6 Best Home Security Systems of 2024
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A home security system is a collection of electronic hardware that is connected by software and managed by a central control panel or app.
The components, which can include door/window sensors, motion sensors, cameras, smoke detectors, glass-break sensors, panic buttons and more, work together to keep you and your home safe.
Best home security systems
Protecting your home or apartment from intruders and hazards doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank. The best home security systems are customizable, affordable and have a variety of features that can make it easier to keep an eye on your loved ones and possessions.
Traditional alarm systems require professional installation and multiyear contracts, but modern kits can be self-installed, self-monitored and integrate smoothly with smart home technology.
Best overall: SimpliSafe
on SimpliSafe's website
Best multifunction sensors: Arlo
on Arlo's website
Best DIY system: Ring
Best smart home integration: Abode
Best monitoring: ADT
on NerdWallet
Best professional installation: Vivint
How to choose a home security system
Professional vs. self monitoring
You can choose to have your home security system professionally monitored, or you can respond to alerts yourself. Some providers, such as Vivint, only let you use professional monitoring with their equipment, but others offer both options.
Professional monitoring comes with additional fees: typically around $20 to $50 per month. However, the benefits can be worth the price in an emergency.
When an event triggers your alarm, your provider’s call center is instantly notified, and a representative calls you to check in. If you don’t respond, they contact emergency or police services.
Some providers, such as SimpliSafe, offer the option to let a representative access your camera footage to investigate what triggered the alarm before calling authorities.
If you opt for self-monitoring, you’ll need to respond to the phone alerts your alarm system sends you and decide what steps to take.
Some providers, such as Ring, offer professional monitoring without a contract, so you can purchase temporary alarm monitoring during a vacation, for example.
Smart home integration
Smart home devices let you control your home’s temperature, lighting, music and more from your phone, computer or tablet.
Many home security systems also integrate with existing WiFi-connected smart home networks, such as Google Home and Alexa, to give you the ability to activate and disarm your alarm system — and check your cameras — from your personal devices too.
If you already use a specific smart home network, you may want to choose a security system that integrates with that network. Abode, for example, integrates with a wider variety of smart home systems, while Google Nest is best matched with other Google Home products.
How we picked top home security systems
We aggregated the largest providers by market share and search volume, then ran them through a comprehensive rubric, measuring each product on pricing, video features, monitoring, privacy records and customer reviews. We included the top seven providers in this roundup, and there were several providers with a high search volume that did not score high enough to be included.
Methodology
We collect data from providers and do firsthand testing as necessary. Our process starts by gathering information from providers and contacting providers for further information where needed. This information, combined with our specialists’ hands-on research, makes up our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance. The final output produces star ratings from poor (1 star) to excellent (5 stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. Learn more about our ratings methodology here.