home Security System for Ease of Use
Ring Security
Best Home Security System for High-Quality Security Cameras
Arlo
Best Home Security System for Professional Monitoring
Blue by ADT
Best Best Home Security System for Simple DIY Installation
Cove
Best Home Security System for Smart Home Integrations
Scout
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SimpliSafe is Reviews.com’s top pick for best home security systems, earning a 4.4 out of 5.
The best home security systems combine high-quality devices with a variety of both self-monitoring and professional monitoring options.
Starting monitoring prices range from just $2.99 per month to $19.99 per month.
A home security system can help provide the peace of mind you need to know that your family and your belongings are safe. But with so many systems to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. We’ve rounded up the seven best home security systems of 2021 to help make your decision a bit easier. We’ve looked at factors such as monthly price, equipment cost, contracts, home security system reviews from customers, and installation to find the best home security companies.
The 7 Best Home Security Systems of 2021
SimpliSafe: Best Home Security System for Customer Satisfaction
Abode: Best Home Security System for Self Monitoring
According to a J.D. Power study, SimpliSafe has the highest customer satisfaction of any DIY home security system, making it a top choice for most home security needs.
4.4 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
899* J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality.
$0.33/day Starting Price
No Contract Requirement
Why we chose it
According to a J.D. Power study, SimpliSafe has the highest customer satisfaction of any DIY home security system, making it a top choice for most home security needs.
Pros
Highest-rated customer satisfaction
Build-your-own security system
Longer warranty than most competitors
Cons
Doesn’t integrate well with other smart devices
Most features require most expensive plan
Lower camera quality than competitors
Read More
Available Equipment
Door and window sensors
Motion sensors
Glass break sensors
Panic button
Smoke detector
Temperature sensor
Water sensor
Smart lock
keypad
Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras
Monitoring Prices
Camera recording only: $0.33/day
Pro monitoring: $0.50/day
Complete home monitoring: $0.83/day
abode
Best for Self-Monitoring
Why we chose it
Abode is known for its affordable home security system, with its self-monitoring plan having many features like camera recording, alerts, and more.
4.2 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
882 * J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality.
$10/mo. Starting Price
No Contract Requirement
Why we chose it
Whether you’re setting up your system or using your system each day, Ring is known for being simple to use.
Pros
Easy to use
Savings with annual purchase
“Works with Ring” list of compatible products
Cons
No professional monitoring with the basic plan
Security kits don’t include cameras
No glass-break sensor available
Read More
Available Equipment
Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera
Door and window sensors
Motion detector
Keypad
Flook and freeze sensor
Smoke and CO detector
Panic button
Monitoring Prices
Self-Monitoring: Free
Basic: $3/mo. or $30/year
Plus: $10/mo. or $100/year
Arlo
Best For High-Quality Security Cameras
Why we chose it
Unlike its competitors, Arlo doesn’t offer many security sensors, but it has some of the best home security cameras on the market with high-definition camera resolution.
4 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
N/A * J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality.
$2.99/mo. Starting Price
No Contract Requirement
Why we chose it
Unlike its competitors, Arlo doesn’t offer many security sensors, but it has some of the best home security cameras on the market with high-definition camera resolution.
Pros
High-quality security cameras
Monitoring starts at just $2.99 per month
Advanced object detection and activity zones on cameras
Cons
No sensors or smart home devices
Cameras are pricier than many competitors
No professional monitoring service
Read More
Available Equipment
Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras
Monitoring Prices
Self-Monitoring: Free
Premier (one camera): $2.99/mo
Premier (multiple cameras): $9.99/mo.
Elite (one camera): $4.99/mo.
Elite (multiple cameras): $14.99/mo.
Blue by ADT
Best for Professional Monitoring
Why we chose it
Blue by ADT combines the benefits of a professional monitoring company with the price of DIY home security.
3.6 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
880* J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality.
$19.99/mo. AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
No Contract Requirement
Why we chose it
Blue by ADT combines the benefits of a professional monitoring company with the price of DIY home security.
Pros
Professional monitoring by ADT
Build your own security system
Several smart home integrations
Cons
Below-average customer satisfaction
Fewer devices than many competitors
Security systems don’t include cameras
Read More
Available Equipment
Door and window sensors>
Motion sensor
Floor and temperature sensor
Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras
Monitoring Prices
Self-Monitoring: Free
Professional Monitoring: $19.99/mo.
