Keep Your Home Safe With the Best Wireless Security Systems

Best Overall

SimpliSafe Essentials Security System Starter Kit

4.7

View On Simplisafe.com

SimpliSafe's Essentials Security System Starter Kit is one of the best security ecosystems you can get on the market, and that's for a few reasons. Perhaps the most obvious reason is just how sleek and modern the system is. The unique cylindrical hub features a pleasant glowing ring and serves as your main speaker interface for the system. This kit also comes with a high-quality keypad with its own display to ensure easy control right when you walk in the door. 

The three included entry sensors and the motion sensor are also some of the sleekest we've seen and should fit nicely into most home aesthetics. Because the sensors are all installed using adhesive strips, it's best to be sure you find a flat surface to mount these units onto for proper operation. Shahidi recommends seeking out some of the slimmer adhesive tape kits that SimpliSafe offers if entry sensors seem too large for your doorframes. 

Good looks aside, the functionality and simplicity that SimpliSafe provides mean that you can be up and running quickly. The guided installation through the companion app is intuitive and beginner-friendly, and thanks to the display on the keypad, you know at a glance what state your system is in. The sensors also work really well, rejecting false alerts from pets using a built-in algorithm and ensuring that alerts are detected quickly and reliably. SimpliSafe has also spent a great deal of time on encryption to ensure that your home's alarm state and data are as safe as your home itself.

Choosing SimpliSafe comes with some trade-offs. While the system is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, it works best through the SimpliSafe app. If you're all in on one of those ecosystems, integration might not be as seamless. Also, while the SimpliSafe active monitoring is world-class and contract-free, it isn't the cheapest subscription available. Overall, though, the Essentials kit earns our top spot for sheer functionality and simplicity.

Price at time of publish: $275

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes  | Package Options: 5, 4 pieces to 14 pieces | Monthly Fees: Yes (with home monitoring) | Smart Home Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home | What’s Included: Hub, keypad, door/window sensors, motion sensor}

Best Budget

Wyze Home Security System Sense v2 Core Kit

View On Amazon

The Wyze Home Security System is great for budget-minded homeowners who want reliable, professional monitoring. The foundation of this system is the Sense hub—a smaller speaker unit with antennas that establishes the connections to all your sensors. This kit comes with two door sensors, one motion sensor, a keypad, and a Wyze Cam v3 to add some visuals to your setup without the need for professional installation. 

Nearly every component in this package installs easily with the included adhesive strips. You can install the Wyze camera with simple drywall anchors or the adhesive metal plate for magnetic installation (or you could pop the camera onto a metal surface in your home). Wyze works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and the Wyze app has many scheduling and automation features.

One feature that sets the Wyze system apart is the 24/7 monitoring subscription with active monitoring by security startup Noonlight. If you sign up for about $10 a month, you will get a very similar experience to what you’d receive with more established, expensive offerings from SimpliSafe or ADT. You can even add moisture detection meters or a humidity sensor to monitor your home’s climate during long trips. While the Wyze system is easy to set up, you may have to reset the Wi-Fi to overcome some software glitches after long periods of non-use. But because the kit comes at an affordable price point with one of the cheapest monitoring service subscriptions around, Wyze is a compelling option for those on a budget.

Price at time of publish: $130

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes | Package Options: Starter kit (6 pieces) or build your own | Monthly Fees: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Google Home, Amazon Alexa | What’s Included: Sense Hub, keypad controller, 2 door sensors, motion sensor, Wyze Cam v3}

Best Professionally Monitored

Blue by ADT Starter System

View On Bluebyadt.com

For many homeowners, a DIY security system is only as good as the professional home monitoring that supports it, and few brands on the market command quite the track record of ADT. While ADT’s core systems typically need to be installed by an expert with a wired-in base panel, Blue by ADT delivers a series of DIY systems still supported by ADT’s long-tenured professional monitoring. 

This starter kit is one of the most basic systems we’re featuring on the list—only including two door/window sensors and the Blue smart home hub—but it’s one of the most affordable ways to get you into the ADT ecosystem. The system features the usual specs for a smart home-compatible system, including a dedicated app for scheduling and remote operation, reliable sensors, and a well-built hub that you can place right at your entryway to arm and disarm your system quickly. 

While the standard sensor offering is limited to two, both are easy to install using the included adhesive tapes. We also love the expandability of the Blue system, with options to include motion, flood, and temperature sensors and dedicated cameras both inside and out. Additionally, the Blue system allows you to tap into ADT’s professional monitoring subscription service without needing a long contract like you’ll find on ADT’s core lineup. That’s because Blue’s 24/7 monitoring features the same active monitoring—with real support staff calling authorities in the case of a breach—for just $20 per month and no long contractual commitment.

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes | Package Options: 4, 2 to 17 pieces | Monthly Fees: Yes (with monitoring) | Smart Home Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home | What’s Included: Smart home hub and keypad, 2 door/window sensors, 30 days of free professional monitoring}

Best Camera System

Arlo Ultra 2 Wireless Security Camera

View On Amazon

There are two schools of thought about full-on security systems: the multi-pronged sensor-based system, or one run entirely by camera. If you're interested in the latter, Arlo is one of the best brands on the market for wireless home cameras, and the Arlo Ultra 2's three-camera package brings the company's marquee features to your whole-home security. 

