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SimpliSafe
SecureScore™: 9.2/10
SimpliSafe designs their own products, so you aren’t paying any middle man upcharges. Equipment options range from $99 to $489 with refurbished systems available at 25-30% off. Add monitoring if desired for a low monthly fee.
We purchased a complete Cove system for around $200, which makes it one of the cheapest systems around. And with 24/7 monitoring starting at only $14.99 per month, Cove is a top choice for affordable home security.
ADT Self Setup offers the same high-quality equipment and monitoring as professionally installed ADT systems, but without long-term contracts and installation fees. You can build your own package starting at $269.
SimpliSafe designs their own products, so you aren’t paying any middle man upcharges. Equipment options range from $99 to $489 with refurbished systems available at 25-30% off. Add monitoring if desired for a low monthly fee.
We purchased a complete Cove system for around $200, which makes it one of the cheapest systems around. And with 24/7 monitoring starting at only $14.99 per month, Cove is a top choice for affordable home security.
ADT Self Setup offers the same high-quality equipment and monitoring as professionally installed ADT systems, but without long-term contracts and installation fees. You can build your own package starting at $269.
We’d be lying if we told you that price isn’t important when looking for a home security system to buy. It is; very much so. However, it shouldn’t be the most important consideration. What we mean by that is that even if you’re looking for a budget-friendly security system, you shouldn’t base your buying decisions on the prices alone. Buying a $1,000 car that breaks down a lot isn’t saving you money compared to buying a $2,000 reliable vehicle. The same principle applies to security systems.
The good news is that there are plenty of great options at low price points. In fact, some of the best home security systems are also the most affordable. SimpliSafe is a shining example and our top pick. It offers affordable, heavily discounted packages, it’s DIY so there’s no installation fee, and it doesn’t require a monthly fee. You can subscribe to a monthly subscription if you want, but it’s optional.
Other than SimpliSafe, we also saw practical home security solutions from Cove, ADT Self Setup, abode, Frontpoint, and Brinks. So get your calculators ready as we look at each option.
Expert Examined
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
Signing up with professional monitoring is a smart choice, if it's within your budget. A monitoring company can alert police or the fire department when you aren’t home. They can also get police enroute quickly, which gives the police the best opportunity at apprehending criminals. Also, cameras are always a good choice. Nowadays, most property crimes like burglaries and home invasions have a much higher solvability rate when camera footage is available.
Our Methodology: How We Tested and Ranked the Most Affordable Home Security Systems
Our Approach
We believe the only way to give unbiased and trustworthy recommendations is by testing security systems ourselves. So we buy the systems with our own money, set them up in our own homes, and test them extensively for weeks or months. It helps us familiarize ourselves with their usability, apps, response times, and features. That way, we can relay honest and accurate findings.
Our Testing Setup
We try our best to provide fair and objective comparisons. We start by installing all our test units in the same environment – a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home where one of our security experts lives. In our experience, testing security systems in a real home versus a lab provides the most precise results.
We also buy the same components from each system we’re testing and set them up in the same locations. The picture below shows where we typically install different types of security equipment:
To zero in on the best affordable security systems, we used our expertise in the home security field to decide the most critical factors to consider. They are:
Price (40%): Every dollar is scrutinized, including the equipment costs, monitoring fees, and even hidden charges like cloud storage. We also investigate financing options, which can help keep monthly costs under control.
Equipment options (30%): While we want to save money, we don’t want to sacrifice our safety. We still want access to an extensive range of security equipment.
Monitoring plans (30%): Self-monitoring plans can be a great cost-saver, but only if they include features like camera live streaming, real-time notifications, and event history. Otherwise, we need a cheap professional monitoring option.
We compared our top picks based on those criteria, and here’s our verdict.
