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Vivint’s advanced technology and home automation make it the best security system with alternative alerting options through various mediums.
Updated March 7, 2025
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Most security systems rely on audible alarms to alert users to life-threatening emergencies. But, if you or someone you live with suffers from hearing loss, sirens might not be enough. You need a security system that offers alternative alerting systems such as text-based alerts and automated smart and/or strobe lights.
The good news is you don’t have to look far to find security systems with those components. Some of the most trusted names in the industry — the best security systems, so to speak — offer inclusive technology that can help keep all of us safe from home dangers.
We’ve personally tested over 30 security systems to find the best options for people with hearing loss. Out of those 30, we ended up with three to recommend. Vivint is our top pick because of its home automation capabilities and specialized equipment, but we found that ADT and SimpliSafe are solid security systems, too. Read on to find out why we recommend them.
We’ve found the best way to make unbiased reviews is by testing home security systems ourselves. Our team buys the equipment, installs the devices in our homes, and tests them for weeks and sometimes months. We want to get a feel for what it’s like to live with the security system while experiencing the features, app, and response time. That way we’re able to make honest recommendations based on our real-life experiences.
Several factors affect testing home security systems, but we find ways to compare apples to apples. For example, we install the test units in the same house. We use a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home owned by one of our experts. Testing in a real home means we can gather accurate data and make better real-life observations.
We also buy the same devices for each security system and set them up in identical locations. You can see the places where we typically install equipment below.
We looked beyond loud sirens when choosing security systems for the deaf. There needs to be multiple ways to alert people to life-threatening situations if they’re hard of hearing. To pick our top six options, these were the criteria we deemed most important:
After reviewing each system with these criteria, here is how we ranked the top six:
Rating the Best Home Security Systems for the Deaf
We’re different from those other websites that review everything from coffee mugs to beach towels. Our team of experts exclusively covers home security and safety equipment. This means we can dedicate our attention to the security systems and make recommendations you can actually trust. The team who worked on this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team online. Since starting in 2016, our work on SafeHome.org has been showcased in several major outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times. Together, we have achieved:
All of our recommendations come from first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the security industry. Now, let’s learn more about our top picks.
| Features | Vivint | ADT | SimpliSafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| SecureScore™ | 9.1 Best Home Automation |
9.2 Most Reliable |
9.2 Best Active Monitoring |
| Text-Based Alerting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automation | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Strobe Lights | Yes (via Spotlight Pro) | Yes (via Nest Cam with Floodlight) | No |
| Monthly Cost (for Professional Monitoring) | $29.99+ | $24.99+ | $21.99+ |
| Our Hands-On Review | Vivint review | ADT review | SimpliSafe review |
Vivint uses home automation and other types of advanced technology to boost home security for everyone. Normally, advanced tech means a system that’s not so easy to use, but Vivint keeps their system simple enough to use that it made our list of the best security systems for seniors. From cameras that can detect and actively deter trespassers to a smart hub that can orchestrate an entire smart home system that reacts to alarms, Vivint has it all.
Vivint is an excellent home automation system. You can take advantage of that by setting your sensors to trigger your smart devices. Lights that turn on when the system detects movement are great alternative to sirens for people with hearing loss.
Here’s every component of the Vivint security system we tested.
We also like that Vivint sends text alerts in addition to phone call notifications. The alerts we received read something like, “Vivint has received an alarm from your property. Click the link to let us know what to do.” From there, we could confirm or cancel the alarm without speaking to a responding agent.
One of the newer options from Vivint is the Spotlight Pro attachment for the outdoor camera. It can double as a strobe light. When the outdoor camera identifies someone lurking on your property, it turns on the 1,800-lumen Spotlight Pro to spook them off. With Vivint’s home automation capabilities, you can turn on your bedroom light at the same time so you wake up.
Our Vivint Outdoor Camera kept watch over our driveway and alerted us if someone was lurking outside.
There’s a reason Vivint calls their security system a smart home alarm system. That’s because they offer the most advanced home automation features in the industry. Like we mentioned, we used the touch-screen control panel to create an automation that would cause our bedroom light to turn on when our Vivint cameras detect a lurker. The camera would also sound a siren and turn on its Spotlight Pro to scare away the lurker.
You can make these same types of automated responses to alerts for any Vivint sensor or camera. Another useful automation you could set up involves the Vivint Doorbell Pro. It can tell the difference between packages and people. Set an automation to turn on a light in your house when someone’s waiting at your door. Then, you can pull up the live feed, see who it is, and then decide what to do next.
>> Learn More: Vivint Home Automation with Google Home, Alexa, Apple & More
Pro Tip: When buying your Vivint system, we recommend adding their smart light devices. That way, when Vivint’s technicians come to install your system, they can also set up all of the home automation you need to receive visual alerts instead of audible ones.