Cove
Best for Simple DIY Installation
Why we chose it
Cove is known for its simple DIY installation — the company claims customers can install their home security systems in just 27 minutes.
3.75 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
N/A * J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality.
$10/mo. AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
No AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
Why we chose it
Scout offers more integration options than any of its competitors, making it a great choice if home automation is a top priority.
Pros
More integrations than competitors
Savings for annual payment
Longer warranty than most competitors
Cons
No outdoor security cameras
Cloud storage not included in the paid monitoring plan
The type of home you live in will be a factor in determining the type of home security system you need. First, consider that some apartments don’t allow tenants to install home security systems. In that case, you may have to either skip a security system or install one that’s easily uninstalled. Apartments may also require fewer features. For example, many apartments don’t have private entrances or ground-floor windows, making certain security devices less necessary. On the other hand, someone with a house with many doors and windows may want a more robust system.
Certain home security systems either come with their own smart home features or can easily integrate with others in the home, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. As smart home devices become more popular, it’s important to consider how valuable this feature is. If having a smart home is crucial be sure to shop for those providers that allow for many integrations or have many smart home devices of their own.
If a home security system includes cameras, be sure to understand how videos will be stored. Many companies don’t allow for video storage on their free self-monitoring plans. Instead, users may have to upgrade if they want local storage, cloud storage, or cellular storage. Additionally, each company will have a certain amount of time it will save stored videos before it deletes them, usually two weeks or 30 days.
Traditional home security systems were wired, so they didn’t need to be connected to the internet. Today, many systems — especially DIY systems — are wireless. While this offers many advantages, it also means that devices require an internet connection. And since video feeds and other features will be housed in a smartphone app, it’s critical that you have a reliable internet connection. If you don’t have a reliable internet connection, you may be better off shopping for wired security systems.
There are many devices that may come with a home security system. First, there are sensors for doors and windows to detect if someone has entered the home, as well as motion detectors to sense movement. Other sensors can sense environmental factors, such as temperature, smoke or carbon monoxide, and water leaks. Finally, there are many cameras, such as indoor, outdoor, and video doorbell cameras. Cameras may come with floodlights, sirens, two-way audio, motion sensors, and more.
Some companies, such as Arlo, are well-known for their high-quality cameras. On the other hand, some may have lower-quality cameras that just don’t give as clear of a picture. Features to look out for include video resolution of at least 1080p, night vision, waterproofing, and more.
Burglary Facts and Statistics
Part of keeping your home safe is knowing the crime stats in your area so you can properly protect your home and family. Here are a few statistics from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program:
There were 1,117,696 burglaries in the United States in 2019.
Burglaries make up roughly 16.1% of property crimes.
Burglaries have been steadily decreasing. The 2019 rate is down 9.5% from the previous year, 29.6% from four years earlier, and 48.5% from nine years earlier.
It’s also important to pay attention to local burglary statistics. Data shows that states such as New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have the highest rates of burglary, while New Hampshire, New York, and Virginia have the lowest.
Researching the crime trends in your area can help you decide the best way to protect your home with a security system.
DIY vs. Professional Home Security Systems
When purchasing a home security system, you can choose between a DIY or professional monitoring plan. Both come with pros and cons, and it’s important to understand them before choosing the best home security system.
Pros of DIY Monitoring
Cheaper monthly cost No contracts or commitments Free DIY installation
Cons of DIY Monitoring
No one monitoring your home Less responsive customer service Difficult to install for some people
Pros of Professional Monitoring
Professional installation done for you 24/7 monitoring of your system Responsive customer service
Cons of Professional Monitoring
Most expensive monthly cost Often a long-term contract Installation may not be free
Arlo has the lowest monthly monitoring cost available, at $2.99 per month, though many companies allow you to self-monitor your plan for no cost at all.
Permits may be required for home security systems in some cities. Check with your local government to determine if a permit is necessary.
Methodology
We evaluated home security system 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.
Erin Gobler is an insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the past three years, she has covered personal finance topics such as insurance, banking, mortgages, and more. Her work has been featured in sites such as The Simple Dollar, Bankrate, and Coverage.com. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Oskosh. Erin’s favorite Reviews.com article is the State Farm Renters Insurance Review.