Rating the Most Affordable Home Security Systems
Why You Can Trust Us
Unlike other websites that review everything from kettlebells to ceiling fans, our team of experts exclusively reviews security and safety equipment. It means we can dedicate our focus to the task at hand and guarantee our recommendations are trustworthy. The experts who contributed to this guide include:
Rob Gabriele, Editorial Director & Home Security Expert
Andrew Garcia, Lead Editor & Home Security Researcher
Derek Prall, Home Security Expert & Testing Coordinator
Jaime Fraze, Security Camera & Video Doorbell Expert
Paul Frew, Home Security System Expert & Security Camera Expert
Joshua Lee, Former patrol officer and detective for a police department in Arizona.
With over 75 years of combined industry experience, SafeHome.org is the most accomplished home security team online. Since our site launched in 2016, we have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other major outlets. Collectively, we have:
Spent over 10,000+ hours researching security topics
Published 60+ security system reviews
Produced 40+ industry research/studies
Created hundreds of home security guides
Every recommendation comes from our first-hand product experience and thorough understanding of the home security industry. So let’s take a look at the most affordable home security systems in 2024.
You can get started on a SimpliSafe security system for around $250 upfront and $0 in monthly fees. It’s not the most affordable, but it costs below the industry average. We find that most starter security systems cost $400 or more. That no-monthly-fee approach is a nice addition too. Although we recommend professional monitoring (which always requires a monthly fee), it’s nice to know that if you want to cut corners to get a quality home security system, you have the option to skip professional monitoring. If you do decide to pay for monitoring, it will set you back $21.99 to $31.99 per month. Those are also on the lower end.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
Offers no-monthly-fee self-monitoring
Stylish wireless equipment
Allows DIY setup but offers professional installation
Equipment packages start at $250
Live Guard Protection feature for the Smart Alarm indoor camera and outdoor camera
Cons:
Missing a few types of equipment, like garage door sensors
Offers only a battery-powered option for outdoor video security
Monitoring price increased three times in the past four years
No touch screen keypad
Our Experience:
Pricing
SimpliSafe offers a package and a monitoring plan for every budget. The cheapest package is $249.96, while packages max out at just over $700. But SimpliSafe is always running a deal, so you can find systems around the $100 mark. During its last Black Friday sale, for example, SimpliSafe marked down its prices to as low as $75, which is 70-percent off the regular price. We can’t expect prices to always be that low, of course, but at a minimum, we see 20-percent off throughout the year.
When it comes to monitoring, you can DIY your monitoring. If all you’re looking for is real-time alerts and access to live footage, you pay nothing. Add basic coverage and video storage for just $10 a month. Or invest in professional monitoring – always our recommendation – for just $21.99 to $31.99 a month.
The company does make up for its limited selection, though, by letting you choose how you put equipment packages together. SimpliSafe offers several packages, or you can start with a base station and a keypad and add whatever devices you want.
Pro Tip: The blue light from the control hub is a little bright, so you might not want to install it in a room where it might disturb anyone’s sleep. Just something to keep in mind!
SimpliSafe equipment
SimpliSafe Security Package Sale Breakdown
System Name
Number of Pieces
Regular Price
The Beacon
10
$709.90
The Lighthouse
7
$469.93
The Haven
14
$519.86
The Knox
12
$479.87
The Hearth
9
$399.91
The Essentials
6
$279.95
The Foundation
4
$249.96
Monitoring
SimpliSafe’s flexibility is on full display when it comes to monitoring. As mentioned, there’s a free self-monitoring option. You can’t get any more affordable than free. Then, you have the mid-tier professional monitoring options for $21.99 per month without cloud video storage to $31.99 with cloud storage and Live Guard. The moment your system senses a problem, real monitoring agents pull up live video feeds and assess the situation. They’re even trained to talk with potential home invaders to try and work out peaceful solutions.
We always sign up for professional monitoring because we’re sometimes too busy to answer a system alert ourselves. SimpliSafe offers DIY monitoring options, though. You can self-monitor with or without video storage. As a bonus, SimpliSafe doesn’t require monitoring contracts. So you can switch back and forth between DIY and professional monitoring as your needs change. That’s the perfect balance of security and affordability.
