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 March 4, 2025
copied!
We all know Wi-Fi networks can be unreliable, which is one of the reasons why we recommend home security systems with cellular connectivity. Using a 4G network keeps your equipment online and alerts monitoring centers if an alarm is triggered.
But not all security companies offer this service and not all the ones that use cellular networks do it well. After spending three months comparing security systems, we chose six that best use cellular connections, have dependable equipment, and reliable monitoring centers. ADT was the standout. But Vivint, SimpliSafe, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder are excellent alternatives. Let’s take a closer look at why these security systems made the list.
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 is one of the most reliable security brands on this list. The company has been around for over 150 years and consistently has one of the best SecureScores. What makes ADT reliable is its vast equipment range, featuring products from Google Nest, and the 12 monitoring centers scattered across North America. ADT not only built cellular backup into its security systems, but it also built redundancies as well as power and communication backup into its monitoring service. That’s why it’s our top recommendation if you’re looking for a professionally monitored security system.
Our ADT experience started with professional installation. The installation technician set up everything from our security cameras to the ADT Base that has a built-in cellular chip. All we had to do was sit back and let him work his magic. In under two hours, our ADT system was ready.
Here’s our ADT outdoor camera mounted nine feet aboveground, installed by an ADT technician.
That being said, some might prefer to do things on their own, and that’s now an option with ADT. We tested the ADT Self Setup system – same equipment as our ADT system but DIY-installed. It took us about the same time as the ADT technician, and the installation didn’t cost us a penny. It’s a cheaper alternative to paying over $100 for the professional installation service.
Pro Tip: If it feels like the costs are too high, we recommend installing the ADT equipment yourself. There’s no installation fee, and you’ll pay less for professional monitoring. Alternatively, you can finance the equipment. But this means you’re locked into an ADT contract for up to three years.
ADT is one of the best monitored systems we’ve tested. It has 12 monitoring centers in North America that can be accessed via cellular networks. ADT also has SMART monitoring, which sends alerts to the centers and your phone when an alarm is triggered. We received messages within seconds to verify or cancel alarms when we ran our break-in simulations.
All three monitoring plans include cellular backup and SMART monitoring. However, if your security system has ADT cameras, you’ll need the most expensive plan. Vivint and Cove do this too. If you’re looking for more flexibility, you might want to scroll to SimpliSafe, which offers separate plans for security cameras.
| Features | Secure | Smart | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular backup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| DIY-monitoring price | $24.99 per month | $29.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| Professionally installed monitoring price | $34.99 per month | $39.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
FYI: ADT has a free self-monitoring plan. However, you need to pay for a minimum of one month of professional monitoring before you can access it. The plan is light on features, which is one of the reasons why it didn’t make our list of the best security systems with no monthly fees.
ADT’s equipment prices start at $349. But it’s easy to spend more than $1,000 if you want multiple cameras. Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery-powered) are $129.99 each and motion detectors are $40 each. While they’re cheaper than Vivint, it’s more expensive than products from SimpliSafe and Cove. However, we think ADT’s products are better, especially if you want to take advantage of some of ADT’s home automation features.
>> Learn More: Google Nest Cam Review
Testing the ADT Control Panel
As you’ll discover in our full ADT review, ADT has great system components and outstanding professional monitoring. We experienced it firsthand when a small fire broke out in our kitchen. The ADT center got an alert and messaged us to verify. We took care of it, but if we didn’t respond, they would have sent the fire department. It’s assuring to know this service is available if the internet is down or if we have a power outage. The ADT base station has a 24-hour backup battery so it can send alerts when alarms are triggered.
FYI: We’ve tested a lot of Nest products. In addition to the Nest Cam, we’ve also reviewed the Google Nest Doorbell, which comes in wired and battery versions.
| 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 |
Vivint offers the most technologically sophisticated system out there, but it’s not cheap. You’ll have to pay for professional installation, expensive equipment and pricey monitoring plans. However, you can finance the system over a few years so it’s not one big hit to your bank balance. Just note that some of Vivint’s 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 requires professional installation on all of its systems, unlike ADT that offers DIY options now. The reason is that Vivint systems are technologically advanced, and the company wants to make sure they’re set up correctly. Our experience was actually similar to ADT. The installer, Don, spent about three hours setting up our comprehensive Vivint security system. He even showed us how to use some of the more advanced features, like how to access security camera footage from the Vivint Smart Hub.
Our Vivint technician named Don took care of everything from installing our sensors and setting up the Vivint Smart Hub.
Pro Tip: In previous Vivint Black Friday sales, the company has offered free installation and discounted equipment. We keep tabs on the best Vivint deals so you can spend less for one of the best security systems around.
