SafeHome.org may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
We may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
With 12 monitoring centers watching over its wireless, cellular security systems, ADT earned the top spot.
Updated September 19, 2024
copied!
The last thing any of us want is an unreliable security system, and how a system communicates plays a huge role in that. Right now, security systems that contact emergency services via cellular signals are the most reliable. They’re so reliable that almost all home security systems now offer cellular monitoring, especially our top wireless security systems.
We spent the last three months testing cellular security systems to find the best options. After assessing and comparing security systems, we landed on six options that offer high-quality equipment, dependable professional monitoring, and prices that won’t break the bank. They are ADT, Vivint, SimpliSafe, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder. Read on as we discuss what we liked (and didn’t like) about each system.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert:
“You definitely don’t want your home security system to fail when you really need it. Hardwire systems are reliable, but would-be burglars can defeat the system by cutting the power or phone lines the system is connected to. A cellular system can give you more assurance knowing a criminal can’t cut the power.”
The best way to provide unbiased and trustworthy recommendations is by personally testing home security systems. We spend our own money to buy equipment, install the security systems in our homes, and test them for weeks or as long as we need to. Our goal is to get a feel for the features, response time, app, and what it’s like to live with each security system. That way, we can give you our honest recommendations.
Several factors come into play when testing home security systems, but we aim to provide a like-for-like comparison. So we install all the equipment we test in the same environment – a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home owned by one of our team members. Using a real house to test security systems helps us gather the most accurate results.
We also buy the same devices for each security system and place them in identical locations. You can see where we placed the equipment for this review below.
To rank the best cellular security systems, we narrowed down the most important factors using our extensive experience in the security industry. These are the factors that topped our list:
After assessing each system using this criteria, here is how we scored our top five:
Rating the Best Cellular Security Systems
We’re not like those review sites that cover everything from doormats to showerheads. Our team of experts exclusively covers home safety and security equipment. It helps us examine the finer details and give readers accurate recommendations. The experts who contributed to this review were:
Our experts have over 75 years of combined industry experience, making us the most accomplished home security team on the internet. Since SafeHome.org began in 2016, our work has been showcased in several major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Together, we have achieved:
Every recommendation we publish is based on first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the home security industry. Now, let’s learn more about the best cellular home security systems.
ADT ranked first overall when we rated security systems. We gave it a 9.2 SecureScore, which should tell you that objectively, ADT does well all-around in protecting homes. The downside is that you’re locked into a three-year ADT contract, but when we weighed the pros and cons, we found more upsides than drawbacks.
One of those upsides is ADT’s dependable professional monitoring. It has the most number of monitoring facilities in the U.S. among alarm companies. That really complements the reliability of cellular technology. So if you’re in the market for a monitored security system (and you don’t mind paying the slightly higher price tag), ADT is one of the strongest choices.
ADT knows how to get with the times; it wouldn’t have lasted 150 years as a company if it didn’t. One of the recent changes is that ADT now offers both professionally and DIY installed systems. See our ADT Self Setup review for a closer look at the latter.
Here’s our ADT outdoor camera mounted nine feet aboveground, installed by an ADT technician.
To us, professional installation is still the best way though. You pay a fee, but you get premium service with techs who know what they’re doing. They can handle hardware issues, help you decide on equipment placement, and talk you through the technical side of things, like how to automate your ADT system. The technician did all those for us for a reasonable fee of about $150.
Pro Tip: Free DIY installation is now an option. ADT’s self-setup system is one of our top-recommended DIY security systems because it offers the same equipment and monitoring options as the pro-installed ADT system, minus the installation fee.
ADT can feel a little restrictive to some homeowners, in part because there’s no choice to self-monitor. We always recommend investing in professional monitoring, and ADT has one of the best monitored systems in the industry, with 12 separate monitoring centers throughout the country. If you prefer to save a little money on monthly fees, you may want to look elsewhere. See our roundup of the best security systems without monthly fees.
