The Best Home Security Systems in 2024 — Tested by Experts

ADT Pricing

Let’s start with those recent price changes ADT made. ADT is more affordable now, although still pricier than many of its DIY counterparts. On top of introducing a revamped DIY option – ADT Self Setup – it consolidated its packages so that it’d be easier to pick one to customize. You can actually start with the Build Your Own package now for as low as $269, but you’ll often find bigger savings from these pre-built packages.

ADT’s monitoring prices have gone down as well. The company used to charge up to $60 per month for monitoring. Plans now range between $29.99 to $44.99 per month. Yet, you still get all the same great features as before, including access to 12 separate monitoring centers, video verification services, and complete integration with both Alexa and Google Home.

ADT Equipment and Features

ADT Control Panel

ADT doesn’t make its own equipment, but that’s not a bad thing. It offers equipment from a range of reputable manufacturers including GE. It now offers Google Nest equipment as well, including its line of Nest Cams, smart thermostats, and smart speakers and displays. In the middle of everything is the ADT Base, a hub that glues everything together.

We like this approach. If you decide that ADT’s no longer for you down the line, you can keep using the equipment, especially the ones from Google. As we learned when we reviewed the Nest Cams, these are excellent standalone security cameras. We also want to point out that while most of the equipment is from third-party manufacturers, they all work with ADT’s latest app – ADT+. The app is another one of ADT’s strong points. It’s easy to use, it’s modern both in terms of design and features, and it works well.

Our Experience With ADT

Our experience was with ADT’s professionally installed system, and it was overwhelming. There was always something going on; we had it installed by a technician, we had to sign a contract, and we had to sit through a consultation. In all fairness, ADT streamlined the process. It took us only two business days to get an ADT system installed after we initially called for a quote. Other systems, like Vivint and Alder, took three to five days.

Once installed, our initial impression was that ADT is a modern, high-tech security system. The touch-screen control panel controlled the system functions; we had an app to access our cameras and manage our system on-the-go. We also integrated ADT with voice control using our Nest Home smart speakers.

The other devices were more traditional though. The sensors were quite bulky, but no worries because ADT has replaced them with sleeker ones now. Although we must admit – we’ll miss the brown door sensors the technician installed to match our door trim (see image below). When it comes to home protection, ADT takes a more traditional approach.

Our ADT door sensor camouflaged nicely by matching our brown door trim.

As for functions, we pretty much got what we expected from ADT’s sensors.

• Door sensors: ADT’s magnetic door sensors alerted us everytime a door opened but not when we accidentally left the backdoor ajar. That said, we could check the ADT Control app to see the status of a sensor (i.e., Open or Close) to make sure we’ve closed all doors and windows before leaving. (FYI: Frontpoint’s door sensors can be configured to notify you when a door is left open for longer than a specified time.)
• Motion sensors: ADT’s motion sensors are pet-friendly. They can be configured to ignore pets up to 80 pounds, although the sensitivity can be set to a lower level if you have a smaller pet. Even at the lowest sensitivity level, though, it still noticed us everytime we walked in front of it. The pet-friendly motion sensors were a big part of why ADT made our roundup of the top security systems for pet owners.
• Glass break sensors: Our ADT glass break sensors provided extra coverage in rooms with lots of glass windows. We didn’t exactly break any windows to test it, but even playing the sound of breaking glass on our TV triggered it. Just make sure the glass break sensors aren’t armed during movie night.

There are a few things to consider about ADT though. For one, there’s no longer a touch screen control panel if you buy now. The keypad in the ADT Base hub controls only security system functions, and most other features are accessible only through the app. That can pose a problem if you have family members who are not so proficient with apps and smartphones.

We should also note that customer service can sometimes be a mixed bag. We were happy with the service we got, but because ADT has a network of dealers nationwide, some users we interviewed have had bad experiences.

Lastly, watch out for the contract terms. If you see yourself moving soon or if you’re not sure you can hold up your end of the three-year contract, ADT might not be the one for you. There is a cancellation fee — a hefty one — and the moving policy could be more customer-friendly.

SimpliSafe Pricing

SimpliSafe is one of those DIY companies that are cheaper than ADT. The catch is you’ll have to purchase the system upfront or sign up for financing with a maximum repayment term of 24 months. In comparison, ADT and Vivint offer equipment financing up to 60 months. SimpliSafe is cheaper in the long run, but expect the first- and second-year ownership cost to be higher than ADT.

To give you a sense of how much SimpliSafe costs, take a look at the premade packages available on SimpliSafe’s website below. Keep in mind, those are regular prices. SimpliSafe often runs deals that mark prices down by up to 60 percent.