Vivint’s monitoring is 100 percent cellular. The Smart Hub you see below connects to LTE cellular networks when the internet is down. It also displays alerts and sensor statuses – Wi-Fi or no Wi-Fi.
We also monitored our alerts and sensor statuses using the Vivint touch-screen hub.
Professional monitoring worked similar to ADT. We got an SMS within 10 seconds when an alarm was triggered. That’s on par with ADT’s SMART monitoring. If you don’t respond to the text, you’ll get a call. In our experience, it takes about 45 seconds for Vivint to call. That’s not bad, considering there’s a text alert, but we would have liked it a little bit faster. In Vivint’s defense, a longer “grace period” allows you to avoid police dispatch due to false alarms, which in many places is fineable.
>> Compare: ADT vs. Vivint
FYI: Vivint dispatches the police only when you confirm the emergency (either through the text alert or phone alert) or if you fail to respond to its notifications after a certain time. If it’s a false alarm, you can cancel the emergency response by providing your “safe word.”
Vivint is pricey. Systems start at around $600, and monitoring ranges from $30 to $60 a month. You can’t buy a system online like you can with ADT or SimpliSafe either. We had to call Vivint and speak to a sales consultant who took every opportunity to upsell us. We get it – they’re trying to make a sale, and some of the points they raised made sense. But if you’re the type who wants to be in charge of the whole buying process, you might be better off buying from a company that sells equipment online like ADT or SimpliSafe.
The prices can also be off-putting if you’re on a budget. The consultant told us that sensors start at around $50 each and smoke alarms can cost over $100. The indoor and doorbell cameras cost $250 each, and the outdoor camera was around $400.
Expert Insight: Although expensive, we think Vivint offers great value. Its smart home integration is top-notch, and it offers features we rarely see, such as “Smart Deter.” You can program the cameras to chime and light up when they detect unusual activity, like a trespasser lurking within your property.
Our Vivint security system – ready for professional installation.
We’re impressed with Vivint’s high-tech cameras that use AI to distinguish the difference between people, pets and other moving objects. Another nifty feature is the virtual perimeter that can reduce false alarms for movement outside your property lines.
The system also integrates with Alexa and Google Home. Plus, Vivint works with both Zigbee and Z-Wave technology, so it connects with around 10,000 smart products (and counting). You can combine them with Vivint smart home automation features to schedule system arming and disarming or automatically locking down the house whenever you leave for work.
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.
| 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 |
SimpliSafe is one of the best DIY home security systems we’ve tested. Our system was up and running in around 30 minutes. We also love that you have the choice of self-monitoring your system or subscribing to one of the SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring plans. It’s also easy to switch between those monitoring options as your needs change.
What stands out most is its cellular backup. We unplugged our modem and SimpliSafe continued to work despite no internet. You’ll lose some features, like “Intruder Intervention,” but you’re still protected 24/7, which is what matters most.
>> Learn More: SimpliSafe Review
FYI: SimpliSafe uses Verizon 4G signals to stay online. However, it’s only available with professional monitoring plans. So if you’re considering a SimpliSafe self-monitoring plan, you’ll need a reliable internet connection.
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.
Side Note: If you don’t have any plans to move in the next few years, we suggest using the anchor points to mount the sensors. Peel-and-stick adhesives are great for temporary installation, but they have a tendency to lose adhesiveness over time.
SimpliSafe is fully-DIY; our motion sensor stuck to the wall through peel-and-stick adhesive.
As we mentioned, you can self monitor your SimpliSafe system, but it won’t use cellular networks if the internet stops working. We recommend signing up for a professional monitoring plan. Our favorite is “Core,” which includes the innovative “Intruder Intervention” feature. When the system is armed and it detects an intruder, SimpliSafe agents will access the Wireless Indoor Camera to let the intruder know they’re being recorded and police are on the way. Here’s a breakdown of the professional monitoring plans.
| Features | Standard | Core | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 emergency dispatch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active Guard Outdoor Protection | No | No | Yes |
| Intruder Intervention | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular backup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled arming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $21.99 per month | $31.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
We can say for certain that SimpliSafe is cheaper than Vivint or even ADT. Prices for all the equipment are on the website. They might even be discounted because SimpliSafe always seems to be running a sale. If you’re not sure what devices you need, SimpliSafe has equipment packages available. Prices range from $249.96 to $729.90, which is in the same ballpark as other DIY companies that sell bundles, like Ring.