One other thing about ADT is that you don’t get much choice over your monitoring plan. The company offers only three plans, all depending on what types of equipment you have. It’s better than Frontpoint’s universal plan approach ($49.99 per month for all customers), but we wish ADT would let users upgrade or downgrade their plan as needed.
| Features | Secure | Smart | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 professional monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote access to smart devices | No | Yes | Yes |
| Livestreamed video | No | No | Yes |
| Cloud backup for video clips | No | No | Yes |
| Cellular backup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $29.99 per month | $44.99 per month | $44.99 per month |
FYI: We didn’t sign a contract and didn’t have to get professional monitoring when we tested the DIY-installed ADT system. However, if you go with professional installation, a three-year contract is standard.
ADT’s lowest-priced systems now cost around $450 compared to over $600 before, but they can still go well over $1,000 if you want multiple cameras. The company also just cut prices on its monitoring plans. You can now get monitoring for as low as $29.99 a month. Just a couple of years ago, ADT monitoring ranged between $40 and $60 a month.
We like that ADT is working on making its systems more affordable and accessible, but it is still somewhat pricier than most of the competition. For example, our third pick, SimpliSafe, offers packages starting from $250 and professional monitoring starting at $19.99 per month. But again, ADT’s pricing is justified, especially if you see the features it offers. That’s up next.
Testing the ADT Control Panel
As you’ll discover if you read our full ADT review, there’s no one we trust more to protect our home than ADT. There’s a reason the company has been in business for nearly 150 years. Yeah, we know, just because a company has been around a long time doesn’t mean it’s a great company. ADT is though. It continues to innovate, create great system components, and offer outstanding professional monitoring.
For example, we had a small kitchen fire while we were testing the system. Nothing too serious — just a microwave dinner that got left in the microwave for a little too long. Like, 10 minutes too long. It could have been worse, though, if ADT had not notified us. Monitors got a signal from our fire alarm, verified it through our ADT camera, and then sent us an alert. Because we were home, we were able to take care of the whole thing with a well-placed shot from our fire extinguisher. The local fire department was ADT’s next call if we had not picked up.
Did You Know? ADT recently partnered with Google to make its security components smarter. As a result, ADT now offers Google Nest Cams for all of its video monitoring packages. Check out our review of the Google Nest Cam and our review of the Google Nest Doorbell for more details on the cameras.
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $269 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring options | Professional |
| Monitoring cost | Starting at $29.99 per month |
| Contract length | Starting at 36 months |
| Installation options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart platform integration | Alexa and Google Home |
It’s no surprise that Vivint would offer a great cellular connection with its home security systems. After all, the company offers the most technologically sophisticated system out there. The question is: How much are you willing to pay for one of those systems? Vivint charges a pretty penny.
If Vivint’s within your budget, though, it’s squarely one of the top options. Just note that some of its best features require an internet connection, but if it fails, Vivint has you covered with cellular-based professional monitoring at the very least.
>> Learn More: Vivint Review
Vivint continues to require professional installation on all of its systems, unlike ADT that offers DIY options now. Vivint systems are technologically advanced, and the company wants to make sure they’re set up correctly. Plus, there’s a rumor that you can sometimes get Vivint installation for free if you’re willing to do a bit of haggling. We recognize it’s a downer for customers who prefer to make their own decisions about where to place their cameras.
Pro Tip: We call it a rumor but we’ve proven it true. Last Vivint Black Friday sale, free professional installation with a minimum equipment purchase was one of the top deals. Timing is everything to get the best Vivint deals.
Like ADT, Vivint offers only full-service monitoring. Unlike ADT — and most other home security systems — Vivint’s monitoring is 100 percent cellular. As we say over and over on this page, cellular is by far the most reliable form of communication for home security, and it means your system will all talk with Vivint’s monitoring center even if you lose your Wi-Fi signal.
We also monitored our alerts and sensor statuses using the Vivint touch screen hub.
