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Our top pick, ADT, has everything you need to secure your garage and the rest of your home.
Updated April 5, 2025
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The best home security providers protect your entire home — and that includes your garage. There are some clever workarounds, like using entry sensors to alert you when the garage door opens, but we always recommend using products specifically designed for garages. After testing several security systems, our verdict is that ADT can best protect homes with a garage — thanks to its high-quality equipment and impressive whole-home monitoring.
ADT is not our only pick, though. Vivint, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint are also great. Plus, they each offer features you’ll want to have to protect your valuables and secure every entry point — including your garage. Let’s break down each system to see which one you need for your home.
Our trustworthy and unbiased recommendations come from testing home security systems ourselves. We buy the equipment with our money, install the systems in our homes, and test them for weeks and even months. It helps us get a feel for what it’s like to live with the security system and understand how the response times, apps, and features perform. We then incorporate these experiences into our reviews and recommendations.
Several factors impact testing home security systems, but we have ways to compare apples to apples. For example, we test all the equipment in the same house — a two-story, 2,200-square-foot home with a single-car garage owned by one of our home security experts. Using a real house instead of a lab means we can simulate real-life scenarios and make better recommendations.
We also buy the same equipment for every home security system and install them in identical locations. You can see our usual testing setup below.
We consider many criteria when choosing the best home security systems. Using our experience and knowledge of the industry, these are the factors we believe are the most valuable to homes with a garage:
Using these criteria, here is how we scored our top five picks:
Rating the Best Home Security Systems for Garages
Our team of experts only covers safety and security equipment. You won’t see reviews on everything from headphones to surfboards on our site like you would on other review sites. We are trained to thoroughly evaluate security systems so we can give our readers honest and insightful recommendations. The experts who worked on this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team on the internet. Since beginning in 2016, SafeHome.org has been featured in many major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. As a team, we have achieved:
Every recommendation we make comes from first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the security industry. Now, let's learn more about our top picks.
ADT is one of the best professionally monitored systems around — if not the best. With over 12 monitoring centers across North America, someone’s always watching your garage if the alarm goes off. The system uses high-quality ADT equipment and Google Nest devices, which you can set up yourself or pay extra for an ADT technician to handle.
ADT’s a garage door controller that is compatible with most major brands of automatic garage doors and can be hardwired or battery-operated. When reviewing ADT, our technician set up our system in a few hours and showed us how to open the garage door from anywhere with the ADT+ app.
FYI: We receive notifications if we drive off without closing the garage door. Instead of turning back and being late for work, we can close the door from the ADT+ app.
Adding Google Nest cameras adds extra protection. The cameras have AI-driven features like facial recognition, which alerts us if anyone’s lurking around our truck or motorcycle. We even get personalized notifications if it’s someone we know.
>> Learn More: Google Nest Cam Review
We chose the wired Google Nest Cam for our garage, as it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
One of the ADT system’s primary drawbacks is the price. Simply put, ADT’s costs are among the highest in the industry. Equipment packages start at $349 for just a base, three entry sensors, and a motion detector.
The new ADT Entry Sensors might not match our door trim, but at least they’re slimmer than Ring’s.
The good news is you don’t have to pay for anything up front if you don’t mind financing the equipment over 36 months. Alternatively, you can wait for an ADT sale to save some money. Another option is to build your system over time. You can always start with the Security Starter package and add new products as your needs change.
Did You Know? You can save yourself $100 by installing the products yourself. Professional monitoring plans are also cheaper for ADT Self Setup customers. The equipment doesn’t need hardwiring and even includes some Google Nest products. Check out our full ADT Self Setup review to learn more.
| 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’s home automations are what the company is known for. It may sound like a gimmick, but it’s nice to set up routines to protect your property that you don’t have to think about, such as having your back door unlocked when your garage door opens.
Similar to ADT, Vivint offers garage control with its award-winning app. We can control the door not just from our property but from anywhere in the world.
Even more reassuring? If you go with Vivint’s Car Guard — an antitheft system for your vehicle — you can have If you go with Vivint’s Car Guard — an antitheft system for your vehicle — you can have your garage door close automatically when you drive away. That was one of our highlights while reviewing the Vivint system.
Pro Tip: The Vivint app also lets us customize our notifications. Instead of wondering if we closed the garage door, we get a notification confirming it’s shut.
