Smart Home
Privacy

The best home security systems for any budget in 2023

Protect your apartment, condo, or house on any budget.
By Haley Henschel  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Our Top 4 Picks

SimpliSafe (opens in a new tab)

Our top pick

This industry leader offers well-rounded systems at reasonable prices, with flexible options for monitoring and installation.

The Good

  • Add-ons are affordable and plentiful
  • Pre-configured and build-your-own bundles available
  • Refurbished systems available at discounted prices
  • 60-day money-back guarantee

The Bad

  • No Apple HomeKit integration
Pros & Cons

Vivint (opens in a new tab)

Best for techies

Vivint's highly customizable systems come with top-notch equipment, customer service, and 24/7 professional monitoring, but they're going to cost you.

The Good

  • State-of-the-art equipment
  • All-in-one smart home solution
  • Highly customizable
  • Free professional installation

The Bad

  • No Apple HomeKit integration
  • Vague pricing on its website
  • On the expensive side
Pros & Cons

abode (opens in a new tab)

Best for Apple users

abode is basically your only decent option for HomeKit support and short-term professional monitoring, but you won't be settling.

The Good

  • Apple HomeKit support!
  • Refurbished systems available at discounted prices
  • Professional monitoring plans can be as short as 3 or 7 days
  • Plentiful add-on selection

The Bad

  • Includes very few accessories (most will need to be purchased separately)
Pros & Cons

Google Nest (opens in a new tab)

Best for cameras

The camera-heavy security packages made by Google's Nest smart home brand are sleek, stylish, and simple — maybe a little too simple.

The Good

  • Nest Aware plans are cheap
  • Beautifully designed devices
  • Extremely easy to use with other Nest gadgets

The Bad

  • No sensors or sirens
  • Nest Aware plans don't include professional monitoring
  • Equipment borders on "too expensive" for what you get
  • No Apple HomeKit support
Pros & Cons

The height of the COVID-19 pandemic fueled a surge of interest in home security systems as everyone spent more time inside, and early numbers(opens in a new tab) indicate the market will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. But complicated industry jargon, ambiguous pricing, competing technologies, and ongoing news about serious data privacy concerns can easily intimidate the average consumer.

Here's a rundown of everything you need to know when shopping for a home security system. (Spoiler: Ring isn't the only company you should avoid.)

What is a home security system, exactly?

A home security system is a group of devices that all work together to protect your home, usually using a combination of visual surveillance, motion detection, audible alarms, and system alerts. The average home security system typically includes a camera or two, some motion sensors that can make out infrared energy, a handful of sirens (either built into the sensors and cameras or standalone devices), and a base hub syncing all of the hardware. You'll control the latter manually using a keypad or key fob, or with a companion mobile app.

From there, most home security companies will give you the option of fleshing out your system with à la carte accessories for further protection. Popular add-ons include:

  • A glass break sensor that alerts the system when it detects the sound frequencies or vibrations of shattered glass.

  • Environmental sensors that can detect water leaks, smoke, and carbon monoxide.

  • A panic button that quickly alerts law enforcement in emergency situations.

  • Yard signs and stickers that serve as visual (and inexpensive) deterrents to wannabe intruders.

Most home security companies are also in the business of home automation these days, which means you'll be able to control your setup using smart assistants and connect it to other devices like smart locks, lightbulbs, and thermostats. If you want to get really fancy, several brands also offer support for "If This Then That," or IFTTT(opens in a new tab), a free web-based service that lets you connect and build commands for internet-enabled devices and apps.

Can you install a home security system yourself?

Most home security companies give their customers the option of free DIY installation, which is usually as simple as plugging in a device (or putting some batteries into it), hooking it up to your home's WiFi system, and pairing it with its hub and/or your smartphone. SimpliSafe(opens in a new tab) (our No. 1 pick) says 97 percent of its customers go this route.

For more complicated setups (and those of us who aren't especially tech-savvy), professional installation typically starts around $100.

Can you monitor a home security system yourself?

Many home security companies give their users the option of self-monitoring for free, but you may want to leave this part to the professionals simply because you can't be on guard duty 24/7. Work happens, sleep happens, binge-watching Succession happens, going to the dog park with your new puppy happens — it's easy to miss an alert if you aren't staring at your phone all day. It's also on you to decide whether or not to contact law enforcement in case of an emergency if an expert isn't doing it for you, which is a pretty big ask.

In most cases, you'll also get more out of your system's mobile app if you sign up for a monitoring plan. We'll use SimpliSafe as an example again: Its service comes standard with a live video feed of your cameras, a system timeline, and the option to tweak some device settings from the app, but that's it. Additional features like water leak alerts, dangerous temperature detection, and even push notifications are locked behind its monitoring plans(opens in a new tab), which start at $18 a month. (Most companies' offerings sit somewhere around $20 to $25, for what it's worth.)

What's the best home security system?

Below, you'll find a rundown of four home security systems we recommend in 2023.