SimpliSafe’s flexibility extends to the installation process. Despite the company offering professional installation, it’s still a DIY company. We bought a six-piece system and got a bonus outdoor camera (we caught a great SimpliSafe deal on Black Friday) and installed the system in around 30 minutes. How do they do it? They’ve got the whole process down to a science. Once we plugged in the base station, it gave us step-by-step instructions for connecting everything else. There were even peel-and-stick mounting options – though the package included screw-mounting materials as well. Of course, DIY installation saved us money, and SimpliSafe promised there would be no charge if we ever move.
This is the same Entry Sensor I use for my garage door.
Once we plugged in the base station and logged in, it guided us through the rest. The whole thing took around 30 minutes, which meant we could get back to watching “Succession.” SimpliSafe also assured us that if we moved, we were free to take all our equipment with us. Plus, DIY installation saved us a chunk of change.
FYI: One bonus of choosing SimpliSafe – a modern design aesthetic. The SimpliSafe hub, for instance, is sleek, unobtrusive, and looked great in our home.
Is SimpliSafe perfect? Nope. No system is, in our experience. It could stand to expand its research and development departments. That said, you can get solid equipment for an affordable price, and you have the option to exercise as much control as you want over your system.
Cove’s a new home security company that’s still trying to make a name for itself and draw in new customers. That’s the perfect time to invest. All of Cove’s equipment is low priced, even cameras, so you can save money on the front end. Monitoring plans are as cheap as $18 a month, so you save money on the back end as well. Best of all, Cove doesn’t require long-term contracts. Everything is month-to-month. That means we weren’t locked into a plan in case we found a better option.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
Monitoring starts at $17.99 per month
Simple but functional mobile app and touchscreen controller
85 dB siren built into each Cove Hub and touchscreen keypad
Affordable equipment options
Frequently offers deals and discounts
Cons:
No self-monitoring option
Limited home automation and integrations
Doesn’t offer equipment financing
More limited equipment options than other brands
Our Experience:
Pricing
We mentioned Cove’s pricing already. Cove is basically a cut-rate version of a premium system. Monitoring plans start at $17.95 per month, which is $2 cheaper than Ring. They max out at $27.95 per month, which is more expensive than Ring, but still $2 cheaper than SimpliSafe. Most equipment is less than half of what you’d pay with Ring, and that includes cameras. Even the outdoor camera is just $100.
Equipment
Cove equipment isn’t exactly the sleekest on the market, like the touchscreen hub, which weighs in at a full 3 pounds. We didn’t have to mount that 3 pounds on the wall, though, since the hub sits nicely on end tables and countertops. There’s a nice range of additional equipment, including indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras – though these last are a little light when it comes to AI features. Best of all, Cove offers all of its equipment at some of the lowest prices on the market.
Cove offers two affordable monitoring options. Both give you professional monitoring, environmental monitoring, Insta-text notifications, cellular backup, and hourly automated check-ins. If you want smart features, you have to go with the more expensive of the two plans. Fair enough. We were a little disappointed, though, that we didn’t get app control of our system without that more expensive plan.
Cove isn’t a system with a long history of reliability. This isn’t a system with a long history, period.
Cove is a relative newcomer to the home security market, having been around for just over five years. That lack of experience shows in both good and bad ways.
For instance, Cove’s equipment isn’t going to win any design awards. It’s bulky, which means that anyone trying to break in will probably spot it right away. You’d think as large as the devices are that there’d be plenty of room for cutting-edge technology. Not so. The cameras had no AI, which meant we got around two dozen false alarms at work – the neighbor’s dog was loose and liked the smell of our place.
Pro Tip: When you’re installing your security cameras, make sure they’re about 6 to 8 feet off of the ground. That’s the sweet spot for picking up activity, and it also makes it so would-be burglars can’t easily tear them down.
Unboxing my Cove security system.
