Best Home Security Systems of 2023

Your family’s and home’s safety should be your top priority. Our top options include home security products from companies like Ring, Xfinity, SimpliSafe, and others.

It’s important to make the correct security system choice for your home. After all, you don’t want to jeopardise the security of your family in any way. To assist you in finding the best home security system for your requirements and financial situation, CNET is here. There is no lack of choices, from professional monitoring services like ADT to low-cost DIY ones like SimpliSafe and Wyze. We’ve examined each of the systems listed below and highlighted their advantages and disadvantages so you can decide which is ideal for your household.

More internet-connected devices, including interior and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, and smart locks, being produced as a result of increased competition in the home security sector. But it also introduces additional risks, such as a higher chance of hacking. There is a lot to consider, and modern home security companies don’t always make it simple to compare services.

In response, we are here. We’ve tested a variety of security systems, from high-end monitored systems with expert installation to cost-effective DIY home security system options, including a home security camera (or cameras) and smart home gadgets controlled by a smartphone app. In order for you to be certain that you’re spending money on the best home security systems, we’ll be updating this post as we go based on actual experience.

Best home security systems of 2023

We give Comcast Xfinity Home an 8 out of 10 because it is an excellent, easily accessible, and reasonably priced service. It works with a tonne of third-party smart home devices, might cost you thousands less than comparable installations from Vivint and ADT, direct competitors, and is contract-free. This home security system will treat you well if you can avoid Comcast’s pressure to bundle with their other services (you don’t have to do it!) and the service’s restricted home automation features. Read our evaluation of Xfinity Home Security.

With a Wi-Fi 6 Euro router built into the system’s base unit, Ring’s Alarm Pro system has revolutionized DIY home security. In addition to receiving dependable security performance, you will also have access to a variety of supplementary features. The inclusion of Alexa’s Guard Plus service as well as cellular-powered backup Wi-Fi, network security monitoring, local processing and storage for your Ring devices are a few of these features (provided you have an Echo speaker or display). The Ring Alarm Pro scored an amazing 9/10 in our assessment, which is impressive given all the bells and whistles.

The history of Ring’s privacy practises and policies is still concerning. The Ring Alarm Pro, however, is without a doubt one of the most intelligent DIY home security systems I’ve ever tried, yet it’s still reasonably priced in a crowded market. Read our review of Ring Alarm Pro.

Wyze, like SimpliSafe, enables you to create a personalised security system for your home’s requirements. Starting at $10 per month or $100 per year, a home monitoring subscription comes with the necessary Wyze Sense Hub at no additional cost. From there, you may incorporate cameras, keypads, video doorbells, motion sensors, and more. Alternatively, you might choose the Home Security package from Amazon, which costs less than $150 and comes with a v3 camera, two door/window sensors, a motion detector, a keypad, the Sense Hub, and a six-month monitoring subscription. Wyze lacks a cellular backup in the event of a power or internet interruption, which is the only serious downside. We may eventually include that function, but for now, we rate the Wyze Home Monitoring system a strong 8.4 out of 10.

The most recent assessment we conducted of the SimpliSafe system gave it an 8.5 out of 10 rating. SimpliSafe’s DIY system is an excellent choice if you’re searching for home protection but don’t need all the added Wi-Fi and smart home connections of the Ring Alarm Pro. It includes a wide range of features, such as security cameras and a very good selection of battery-operated motion detection sensors, all of which consistently delivered good results in our tests. Starter kits start at about $250, or you can create a personalised alarm system with the precise combination of devices you require. The professional monitoring plan from the security provider starts at $18 per month, but you’ll want to spend an extra $28 per month for monitoring.

Although Vivint is significantly more expensive than Comcast Xfinity and had a lower review score of 7.7 in part because of the large upfront expenses, it’s still worth taking into account if smart home integration is more important to you than cost. Without a contract, Vivint offers you a highly polished experience with good third-party device connections. The cost of monitoring is comparable month to month with Xfinity, ranging from $30 to $45 each month. Read our review of Vivint Smart Home.

Other home security systems we’ve tested

ADT, Abode, Abode Iota, Front point, Kangaroo, Ring Alarm, Cove, and many other leading competitors have also been put to the test. If you’re interested in DIY smart home systems for small spaces or systems that don’t require monitoring subscriptions, Abode and Abode’s all-in-one security camera Iota were both strong competitors that couldn’t quite equal SimpliSafe’s price. Nevertheless, they’re worth looking out. Another excellent DIY option is Ring Alarm, but given the company’s recent issues with police cooperation, we hesitate to suggest it—especially since Wyle provides such a potent, affordable substitute.

DIY methods Each of Front point, Cove, and Kangaroo had qualities that made them stand out. Although the Front point system is dependable and its hardware is inexpensive, the $45 monthly monitoring fee is too high. The doorbell camera on Kangaroo, in contrast, is terrible, thus Wyse maintains its advantage in the affordable category. Despite having acceptable hardware costs, Cove Home Security was unable to compete due to an overly restrictive subscription strategy that forbade self-monitoring or app access without high monthly costs.

One of the most well-known brands we’ve evaluated, ADT, was generally underwhelming. The price is excessively high, a contract is needed, and the software is difficult to use. We’ve tested AT&T Digital Life as well, but we’ve disqualified the service because AT&T no longer offers new customers the option to have it installed.

Although we haven’t tested Brinks Home yet, we want to give it some thought in the coming months.

How we test home security systems

We base all of our assessments of home security devices on practical testing. In summary, we pay close attention to the user experience, the promised features, reliability, and overall value — along with a few other factors — while evaluating the finest home security systems. We carry out the testing for at least a full week in a real home setting. Check out our comprehensive post on how we evaluate home security products and services if you want to learn more about our review procedure.