Our top pick
Credit: SimpliSafe
Specs
  • Installation type: DIY or professional (starting at $99.99)
  • Monitoring type: Self or professional (starting at $17.99/month)
  • Equipment warranty: 1 year with no monitoring plan, 3 years with Standard plan ($17.99/month), and lifetime with Interactive plan ($27.99/month)
  • Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and August Smart Locks
  • IFTTT support: No

Protecting more than 4 million people across the country, SimpliSafe(opens in a new tab)'s home security systems are highly regarded for their incredible value and comprehensive protection. 

SimpliSafe's most popular setup is its Essentials(opens in a new tab) package, which includes one pre-programmed base station, a keypad, a motion sensor, an entry sensor, and an indoor camera, all for $275 — though it frequently goes on sale for around $200. (Pro tip: Get this one over the entry-level Foundation(opens in a new tab) kit, which costs $30 less but doesn't include a camera.) You can personalize it with outdoor cameras, doorbells, sirens, key fobs, and other add-on accessories, but build-your-own packages are also available if you want to start from scratch.

The other great thing about SimpliSafe is that it gives you the flexibility to choose between DIY and professional routes for both monitoring and installation. Its professional monitoring plans(opens in a new tab) start at just $17.99 for 24/7 emergency dispatch, environmental threat detection, push notifications, and more, while professional installation(opens in a new tab) via OnTech starts at $99.99 — pretty reasonable in both regards.

Best for techies
Credit: Vivint
Specs
  • Installation type: Professional (free)
  • Monitoring type: Self or professional (starting at $19.99 with equipment purchase)
  • Equipment warranty: 120 days with a monitoring plan
  • Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest thermostats, and Philips Hue smart lightbulbs
  • IFTT support: No

If you want your security setup to be part of a sophisticated, full-featured smart home ecosystem, Vivint(opens in a new tab) is the obvious choice (if you can afford it). 

The company doesn't offer any one-size-fits-all kits, but instead curates a package based on your specific needs and space. That can include cameras, sensors, and alarms, as well as other home automation products like smart locks and thermostats. (Everything is connected on the company's proprietary, cloud-based AI and machine learning platform, so you'll be able to control your entire fleet via the Vivint app or your main Smart Hub.) An in-home consultation, professional installation, 24/7 support, and service for broken devices are all included in your monitoring plan, which starts at $19.99 a month.

We have to dock Vivint a few points for the fact that you have to call or fill out a form(opens in a new tab) to find out how much its equipment costs; that pricing isn't listed on its website. When reached for clarification, Vivint's team told Mashable that the base cost of a starter system with a base and a couple of window/door sensors is $599, while add-ons can cost anywhere from $169.99 to $249.99 apiece. Financing options are mercifully available.

Best for Apple users
Credit: abode
Specs
  • Installation type: DIY or professional (starting at $99 through HelloTech)
  • Monitoring type: Self or professional ($21.99/month)
  • Equipment warranty: 1 year
  • Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos, Z-Wave, and Zigbee devices (depending on the system)
  • IFTTT support: Yes

Apple users, rejoice: abode makes two systems that offer HomeKit compatibility. We prefer the all-in-one iota(opens in a new tab) package ($329) over its entry-level Smart Security(opens in a new tab) kit ($279) because of the former's upgraded hub, which has a built-in motion detector, WiFi support, and built-in streaming camera. A mini door/window sensor and a key fob are also included.

It's a pretty basic system, to be sure, but you can upgrade it with more cameras, sensors, sirens, signs, and other add-ons (including some smart home devices). There are tons to choose from, though it can get expensive fast, with most priced in the $30 to $80 range.

The other notable thing about abode is that it offers what's basically on-demand professional monitoring: Your plan(opens in a new tab) can be as short as three or seven days, which is perfect for when you go on vacation. If you decide to extend your stay indefinitely, monthly and annual 24/7 monitoring plans are an option, too. (You'll pay $21.99 a month or $219.99 per year.)

Best for cameras
Credit: google
Specs
  • Installation type: DIY or professional (starting at $99)
  • Monitoring type: Self
  • Equipment warranty: Depends on the device (1 year for doorbell, 2 years for cameras)
  • Compatible with: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
  • IFTTT support: Yes

After discontinuing(opens in a new tab) its popular Nest Secure systems in 2020, Google(opens in a new tab) now offers a trio of security bundles under its Nest (no "Secure") smart home brand. It's another good pick for anyone interested in fleshing out a smart home system, as its devices are designed to work effortlessly with other Nest products like the bestselling Nest Learning Thermostat(opens in a new tab) and Nest Audio smart speaker. But bear in mind that its equipment lineup is pretty limited. We'd recommend it primarily to people who want a system of mostly cameras, since... well, that's pretty much all it sells. 