Vivint’s monitoring was ‘cellular’ in another way; we got cellular SMS everytime our system had an alarm. That streamlined Vivint’s alerting procedure because we didn’t have to wait 30 to 45 seconds for a call. During our break-in simulations, Vivint sent us texts within five to 10 seconds after a sensor was triggered. It was even faster than ADT’s text alerts.
>> Compare: ADT vs. Vivint
Vivint is pricey and it can be fussy. Let’s start with the pricey bit. Systems start at around $600, while monitoring ranges from $30 to $60 a month. Now about the fussy: You can’t just order your system online. You can’t even find prices online. You have to deal with a customer-service rep for everything.
Having tested Vivint, though, we can give you a quick overview of its pricing. Sensors start at around $50 each, but more sophisticated ones like smoke alarms can cost over $100. The indoor and doorbell cameras cost $250 each; the outdoor camera costs a staggering $400. Again, some of those devices are sophisticated and high-tech. You get a lot for your money, but you also have to spend a lot.
Vivint Smart Home Equipment
No question about it: You’re going to be impressed with your Vivint system. We certainly were. It has high-tech cameras with artificial intelligence that can tell the difference between people, pets, and other moving objects along with trip-wires that let you create a virtual perimeter around your property. It also has responsive, professional monitoring. And, of course, it’s a fully cellular system.
We were most impressed, though, with Vivint’s smart features. Vivint integrates smoothly with both Alexa and Google Home, which meant we were able to turn our system on as we were leaving every morning using a simple voice command. Even better, our thermostat reset at the same time. That’s because Vivint works with both Zigbee and Z-Wave technology, so it connects easily with around 10,000 smart products (and counting).
FYI: If you’ve already outfitted your home with Alexa or Google Home products, make sure you get a security system that works with your smart platform of choice. We make it easy to find a compatible system with our lists of the best home security systems that work with Alexa and the best home security systems for Google Home.
We’re lucky though. We can install home security systems without worrying about the cost since our bosses are the ones footing the bill. If you’re on a fixed budget, you have to think long and hard about installing a Vivint system. It’s absolutely worth the money, both in terms of safety and convenience. This is the Rolls-Royce of home security systems. Not everyone can afford a Rolls-Royce though.
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $599.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $40 |
| Contract Length | 48 to 60 months |
We love SimpliSafe because it offers the best of all possible worlds. Equipment is solid and dependable, and you can get SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring with some useful, innovative features. Installation is DIY, though, and if you’re so inclined, you always have the option to DIY your monitoring too. Read more about all those options in our SimpliSafe review.
What stands out most is that SimpliSafe offers cellular backup. It doesn’t use cellular signals all the time, which is great if coverage in your area is limited. It switches over to cellular signaling only when your internet is down. We tried that by unplugging our router during one of our break-in simulations, and it still worked.
FYI: We learned that SimpliSafe uses either AT&T or Verizon 4G signals. Ours used Verizon, which is the default carrier, but if Verizon signals are weak where you live, contact SimpliSafe before buying and request an AT&T-powered system.
SimpliSafe is the first system on this list that doesn’t offer professional installation. That’s OK. SimpliSafe’s DIY installation is super easy, and you save a few bucks by doing it yourself. Everything is peel-and-stick, and the app provides step-by-step instructions. The whole thing took us around 30 minutes, and that included the time it took to decide where to place the SimpliSafe cameras we tested.
SimpliSafe is fully-DIY; our motion sensor stuck to the wall through peel-and-stick adhesive.
The nice thing about SimpliSafe is that you get monitoring options. That’s not true with a lot of home security companies. DIY monitor if you want, or go all in with professional monitoring. There’s even a free plan that provides real-time alerts and access to livestreamed video. If you go the totally free route, though, you won’t get all that nice cellular backup coverage. Below is an overview of SimpliSafe’s plans.
| Features | Free Plan | Self-Monitoring With Camera Recordings | Fast Protect Professional Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 professional monitoring with video verification | No | No | Yes |
| Flooding and extreme temperature alerts | No | No | Yes |
| Cellular backup | No | No | Yes |
| 30-day cloud storage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free | $9.99 per month | $29.99 per month |
You don’t have to worry about professional installation with SimpliSafe, so there’s no cost there. Monitoring varies, of course. You can self-monitor for free. At the other end of the spectrum, you can purchase a month of 24/7 professional monitoring for $30. That’s a bit more than Ring, but well below Frontpoint. SimpliSafe equipment packages can get a bit pricey if you’re paying retail rates, but SimpliSafe is always running some sale or another.
