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For total home coverage with an eye on important access points inside your house, nothing works as well as a complete security system, which includes door, window and motion sensors as well as a plethora of add-ons. After well over 150 hours testing home security systems and every kind of sensor, we’ve selected SimpliSafe’s starter kit as the top choice for a first-time security system, thanks to its flexibility for system expansion and AI-assisted monitoring agents.
If you would rather have a professionally installed system, Comcast Xfinity Home may be your best option (if it’s available where you live). If you want a modular security kit you can easily build out over a couple of years, Vivint is your best choice. We also have an excellent DIY optionwith Ring Alarm — which doesn’t require a contract and sports a relatively affordable subscription plan — plus more picks to suit your specific needs.
We’ve compiled a diverse list of options, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a system that works with your new video doorbell or want a complete package outfitted with sensors for every window, your bound to find what you’re looking for among our top picks for the best security system for your home. Plus, find out what features you should always keep an eye on and which brands didn’t make the cut.
SimpliSafe – Best home security camera system
We’ve tested the SimpliSafe system several times and most recently gave it a review score of 8.5 out of 10, one of our highest ratings for a home security system. If you’re looking for home security — without all the extra Wi-Fi and smart home integrations of the Ring Alarm kit — SimpliSafe’s easy-to-install, easy-to-use DIY system is a great option. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including equipment like security cameras and a very good mix of battery-powered motion detection sensors, all of which performed reliably well in our tests.
Starter kits begin at $280 without sales (though right now several kits are on sale), or you can build a custom alarm system with the exact mix of devices you need. The security company’s monitoring plans start at $10 a month, but you’ll almost certainly want to spring for the $30-a-month professional monitoring service plan, which adds in things like 24/7 live guard protection, whole home monitoring, instant app alerts and faster response times.
In all, it’s one of the best choices for homeowners looking for their first smart home security kit as it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the frequent deals (currently 50% off for some first-time buyers) make it even better.
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd-gen) – Best DIY home security system
Ring offers some excellent home security packages for users who want to take everything into their own hands, from picking out add-ons to choosing just the right spot on the wall. This eight-piece starter kit provides four important sensors, a base station plus a keypad, a motion detector and a range extender for those worried about Wi-Fi. We also like the Pro version of this package, but the second-gen kit is a bit newer and doesn’t force you to use the built-in router (we prefer picking out our own routers).
Amazon’s Ring devices include excellent Alexa support, and DIYers will like the largely intuitive management app (if you’ve set up any smart devices before, these app controls will come easily to you). In addition to direct controls and sensor notifications, users can also switch between home and away modes on the fly. If you decide to expand, almost any Ring product will be compatible including their security cameras and video doorbells, so it’s easy to level up.
Two final important notes about choosing Ring: First, in 2024, Ring officially changed its policy on allowing police to directly request user video footage. Now they listen to such requests only in case of a life-or-death emergency, similar to Google and other brands but a noted improvement from their previous stance.
Second, while Ring is very DIY-friendly, professional monitoring does require the brand’s top-tier subscription for $20 per month. That’s lower than some of our other picks but still pricier than a cloud storage plan would be.
Arlo Home Security System 5-Piece – Best affordable home security system
Arlo’s system, which performed very well in our tests, offers something different from most standard security kits: It uses an interesting type of all-in-one sensor that you can set to perform different tasks depending on where you want to put it. It can sensor motion or when a door is opened, monitor temperature, check for leaks and lots more. With five of them in this package, you can recruit the system to perform a variety of home duties at price lower than nearly any competitor.
Arlo’s plan is necessary if you want something like professional monitoring or 24/7 emergency response, but you can still get a certain level of functionality for free. It also works very well with devices like the Arlo Doorbell and Arlo’s new fob for quickly disarming the system. This is an excellent kit for DIYers who already know what they want out of a home security system but also want the freedom to play around in the future.