Nest's entry-level options (starting at $234.98) are a little too bare-bones for our liking, so go with its Total Security Package(opens in a new tab) — that'll get you a Nest Hub Max smart display, a wireless Nest Doorbell, and a wireless indoor/outdoor Nest Cam for $523.98. (Fun fact: The latter is one of Mashable's absolute favorite security cameras.) Add a wired Nest Cam, a Nest Cam with a built-in floodlight, a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm, or a smart lock starting from $99.99. Nest Aware(opens in a new tab) subscriptions start at just $6 a month if you want to save your cameras' video history and get smart alerts. 

As an aside, it's worth mentioning that Nest devices are among the prettiest of their kind. Not that "function over form" should be your main line of reasoning when shopping around for home security equipment, but at least these devices won't stick out like a sore thumb.

More in Privacy

How we tested

We haven't personally tried out these home security systems, but we were able to identify some make-or-break criteria that guided our picks as we spent countless hours poring over spec lists and customer reviews.

  • Overall value: With many home security starter kits priced well upwards of $200, and most monitoring plans going for around $20 per month, you should be getting a decent amount of useful accessories and features for your money.

  • Contracts: No one wants to be locked into a years-long contract, and we avoided picks that mandated them whenever possible.

  • Self-service options: Handy DIYers should have the option to install their equipment if they feel up to the task. Ditto for self-monitoring.

  • Smart assistant support: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility are pretty standard nowadays, while Apple HomeKit options are fewer and far between.

  • IFTTT support: It's not absolutely necessary, but it's nice for advanced users who want to noodle around with automation.

  • Equipment warranties: You should be able to get a refund or replacement if a device randomly conks out after a few months.

  • Data privacy concerns: Most home security companies collect some form of customer data, so don't give anyone your money (or a glimpse around your property) without reading their privacy policy first. But they shouldn't be making headlines for routinely mishandling it or being hacked.

Several big names in the home security sphere were ruled out based on one or more of those factors:

  • eufy(opens in a new tab): Anker's smart home brand lied about the security of its cameras to The Verge, which was able to bypass encryption and stream live footage from two eufy cameras through the cloud using a third-party media player last fall. There's no evidence that this security flaw was ever used for nefarious purposes, and Anker eventually owned up to it at the beginning of 2023, but not before getting up to some weird shenanigans with its privacy promises. It's going to need to prove its transparency and trustworthiness before we consider recommending any of its equipment.

  • Frontpoint(opens in a new tab): Once recommended for its easy DIY installation and affordable starter package, Frontpoint has been knocked off our list because it started charging $49.99 per month (with a mandatory three-year contract) for professional monitoring. We're currently on the lookout for a new top pick for renters.

  • Ring(opens in a new tab): The ultra-popular, Amazon-owned home security and smart home company known for its video doorbells has had ongoing video-sharing partnerships with thousands of police departments for years. which has arguably turned those video doorbells "into a nationwide, private surveillance system for cops," to quote Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry. While Ring technically changed its policy in mid-2021 to forbid police from privately requesting footage from owners of its doorbells, Amazon admitted in July 2022 that it's still handing over users' recordings without their permission in order to comply with "emergency" requests. Beyond the narc aspect, Ring has also planned a neighborhood "watch list" based on facial recognition software, quietly fixed a "high-severity" security vulnerability in its Android app (which is reportedly packed with third-party trackers), and admitted that some of its own employees once tried to inappropriately access user videos.

  • Wyze(opens in a new tab): The smart home startup offers competitively priced build-your-own systems and $9.99/month professional monitoring (the cheapest rate we encountered). However, the fact that it took three years to alert customers to vulnerabilities in its security cameras keeps it off our list.

Frequently Asked Questions


It's difficult to measure "could-have-beens," so research is mixed on how well home security systems actually deter crime. One expert told The New York Times that he's seen little evidence of risk mitigation with things like alarms and locks, while the National Council for Home Safety and Security, an industry trade association, boldly claims that homes without any kind of protection are 300 percent more likely to be burglarized. (The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program defines burglary as "the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft," FYI.)

Even the culprits themselves are divided. Some convicted burglars surveyed by an Oregon news station in 2017 said they weren't daunted by security system signs and alarms, which could be disabled or avoided, but most would steer clear of a home with a big, loud dog. Yet 60 percent of burglars surveyed for a frequently cited University of North Carolina survey several years prior would find a different target if they saw an alarm on-site.

These findings should also be considered alongside the fact that burglary rates have seen a sharp decline over the past decade; they only counted for about 16 percent of overall property crimes as of 2019. (That also includes motor vehicle theft and arson.)

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that most break-ins occur when people aren't home — and in that case, a home security system or camera serving as your eyes and ears from afar can provide invaluable peace of mind.

As an aside, installing a home security system may also qualify you for a serious discount on your homeowner's insurance, which certainly doesn't hurt. Contact your insurance provider to learn more.

Mashable Image
Haley Henschel

Haley is a Mashable shopping reporter based in Chicago. Before joining the team, she covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, wrote about exotic pet ownership for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and blogged for several Jersey Shore stars. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and hanging out with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). You can follow her on Twitter at @haleyhenschel(opens in a new tab) or reach her via email at [email protected](opens in a new tab).


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