With Vivint, you don’t get to choose if you want professional monitoring. They require it. We don’t think that’s a bad thing, though, as we always recommend professional monitoring. Vivint’s monitoring offers text-based alerts, which makes it easier for people with hearing loss to respond. Plus, Vivint can keep you updated on the alert through text if you’re away from home. Here’s how much Vivint’s professional monitoring costs:
| Monitoring Plans | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Smart Security | $29.99 |
| Smart Home | $39.99 |
| Smart Control | Starts at $44.99 |
If you get security cameras, which we recommend, you’ll need the Smart Control plan. That unlocks video verification as well, so Vivint’s monitoring agents can assess the situation and get emergency personnel to your house faster.
FYI: Although we liked Vivint’s professional monitoring service, we didn’t like Vivint’s long-term contract. They lock you in for the long haul, so make sure you’re ready to commit before buying a Vivint system. However, there are no-contract options if you’re ready to pay for all of your equipment upfront.
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $599.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $30 |
| Contract Length | 48 to 60 months |
ADT has long been making security systems accessible to all types of people, and the latest version of its system incorporates smart features to boost security. It’s not just ADT’s technology that we liked, but also the overall service — especially when it comes to professional monitoring.
They own and operate 12 monitoring centers, so your system will never go unmonitored — no matter what happens. Add their cellular backup and backup battery to the equation and you have one of the most reliable security systems out there. (ADT is one of the best cellular security systems we tested.)
ADT’s monitoring response procedure includes System Monitoring and Response Technology (SMART) built around the ADT Alarm Messenger web app. It’s similar to Vivint’s text alerts, but it incorporates a group messaging system. That means anyone in your family can respond to the monitoring center during emergencies. Since it’s all sent in a group chat, everyone stays in the loop during the whole process. That makes ADT’s alert messaging platform a little better than that of Vivint.
Here’s a look at the small form factor of the new ADT entryway sensors, with a quarter for scale.
Unlike Vivint, ADT doesn’t have a touch-screen control panel. We still appreciate the LED light around the top of the base station that communicates the system status. Based on the color of the light and how fast it blinks, it tells you whether your system is armed, if any sensors have a low battery, and if there’s an alert. Of course, there’s still a siren to make any intruders think twice. Take a look at our ADT vs. Vivint guide for a detailed comparison of their approaches to home security.
>> Read More: ADT Sensor Options: Door, Window, Glass, and Motion
Unboxing our Nest Cam with Floodlight.
One of ADT’s most recent moves to upgrade their technology involves a partnership with Google. That partnership enabled ADT to natively integrate with Google Home and all Google Nest equipment. Google Home products offer some of the most advanced smart home capabilities, and now ADT has full access to them all.
One of our favorites is the Google Nest Cam’s familiar face feature; it uses facial recognition to identify people who regularly visit your home. Using this feature in the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight allows your floodlight to turn on anytime your camera sees someone it doesn’t recognize. Pair the floodlight turning on with a specific light in your home going on and you have visual notifications anytime a stranger walks on your property. That’s the power of ADT’s home automation features.
>> Check Out: Where To Place Your Home Security Cameras
Did You Know? ADT’s Trusted Neighbor feature lets you take advantage of the safe community you and your neighbors have built. It lets you use the Nest Cam’s facial recognition to give people of your choosing access to your home during alerts or specific times.
We already mentioned ADT’s SMART Monitoring feature. It really is the best text-based alert we’ve tested. Their monitoring also alerts you if your ADT Smoke & CO Detector goes off. That’s a nice plus for people with hearing loss, as you’ll receive a text instead of relying on its siren. You can also tie those alerts to a smart light for a visual cue as well. Here’s an overview of ADT’s monitoring prices:
| Monitoring Plans | Secure Monitoring | Smart Monitoring | Complete Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price for DIY Systems | $24.99 per month | $29.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| Price for Professionally Installed Systems | $34.99 per month | $39.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
Read our ADT Self Setup review to find out if a DIY ADT system is right for you. It has all the same components as the professionally installed system and lower monthly monitoring costs. So, in most cases, we recommend it.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $349 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $24.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
| Installation Options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
SimpliSafe is a leading DIY security system. It’s known for its wireless equipment that can be installed in under 30 minutes; our SimpliSafe installation took only 22 minutes. They go well beyond typical DIY security with unique active monitoring subscriptions. Those plans mean SimpliSafe monitoring agents actively respond to threats to you and your home using the two-way audio in your security cameras.
Just like ADT and Vivint, SimpliSafe also offers text-based alerts. They’re not quite as good as ADT’s SMART group messaging system, but we appreciate that SimpliSafe includes text-based alerts in their self-monitoring plan too. You can add multiple people to receive text-based alerts by adding multiple primary contacts. It won’t be sent in a group chat, though. Unlike ADT and Vivint, you respond by texting the message itself instead of clicking a link to a web app. That means even if your internet isn’t working, you can still respond to SimpliSafe alerts.
A sampling of SimpliSafe equipment on our dining room table.
Text-based alerts are the only alternative alerting option for SimpliSafe. They don’t offer any advanced home automation that lets you set up visual cues through smart lights, like you can with Vivint and ADT. That said, SimpliSafe offers the loudest alarms of the three. So, if you only have partial hearing loss, SimpliSafe gives you the best odds of hearing a siren.
