It’s easier and more affordable than ever to monitor your home from pretty much anywhere. At Bellpeek, we have been reviewing smart home security solutions for nearly 12 years. We test these products in our own homes to give you the accurate, unbiased information you need to pick the best smart home security system for your needs and budget. Backed by our review experts the SimpliSafe Home Security System is our top pick overall for its flexibility, ease of use, and value. But it isn’t your only choice. Whether you’re searching for a DIY or professionally monitored system, we have you covered. Read on for the best smart home security systems we’ve tested, followed by all of the factors you should consider before deciding how to secure and monitor your home. The Best Smart Home Security Systems for 2024.

SimpliSafe Home Security System

Why We Picked It

Ease of use, affordability, and flexible configuration and monitoring options make the SimpliSafe Home Security System our top choice for a home security system. SimpliSafe offers preconfigured packages for homes of all sizes, and its individual components can be purchased separately to create your own package, or expand on one. Plus, it offers professional instillation and monitoring at a reasonable cost, should you require it. 

Who It’s For

If you’re looking to save a bundle on home security components, installation, and monitoring, put the SimpliSafe Home Security System at the top of your list. It’s incredibly easy to install and configure, and you can switch between self-monitoring and a 24/7 professional option without worrying about a contract. There are other outstanding options on this list, but SimpliSafe remains the system of choice for PCMag readers, winning our Readers’ Choice award for six consecutive years.

Vivint Smart Home

Why We Picked It

The Vivint Smart Home security system is a full-blown home security system that gives you 24/7 monitoring and full control over door locks, cameras, thermostats, and lights. You can even monitor your cars while they are on the road. This pricey system provided speedy emergency response times in testing and is easy to control via a colorful, 7-inch touch-screen video panel, a mobile companion app, or Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

Who It’s For

The Vivint Smart Home is ideal for homeowners who require a professionally monitored home security system but don’t want to be bothered with installation issues. A trained professional installs every component and the company provides excellent telephone and in-home technical support. You can save some money with a DIY system from SimpliSafe but, in that scenario, you have to install everything yourself and forgo the touch-screen video control panel.

Abode iota All-In-One Security Kit

Why We Picked It

Aptly named, the Abode iota All-In-One Security Kit uses a base station with a built-in camera and motion sensor. It contains Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee radios that allow you to add a plethora of third-party devices such as door locks, sirens, and lights in addition to Abode’s first-party lineup of entry, water, and glass break sensors. It offers on-demand professional monitoring and supports Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant, and IFTTT, thus making it one of the most versatile home security systems available. 

Who It’s For

The Abode iota All-In-One Security Kit provides an excellent starting point for anyone looking to add a DIY smart security system to their home or apartment. It’s easy to install, extremely expandable, and compatible with nearly every home automation platform on the market.

ADT Command

Why We Picked It

Despite being the most expensive home security system we’ve tested, the ADT Command earns our Editors’ Choice award for its excellent white glove customer service, expansive lineup of security and home automation components, and outstanding mobile and web applications. And, in addition to ADT’s first-party lineup of cameras, doorbells, and sensors, you can add third-party Z-Wave devices that enable you to control the system via Alexa and Google Assistant commands.

Who It’s For

The ADT Command is a solid choice for homeowners who require a professionally installed, professionally monitored, soup-to-nuts home security system with class-leading service and seamless home automation features. This system works with a generous assortment of security and smart home devices, though, of course, this protection doesn’t come cheap.

Ring Alarm Pro

Why We Picked It

The Ring Alarm Pro is a hybrid DIY home security system that doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. It earns high marks for its easy setup process, reasonably priced monitoring options, and ability to bring Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to all corners of your home. It has an auxiliary battery that keeps everything running for up to 24 hours and uses a cellular radio to provide internet connectivity in the event of a power loss. 

Who It’s For 

If you’re in the market for a smart home security system and want to upgrade your home network to Wi-Fi 6 at the same time, the Ring Alarm Pro accomplishes both tasks. You can customize this versatile system with a variety of sensors and it’s compatible with all of Ring’s video doorbells, cameras, and lighting devices. It also has a built-in Eero 6 router that you can pair with satellite nodes to blanket homes of all sizes in Wi-Fi 6 goodness.

ADT Self Setup Home Security

Why We Picked It

ADT’s Self Setup Home Security system brings together the company’s 24/7 monitoring service with Google’s lineup of Nest cameras, thermostats, and smart hubs. Add-on door/window and motion sensors allow you to expand coverage across your entire home. You must subscribe to a monthly plan to use the ADT+ companion app, but the system’s easy setup, reliable voice controls, and Z-Wave support are all points in its favor.

Who It’s For

If you already have a home full of Nest devices or are planning to buy them, the ADT Self Setup Home Security system is worth a look. You can hand off monitoring to ADT or keep an eye on everything yourself, thus giving you some flexibility in how you manage your property’s security.

Arlo Home Security System

Why We Picked It

The Arlo Home Security System works with the company’s full lineup of smart home devices, plus many third-party products via IFTTT. It gives you the option to keep an eye on your property yourself or pay for a 24/7 monitoring plan that unlocks many emergency response options and a suite of family safety features via the separate Arlo Safe app. We really like the system’s multifunction sensors that can detect motion, water leaks, ambient lighting, and more, though we wish the hub included battery backup and cellular capabilities (those features require an add-on).

Who It’s For

If you already own or are planning to buy Arlo smart home devices, this is the security system to get. Its multifunction sensors are also an advantage if your home is prone to any sort of environmental problems, such as water leaks or freezing temperatures.  

Ring Alarm Security Kit

Why We Picked It

The Ring Alarm Security Kit is an affordable five-piece DIY home security system that is expandable and offers professional monitoring at a reasonable price. It works with the entire Ring lineup of video doorbells, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and lights, as well as with lots of third-party Z-Wave and Zigbee smart devices including door locks and smoke alarms. The system performed wonderfully in our tests and is easy to install. Add-on components are comparable in cost with those for SimpliSafe or Abode systems.

Who It’s For

The Ring Alarm Security Kit is a smart choice if you already own one or more Ring doorbells, cameras, or lights. You can choose to self-monitor via the Ring mobile app or subscribe to a Ring Protect Plus plan that unlocks 24/7 professional monitoring and unlimited cloud video storage for your Ring cameras.

In addition, keep an eye on your camera access logs. If you notice camera activity at odd hours or at times when you know nobody is at home, it may indicate a system compromise. Finally, make sure your system software and all of your connected devices are up to date. Firmware updates often address security issues and can help protect your system from infiltration.