>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. Ring Comparison
SimpliSafe equipment
We thought we’d try testing SimpliSafe’s DIY monitoring. It worked well in a lot of ways. Few companies make it as easy as SimpliSafe does. The moment a monitor detects activity, the system sends you a mobile alert. You can then pull up live SimpliSafe camera feeds and see what’s happening. Or, for just a few dollars a month, you can add video recording that lets you pull up past events.
What we didn’t account for was our own laziness. Lots of people are cut out to keep an eye on their home security. Some of them probably do a better job than most monitoring centers. That’s not us though. We don’t like getting interrupted when we’re watching a movie or, you know, sleeping. When we got an alert at 2 a.m., we just couldn’t be bothered to wake up enough to check it. Good news: It was the neighbors’ dog, who had decided to knock over our bins and get himself a late-night snack.
SimpliSafe’s monitoring comes with so many useful features that it was kind of silly to go the DIY route in the first place. You get cellular backup and SimpliSafe’s smart platform integration. SimpliSafe even trains its monitoring agents to talk with home invaders if necessary and use image verification to get emergency personnel on the scene quickly. All that costs $30 a month, but you don’t have to worry about being woken up by hungry dogs.
>> Head-to-Head: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint
Important: Only professional monitoring plans include cellular backup. If you self-monitor, SimpliSafe will stop alerting you once your Wi-Fi goes down.
| 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 $9.99 |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
Cove is an industry disruptor. It offers low-cost equipment and professional monitoring plans for as little as $17.99 a month. It’s the easiest system we’ve ever installed, and all systems are 100 percent cellular.
Despite its low prices, Cove offers alerting features similar to our heavier picks. It sends text alerts like ADT and Vivint do, and the touch screen keypad doubles as a two-way intercom with the monitoring center. That’s a feature we saw from Vivint as well. So while Cove is more basic in many aspects, it has a great alerting system in place.
>> Read More: Cove vs. Vivint
There are a lot of great DIY-installed systems. We often sing SimpliSafe’s praises because of how easy it is to install its home security system and connect system components. Cove takes that to a whole other level.
Starting the setup process on the Cove control panel.
Once Cove knew what equipment we were purchasing and where we were planning to put it, the company preprogrammed everything so we didn’t have to connect anything when it arrived. We peeled some backing stickers, stuck up the equipment, and we were done. Installing SimpliSafe is a 30-minute process. That’s pretty good. Installing Cove is a 10-minute process. We’re not sure you can get faster than that.
Cove is clearly intended as a competitor to SimpliSafe, with similar equipment and similar pricing. And like SimpliSafe, you get a choice of professional monitoring packages: Cove Basic or Cove Plus. One important difference from SimpliSafe: Even the Basic plan includes cellular connectivity. One key downside with Cove, though, is that you don’t have the option to self-monitor the way you do with SimpliSafe. We encourage homeowners to invest in professional monitoring, but it’s always nice to have choices.
Pro Tip: Want a warranty with your Cove equipment? Go with Cove’s premium monitoring plan. As long as you keep the plan going, you get a lifetime warranty on all your Cove equipment.
Cove is careful to keep its prices just slightly lower than its competitors, including SimpliSafe and Ring. Entry sensors, for example, are just $15 — $5 less than what you’d pay for a Ring sensor. Likewise, Cove’s Basic monitoring package is $3 per month cheaper than Ring’s, and its Plus plan is $3 cheaper per month than SimpliSafe’s top plan. And, again, even Cove’s cheaper plan includes cellular.