On the other hand, because they’re a relatively new company, Cove is working harder to pull in customers. Prices are low. Cove’s Plus Plan, which includes full app controls and integration with both Google Home and Alexa, is cheaper than SimpliSafe’s top plan, at $27.99. Or you can go with the cheaper $17.99 plan. You still get cellular backup, and you get a lifetime guarantee on all equipment. You won’t find that with more established companies.
ADT is one of the most well-known names in home security, and for good reason. They’ve been around for over a century and a half, and during that time have always managed to stay up to date with customer needs. They’ve never been what you might call affordable, though. Until recently.
Over the last two years, ADT has revamped its pricing model. It’s slashed prices across the board – on both equipment and monitoring. It’s also begun offering the option to self-install your system. That by itself can save you a chunk of change. To be clear, these are still professionally monitored systems, and almost by definition, they’re going to cost you more than you’d pay for, say, an abode system. When the best system on the market reduces its costs, though, we pay attention.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
150 years of experience in the security industry
Some of the same high-quality equipment as the traditional service
Best-in-industry monitoring service
Google Nest products available
One-touch emergency response
Cons:
Some of the equipment is more expensive than other brands
Limited features when self-monitored
Limited products available
Our Experience:
Pricing
No question that ADT’s prices are more competitive than they were in the past. Entryway sensors that used to cost $30 to $50? They now cost only $20, roughly the same price as SimpliSafe’s door/window sensors. You can get motion sensors now for only $40, devices that used to cost $100. Plus, you don’t have to order a pre-made equipment package. You can build your own, which saves you money on devices you don’t need.
Professional monitoring has gotten more affordable as well. It starts at $29.99 per month and maxes out at $44.99. And OK, that’s steep enough to keep ADT from being our top pick on this list. There are different ways to define affordable though. In this case, we’re defining it as top-notch system that you can get for a very reasonable price. Value matters.
Equipment
Observant readers will see that Google’s name is all ADT’s website right now. We really like this, actually. Rather than reinvent the wheel, ADT partnered with Google to provide customers with some of the best security cameras, doorbell cameras, and smart home accessories on the market. That said, we’re still not exactly blown away by the options on this list. Don’t get us wrong — you can absolutely build a comprehensive security system here — you just aren’t going to have the highly specific pieces of equipment like garage door tilt sensors and auxiliary alarms like some of the other providers offer.
That’s me testing the touch screen controller of my ADT security system.
Monitoring
Monitoring is where ADT really shines. I get more into this in my guide to ADT’s pricing, but the item worth pointing out here is that they’ve recently done away with the requirement to sign up for a long term contract, and they’ve reduced their prices. Their monitoring used to cost up to $60 per month. Now their most affordable option starts at just $29.99, while the most comprehensive one caps at $44.99.
Pro Tip: Like SimpliSafe, ADT actually provides customers with the option to self-monitor their system. We don’t really recommend this, but it can definitely help save money if you’re protecting your property on a budget.
I also really like their SMART monitoring feature, which allows users to confirm or call off an alarm via text message. That means you’re dealing with far fewer false alarms, and can speed authorities to your property if there’s an actual emergency.
Our Experience Testing ADT
Once we had everything set up and running, our ADT system ran like a dream. It was very clear that user experience was considered with the app, and that ease of use was prioritized. I will say that when you’re working with ADT, you do get the feel that you’re working with a big company. If you have issues setting your system up, you might have to bounce around to a few different customer service departments
I did really like ADT’s virtual setup assistant, though. I gave them a ring to see how they’d talk to me through setting up my Google Nest Cam, and they were patient and professional the whole time. We talked through my security needs, which helped me decide the placement of the camera and they were able to easily describe the logistics of the setup to me in layman’s terms.
Installing an ADT security camera
If you’re looking to save on an ADT system, going the Self Setup route is definitely a good choice.