As you saw above, monitoring is affordable, too. You don’t need to sign up for the “Core” plan if you don’t have security cameras. The $21.99 per month “Standard” plan includes cellular backup just the same. And best of all, everything is contract-free, so you can upgrade and downgrade your plan anytime. We only sign up for a monitoring plan whenever we’re testing SimpliSafe. When it’s not in use, we cancel our subscription and keep it self-monitored.
>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. Ring Comparison
Everything we bought on the SimpliSafe website to test.
SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring comes with many useful features. Besides cellular backup on all plans, you also get access to SimpliSafe’s smart platform integration. Like ADT and Vivint, we integrated SimpliSafe with Alexa and Google Assistant. We used voice commands to disarm the system when our hands were full and check livestreams from our SimpliSafe cameras. However, the home automation features aren’t as impressive as Vivint. You can’t integrate third-party products and scheduling is only available on “Core” and “Pro” plans.
>> Head-to-Head: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint
The cellular backup is more impressive. While “Intruder Intervention” and “Active Guard Outdoor Protection” won’t work without an internet connection, the base station will continue to communicate to SimpliSafe’s monitoring center. You’ll also still receive alarm texts via SMS to verify or cancel an alarm. The cellular connection is powered by Verizon, which arguably has the widest coverage in the U.S.
| 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 |
Cove offers low-cost equipment and professional monitoring plans for as little as $19.99 a month. It’s the easiest system we’ve ever installed, and everything is 100 percent cellular.
Despite its low prices, Cove offers alerting features similar to our other 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
Cove’s equipment is designed to be easy to install with everything already synced before you take it out of the box. The touch-screen panel you see below helps connect your equipment to the network; the Cove app has instructions on how to set up devices in your home.
>> Check Out: How to Install a Home Security System
The Cove touch-screen panel helped us through the installation process.
Installing Cove doesn’t get more complicated than peeling some backing stickers, and sticking the device to the wall or doorframe. It was a 10-minute process for us. 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.” Both Cove plans include cellular connections and “InstaText” – text-based alerts when an alarm is activated. But if your system has security cameras, you’ll have no choice but to choose “Cove Plus.” At least the cameras can record locally with microSD cards, so paying for cloud storage is optional.
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 equipment is cheaper than ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, but only when a sale is on – which seems to be most of the time. We’ve seen entry sensors as low as $4.50 and glass break detectors on sale for $15. You can build a Cove security system for under $300, featuring security cameras, entry sensors and motion detectors. That’s cheaper than SimpliSafe and Ring’s bundles.
Cheap doesn’t mean low-quality though. Cove’s equipment is not on the same levels as ADT or Vivint. The security cameras are outsourced from eufy, for example, and some pieces of equipment feel plastic-y. But overall, they’ve been holding up well for over a year now. They are, to some extent, built to last.
>> Check Out: Ring Alarm Costs and Pricing
Cove’s equipment comes preprogrammed, so all you need to do is choose a place to install it.
Cove takes multiple approaches to alert you about alarms. Like ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, you’ll get an instant message as soon as the system is triggered. You can respond to cancel the alarm or request help. If Cove doesn’t reach you, they’ll call within 30 seconds to check on you. We found this out firsthand when an officer showed up after we missed the message and call.
Cove won’t just send police. The monitoring center also springs into action for fires, smoke and flooding. With the equipment so affordable, we recommend investing in smoke and water detectors to protect your home while you’re at work or on vacation.
>> Dive Deeper: Cove Review
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $300 for hub and keypad |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $19.99 |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
Frontpoint is a full-service home security company that includes everything from professional installation to top-tier professional monitoring with every system. Its affordable equipment makes it a popular Vivint alternative for homeowners on a budget.
>> Learn More: Frontpoint review
We only needed 45 minutes to install Frontpoint, which is longer than Cove and SimpliSafe. But in that amount of time, we set up several security cameras, a video doorbell, and home automation devices like smart appliance modules and a smart thermostat.
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 mislabeled sensor, and it took us a while to get through to someone at Frontpoint 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.
You’ll only find one Frontpoint monitoring plan on the website and it’s $49.99 per month. That puts it on par with ADT and Vivint’s most expensive plans. It includes cellular backup as well as home automation, environmental protection, and video camera storage. The platform can incorporate up to 50 sensors, which is perfect if you need a security system for a large home. Like the other systems, Frontpoint also sends text alerts so you can action alarms fast.
FYI: Frontpoint has cheaper plans starting from $14.99. But you’ll need to speak to someone to discuss options and see if cellular backup is included.
