Best Home Security Systems In 2022

This comprehensive security system—which you can install yourself without needing any tools—includes a base station, two motion sensors, one temperature sensor, a wireless siren, a keypad, remote panic button, water sensor, four entry sensors, a smoke detector and a key fob.

Once installed, for an additional fee that amounts to less than $1 per day, you get 24/7 professional monitoring. You don’t have to sign a long-term service contract either. Plus, since the system is modular, it’s easy to add more security cameras or other security devices as you see fit.

What’s nice about the SimpliSafe system is that it protects against intruders, but also notifies you immediately if there’s a water leak, fire, smoke or significant temperature change within your home.

Unlike other low-cost security systems, this one offers Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity with built-in backups. Also, the system is designed to detect unwanted human intruders, so you can leave your pets home without them setting off any alarms.

Sure, you can buy a video doorbell for less than $100 that allows you to see who approaches your front door using your smartphone, but this Elite unit is currently Ring’s top-of-the-line video doorbell and it lives up to its name.

In addition to offering an elegant satin nickel, pearl white, Venetian, or satin black faceplate, this doorbell has a 1080p HD video camera with infrared night vision and a 160-degree horizontal field of view. It also offers a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can see, hear and communicate with anyone who approaches your door in real-time. You can do this from anywhere your smartphone has an Internet connection, whether you’re at work or on vacation.

If someone tries to sneak up and not ring the doorbell, you’ll still immediately be notified thanks to the built-in motion sensor. This particular video doorbell gets hardwired to your home, so there’s never a need to replace or recharge any batteries. For an additional $10 per month, the Ring Protect service allows you to automatically capture and record photos and videos of anyone who approaches. This content is automatically stored in the cloud.

In addition to working with iPhones and Android-based mobile devices, the Ring doorbell works with Amazon Echo smart hubs, along with a collection of other Ring security cameras and smart door locks (sold separately).

Beyond just being able to detect and communicate with someone who approaches your front door using a Ring video doorbell (sold separately), Ring offers a more comprehensive home security system. This 14-piece kit—which you can easily install yourself—includes a base station, two keypads, eight contact sensors (for windows), two motion detectors and a range extender.

Once activated, your smartphone will receive an alert anytime the system gets triggered. Everything is controlled using the Ring smartphone app, or with voice commands via an Amazon Echo home hub. You can easily add a video doorbell, indoor or outdoor security cameras, and other Ring home security devices to the system at any time based on your needs.

The Google Nest product lineup includes a nice selection of inexpensive home security tools—ranging from video doorbells and security cameras, to security lights, smart door locks, and temperature sensors that can all be controlled from your computer or mobile device using a single app.

The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight is a security device that gets hardwired to the outside of your home. You can do this yourself if you’re replacing an existing outdoor floodlight, but an electrician may be necessary for the inexperienced. Once installed, the built-in camera allows you to monitor your property—day or night—via a live video feed. Thanks to a built-in motion sensor, when movement is detected, two bright lights turn on to scare off potential intruders, who will simultaneously be captured on video.

The motion sensor and camera can distinguish between people, vehicles and animals. Just like with a video doorbell, once the camera is activated, you can see and hear what’s happening and even communicate with an approaching person via your mobile device or Google smart home hub. It’s easy to turn the flood lights off with a single voice command or on-screen tap.

Many companies now sell smart video cameras you can set up inside your home and then monitor in real-time from anywhere using your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. The Arlo Pro 4 offers a handful of useful security features that make it particularly attractive at its price point.

For starters, this is a wireless camera that offers 2K HDR video resolution. The camera has built-in full-color night vision, offers two way audio communication, and requires no wires. It links directly with your home Wi-Fi network with no separate hub required.

When the camera is activated, it offers a 160-degree field of view, so if positioned correctly, you can see everything happening within an entire room or wide area of your home using a single camera. In addition to being designed for indoor or outdoor use, the camera comes with a three month subscription to Arlo Secure, which gives you cloud-based recording. If you choose to keep the recording service active, you’ll pay about $3 per month. What’s nice about the Arlo camera is that it works in conjunction with other smart security and smart home gear from Amazon, Google, Apple and Samsung, for example.

In addition to offering individual home security devices you can easily install yourself without needing any tools, SimpliSafe offers several more comprehensive home security kits—including this one that’s called The Hearth. It includes a base station, motion sensor, wireless siren, keypad, smoke detector, three entry sensors and a keyfob. Additional equipment, like a video doorbell, security cameras or additional entry sensors can be purchased separately and added to the system whenever you want.

Like all of the SimpliSafe home security kits, this one offers professional 24/7 monitoring for about less than $1 per day. In case of a power outage, this system’s base station has a battery backup that’ll continue working for up to 24 hours.

When properly positioned, this Canary Pro device will immediately begin protecting your home in a variety of essential ways. Within the device is a 1080p HD resolution camera (offering night vision and a 147-degree field of view), a motion sensor, climate monitor that pays attention to temperature, humidity and air quality, and a 90-decibel siren.

The device sets up in seconds with no tools required. Simply plug in the Canary and connect it to your home’s Wi-Fi. Canary starts protecting you and your home immediately and is controlled via your smartphone. From anywhere you have an Internet connection, you can receive detection alerts or manually see a live video feed from within your home.

Thanks to the device’s built in microphone and speaker, it’s possible to communicate with anyone in your home as you’re viewing their activities. But if an intruder is detected, with a tap on the screen, you’re able to blast the siren and immediately call local emergency services.

Canary can tell the difference between a person and a pet, and learns your habits and schedule. So, it’ll know if you’re at work and alert you if someone unexpected enters your home. Unlike other home security systems that cost more and have lots of different parts, this entire device measures just six inches tall with a three-inch diameter. While you don’t need professional monitoring to use Canary, this added service is available for $10 per month.

Once you purchase this core kit for just $100, you have the option of expanding the system with optional tools, like motion sensors, climate sensors, security cameras, smart lights and additional entry sensors. There’s also a $5 per month fee for 24/7 monitoring (the first six months is included).

What you’ll love about this system is that it requires no tools to install. It can also tell the difference between pets and people. Plus, once the system gets triggered, you’ll receive a call from a person immediately. The kit comes with a keypad, hub, two entry sensors and a motion sensor. The optional Wyze video doorbell sells for an additional $65.

In addition to being usable as a security, the Furbo Dog Camera can also be used to check in on your pets or kids while you’re away. The dogs will find it much more fun, however.

In addition to being able to see and hear your furries, Furbo not only allows you to speak with them, but with a tap on your smartphone’s screen, you can remotely dispense treats one at a time. The device offers a 1080p full HD camera with a 160-degree field of view. It also has a bark detector, so if something upsets your dog when you’re not home, you can check in remotely.

Since 1874, before home security systems could be installed and monitored yourself, ADT offered professionally-installed systems that, for a fee, were monitored 24/7. As the technology has evolved, so have these systems. However, in addition to paying for the home security tools and installation, there’s also a monthly monitoring fee (between $46 and $60 per month). Instead of paying for the equipment upfront, a 60-month financing option is available.

On the plus side, if you want to add more equipment than what the core system includes, you can do this on an a la carte basis using a combination of proprietary ADT equipment and home security equipment from Google.

An ADT home security system is not cheap, but it does protect your entire home. Plus, you’re able to add additional tools, like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood/leak detectors and motion sensors to various rooms where you think they’re necessary.