Abode offers a unique blend of high-tech and affordability. They gave us smart home functions only the most technologically advanced systems like Vivint usually include. But – and this is important – abode let us have all those functions at a far cheaper price than Vivint, though. We saved even more money because we weren’t required to pay any installation or monthly monitoring costs. In fact, once we had our system set up, we didn’t have to pay another dime. There’s something freeing about that.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
Home automation powered by abode’s CUE engine
Multiple hubs to choose from
Integrates well with third-party smart home products
Innovative iota All-in-One hub comes equipped with a camera and motion sensor
Cons:
Only one security camera offered
Setup could be more intuitive
No touch-screen panels; app reliant
Limited equipment in starter kits
Our Experience:
Pricing
Abode is just a touch cheaper than SimpliSafe, and that’s true across the board. Abode’s cheapest camera, for instance, costs just $60, $40 less than SimpliSafe’s cheapest offering. Abode’s professional monitoring is $10 cheaper than SimpliSafe’s. Abode even wins when it comes to self-monitoring. Both companies offer totally free plans, but if you want to add cloud storage to your self-monitoring, you’ll pay about a third less with abode.
Equipment
Abode doesn’t just offer different sized packages like most other home security providers. It offers three different sets of equipment – the Security Kit, the Smart Security Kit, and the Iota Security Kit. Each comes in different sizes, so you get a wide range of options. Like SimpliSafe, abode camera options are limited – nothing like the selection you get from a camera-based company like Lorex. We do like abode’s AI camera features, though, like built-in person/pet/package detection on all cameras and the fact that everything works with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT.
You’re going to find several companies on this list that let you DIY your monitoring. While we always recommend professional monitoring, there’s no getting around the fact that self-monitoring saves money. You can buy equipment and pay nothing else. Ever. Abode is another one of these systems. Like SimpliSafe, though, it offers professional monitoring when you need it, with no contracts. And it’s $10 per month cheaper than SimpliSafe monitoring. One important note: you’ll need to purchase a plan in order to get access to most of the cameras’ advanced technology. Plans start as low as $6.99 a month, though, so you won’t have to give up your morning latte.
It’s one thing to be affordable. There are plenty of cut-rate home security systems that offer stripped-down services for pennies a day. And, hey, that’s fine if that’s what you need. Security is security. Abode isn’t just affordable, though. Systems are packed with features normally reserved for a higher price point. For example, Abode offers lots of smart home integration – the kind you usually only get with the big companies like ADT and Vivint. Cameras come with Package/Pet/Person detection too. Cameras come with Package/Pet/Person detection too. When we were expecting an important package, we didn’t have to worry if our video doorbell alert was about the package or the neighbors’ stray dog out again. We knew instantly what was happening, but we didn’t pay extra for that privilege.
Abode systems also work with tons of smart home devices. It’s compatible with Google Home, Amazon, and Apple HomeKit, but it also utilizes Z-wave technology, which allows it to hook up with over 4,000 different smart products. And it works with IFTTT. We were able to create some cool routines. Like, when our cameras detected that important package on our porch, our stereo started up with Celebration by Kool and the Gang. And maybe we mentioned this before: we got all of this for much less than some of those bigger outfits.
Pro Tip: If you’re going to be using a lot of smart home technology, you need to protect your home network from intruders as well. Smart home devices are notorious entry points for hackers to gain access to your valuable information.
Testing out the abode Keypad
We should point out that access to all this smart-ness requires you at least sign up for abode’s $5.83 per month Standard Plan. In other words, you can’t get away with no monthly fee home security and still expect to get cutting-edge technology. The Standard Plan comes with camera storage, though, and premium customer support. And hey, if you compare $5.83 to Vivint’s monitoring price, which can run as high as $60 per month or more, well, you can see why abode’s on this list. Plus, unlike Vivint, abode runs frequent sales, so you may be able to get an even lower price.