>> Learn About: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint Comparison – Which System Is Best?
Tip: SimpliSafe is also a good security system for self-monitoring because of its loud siren. If you’re self-monitoring SimpliSafe, make sure to put sirens on every floor of your house and on the exterior — not only to alert your family and your neighbors, but also to scare away intruders.
To put it bluntly, SimpliSafe’s smart home capabilities are its weakest point. Sure, it can integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but it barely offers any functionality. All we could do with those integrations was arm our security system and check its status with our voice. Not very useful for anyone with hearing loss.
SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents intervened when our SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera identified a potential threat.
While SimpliSafe can’t beat ADT’s reliability when it comes to professional monitoring, they give ADT a run for their money when it comes to unique features. The most notable is their Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Check out our ADT vs. SimpliSafe comparison guide for more details on the differences between their monitoring services.
Both of those features let SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents access your security cameras during an active alarm or when the camera detects a potential threat. They can view the camera’s live feed, use its two-way talk, and activate any built-in lights or alarms. Intruder Intervention works for the Wireless Indoor Camera and is included in the Core plan and above. Note that it does not work with the SimpliCam we reviewed. Active Guard Outdoor Protection works for the Outdoor Camera and is included in the Pro plan and above. Check out our review of SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera to learn more.
Here’s an overview of SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans:
| Monitoring Plan | Self-Monitoring | Standard Monitoring | Core Monitoring | Pro Monitoring | Pro Plus Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 per month | $21.99 per month | $31.99 per month | $49.99 per month | $79.99 per month |
>> Read About: Best Cheap Home Security Cameras of 2025
FYI: SimpliSafe also offers a free unmonitored plan. The free plan doesn’t offer any alternative alarms, though, so we recommend at least the self-monitoring plan for anyone with hearing loss.
| Monitoring Options | Professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional and DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $249.96 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $21.99 |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe are the security systems that stood out to us the most for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, but they’re far from the only systems that can work. If you’re looking for other options, here are a few more of our top contenders:
The abode App made it easy to integrate our smart home devices from other brands for home automation.
From Anthony Travaglia, retired police officer and home security expert
While it’s important to ensure your and your family’s safety from criminals, burglars, and home invaders, there are other home hazards that you must protect yourself against. Fire is one of the major ones.
In our latest home security statistics, we learned that:
This SimpliSafe smoke detector can trigger the base station’s siren and all the other auxiliary SimpliSafe sirens we installed.
Most fire detectors rely on a loud siren to notify residents of a fire risk. They also typically don’t have active prevention like sprinkler systems, at least for residential structures. So if you or someone you live with has hearing loss, we strongly suggest investing in fire detection systems that don’t just rely on audible alarms. Bed shakers, strobe lights, and wearables that vibrate such as smartwatches are all feasible solutions.
That said, we also want to highlight the importance of professional monitoring. Security alarm centers don’t just monitor for burglaries and break-ins; fires are also on their radar. If your home is monitored, it increases the chances of the fire department arriving at the scene before the fire gets out of hand.
People with hearing loss can use smart lights to get visual alerts during their security system’s alarms. Not every security system can do this, though. So, make sure the security system you choose offers some type of home automation support such as IFTTT or their own home automation system. As long as your security system offers home automation support, you’ll be able to set up a smart light as your visual indicator of an alarm. Here are a few tips to make the most of this automation:
If you or a family member has hearing loss, there are certain precautions to take to ensure their safety and security. Not all security systems offer those precautions, but a lot of them do. In our experience, Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe offer the best solutions. They provide alternative alerting options, have advanced protection features, and offer professional monitoring services you can count on in times of emergency.
As always, though, it’s best to choose a security system based on your personal security needs. A lot of systems now offer accessibility features for users with hearing loss, so take a look at the best security systems I’ve tested for more options. You can also consult our security system buying guide for more information on how to choose the best security system for your home, your family, and yourself.
Still have some questions to figure out which system is best for you? We have the answers.
Yes, people with hearing loss can still use a home security system. Most systems these days offer alternative alerting solutions aside from a standard home security siren. They can send you texts for alerts or turn on a smart light to give you a visual alert.
Some security systems do require you to speak with their agents so that you can verify or cancel alarms. There are systems — such as Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe — that offer text-based alerts so you can respond to alarms without a phone call.
Yes, a siren does more than just alert you of a potential threat. It also acts as an effective deterrent against intruders. When they hear a siren, it can scare them away. Sirens can also notify neighbors so that they call the cops.
We recommend choosing a video doorbell that offers some type of home automation so that you can have a smart light turn on when someone rings your doorbell. These types of video doorbells can also send you a push notification when someone’s at your door.
While there aren’t any security systems made specifically for people with hearing loss, there are systems that offer accommodations for people with hearing loss. Such features include text-based alerts and visual cues. Our favorite systems that work for people with hearing loss are Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe.