Like ADT, Vivint’s security cameras also use AI. But, instead of alerting you or the monitoring center about intruders, Vivint’s cameras actively deter threats. The cameras will blare sirens, flash strobe lights, and change the ring light to bright red to scare them off.
>> Compare: Vivint vs. ADT
A view of our cars in the driveway from the Vivint Camera.
Vivint’s prices aren’t cheap. Packages start around $500 to $600. But, you’ll need to call for a quote to get the exact price for your system. Our system cost around $1,200, including add-ons like an outdoor camera to watch over the garage.
Vivint’s equipment isn’t cheap and neither are the professional installation and monitoring costs.
Vivint sells packages starting at around $500 to $600. But you’ll need to call for a quote to get the pricing for the system you want. Mine cost a little more than $800. And then after choosing a package, Vivint will let you customize your system with add-ons. I got an outdoor camera for an extra $400.
When you add professional installation and Vivint’s monitoring — starting at $29.99 per month — the bill was pretty steep, but not entirely unmanageable. Just like with ADT, you don’t have to pay for it all up front, but you will pay a solid chunk of it every month for at least four years.
If you’re looking for something a little easier on the wallet, you can check out our guide to the best affordable home security systems. Or, stick around for our next choice!
| 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 lets you choose between building home security equipment from an à la carte menu or grabbing one of their packages that are suitable for any type of property. They also have some of the best monitoring plans available, including a free self-monitoring option and their Intruder Intervention feature for the Wireless Indoor Camera. With Intruder Intervention, SimpliSafe agents will attempt to deter intruders.
Technically, SimpliSafe doesn’t have a sensor designed specifically for garages like ADT or Vivint. But its Entry Sensor works a treat. We installed the main component to the frame and the magnet on the roller door, ensuring both parts were two inches apart.
This is the same Entry Sensor we use for our garage door.
When the door opens, the security system is alerted, and the countdown to disarm begins. We use the app to avoid false alarms and the siren blaring so all the neighbors can hear.
Pro Tip: We recommend setting the Entry Sensor to Secret Alert. This way, you’ll only get notifications when the garage door is open, and you won’t need to rush inside to disarm the security system before the monitoring center is notified.
A free self-monitoring plan is great, but it means you’re responsible for contacting emergency services when you need them. But with a SimpliSafe professional monitoring package, its center is on standby 24/7, and you can access other great features like video verification, Intruder Intervention, and Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Prices for these features range from $31.99 per month to $79.99 per month. But there’s a basic plan for $21.99 per month if you don’t need all the bells and whistles.
SimpliSafe doesn’t have the same extensive range as ADT or Vivint, but it has everything we need.
FYI: We recommend Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection for garage owners. When an intruder is detected, SimpliSafe agents will access the camera feed and deter the intruder. It’s like Vivint’s Smart Deter, but it adds a human element.
You can build your own home security system with the products you need, and it’s easy to add more devices if something changes in the future. The website makes it simple to pick your equipment by breaking it up into categories.
However, if you’re not sure what products to buy, you can get one of SimpliSafe’s equipment packages, which are designed for different households. These packages start at $250, but you can often find discounts on SimpliSafe’s website itself that will mark them down by up to 60-percent.
| 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 |
Frontpoint bridges the gap between traditional and DIY systems. While professional monitoring is required, you can save money by installing the equipment yourself. The devices are a bit bulkier than ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, but they’re reliable. You can even add third-party Z-Wave and Zigbee products and set up schedules and automation rules. It’s one of the reasons why Frontpoint is on our list of the best smart-home automation security systems.
Frontpoint doesn’t offer any sort of remote control for your garage door. What it does offer, though, is a tilt sensor that will trigger an alarm if someone opens the garage while the system is armed.
The Frontpoint sensors are larger than most other brands on our list.
Here’s how it works: The sensor attaches to your automatic garage door and sends an alert to your hub if the door changes position by more than 45 degrees. If the system is armed, it will cause the alarm to go off, get the authorities on their way, and hopefully scare away the intruder before they take anything of value. It took us a while to get used to it while reviewing the Frontpoint system.
Pro Tip: You need to open your garage door before you arm the system, not after. We have a detached garage, which triggered a few false alarms almost every time we left the house, but we eventually got the hang of it.