You’ll pay a bit more for Frontpoint equipment than you will with Cove or SimpliSafe – $540-plus for a basic system. It’s still less than ADT and Vivint. Motion sensors are $69.99, entry sensors are $34.99, and an indoor camera is $119.99. It’s not an extensive catalog of products to choose from. We recommend starting with one of the equipment packages. The “Essential Home Security System” is normally $386.93, which is on par with SimpliSafe. But we’ve seen Frontpoint slash the price to as low as $69.
>>Compare: Frontpoint vs. SimpliSafe
Frontpoint’s equipment is significantly larger than other home security systems.
We noticed Frontpoint connecting to the cellular network when our internet was dropping out during the day. There were no notifications that our system was offline, and we still received alerts while performing simulated intrusions.
During these tests, we received emails and text messages confirming the alarm. We learned our lesson from the Cove tests to respond to them fast. Having both emails and text messages is unique to Frontpoint. The email is a good backup in case the text message arrives late. But in our experience, both arrived within 10 seconds.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $386.93 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $14.99 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 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.
We were a little disappointed to find that Alder’s mobile app didn’t provide us with instructions – turns out that was a sign of things to come. At least the touch screen had instructions ready to go. That made the installation 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 doesn’t share the price of its monitoring plans online. You have to call them up to get a personalized quote. The last time we spoke to Alder’s sales team, professional monitoring started from $40 per month and went as high as $55 per month. The good news is that all Alder plans include cellular monitoring. The bad news is that you’ll have to sign a contract for at least 36 months.
Like Vivint, equipment prices are nowhere to be found on Alder’s website. You can check out what devices are available. It also highlights how easy it is to install them, which means you shouldn’t have to pay for professional installation.
When we bought our Alder equipment, they gave us a “free” basic package that includes the main hub and a couple of sensors. It was free, but we suspect the cost was rolled into our monthly monitoring fee. Of course, we expanded our system, and we had to pay for the additional equipment up front. All in all, we spent only a little more than $100 for our Alder system.
>> Compare: Alder Vs. Vivint
Our Alder equipment came preprogrammed and ready to install.
Alder’s response reminded us of SimpliSafe’s “Intruder Intervention” feature, but instead of security cameras, Alder’s monitoring agent spoke with us through the touch-screen hub. While that means Alder can’t verify alerts through camera footage, it’s both convenient for you if you’re the one answering the call and a great way to deter intruders if they happen to be near the hub.
That said, we noticed that Alder’s app alerts take time to arrive. With systems like ADT and SimpliSafe, app alerts arrive about the same time as text alerts. With Alder, we only received app alerts after already speaking with the monitoring center. Is that a deal-breaker? We don’t think so. It’s still reliable because of cellular monitoring, and the phone response times were great (30 to 40 seconds).
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $360 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring options | Professional |
| Monitoring cost | Starting at $40 per month |
| Contract length | 36 months |
| Installation options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Cellular networks are reliable and easy to install because you don’t need a landline. You might not even need an internet connection. Some wireless cellular security systems can work without Wi-Fi.
In the 1990s and 2000s, most security systems needed a landline to work. But landline-based systems are easy to beat. A burglar can disable a landline system with just a $5 pair of wire cutters. After cutting the cables, they can break in without worrying about the police showing up. You don’t need to worry about that with wireless security systems using cellular networks.
>> Check Out: Best Wireless Home Security Systems of 2025
Our old ADT control panel that required a landline to work.
Some other benefits of using cellular security systems are the flexibility in placement of equipment, remote monitoring capabilities, and continued functionality during power outages. Most importantly, they can enable real-time alerts by sending messages to the monitoring center and your phone so you can take action faster.
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, burglars can use signal jammers to disable cellular signals, rendering systems unable to alert the response center. Here’s what our latest home security statistics tell us about burglar habits:
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.
One of the decisions you’ll need to make when buying a home security system is whether you choose one that only uses cellular networks or relies on 4G LTE as a backup. Cellular systems like Frontpoint don’t rely on Wi-Fi to connect to a response center. Cellular backup is more common, as it only connects to a 4G signal when the internet connection is spotty or down.
Frontpoint’s Hub doesn’t rely on your internet connection to send alerts to response centers.
Between the two, cellular backup is actually better. Although it’s rare, 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 and 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. We recommend ADT for its reliable equipment and professional monitoring center. But you can also count on Vivint, SimpliSafe, Cove, Frontpoint, and Alder when you need help in an emergency and the Wi-Fi is down.
ADT has wireless equipment that uses cellular connections as a 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. You’ll need to pay for professional installation, professional monitoring ranges from $30 to $60, and Vivint’s equipment packages start from around $800. However, Vivint systems are among the most technologically advanced on the market.
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.