On top of budget-friendly equipment, SimpliSafe offers affordable professional monitoring. It starts at $19.99 for the Standard Plan but we highly recommend the $29.99 Fast Protect plan for its high-end features and extensive video security.

SimpliSafe Equipment and Features

Setting a pin on the SimpliSafe keypad.

SimpliSafe became known for being a simple, DIY option, but in all the years we’ve been testing it (since 2010), we’ve come to appreciate its innovative spirit. That’s especially true now that it has added a bunch of new cutting-edge features to its Fast Protect monitoring plan. For about a buck per day ($29.99 per month), SimpliSafe will monitor your security system, give you cloud storage for up to 10 security cameras, and offer you Live Guard Protection, Alarm Texts, and video verification.

Alarm Texts and video verification are similar to ADT’s SMART Monitoring. What truly stands out is Live Guard Protection. If you have a Smart Alarm indoor camera — a newer version of the SimpliCam indoor camera we reviewed — SimpliSafe will access its live video and two-way audio to respond to alarms. Agents will be able to speak directly to the intruder. They will let the intruder know they’re being recorded and that police are on the way.

In a recent press release, SimpliSafe also announced it’s bringing Live Guard Protection to its outdoor cameras too. This time, with a new smart twist: facial recognition. When the outdoor camera detects someone approaching, it uses AI to see if that someone matches the profile of one of the registered house members. If it doesn’t, the camera initiates Live Guard Protection and starts a two-way audio link with the monitoring center. This feature is even better than Smart Alarm’s Live Guard Protection, in our opinion, because it has the potential to stop break-ins before they even happen. Just note that it’s not available to all users yet. Only select early access participants are able to use the feature for now.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“I am a big supporter of the ethical uses of artificial intelligence in security and crime prevention, and facial recognition is a fantastic option for homeowners. I had a case where a home security camera was able to record one of our suspects with an unidentified young girl. We were able to use facial recognition on the girl and identified her as a missing person who had an alert for being sex trafficked. This finding was crucial, not only in recovering the missing girl but in proving our suspect was trafficking young women.”

Our Experience with SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe is the original DIY company, so even though it now offers professional installation options, we knew we could handle it all ourselves and save a bit of cash in the process. The whole thing took no more than 45 minutes, thanks to SimpliSafe’s streamlined, user-friendly instructions. About 30 of those 45 minutes were spent wiring the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro to our front door, and there’s really no way to shorten that part of the process.

Once we had everything installed, SimpliSafe kindly gave us three days to test the system out in practice mode. Basically, we received timely alerts through the app, but the monitoring center didn’t alert emergency services. Think of it like training wheels while you learn to use your system. And three days was enough time. By that point, we knew enough to avoid mistakes and we were ready to go into full-on professional monitoring mode.

Installing one of my SimpliSafe entryway sensors.

How did it all go?

The sensors were snappy in detecting possible intrusions and sending alerts. There was a 30-second entry delay. This is standard with most security systems, but you can customize it in the app. We recommend setting it to only 10 to 15 seconds if the keypad is close to your door. Better yet, get a key fob and use it to disarm the system before entering your house.

In terms of response times, we commend SimpliSafe’s monitoring center. They sent us Alarm Texts within 15 seconds of being triggered during our break-in simulations. And that’s with the entry delay set to 10 seconds. Alert phone calls came in about 30 to 45 seconds. Here’s the full alerting process.

1. A sensor is tripped; it alerts the base station after the entry delay.
2. The base station notifies the monitoring center.
3. The monitoring center sends an Alarm Text, through which you can confirm or cancel the alarm.
4. If you don’t respond in about 15 seconds, the monitoring center calls your primary emergency contact numbers one after the other until someone answers.
5. They’ll ask you to verify the alarm. If you confirm it, they’ll send the police right away.
6. If no one answers or if you’re not sure if the alarm is real, they’ll still send the police to be sure your home is protected.

Keep in mind that that’s the alerting process for the $29.99 Fast Protect plan. If you go with the $19.99 Standard Plan, SimpliSafe will skip the third step and go straight away to calling your phone. The average response time is 40 to 50 seconds, accounting for the 10-second entry delay we set.

SimpliSafe worked pretty much as expected. It’s certainly not a perfect home security system. We’d like to see more outdoor security camera options from SimpliSafe. And what’s with that push-button control panel? Most systems these days have sleek touch-screen panels. But overall, the flexibility, affordability and fast response time of SimpliSafe makes it a good pick. Add to that the fact that it’s a security system that doesn’t require contracts.