For the most part, home security companies force you to choose between full service and affordability. Very few systems offer both. Frontpoint is one, though. You get 24/7 outstanding professional monitoring 24/7 with every Frontpoint plan. Those plans are all affordable, though, as are Frontpoint equipment packages.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
High-quality wireless equipment
DIY installation with professional install option
Fully cellular communication
Customizable automations
Outstanding app
Cons:
Expensive monitoring
No touch-screen control panel included in basic packages
Outsourced monitoring
Limited keypad functionality; more app reliant
Our Experience:
Pricing
Let’s be clear. Sometimes affordable is a relative term. Frontpoint doesn’t offer self-monitoring. It’s a full-service home security system and that means a full-service home security system price. Monitoring, for instance, costs $49.99 per month. That’s every bit as much as ADT charges for monitoring. Frontpoint does keep equipment costs down, though, by manufacturing its own devices. Frontpoint packages start at just $325. That’s just about half of what ADT and Vivint charge for minimal packages. In fact, if you build your own system, you can reduce that equipment price down to as little as $79. You also avoid installation charges since installation is 100 percent DIY.
Equipment
Frontpoint systems center around a hub and keypad, but you can add lots of other devices, from smoke and heat sensors to panic pendants. We like the company’s range of smart products: thermostats, outdoor smart plugs, and wireless light controls. Frontpoint offers cameras, too, though it doesn’t manufacture its own video doorbells. We found the Skybell Slim Line, which it does offer, to be hardy enough, but the video quality is only 720p resolution. 1080p HD is the industry standard these days.
Frontpoint equipment
Monitoring
There’s only one monitoring option with Frontpoint – professional 24/7 monitoring. That’s okay, since that’s what we always recommend. Plus, Frontpoint makes it worth your while. In addition to monitoring, you get plenty of perks, like backup cellular in case your Wi-Fi goes down and smart device functionality. We’d like to see the company offer more than one plan. Making everyone pay the same price no matter how many cameras they might have seems a little un-democratic. We trust Frontpoint to keep a close eye on our homes, though, so the price is worth it, even if others may wind up with a slightly better deal than us.
FYI: You can use the app to set up routines for your notifications. That way your phone won’t be buzzing all night from cats and raccoons walking into the path of your security cameras.
Our Experience Testing Frontpoint
Frontpoint is very reminiscent of high-end, full-service companies like ADT and Vivint. Like them, for instance, Frontpoint requires you to invest in a professional monitoring plan. And like them, Frontpoint charges a premium price for that plan. Of course, you get what you pay for, and Frontpoint definitely brings value.
Like smart home automation: Frontpoint not only plays well with Alexa and Google Home, but it works great with a long list of smart home products. We were able to use our Frontpoint app, for example, to open the Yale locks on our front door. Pretty handy when we left a pizza cooking in our oven and had to call a neighbor to go in and turn it off.
We hear what you’re saying, though: What’s an expensive system like Frontpoint doing on a Most Affordable list? The thing is, affordability isn’t just about low prices. We prefer to talk about value rather than price. Frontpoint is a top-shelf home security system, and it comes with a top-shelf price. That price is several notches lower, though, than the price of other top-shelf systems when it comes to equipment and installation. So if you’re looking for a high-quality system, this one is more affordable than most. And, OK, yes, monitoring costs about as much as you’d pay with Vivint and more than ADT. However, we appreciate that Frontpoint keeps things simple with one price – $49.99 per month.
Holding a Frontpoint sensor
Go with ADT or Vivint and you could wind up paying up to $60 per month or more. More importantly, Frontpoint charges about half what those other two charge for equipment, and there’s no installation fee, since installation is 100% DIY.
Think of Frontpoint, then, as a premier system that allows you to shave a little money off your bottom line. You get solid equipment and reliable service, you can rest assured that someone is always keeping an eye on your home, and you still get the satisfaction of knowing you saved money.
In Brinks, we found an ADT alternative at a cheaper price. Brinks has been around almost as long as ADT, it’s a professionally-monitored system, and it offers cutting-edge equipment. Here’s the thing, though: Brinks costs about 30% less than ADT across the board.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
Rate-lock guarantee
High-quality modern security system
Third-party smart-home integrations
Strong home automation
Alarm.com equipment
Cons:
App is new; still has bugs and kinks to iron out
Lack of pricing transparency
Requires a 36-month contract
Some components and sensors look dated
Our Experience:
Pricing
Brinks is on this list because it offers the features you’d get with ADT, but it offers them for a slightly lower price point. For example, Brinks monitoring maxes out at $45 per month. With ADT you can pay as much as $60 per month for monitoring. Likewise, ADT’s cheapest equipment package is around $600, while Brinks’ is $360. Plus, with Brinks you get free professional installation or you can install your system yourself. That’s a definite perk.
