8 Best Home Security Systems of 2026

SimpliSafe is a self-installed wireless system sold in prebuilt packages such as The Starter, The Foundation, The Hearth and The Knox, or as a custom build. Monitoring is priced by the day and never needs a contract. Standard Monitoring at 76 cents per day gets you agents who request dispatch for break-ins, fire and medical emergencies, while the Core plan at $1.10 per day adds video verification, intruder intervention through the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera and unlimited recordings with 30 days of cloud storage for up to 10 cameras. Pro and Pro Plus layer on Active Guard Outdoor Protection, where AI flags a person outside and an agent can speak through the camera, sound the siren or turn on the spotlight. The system keeps working through outages with network backup and a battery rated for up to 24 hours. Equipment can be paid over time on carts of $150 or more. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Cove sells a DIY alarm kit and keeps its monitoring cheap. Cove Basic costs $0.67 per day, about $20 over a 30-day month, and includes 24/7 agents with immediate dispatch for intrusions and emergencies. Cove+ at $1.00 per day adds camera access, two-way voice and 7 days of cloud video, and Cove Premium at $1.33 per day adds AI-powered alerts, 30 days of cloud video, a lifetime equipment warranty and a $5 monthly equipment credit. When an alarm goes off, Cove's InstaText asks you to confirm or cancel by text, then calls, then sends help if nobody answers. The hub uses ethernet with 4G cellular backup, and Cove says its RapidSOS digital dispatch sends your details straight to dispatchers' screens. Cove says average setup takes 30 minutes or less, and every plan is contract-free with a 60-day trial. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Abode is the most flexible system here for people who already run a smart home. Out of the box, with no plan, you get the app, live camera video and integrations with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home and others. The Standard plan, $79.99 per year or $8.49 per month, adds a 30-day event timeline, AI detection for people, packages and pets, rich notifications and eligibility for insurance discounts. The Pro plan, $245.99 per year or $26.99 per month, adds 24/7 professional monitoring from a US-based center, 4G cellular backup and automatic dispatch for break-ins, fires and medical emergencies. Video is sold separately: continuous recording with 10 days of history costs $9.99 per month per camera, and camera-only setups pay $3.99 per camera. There are no contracts, and you can switch or cancel plans from the app. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Wyze Home Monitoring is the low-price route to professional monitoring. A single subscription covers one household for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, against a regular annual price of $119.88. The monitoring itself is done by Noonlight, whose agents work around the clock and follow a 3-step process meant to cut false alarms. The hardware is Wyze's Sense line: a hub, keypad, motion and entry sensors, plus optional climate and leak sensors, and a leak triggers a text and call from Noonlight just like a break-in. Every piece installs with adhesive, the system expands to 100 sensors, and you can arm, disarm and check each sensor from the Wyze app, where your Wyze camera feeds also live. Wyze offers 30-day free returns and an 18-month warranty on items bought on wyze.com. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Vivint is the full-service option on this list. Every system is installed by a Vivint technician, and Vivint services it if something breaks. Equipment starts at $199.99, and most buyers either customize a bundle or finance it through a third-party partner, at 0% APR for up to 60 months for qualified customers. Monitoring starts at $24.99 per month with built-in cellular and a 4-hour battery; the $44.99 tier moves to a 24-hour battery. Vivint's Smart Deter feature makes its outdoor cameras use light and sound when someone lingers, and the same app runs locks, thermostats and garage doors. Monitoring is mandatory, and without it the system loses remote access. If you pay for equipment upfront or buy online, service is month to month, and online purchases get a promotional 30-day money-back guarantee. Installation is listed at $199 but is often waived. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Frontpoint sells DIY kits that run on cellular monitoring, so the system stays connected through Wi-Fi and power outages, with a backup battery rated for up to 24 hours. Its cheapest plan, Video-Only at $0.50 per day, is the $14.99 monthly entry point but has no professional monitoring. For that you need Interactive Monitoring at $1.48 per day, which covers intrusion, fire, carbon monoxide and flood 24/7, or Ultimate at $1.65 per day, which adds live and recorded video and home automation. Frontpoint uses the AVS-01 alarm validation standard to score intrusion alarms, and lets you store household details such as medical conditions and pets for responders. Equipment is inexpensive: a hub, keypad and two door or window sensors were $59 during the November 2026 sale, and Frontpoint says most customers start with a $129 to $399 package. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Alarm Grid is not a kit brand but a monitoring service for compatible professional-grade alarm panels, which makes it useful if you moved into a home with an existing system or want to escape a long contract. Its UL Listed central station plans run from Bronze at $15 per month, with landline or internet monitoring, through Silver at $25 with app control, Gold at $35 with cellular monitoring, and Platinum at $45 with video surveillance. Self monitoring plans run from $10 to $35 per month. Monitoring is handled with Criticom Monitoring Services across 3 load-balanced centers in New Jersey, Florida and California, and Alarm Grid monitors unlimited zones. There are no activation fees and no contracts. The tradeoff is setup: interactive plans need an internet or cellular communicator on your panel, so this suits hands-on owners more than first-time buyers. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the service.

Kangaroo is the smallest system here and is aimed at apartments and front doors rather than whole homes. Its Front Door Security Kit bundles a battery doorbell camera, a Siren + Keypad and two Motion + Entry Sensors, plus a yard sign, and includes a full year of the Complete Protect plan with 24/7 professional monitoring. The keypad arms and disarms the system, rings indoors for the doorbell, sounds an 85 dB siren and alerts you if it hears a smoke or CO alarm. Complete Protect also reimburses theft and damage, up to $250 per claim and $1,000 per year, and covers package theft when a doorbell camera is installed. Devices need Wi-Fi, the doorbell runs on 3 AA batteries, and its clips are stitched photo sequences rather than video. The kit was $279 on Kangaroo's US store when we checked, but the product page did not show the plan price after the first year. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.