Vivint Pricing

If you thought ADT was expensive, you’re going to want to brace yourself for Vivint’s pricing. ADT’s cheapest package costs $499. Vivint’s cheapest package costs $100 more. If you start comparing the price of individual equipment pieces, the differences are even more extreme. Vivint’s security cameras are some of the priciest we’ve seen anywhere. Take a look:

As we like to say, you can’t just look at price when you’re deciding whether or not to invest in a home security company. You have to think in terms of value. Vivint’s prices are more than justified by unique features like AI person detection and something the company calls Smart Deter (we get into that below). Maybe you can’t afford Vivint – we can’t. You can’t say these systems aren’t worth the money, though.

And when it comes to prices, the news isn’t all bad. Vivint requires professional monitoring, but monthly fees start at the reasonable price of $39.99. That’s more than SimpliSafe and ADT, but not a lot more.

Vivint Equipment and Features

Vivint offers just about any piece of home security equipment you could want, from entry sensors to smoke detectors. If you’re going to sign up with a high-tech home security company, though, you might as well take advantage of the most high-tech pieces of equipment.

Vivint’s Smart Hub is both the heart and brains of the Vivint system. Again, there’s resemblance here to ADT’s smart hub, but only a resemblance. Vivint’s version offers far more functionality, like the ability to view live security camera feeds. Most importantly, though, it controls the entire system, from connecting with Vivint’s sensors to listening for carbon monoxide alerts. It also communicates to the outside world, ensuring the Vivint monitoring center always knows what’s happening at your home. Plus, it features two-way audio, so monitors can talk with you directly in the event of an emergency.

Vivint’s security cameras are equally impressive. Their Smart Deter features employ a combination of lights and alarms to deter anyone who might be looking to cause trouble. Don’t start thinking this is just motion detection by another name. Smart Deter knows exactly how long someone has been on your lawn, so it can distinguish between neighbors and genuine threats, and you can customize it so it notices exactly what you tell it to notice, nothing more, nothing less. Try that with a plain old motion detector.

Our Vivint Experience

Vivint is no DIY system. We had an installer from the company named Don install it. He performed the job so proficiently, we named Vivint one of the top pro-installed security systems.

Following the installation, the first thing that jumped out to us was how well Vivint seems to have mastered the art of automating homes. We had a ton of options to customize our system and how it responds to us. We got to set a schedule for automatically arming and disarming the system; we programmed our cameras to record based on sensor triggers. We even got our thermostat to adjust on its own depending on whether we’re home or away. It wasn’t hard at all to automate, either. We used the Vivint app for the most part where we were able to set triggers and actions, kind of like with IFTTT.

That’s not to say Vivint sacrifices security for flashy AI and smart-home features. It’s quite the opposite. Those Vivint automations allowed us to use the system more efficiently and improved our security too. Vivint’s sensors didn’t just send alerts; they also triggered automations designed to deter crime. For example, we set our living room motion sensor to turn on the living room lights when it detects movement while in Away mode. That way, the lights would surprise the burglars and (hopefully!) send them packing. We couldn’t do that with our SimpliSafe system because again, it doesn’t work with smart-home devices.

Those automations are in addition to Vivint’s normal alarm response, which was pretty standard. The alarm calls came in about 30 to 45 seconds on average, but alarm texts averaged less than 10 seconds. Of all the systems offering text alerts (e.g., ADT, SimpliSafe, Alder, and Cove), Vivint was the fastest we tested.

Vivint Text Notifications

The two-way audio link to the monitoring center via the Vivint Smart Hub was also a nice touch. You won’t have to pull your phone out of your pocket to cancel a false alarm; simply give the agent your verbal passcode. Make sure everyone in your household knows the passcode. Vivint is strict about that, as it should be. If it’s a real alarm, on the other hand, the voice coming from the Vivint Smart Hub has a good chance of scaring burglars away.

Cove Pricing

A good bit of Cove’s popularity has to do with price. As a starting point, Cove’s everyday costs are pretty affordable. On top of this, though, you can almost always find the company running some deal or other, often for as much as 50 to 65 percent off. $500 systems for just $175. Those kinds of prices put home security within anyone’s reach. And we know, it’s a bit of a tactic. That system you get for $175 probably isn’t worth $500. It’s a darn good system, though, for a darn good price.

Here’s Cove’s regular pricing for its equipment.

Cove Equipment and Features

Starting the setup process on the Cove control panel.