Brinks doesn’t sacrifice forward-thinking in the name of low prices, though. All devices, for instance, work well with Alexa and Google Home. And we’re particular fans of the touchpad hub. Among its many features, it includes an SD card that records video any time someone tampers with the system. That way, even if someone does manage to take the system down somehow, you’ll have a record of who did it and how it happened.
We used to knock Brinks when the company didn’t offer its own video doorbell. That changed in the last year. And when the company decided to produce its own model, it made sure to do it right. This doorbell lets you set up virtual zones so you decide what triggers the motion detection. It comes with intelligent notifications that can tell the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. And it’s compatible with smart home devices. We connected ours to our front room lights so that any time someone stepped foot on our front porch it looked like we were home, even when we weren’t.
Brinks equipment
Monitoring
Brinks offers two monitoring plans, the Home Complete and the Home Complete with Video. Of course, that means you can’t self-monitor, but we always recommend professional monitoring anyway. You can never tell when you’re going to be too busy to respond to an alert. As an added bonus, both plans also include cellular backup. Even if your Wi-Fi should go down, you can be sure your system will keep working.
It’s useful to talk about Brinks in terms of ADT because the two companies have so much in common. Both, for example, are old companies, dating back to the 1800’s (seriously). Both offer old-school customer service, which includes things like professional installation and 24/7 monitoring plans. Both companies are forward-thinking, as well, offering smart home integration with voice control, for instance. That came in handy when we needed to check a Brinks alert on our home hub but were in the middle of making a loaf of bread, and our hands were covered in dough.
You’ll notice, though, that ADT isn’t on this list (even though we include it at the very top of our list of best home security systems). Brinks is. There’s a reason for that. Brinks is genuinely affordable, especially for a full-service company. Don’t misunderstand us – you’re going to pay more than you would for, say, Ring or abode. You’ll pay about a third less than you’d pay for an ADT system, though, both in terms of equipment and in terms of monitoring.
Unboxing the Brinks system.
You also need to recognize that, for all its many features, Brinks just isn’t quite as good as ADT. You get what you pay for, after all. The differences are subtle, but they do matter. For instance, ADT offers its own user-friendly app; Brinks requires you sign up with a third-party app – Alarm.com. In addition, ADT offers a choice between its own cameras and Nest cameras. Brinks’s equipment selection is more limited. ADT has nine monitoring centers across the country, and there’s built-in redundancy; so if one goes down the others step up. Brinks has backup servers and backup generators, but that’s just a step down from ADT. In the end, it’s all about price. If you can live without those extras from ADT, Brinks makes an excellent backup choice.
Product Specs:
Monitoring Options
Professional only
Installation
DIY
Smart Platform Integration
Alexa and Google Home
Equipment Cost
From $199
Monthly Monitoring Cost
From $39
Contract Length
36 months
Where are the Costs of a Home Security System
If you’re going to save money on a home security system, it helps to know where the costs are. That way, you can make informed decisions about what it’s reasonable to cut and what kinds of cuts might put your security in jeopardy.
Installing a SimpliSafe motion sensor.
There are three primary costs when it comes to home security systems:
Equipment: The heart of your system, of course, is your equipment. No two homes are alike, and no two homeowners need the same equipment. You can often save money here by making sure you only purchase what you absolutely need. Do you need outdoor cameras, for example, or will a video doorbell do the job for you? Do you need entry sensors on all your entry doorways? Do you need glass break sensors, or do you live on the fifth floor, where no one is likely to climb?