Cove equipment
Given how affordable Cove equipment is, we were expecting boxes full of clunky components. We were pleasantly surprised, though, by Cove’s sleek design. The touch-screen panel made it seem like we had a much more expensive system installed, and Cove’s motion sensors are the smallest we’ve come across.
We went with the cheaper of Cove’s two monitoring plans, and we were once again impressed at how much we got for our money. The cheaper plan doesn’t include smart platform integration, but it includes cellular connectivity and full environmental monitoring. That came in handy when we had a problem with our hot-water heater that caused a minor carbon monoxide leak.
Cove isn’t perfect by any means. You don’t get the self-monitoring options you get with SimpliSafe, and you don’t get quite the service you get with ADT and Vivint. If you’re looking for an affordable, professionally monitored, fully cellular system, though, it’s hard to pass on Cove.
>> Dive Deeper: Cove Review
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $90 for hub and keypad |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $17.99 |
| Contract Length | 1 month |
Frontpoint is a lot like ADT and Vivint: a full-service home security company that includes everything from professional installation to top-tier professional monitoring with every system. The difference is, Frontpoint equipment is less expensive, making it a popular Vivint alternative with homeowners on a budget. Find out more by visiting our Frontpoint review.
It was also the easiest system we’ve had to install relative to what it offers. Installing Cove took us 10 minutes; we needed 45 minutes with Frontpoint. But in that amount of time, we installed several security cameras, a video doorbell, and home automation devices like smart appliance modules and a smart thermostat.
Our Frontpoint installation was pretty straightforward. Frontpoint didn’t preprogram our equipment the way Cove did, but it offered clear, easy-to-follow instructions on its app. We had one problem with a sensor that had been mislabeled at the warehouse, and we found ourselves stuck behind over 40 other callers when we called to find out what to do. As long as you don’t run into technical issues requiring customer service, you should be up and running in around 45 minutes.
Prepare to use the Frontpoint app a lot because the default keypad (above) isn’t a touch screen.
Frontpoint is another system offering a full cellular connection, and that’s available no matter what equipment package you select. The reason the company can do that? It offers only one plan, and there’s no option to self-monitor. Lack of choice is always a bit of a downer.
On the bright side, we thought that the sole monitoring option from Frontpoint was well-priced if you’re looking to build a comprehensive system. It includes professional monitoring, smart home control, home automation, and cloud video storage. It’s on par with ADT’s top-tier plan, while costing only $5 per month.
Frontpoint’s monitoring price is $50 per month, which makes it the most expensive on this list. And again, that’s fine if you’re building a larger system, but we don’t recommend it if you want a smaller or simpler system. It doesn’t matter whether you have 20 sensors and 15 cameras or just a hub and a touchpad — you pay the same rate per month. That seems a little unfair.
Frontpoint redeems itself with its equipment prices. You’ll pay a bit more for a package than you will with Cove or SimpliSafe — over $540 for a basic system — but a bit less than you’d pay for ADT and a lot less than you’d pay for Vivint. Check out our Frontpoint vs. SimpliSafe comparison for more details on how the two DIY systems stack up against each other.
FYI: Frontpoint almost always has a sale going on. Although its prices seem higher than SimpliSafe, you often can get a deal that lets you pay less than what you would with SimpliSafe. Right now, for instance, you can get Frontpoint’s Starter system for just $79.
Frontpoint equipment
Frontpoint is another company that offers wireless connections among all of its equipment. The connection to outside our home was cellular as well. We won’t tell you the name of our Wi-Fi provider, but we will tell you our coverage can be spotty at best. We never had to worry about our security though. Frontpoint worked like a charm — rain, shine, or snow.
Since every Frontpoint system offers home automation through full integrations with Alexa and Google Home, we were able to connect lots more smart devices to our system. Our home knew, for example, to turn on the lights and TV the moment we unlocked our front door. We like to get comfortable as fast as we possibly can.
We think Frontpoint could offer customers a bit more choice. Once upon a time, the company had three separate monitoring plans. Now there’s just one Frontpoint contract. There’s no option to self-monitor, and only three equipment packages.