The three cameras use a central hub to connect, meaning their Wi-Fi connectivity is much more stable than an integrated connection is for other cameras. The 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) resolution delivers images at higher resolution than standard HD cameras, so the feed is crisp and detailed. The solid low-light performance also makes difference in the scenes you can capture at night. Each camera is indoor/outdoor compatible, so you can cover whatever areas you're most interested in protecting. The cameras are also very easy to install, thanks to flat bases for simple shelf usage or included magnetic camera mounts to place them on the side of your house. 

The system does not feature a 24/7 monitoring option, so you won't have an active dispatch company monitoring for alerts. However, the app offers some clever notification features, including tapping a button to call emergency services automatically. The Arlo Ultra 2 requires a considerably bigger investment than options from Wyze or SimpliSafe, including an additional fee for cloud video storage. Though the system is pricey, it's an excellent choice for homeowners who want remote monitoring and the ability to review security camera footage.

Price at time of publish: $885

_{Professional Monitoring: No | Package Options: Build your own configuration | Monthly Fees: Yes (with video cloud storage) | Smart Home Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit | What’s Included: Arlo hub, 3 Arlo 4K security cameras}

Best Contract-Free

Cove 5-Piece Home Security System

View On Amazon

While many of the most affordable home security systems come from brands that do more than home security, you can find excellent, security-specific support from brands like Cove. The Cove 5-Piece Home Security System comes with a surprisingly robust starter pack that gives you a variety of sensors to get your infrastructure up and running right away. 

The full-featured touch panel is the central controller of the system and works with a door/window sensor, a motion sensor that won’t get tripped by pets, a flood/temperature sensor to monitor conditions in your home, and a dedicated remote to arm and disarm your system with a touch of a button. In addition to a solid bundle of sensors, the company’s next-level professional monitoring offers incredible flexibility. The base plan offers one free month of monitoring that gives you professional dispatch support during alarm triggers for less than $1 a day, and you can cancel at any time. You can also choose from additional options, including a RapidSOS and a two-way text system for communicating in emergencies.

On the other hand, Cove doesn’t feel quite as sleek as some other, more premium systems, and even though there are several sensors included in this kit, the price feels a bit steep when there aren’t any cameras. However, because the monitoring subscription is cancelable, this system is great for those who don’t want to lock themselves into a long-term contract.

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes | Package Options: 7, 5 to 15 pieces | Monthly Fees: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home | What’s Included: Touchscreen panel, door/window sensor, motion sensor, flood/temperature sensor, dedicated key remote}

Best for Home Automation

Ecobee Smart Security Starter Kit

View On Ecobee.com

Ecobee is known for its highly compatible smart thermostat, and its new Smart Security Starter Kit uses the smart thermostat as the hub so you can keep your smart home functionality fully integrated with your security system. While the Ecobee thermostat features top-notch temperature and condition-monitoring functionality, the security system sensors connect to Ecobee’s 24/7 monitoring to help keep your home safe if intruders cross those entry points. This setup is so powerful because Ecobee’s thermostat already has tremendous connectivity and stability, so it makes a great hub and eliminates the need for a separate security device.

Ecobee uses intelligent geofencing and Wi-Fi functionality to automatically determine when you’re home and when you’re not in an attempt to limit false alarms or (worse yet) forgetting to arm your system. Integration with most smart home setups—including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and even Apple HomeKit—allows you to set more schedules than many other systems. And thanks to Ecobee’s hyper-detailed energy monitoring, you have a lot of data at your disposal. 

If you opt for the Ecobee Smart Camera, you can expand the system to include security camera footage as well. All of these pieces come at a price, and because it’s fairly new, the jury is still out on how reliable the system will be long-term. But if extensive home automation is your goal, this is a great option.

Price at time of publish: $270

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes | Package Options: 4, 4 to 7 pieces | Monthly Fees: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit | What’s Included: Smart hub/thermostat, 2 door/window sensors, motion sensor}

Best Features

Frontpoint Safehouse Pack

View On Amazon

Frontpoint is one of the lesser-known brands on the market for security systems, but when it comes to extra features, the Frontpoint Safehouse Pack is a strong contender for keeping your home safe. In this pack, you’ll find two door/window sensors, a motion sensor, the central hub and keypad to control things, and even a doorbell camera to keep an eye on the front of your house. These inclusions make it a multidimensional offering right out of the box. 

We like the feature set, including solid customization options in the app—such as calendar functions and geofencing—that help ensure the system secures your home based on your schedule. You can take advantage of 24-hour battery backup to ensure the system works during power outages and Frontpoint’s monitoring subscription includes hourly sensor checks so you can be confident that the equipment isn’t faulty. This setup also includes an Allstate-backed identity and financial protection for a bit of added security.

Users have reported some drawbacks. The subscription locks you into a longer contract than some other offerings, so if flexibility is your goal then this system may not be for you. Since Frontpoint isn’t as established as larger companies like SimpliSafe or Amazon, there is potential for less hardware support moving forward, and compatibility and software glitches could be possible. However, if you're looking for a feature-rich DIY security option, the capabilities for the price make this Frontpoint system a strong contender.

Price at time of publish: $120

_{Professional Monitoring: Yes | Package Options: 2, 6 or 9 pieces | Monthly Fees: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Google Home, Amazon Alexa | What’s Included: Smart hub, 2 door/window sensors, motion sensor, keypad, doorbell camera}