Monitoring: Great equipment can only protect you if it’s monitored. Professional monitoring costs a bit more, but it guarantees that someone will check alerts any time your system is triggered. On the other hand, you can save a lot of money by monitoring your system yourself. You have to be committed, though, to checking alerts yourself no matter what. Or, you can find middle-ground solutions, like paying for professional monitoring when you know you’ll be on vacation but DIY-ing it yourself the rest of the time.
Installation: Finally, installation can be another up-front cost. Again, professional installation does have its advantages. You don’t have to worry if your cameras are positioned properly, for instance. You may have to pay extra to do it all over again, though, if you decide to move. DIY installation is always free, and lots of systems make it really easy with peel-and-stick equipment.
The goal isn’t to simply cut everything and go with the cheapest options in all these categories. Rather you want to weigh your particular needs against the costs you’ll pay. Then choose a system that balances security with affordability.
Save Even More Money With Deals and Promotions on Security Systems
Saving extra money isn’t always just about finding affordable home security systems. You can often get great deals on home security equipment, and even discounts on monitoring. In fact, if you keep your eyes open, you can sometimes snag a top-tier system for the price of a far more affordable system.
Situational Discounts: Of course, lots of systems offer situational discounts. ADT, for example, offers a 20% discount to AARP members, Ring offers discounts to veterans and those currently serving in the military.
Holiday Sales: Just like any industry, the home security industry frequently has sales around the holidays. You might be able to snag a free camera, for instance, around President’s Day, or a discount on monitoring around Christmas time.
Prime Day/ Black Friday/ Cyber Monday: As part of the tech industry, home security companies view Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday as some of their most important sales days of the year. You can almost always find a good deal on one of these tech holidays.
You’ll also find that lots of home security systems offer some sort of deal virtually year-round. For instance:
SimpliSafe usually has a percentage discount on packages – from 20% to 60% – and frequently throws in free equipment, such as cameras.
Abode frequently discounts packages.
You may need to keep your eyes peeled, but there’s a deal out there that’s right for every homeowner or renter.
Wrap-up
The bottom line is that home security is now within every homeowner’s budget. There are plenty of affordable systems out there. Yes, you may have to put in a little elbow-grease yourself to save money (thankfully DIY setup is incredibly easy these days). You may have to do the installation, or you may have to self-monitor the system, but it can be done.
Arming the ADT system
It’s especially important if you live in a state where crime is a major problem. According to our research the states with the highest population-adjusted property crime rates are:
Washington
Colorado
New Mexico
Oregon
Louisiana
And FYI, The states with the lowest population-adjusted property crime rates are
Idaho
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Maine
West Virginia
But even if you live in a low-crime state, that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. We feel confident that one of the systems we’ve gone over here will do the job for you and do it in a way that you can afford it. That’s a good thing, because the world isn’t getting any safer, and you just can’t afford not to have a home security system these days.
Yes, many home security systems, including those with low prices, offer professional monitoring services. SimpliSafe, abode, and Frontpoint are three great examples.
Yes, some home security systems with low overall costs often have upfront equipment costs. They may be set up to save you money long-term by allowing you to avoid long-term contracts or professional monitoring. Or, they may charge lower equipment costs than other companies so that even if you’re paying upfront you’ll still save money.
In most cases, you can return a home security system. Many companies offer trial plans or money-back guarantees for a set number of days or months. This is a great way to test out a system to see how well it works for you.
Yes, in some cases you may need to purchase additional equipment to build your home automation up. In addition, a number of companies only provide premium services and equipment functionality if you pay a monthly fee.
Not all home security systems that are affordable will require a long-term contract. Some systems do. Abode and SimpliSafe, for example, do not. Frontpoint has a longer contract requirement than other systems.
As a home security expert and Managing Editor for SafeHome.org, Rob Gabriele has written and edited over 1,000 articles related to home security. His expertise is in smart home protection with thousands of hours of testing and research under his belt. Formerly a reporter and producer for the USAToday network, Rob has been a writer and editor for over 10 years. He holds a Master’s of Science with an emphasis on writing from the University of Montana, and he currently lives in Indianapolis, IN.