Cove equipment is all solid, if not necessarily noteworthy. Everything does what it’s supposed to, and it seems built to last. We would be remiss, though, if we didn’t spend time talking about Cove’s control panel, since it is unique.

Burglars are always looking for new ways to outsmart home security systems. One of their recent inventions is the crash-and-smash technique. Essentially, they try to destroy your control panel as soon as they’re inside, hoping to deactivate the entire system. This actually works on a lot of systems. Control panels with built-in keypads usually serve as the hub for all the system’s communication. Take it out, and a house is yours.

To help combat this technique, Cove separates the hub and keypad into two devices. The keypad controls the system, but it doesn’t communicate with the Cove monitoring center. Even if you take it out, you’re not going to disable the system’s ability to do its job. You can still install your keypad near the door, so it’s easy to operate your system on the way in and out. Tuck the hub somewhere discreet, though, and you’re protected even if thieves take out the keypad.

It’s also worth pointing out that the hub uses dual-path communication. It can send alert signals off of your internet connection or the built-in cellular chip, but Cove recommends you keep both lines active. That way, when one is down, the other takes over. That’s why Cove is one of the top cellular security systems.

Our Cove Experience

After taking it for a test ride, we can even say that Cove definitely has the potential to give industry giants like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint a run for their money, with money being the operative word. Unlike SimpliSafe, there’s no option with Cove to self-monitor. However, professional monitoring is just $17.99 to $27.99 per month, lower than Simplisafe’s Fast Protect monitoring. And Cove’s price point is a full $32.00 less than Frontpoint.

We’re also pretty high on Cove’s DIY process, which we found even easier than SimpliSafe’s. Our only complaint was the hub needing an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet. It works without an internet connection thanks to the hub’s cellular chip, but if you want the dual-path communication we mentioned earlier, a wired connection is necessary. Other than that, the setup went smoothly.

Nothing immediately jumped out to us when we got to testing the system. The sensors detected activity as they should; the Cove Hub and Alarm Panel’s built-in sirens were just loud enough. Plus, the cellular and internet connection kept the system online day in and day out. It’s a simple security system.

We do have a note on the alarm process though. Cove’s monitoring partner is RapidSOS, and they have a platform that automatically and digitally relays information to 911 in emergency situations. That, in our opinion, is faster, more reliable, and more accurate than having a monitoring agent verbally relay information to dispatch operators.

RapidSOS didn’t affect how quickly Cove contacted us. That process took about 40 seconds, which is the industry average. Where speed really matters, though, is in terms of how fast emergency personnel respond. We haven’t come across another system that offers this feature. How fast was it, in the end? If you take a look at our complete Cove review, you’ll find that police were on site in 15 minutes. We even ended up paying a fine for a false alarm. The point is, RapidSOS is definitely as good as Cove claims it is.

The police were called to our place during one of our break-in simulations.

Alder Pricing

Like Vivint, Alder likes to keep its pricing information close to the vest. Head over to the company’s website, and you’ll find nothing about Alder’s pricing. Vivint’s excuse is that every system is bespoke, so it’s impossible to price a system. Alder’s excuse is that it charges different prices in different states. Not sure how we feel about that, especially if we’re in one of the pricier states.

We spent a little time on the phone with an Alder representative, though, so we can tell you one or two important pieces of information about the company’s pricing. For instance, Alder doesn’t charge upfront equipment fees, at least if you’re buying a base package. You get the system for free. The catch is that you have to sign up for a three-year monitoring plan. Of course, not everyone’s up for that kind of long-term commitment, but keep in mind that both ADT and Vivint require three-year plans, and of the three, only Alder gives you equipment with no up-front costs.

Alder’s touchscreen control panel up and running.

Of course, monitoring with Alder is a bit pricey – between $40 to $55. The company has to make its equipment money up somehow, though, and honestly, $40 – $55 is right around what Vivint charges per month for monitoring. If you’re interested in comparing these two systems further, we encourage you to read our complete Vivint vs. Alder.

Alder Equipment and Features

How do we say this diplomatically? Alder takes a grounded approach to its equipment. Hubs, sensors, and cameras are certainly a lot less flashy than the devices you get from a company like Vivint. The touch screen control panel looks OK. It sort of resembles a Nintendo Switch, which isn’t necessarily a bad aesthetic. In terms of technology, you can use voice prompts to arm and disarm your system. If you get much beyond voice commands, though, the system is pretty light in terms of features. Of course, features are less important than how well a system protects your home and your family. Alder is far more interested in the latter than the former. Plus, as we mentioned before, all those extra Vivint features cost a lot of money.