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $79 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring options | Professional |
| Monitoring cost | Starting at $49 per month |
| Contract lengths | Monthly or 36 months |
| Installation options | DIY |
| Smart platform integrations | Google Home, Alexa, and Siri |
As we noted in our Alder review, Alder offers a more affordable version of high-tech, feature-rich home security systems. That includes full cellular connectivity among all components, environmental monitoring, smartphone controls, and Z-Wave compatibility.
Alder’s claim to fame was its 3.4-second average response time in 2017. That was not the response time we experienced. The timing of the alarm call varied between 20 and 45 seconds after a sensor had been triggered. If you’ve been following along, that’s still slightly faster than ADT and Vivint’s 30-to-34-second response time.
Alder is a DIY-installed system that is relatively easy to get up and running. We were a little disappointed to find that the mobile app didn’t provide us with instructions — turns out that was a sign of things to come — but the touch screen had instructions ready to go. That made the install a bit inconvenient since we had to keep going back and forth between our equipment and the touch-screen control panel, but we didn’t encounter any major technical issues and had our system up in around 35 minutes.
The Alder control panel walked us through the setup process.
Pro Tip: Even though most security companies don’t prioritize it, you don’t need to settle for a security system with a bad mobile app. Take a look through our roundup of the best home security systems with mobile apps for apps that are intuitive and useful.
Alder likes to point to a 2017 test that found its average response times to be 3.4 seconds. That would be remarkable if it were true. Our testing experience was closer to 30 seconds. That’s still a smidge better than the industry average, but not nearly as impressive. We liked that we had a choice of monitoring plans, and that choice was based on the type of equipment we purchased. Plus, all monitoring plans include cellular.
The three Alder monitoring plans — Basic, Standard, and Premium — cost $40, $45, and $55, respectively, which is a little steep. You also have to sign a contract for as long as 60 months in some cases.
What we found unique is that we didn’t have to pay an equipment fee. For $55 per month, we got the entire system pictured below. Of course, you’ll pay an equipment fee if you add more pieces to the base package, but that’s completely optional.
Alder Security Equipment
We were reasonably impressed with Alder’s technology. Z-Wave connectivity meant we were able to connect lots of smart-home products to our security system. In addition to cellular connectivity, the system hub includes a backup battery. That meant we didn’t have to worry about our security when we lost power during a heavy snowstorm. Our Alder components still worked and still communicated with the outside world.
Our favorite piece of Alder equipment was definitely the touch-screen panel. It’s the heart of the system, and it’s packed full of features. When someone rattled our doorknob one evening, a monitoring professional contacted us through the panel and helped us handle the situation. Unfortunately, the mobile app isn’t quite as responsive. It manages to be both light on features and difficult to use. We don’t always want to be tied to the touch screen, so we’d prefer more functionality in the app.
Ultimately, though, Alder provides a system with the high-tech equipment of Vivint at a much more affordable price. If you’re looking to outfit your smart home with a security system or purchase a security system you can build a smart home around, Alder offers a good, solid alternative to Vivint that won’t break the bank.
>> The Bottom Line: Alder vs. Vivint
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $360 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring options | Professional |
| Monitoring cost | Starting at $35 per month |
| Contract length | 36 months |
| Installation options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Cellular home security monitoring is the most popular form of monitoring available, and for good reason. The benefits of cellular home security monitoring aren’t just a lot of advertising fluff.
Being wireless, cellular systems are really convenient to use and install. First off, you don’t need a landline. You might not even need an internet connection. Some wireless cellular security systems can work without Wi-Fi, provided they have full cellular connectivity.
DIY installation is also possible with many cellular security systems. You’d be surprised how easy it is to set up a security system yourself. In our experience, it usually takes less than an hour to get a whole system up and running.
