Are you in need of a home alarm system but do not know where to start? In this article, we bring you unbiased reviews of the best home security systems available today.
With that said, what may be an appropriate system for you might not be suitable for the next person.
First off, before you buy a home alarm system, you should decide whether you want to install and monitor the feed yourself or have a professional security company install and monitor the feed.
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Frontpoint Home Security System
This alarm system gives the best overall value. It is suitable for 95% of homeowners, and the company offers outstanding customer service in the industry today.
You can choose between a professional installation, or do the installation yourself. In case you decide to do the installation yourself and get stuck, the customer support representative will walk you through the entire process.
Here are the pros and cons of using the Frontpoint Home Security System:
Pros
- Easy DIY installation
- Excellent customer service
- Online ordering and upfront pricing
- It is wireless
- Optional indoor and outdoor cameras
- Environment disaster protection
Cons
- Only one package comes with video streaming
- Faulty equipment
- Lacks a landline option
- Credit card check might increase the costs
- Long-term contract
Frontpoint Home security system offers a 30-day money back guarantee. There is also the smash and crash protection system that sends out an SOS signal to the monitoring center in case an intruder tries to interfere with the control panel.
Better yet, it can be moved from one house to another, which makes it perfect for people renting as well as homeowners.
Vivint Smart Home Security System
This home security is sleek and modern and comes equipped with advanced technology. They have improved their customer care services , and they have the best home automation system. With that said, here is a summary of their pros and cons:
Pros
- Sleek modern equipment
- Same day installation
- Remote access via the smartphone app
- Environmental disaster protection
- 100% wireless system with cellular and landline connections available
- Home automation
- Doorbell camera with two-way voice
- Indoor and outdoor video camera
- Life warranty
Cons
- Vivint can only be installed by a professional
- Long term contract
- The trial period is short
- High monthly costs
Given that this is a high-end home security system, they offer flexible financing options for the equipment. If you are building a smart, eco-friendly home, you can go for Vivint Solar, which is designed to help you offset your bills in an eco-friendly way.
The average cost of monthly monitoring ranges between $30 and $50.
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ADT
This is arguably the most popular home security system on this list. With over 7 million users, you can trust it to protect and monitor your home. ADT has several monitoring centers across the US, and this reduces the chances of being out of range.
Here is a summary of the pros and cons:
Pros
- Wireless and hardwired options available
- Affordable and competitive monthly monitoring rate
- Home automation
- Indoor cameras
- 6-month money back guarantee
- The devices work at home and away
Cons
- It issues a long term contract
- Varying customer service
- Home visits from the ADT technicians
You will get $500 off your insurance deductible if a burglar broke into your home with ADT installed. It has advanced technology that allows you to control the garage, locks, lights, and more from the smartphone app.
However, ADT is designed to be used by people looking to stay in the same place for a long time. ADT is run like a franchise, and for this reason, customer care and support services vary.
Simplisafe
This no-contract system allows DIY installation and protection of your home. It offers the best plan flexibility and DIY protection at affordable prices. This is perfect if you are looking for a monitoring system, especially if you live in a suburban or urban location.
Simplisafe has its pros and cons, which include:
Pros
- Low monthly monitoring rates
- No-long term contracts
- Indoor video security
- Wireless equipment and cellular alerts
- Environmental disaster protection
Cons
- It uses proprietary equipment
- The equipment costs are paid up front
Simplisafe offers a 60-day equipment trial, and this makes it perfect for people on a budget especially renters. Buying the equipment upfront reduces the cost of monitoring, which ranges between $15 and $25.
Link Interactive
This system offers the best value for your money, and it provides flexible home security. Link Interactive is a DIY installation option, and it delivers some of the best equipment available. Here are the pros and cons of using Link Interactive:
Pros
- Easy DIY installation
- Wireless equipment and nor landline required
- Wearable panic button
- Indoor and outdoor cameras
- Home automation
- One year equipment warranty
Cons
- You pay for the equipment upfront
- Long term contract
- No pre-installation available
Link Interactive offers 12-, 24-, and 36-month contracts with a monitoring cost charged between $31 and $41 per month. You also get a 30-day free trial, and you can return it if it does not work for you. If you cancel the contract, you will have to pay 75% of the balance for the remaining period of the contract.
Conclusion
These are the five best home alarm and security systems today. However, for the systems that come with a long-term contract, ensure that you know what you want before signing up.