We did appreciate the two-way voice in the alarm panel itself. Sure, a loud siren is a good way to scare off burglars, but hearing a real human voice while you’re trying to quietly ransack a house is scarier. Besides that, it allows you to answer alarm calls even when your phone is not with you, as long as the alarm panel is within your earshot.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“I remember responding to a call where the monitoring agency watched a suspect break into a home. While the suspect was rummaging through the kitchen, the agency remoted in and told the suspect the police were on their way. The suspect dropped everything and ran outside, but unfortunately he disappeared before we could arrive. Because the monitoring agent was able to speak to the suspect, the suspect got scared and left everything he was going to steal.”

Our Alder Experience

Like ADT, Alder has made moves to become a more DIY home security system, and it seems to be adapting successfully so far. During our most recent tests, all the equipment arrived ready for self-setup. Devices were pre-programmed, so we didn’t have to bother making connections between all the pieces. We turned on the main panel, double-checked all the sensors were connected, and placed it all where it would be most effective. All in all, it was one of the better DIY installs we’ve done – not just fast but easy. We got it done in under 30 minutes, not that we’re trying to break any records.

Once we got it installed, we set up the system’s professional monitoring. By the way, that part of the service is required. Alder doesn’t work as a self-monitored alarm like SimpliSafe does. That said, just like Vivint, Alder will contact you in three ways in case of an emergency:

1. Text alerts: Less than 15 seconds after alarm trigger
2. Alarm call to your primary emergency contacts: In 22 seconds on average (the fastest was 18 seconds; the slowest was 27 seconds in our experience)
3. Two-way audio via the control panel: In 35 seconds on average

We didn’t quite see Alder’s advertised 3.4-second response time in 2017, but we’d categorize Alder’s response as “faster than average.

In addition to that, there were a few nifty features we noticed. For example, audible entry announcements. The control panel announces when a door or window opens (and you make the voice masculine or feminine). That’s a nice warning feature that doubles as a burglar deterrent. Another example is the activity log, which shows your sensors’ 200 most recent activities (e.g., front door opened, backdoor closed, movement in the living room, etc.). We found it as a great way to monitor the comings and goings, especially when we had relatives over.

A demonstration of how to disarm the alarm.

Alder was reliable too. The door sensors in particular were very sensitive. Even a slight opening of doors would set off the alarms. The motion sensors were sometimes off though. Alder advertises that it has a 45-foot range with a 90-degree viewing angle. But sometimes, it doesn’t detect us when we’re coming from the other end of the hallway — roughly 40 feet from where the sensor sits.

We also learned that Alder is fully cellular. The panel doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi; it uses a cellular chip to communicate alerts. Cellular security systems are the most reliable, in our experience. That said, it would have been better if it had another way to communicate. Cellular signal rarely gets lost, but it still does from time to time.

Overall, Alder proved to be reliable and fast. It’s a bit simplistic, unlike Vivint and ADT that offers advanced customizations and automations. But we see it as one of Alder’s more attractive qualities rather than a weakness.

Frontpoint Pricing

There are two sides to Frontpoint’s pricing. On the hardware side, Frontpoint is an affordable option. The smallest equipment package costs only $129. Even the priciest package with 14 pieces of equipment costs only $419. That’s cheaper than ADT’s most basic package ($499). And again, you can add pieces to your package so you don’t wind up buying equipment you won’t use. Plus, Frontpoint also offers equipment financing with repayment terms up to 36 months. Not bad, huh?

Here are Frontpoint’s equipment packages. Keep in mind, you can customize them with additional components if needed.

Frontpoint’s monitoring costs are pricey. The company charges $49.99 per month. That’s expensive no matter how you look at it, a full $10 more than Vivint, and $20 more than SimpliSafe’s most expensive plan. But that’s the other thing – Frontpoint’s plan is one-size-fits-all. Even if you’re only monitoring a small apartment, you’ll still pay $49.99. Frontpoint also requires you to sign up for a 36-month subscription.

Frontpoint Equipment and Features

A closeup of the Frontpoint Keypad

Speaking of the $49.99 monitoring plan, Frontpoint’s one and only subscription unlocks all the features Frontpoint offers. That includes a unique feature called geofencing. Essentially, Frontpoint can use your phone’s location to automate things like arming and disarming your alarm, locking and unlocking your doors, and setting your smart thermostat. You might think that’s a common feature in smart security systems, but Frontpoint was the only system we tested that made geofencing work.