Frontpoint’s equipment pricing starts at $386.93, and frequent discounts cut the prices of individual components by as much as 80 percent. We built a comprehensive system with cameras and smart-home devices for around $500. The same amount of money got me only a basic package from Vivint.
The downside is that unlike SimpliSafe — the second-most affordable here — Frontpoint requires a monthly fee for monitoring. The only plan listed on the website costs $49 per month, regardless of system size. You’ll need to contact customer support to discuss monitoring options starting at $14.99 per month. It’s not necessarily a bad thing since Frontpoint has one of the best home security customer service experiences around.
Did You Know? Frontpoint’s monitoring uses the local cellular network. Our internet can drop out from time to time, so this was a bonus as it didn’t rely on our dodgy connection to stay online.
| 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 |
While Ring has some quality outdoor cameras, it doesn’t have an official garage-specific product. That’s why it’s only an honorable mention. However, you’ll find on their website some products that integrate with the Ring ecosystem, like the Chamberlain Next-Gen Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener.
You can manage the product directly from the app and receive notifications like any other Ring device. When combined with products like the Floodlight Cam Pro or Wired Spotlights, it makes for a solid security system for garages.
According to our recent research, most burglars enter via open windows or doors. But another tactic involves breaking into garages, especially if it has access to the main home. Some of the other interesting facts we learned include:
Garages don’t just house cars. A garage is also a great place to store tools, outdoor equipment, and valuables you don’t have room for in the house. Criminals know this and won’t hesitate to take advantage if there is easy access to it.
This is the door that goes to our garage and where we put an ADT Entryway Sensor.
We’ve talked a lot about tilt and entry sensors, but they’re just one piece of equipment to consider when securing a garage. Here are some other devices we recommend adding to your security system.
The automatic garage door is the obvious vulnerability — and it should be protected by a tilt sensor or remote access control and alerts — but don’t overlook windows or standard doors that could serve as an entry point for a burglar. They should be covered by glass-break and entryway sensors. An internal motion sensor is a good idea, too.
Security cameras are another obvious component. We recommend using them whether you’re securing a tiny home or designing a security system for a large house. Cameras not only trigger alarms but can also deter intruders with lights and sirens.
Our Vivint Outdoor Camera flashes lights and blares sirens to deter intruders.
Criminals like to sneak in and out of garages unnoticed, which is why a motion-activated floodlight, like the Ring Floodlight Cam, is a great investment for keeping your property safe. Make sure you test the devices to ensure they will trigger at the appropriate times. Some models have blind spots that thieves can get around easily.
Pro Tip: Don’t try to hide your security system. Our report found that homes without a visible security system are up to 3.5 times more likely to be targeted by thieves. So, we recommend making sure thieves will spot it, especially at night.
Unfortunately, even with security systems armed, cameras pointed in the right direction, and floodlights ready to go off, garages still get burglarized. If you find yourself victimized, there are a few steps you should take.
A burglary is a traumatizing event, and you may not feel safe at home for a while. Don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professional counselors if you’re struggling with sleep, intrusive thoughts, or anxiety.
It’s important to have motion detectors, security cameras, and video doorbells around the main part of our house — but don’t forget the garage. Tilt sensors, entry sensors, and security cameras can prevent your garage from becoming a weak spot.
We recommend ADT because it offers equipment specifically designed for garages. They’re easy to install and monitor with the intuitive ADT+ app. If you want something more advanced, Vivint’s state-of-the-art equipment and home automation features are the way to go. But, for something more affordable and DIY-friendly, check out SimpliSafe or Frontpoint.
Garages often store valuables like vehicles and tools. They can also serve as an alternate entry point for intruders. Installing security equipment around your garage can alert you to lurkers or unauthorized access.
We recommend securing entry points between the house and garage, adding motion-activated lights around the perimeter, and installing window locks. You should also try to keep valuable items out of sight to avoid tempting thieves.
Yes, ADT and Vivint offer garage-specific components that integrate with your home security system. This lets you manage everything through the smartphone app and set up automations with other security devices.
If your garage is detached, we recommend installing motion sensor lights and security cameras you can monitor remotely. You should also consider professional monitoring so immediate action can be taken if an alarm is triggered.
Wireless systems are easier to install, but wired systems are more reliable if your Wi-Fi signal doesn’t reach the garage. Cellular systems or solutions with cellular backup might be your best bet.