Beyond just convenience, cellular connectivity provides the reliability that no other communication standard used in home security does. Let’s take landlines, for example. Most systems in the 1990s and 2000s needed a landline to work. The problem is that landline-based systems are easy to beat. A burglar could disable a landline system with just a $5 pair of wire cutters. After cutting the landline cables to your house, they’d be able to break-in without worrying about the police showing up.
Our old ADT control panel that required a landline to work.
Wi-Fi and internet-connected systems have the same Achilles’ heel. Fiber optic cables are extremely fragile. You could snap the internal cables with just your hand. On top of that, you have to account for internet outages.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert:
“Adding professional monitoring is another step to protecting yourself and property, especially if you're away from home frequently. A monitoring company can notify police very quickly in the event of a break in. The faster the police can arrive, the better. This gives officers the best chance at catching the burglar red-handed. A quick response time can also give other officers in the area the ability to start looking for suspects that look out of place or that don’t belong in the area.”
Cellular systems are not perfect. For instance, it has been suggested that signal jammers can be used to disable cellular signals, rendering cellular systems unable to alert the response center. There’s truth to that. Signal jammers are designed to disrupt cellular signals.
However, here’s what we know about burglars:
Those statistics show that burglars prefer to go the easy, most practical route to them. Signal jammers are hard to acquire as they’re illegal to buy in the U.S., plus using them requires technical know-how. So the likelihood of burglars investing time, effort and money just to jam cellular signals is extremely low. Cellular monitoring still has greater upsides than risks.
You’ll have a choice to make if you decide to go with a cellular system; that is, whether to go with a fully-cellular system or cellular backup.
Frontpoint Hub and Keypad Setup
Between the two, cellular backup is actually better. Although it rarely does, cell signal outages do happen. With a full-cellular setup, those outages would leave your system unable to send alerts. With a system that uses cellular communication only as backup, you would continue to get alerts as long as your internet is working. And what are the chances of an internet and cellular outage happening at the same time? Very, very low.
Also note that while full-cellular setups don’t need an internet connection to generate alerts, some of the included equipment do. For example, security cameras would still need to connect to Wi-Fi to record event clips or send you motion alerts.
Cellular-based home security systems provide a lot of advantages over traditional landline and Wi-Fi systems. They are incredibly convenient, but they’re also incredibly reliable.
If you’re looking to take advantage of the technology, you have options. You can go with a company that offers full cellular, for instance, or one that uses cellular backup. You can go with systems that let you self-monitor or choose systems that include full 24/7 professional monitoring. You can choose systems that work well with Alexa and Google Home, as well as systems that let you connect to thousands of other smart home devices. And, of course, there’s a wide range of prices.
It’s enough to make your head spin, especially if you’re still thinking through the advantages and disadvantages of cellular. Hopefully, at this point, you have a clear sense of whether cellular is right for you and which systems are most suited to your needs.
ADT offers service through either Wi-Fi or landlines, but both Wi-Fi and landline-based services come with cellular backup. That means the system switches to cellular so it can still get a signal out if either of those methods of communication go down.
The primary downside of a Vivint home security system is the cost. Vivint systems are among the most technologically advanced on the market. Cameras make use of AI to distinguish among people, animals, and other moving objects. Systems are fully integrated with Google Home and Alexa, and they work through Z-Wave technology so they can connect to thousands of smart-home devices. Monitoring makes use of networks that are 100 percent cellular for greater reliability. Vivint systems, however, start at around $800 and can cost in the thousands.
Yes, there are a number of home security systems that are fully cellular, including Vivint, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder.
Cellular home security systems make use of cellular networks for communication among components and to communicate with the outside world. Many home security systems use Wi-Fi as a communication method. A few use landlines. Cellular systems either use cellular networks exclusively or offer cellular as a backup network in case Wi-Fi or landline networks go down.
Yes, cellular home security systems are wireless. Just as with Wi-Fi–based systems, cellular-based systems communicate via a wireless network. That network is simply cellular rather than Wi-Fi.
ScienceDaily. (2013). Through the eyes of a burglar: Study provides insights on habits and motivations, importance of security.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516160916.htm
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2019). Crime Trends.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-15