Geofencing was far from the only automation option Frontpoint offers though. It draws comparisons with Vivint, our top smart security pick. The only issue is that Frontpoint is more app-reliant. The analog keypad doesn’t really offer any smart-home functionalities. Unless your Frontpoint system comes with a touch-screen keypad ($149), you’re stuck with the Frontpoint app for smart-home controls. The Frontpoint app isn’t bad at all, but it’s not as streamlined for automation as Vivint’s app either.

Our Frontpoint Experience

Frontpoint offers a fresh take on DIY security with innovative, high-tech features like geofencing and home automation capacities. It’s the first DIY option that made this list with real home-automation capabilities. SimpliSafe, Alder and Cove all have smart-home integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant, but none of them offered customizable smart home features like Frontpoint did.

Thanks to automations, we were able to get more out of our Frontpoint sensors. They served as triggers, allowing us to create automation rules, such as:

• “Start an indoor camera recording when the front door opens.”
• “Lock the front door when the living room motion sensor detects movement while in Away mode.”
• “Start an indoor camera recording when the keypad is used to disarm (to show who disarmed the system).”
• “Turn the bedroom TV smart plug when the living room motion sensor detects movement in Home or Away mode.”
• “Lock the front door smart lock when the door sensor detects ‘door closed.”

The home screen of the Frontpoint app makes it easy to set the system to different modes.

Of course, Frontpoint made sure we were covered 24/7 with professional monitoring. Its response time was comparable to Vivint (30 to 45 seconds on average). But text alerts were similar to ADT, where other household members can chime in. We liked that much better than Vivint’s more simplistic (though, admittedly, very fast) approach to text alerts.

We were a lot less happy about some of Frontpoint’s company policies. First up, there’s the three-year monitoring contract we had to sign. And when we say contract, we mean contract. It’s no easy task getting out of it. Then, there’s the relatively expensive $49.99 monthly monitoring fee. Keep in mind that SimpliSafe charges $20 less, and you can get video verification services. On top of that, Frontpoint required us to undergo a credit check when we asked to finance our equipment. Luckily, everything was in order, and we still could have signed up and paid for the equipment upfront. Still, that’s a lot of hoops to jump through for home security.

Brinks Pricing

Brinks isn’t transparent with regards to its pricing. You have to call a customer service agent to get a quote. The two times we called, the different sales agents suggested different package configurations and pricing. Not sure what that was about. We went with the second agent’s offer because it seemed more affordable, but generally, Brinks’ pricing is still on the higher end. The lowest-priced option is reasonable at $199. The mid-tier package costs $349, which, again, isn’t terrible. Neither of these packages really provides more than minimal coverage, though. Meanwhile, Brinks’s most expensive offering costs a whopping $1,099. That’s just the mid-tier package with an outdoor camera and video doorbell included, which seems steep.

If you’re interested in Brinks, we recommend sticking with the mid-tier option if you want to get the most value for your money. As for monitoring, we paid $39.99 per month. That was the only option available. And while it’s cheaper than Frontpoint, it’s still more expensive than the likes of ADT and SimpliSafe.

Overall, we’re not so thrilled about Brinks’ pricing and its lack of transparency, but it’s a decent option, especially if you’re gunning for a system with lots of integrations.

Brinks Equipment and Features

Unboxing our Brinks home security system

Speaking of integrations, Brinks actually offers equipment from Alarm.com, which is known in the industry for offering smart home-friendly equipment.

It all starts with the touch-screen control panel — the hub of the system. Besides Brinks sensors, the control panel works with Z-Wave devices. Z-Wave is a smart-home wireless protocol that enables cross-brand integrations. The fact that Brinks works with Z-Wave makes it compatible with thousands of other Z-Wave-enabled third-party devices.

On top of that, Brinks’ hub integrates directly with Alexa and Google Home. Many security systems work with Alexa, but it’s rare to find one that works as well with Google Assistant as Brinks. Through the integration, we were able to control the system’s arming modes with our voices as well as some of the smart-home components we connected to the control panel.

Our Brinks Experience

The knock on Brinks is that it’s merely an ADT clone. And, in fact, there is some truth to that. If you think about it, though, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Brinks, for instance, offers solid equipment and 24/7 professional monitoring. There’s also an excellent app that gives you control over how your system operates.

On the other hand, Brinks employs another time-honored ADT strategy: requiring customers to invest in three-year contracts. We can tell you from experience that canceling a home security contract isn’t the easiest experience, and Brinks’ hot-and-cold customer service does nothing to help matters. We’d really only recommend Brinks if you’re sure you can stay with it for the next three years. Brinks also mimics ADT when it comes to requiring professional installation.

