SimpliSafe home security systems can be easily customized to your needs. Simply add or remove hardware and accessories as you wish.
When choosing a security system for your home, you may be tempted to start by deciding between a DIY setup or professionally installed systems with monitoring services. Remember to make your decision after considering the equipment, installation, monitoring options and other features you want. Here are some pieces of information to keep in mind about these frames when shopping around.
Equipment options
Do you just need to check your login options? A good video doorbell for your front door and a rear-facing outdoor camera may be all you need; easy to install and monitor yourself. If you want to keep tabs on your home inside and out with 24/7 monitoring and quick access to emergency services, you’ll want a more robust system. DIY and professional brands offer home security bundles with most, if not all, of the equipment you’ll need to get started and the ability to add one more device as needed.
Smart home with AI
Most home security devices are compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart hubs, but if you choose Apple HomeKit or another smart home ecosystem, you may need to shop around and compare to find a system that’s compatible with your existing smart home devices. Don’t worry too much about compatibility as Matter makes it easy to connect previously incompatible devices (though not yet for security cameras).
Smart home features are also constantly evolving, especially with AI. Just two years ago, SimpliSafe added AI facial and motion detection to help its monitoring agents, ADT added support for Nest’s standard AI facial recognition features and Arlo expanded services to include AI detection of fires, barking, screaming and more. You will have to pay more for these features and consider your privacy if you want advanced upgrades.
Arlo’s new Security Tag is the perfect fit for its most compact home security system.
Installation
Remember that all equipment will need to be installed. While there isn’t much to installing a security camera or a wired video doorbell, whole-home systems can require more installation and setup. Some are DIY friendly and use adhesive to place devices without leaving permanent marks but not all systems do this. If you’d rather leave that to a professional and walk you through how to operate the system, a professional home security service may be the way to go.
Monitoring and warnings
Almost all home security systems allow for self-monitoring, most likely through an app on your phone. They’ll also send you push notifications when there’s an event, like when a package is delivered to your door. Basic sensors can send alerts about which particular sensor was activated or tampered with, while adding a camera allows for more sophisticated detection. You can customize these alerts so that you only get the information you want (like only when a person is found), while most will ignore things like cars.
SimpliSafe remains the top DIY security system.
Professional monitoring and emergency features
Consider whether you want to manage all monitoring or would like some support. Many systems allow you to add a professional monitoring system, some even require it from the start. These services usually cost upwards of $30 per month and sometimes more if AI features are added.
More advanced features, such as facial recognition, glass break sensors and communication with emergency services may not be available for all manufacturers and devices. Consider the level of monitoring you want, who you want to do it for, and emergency response options, when choosing a home security system.
Expansion
Most home security systems allow you to purchase individual sensors or compatible devices and add them, one at a time, whenever you want to upgrade or address a particular problem. But they do this in very different ways. Some only allow you to buy devices of their own brand, while others are compatible with a variety of third-party smart devices. Some have limited add-on options, while others have many options. Regardless of what you decide, we recommend that you check the add-on options on the security system’s website to see what the potential upgrades will look like.
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Initial costs
We wrote “cost” at the end for a reason. A complete home security system will probably cost you at least a few hundred dollars, so be prepared for that. There is a possibility of spending too much on equipment or too little. Also, remember that the size of the system greatly affects the cost. Starter systems like many of the ones we’ve listed here typically cost between $150 and $300, and allow you to add other compatible devices later. Larger systems with 10 or more devices will cost at least a few hundred dollars and can go up to $1,000 or more, depending on the technology included.
Ongoing costs
Ongoing costs can carry more weight when choosing the best security system. Expect ongoing monthly payments from a professional service and possibly a contract to lock you into those payments for a year or two (although we’ve opted for no contract required). Signing a contract may not be ideal, but it may also come with free equipment or installation and low upfront costs.
If you are comfortable with monitoring yourself, DIY systems may not come with any ongoing costs. Monthly subscriptions (without a contract) for cloud storage, advanced features and professional monitoring are often an option with DIY plans, often at lower monthly fees than professional services.
You will be notified every time this door is opened.
Privacy and security
Always look for a brand that will keep your data safe and has a good track record of security, encryption and data breach protection. That’s not always easy — many security companies have had problems in the past with breaches, privacy violations or even employees testing home security cameras.
We look at the company’s current practices, track record and how it has been developing over the past few years when making recommendations. SimpliSafe has always been one of the top players in security, which is one reason they earned a top spot on our list. Although Ring has had its faults in the past, it has gotten better in recent years and even reversed its policy of providing police with video footage, so we feel free to recommend Ring at this time.