Checking out my Brinks wireless motion sensor

For all its attempts to ape the ADT model, Brinks isn’t ADT. Brinks’ service is good, for instance, but ADT’s is definitely a cut above. And while Brinks monitoring service is certainly comparable to ADT’s, it’s a bit slower. In fact, it’s even slower than the industry average. In our own tests, we found response times of between 40 and 60 seconds. We found the same type of discrepancy when we compared the Brinks and ADT apps. The Brinks app allows you to control your system, and it includes an easy, straightforward interface it doesn’t offer quite as many functions as you get with ADT.

Why choose Brinks, then? Simple: Brinks offers a lower price than ADT. If you don’t need the extra little amenities, a lower price is always a good thing.

Ring Alarm Pricing

As with most home security companies, Ring Alarm’s pricing involves two separate considerations. As a starting point, you have to pay for equipment. You can buy devices up-front and add to your system as your needs grow, or you may qualify for an Affirm payment plan. That plan requires a $500 investment and many of Ring’s packages cost less than that.

Here’s a complete rundown of Ring’s various kits. Again, though, it’s easy to put together a system a la carte.

The other half of the pricing equation is monitoring. As with SimpliSafe, though, you have choices. You can go with professional monitoring for $20 a month, $18 if you sign up for a full year. You can also self-monitor for free, though. You get real-time alerts and access to live video footage. Or you can opt for something in between by paying for video storage without monitoring. Five dollars a month pays for one camera. $10 pays for an unlimited number of cameras.

Ring Alarm Equipment and Features

The Ring motion detector installed and ready for action

Ring Alarm is pretty lean in terms of equipment, but Ring makes up for that with its extensive catalog of video monitoring equipment. There are four different lines of Ring cameras and eight versions of Ring Video Doorbells.

We like to think of Ring Alarm as Ring’s indoor-focused security system. It comes complete with most sensors you’ll need to detect break-ins, like motion sensors and entry sensors. There are also third-party smoke alarms compatible with the hub.

For outdoor security, the Ring cameras take charge. We especially like the Ring Spotlight Cam — a line of outdoor cameras with built-in motion-sensing spotlights. The lights turn on automatically when they detect movement, providing security lighting that deters burglars.

Our Ring Alarm Experience

We’ve been testing Ring cameras long before Ring Alarm hit the shelves. By the time we first tested their security system, we already had Ring cameras installed. That made the DIY setup a lot easier; the whole process took under 20 minutes to install. That said, if you’re also installing security cameras and video doorbells, give yourself at least a couple hours to finish the setup. Some cameras and doorbells require hardwiring.

Our favorite aspect of Ring is the app. It ties the security system and cameras together. (Rightly so, because Ring doesn’t offer a touch-screen keypad.) The app will be your primary control center.

Scrolling through the homepage of the Ring app

Rest assured that the Ring app isn’t difficult to master. It’s the same app Ring has been using since 2013, and it has received a ton of updates and refinements since. Ring has been doing a good job so far. The app offers a lot of features, from quick arming modes to deep customizations in the settings page. But it still provides user-friendly navigation and controls. It’s right up there with ADT’s app in terms of user-friendliness.

abode Pricing

abode’s equipment pricing is in line with DIY options like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint. Take note, though: abode keeps prices low by including less equipment in its packages. Abode’s iota All-in-One system costs $379.99. That’s $100 more than SimpliSafe’s Starter package, and the Starter comes with two more entry sensors than the iota and a keypad. On the plus side, abode does include the first month of professional monitoring, a $24.99 value, for free.

Speaking of professional monitoring, abode offers only one option for the service. However, there’s a premium self-monitoring option that unlocks features like home automation and video recording for much cheaper.

abode Equipment and Features

Another angle of the sleek iota All-in-One hub that has a built-in security camera.

The reason we picked the iota All-in-One hub is that it comes with a built-in security camera and motion sensor. That’s why it’s called an “All-in-One” hub. Besides that, it’s also an all-in-one hub because it can communicate with other devices using the most popular smart-home protocols and smart platforms. It works with:

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• Apple HomeKit
• IFTTT
• Zigbee
• Z-Wave

While that may not seem like a very long list, abode integrates with more smart-home devices than other systems. Take SimpliSafe’s integrations for example. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant. That’s it.

abode’s Zigbee and Z-Wave integrations alone allow it to work with thousands of other brands. It can integrate with brands like Kwikset and Yale for smart access control, Nest and ecobee for smart temperature control, and First Alert for smart fire protection.

Our abode Experience

There’s no question that abode’s equipment setup is easy and straightforward. We had our entire system set up in under 15 minutes, something of a record for us. That only got us set up physically, though. When it came to the smart-home side of things, we had significantly more trouble.

For example, when we tried to connect our Nest Thermostat to abode, abode’s app had us log in to our Nest account. We did that, but abode didn’t initially recognize our thermostat. We had to reboot the system and restart the app to fix the issue. All in all, we spent half a day setting up since we have a ton of smart home devices.

The good news is that once we got things set up, the system worked like a dream. As we mentioned, abode works with both Alex and Google Home. However, we decided to use abode’s own home automation platform, CUE. We can report that it is every bit as effective as those other platforms, especially in terms of home security. It comes with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that gave us total control over the system. With CUE, we were able to customize automation rules, create schedules, and set up routines. We’d certainly put it up against Vivint’s app, one reason we recommend abode as a DIY alternative to Vivint.

Setting up automations in the abode app

Since our iota Hub came with a built-in camera, we made sure to put a little extra thought on where we put it. Good thing it has Wi-Fi, unlike the Cove Hub we discussed earlier that requires an Ethernet cable. We ultimately placed it in our living room, on a shelf about 4 feet above the ground. That gave the camera just the right vantage point.

abode doesn’t offer a lot of sensors, nor does it have any camera besides the indoor/outdoor Abode Cam 2 and the iota’s built-in one. Not that abode is lacking on the equipment front. Even the trio of motion sensors, entry sensors, and glass break sensors can be enough for most homes. But if you need more than that, we hate to break it to you: abode isn’t the best option. It even lacks a smoke alarm and instead offers a listening device to detect the sound of your existing smoke alarms.

Deep Sentinel Pricing

At this point, you might be saying to yourself, less equipment and the same level of security as other companies? Where do I sign up? Here’s the thing, though. Even with less equipment, Deep Sentinel costs a good bit more than most other systems on the market.

First, let’s talk about the equipment. One wireless outdoor camera, a rechargeable battery, and a hub cost $499. The hub can accommodate up to six cameras, but each additional camera costs $200. That’s on the expensive side of security camera pricing, even if you take into account that Deep Sentinel devices all include the latest AI features. Keep in mind, for instance, that a Google Nest Cam (battery), which is capable of facial recognition and person detection, costs $179.

The Deep Sentinel Camera mounted outside my home

That’s for starters. You also have to take account of Deep Sentinel’s monthly monitoring cost; you can’t purchase a system without signing up for a one-year contract. The monthly fee depends on how many cameras you have. It starts, though, at $100 for one-camera monitoring. You then pay $50 more for each camera you add. So for a six-camera system, the monitoring service would cost you a whopping $350 — per month!

Deep Sentinel Equipment and Features

A closeup of the Deep Sentinel hub

Of course, these prices beg the question, why exactly is Deep Sentinel so expensive? The answer has to do with its unique approach to monitoring. Well, it’s not so unique now. Still, only a few companies offer it. It all starts with the cameras that can detect motion and tell apart a person’s movement versus other moving objects. There’s nothing so special about that, though. A lot of security cameras have person detection.

What sets Deep Sentinel apart is that when it detects human movement, it notifies the homeowner and the monitoring center manned by real human guards. Most cameras would notify only the homeowner. Upon receiving the alert, the guards will check the live feed. If they see a real threat, they’ll call the police and engage the intruder with the camera’s two-way talk.

If you noticed, that’s similar to how SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan handles the Smart Alarm camera. The difference is that Smart Alarm is an indoor camera; Deep Sentinel allows camera placement outdoors only. That’s for your privacy, and we think it’s a better approach than Fast Protect (more expensive, but better).

Our Deep Sentinel Experience

We got to test out Deep Sentinel, but we didn’t test it for as long as the other systems because of the cost. That said, we saw that the monitoring service works as advertised. The few times we did simulated break-ins, we heard the surveillance guard’s loud booming voice coming from the cameras. We wished the speakers were louder, especially for homes that are near busy streets, but they are audible enough from about 5 feet to 10 feet.

Take note that Deep Sentinel cameras are DIY-ready. And since the cameras are wire-free and battery-operated, they are a breeze to install. Just make sure to fasten them to the wall with screws – the cameras themselves are eye-catching and expensive.

One thing that troubled us, though: Deep Sentinel only offers protection against burglars. What are we supposed to do in the event of a fire? We can live without an indoor camera, but we like the security of knowing smoke, CO, and flood detectors are keeping us safe from other types of home emergencies.