Best Home Security Systems 2018

Finding the Right Home Securty System for Your Family

These are the top home security systems on the market today. Read on for in-depth details on features, plans, and pricing.

Frontpoint

• Totally wireless system

• DIY installs

• Cellular alerts

• Environmental disaster protection

Frontpoint is highly-acclaimed home security system and for good reason. It offers a huge range of home protection and security devices, excellent service, and additional features that make Frontpoint a lot more than a basic home security service. In fact, with easy do-it-yourself and totally wireless setup, competitive pricing, and a 30-day risk-free trial, it's not surprising that so many customers rave about Frontpoint home security.

Frontpoint Security is modeled around 3 monthly service plans – Protection, Interactive and Ultimate, with prices ranging from $34.99 per month to $49.99 per month. Equipment runs as low as $99.95. 

Frontpoint is so easy to work with. As we said, installation is DIY and requires no wires, tools, or connections. The equipment is durable, and each package comes with a boatload of hardware, so all your bases are covered. From entryway sensors to indoor/outdoor motion detectors, glass break sensors, and even environmental monitors, Frontpoint Security really ticks off all of the boxes. You can also opt for home security cameras, thermostats, and panic buttons or pendants for the ultimate in home security.

Frontpoint takes home security to a whole new level with its home automation software. This lets you connect to your home security system remotely from your mobile device, so you can check out what’s going on around your home even when you’re not there. Set up automatic mobile alerts that send you notifications when something is triggered. Motion detectors don’t just notify help when they are triggered, they automatically send a picture of the one who tripped the alarm for use in police investigations, and the video surveillance cameras can have their feeds streamed to your phone live. 

ADT

• Cellular and landline connections

• Portable medical devices

• Voice recognition home automation

• 6-month money-back guarantee

ADT is one of the most well-known home security services in the industry. You've all seen the eye-catching window decals and lawn signs, but ADT is more than just a familiar face. It's been around for almost 150 years, evolving along with the home security industry, making advancements in its technology, equipment, and services. Today, ADT offers state-of-the-art home security solutions and is rated as one of the top providers in the country.

To begin with, ADT lets you customize your security solution, so you get exactly what you want and don’t have to pay for unnecessary extras. For less than $1 a day, you can secure your home and your family. Aside from rock-bottom pricing, ADT offers customers a six-month trial with a money back guarantee. That’s impressive.

You can choose between push button or touch screen control panels, and then select the sensors and detectors you want. You can shop a la carte for sensors, and ADT offers a wide range of environmental disaster sensors such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and flood sensors. You can even opt in for video security cameras to surveil your home at all hours. Save on electric bills too with the built-in home automation options that let you control your lights, temperature settings, and door locks from afar. Finally, ADT alerts authorities in case of emergencies in 2 ways: cell radio and landline. This way, you are covered, no matter what the circumstances.

Vivint

• Lifetime warranty

• Month-to-month service plans

• Customizable packages

• Free installation

If you’re looking for 24/7 monitoring for your home, Vivint is a good choice to look into. Offering a fully-equipped home security system complete with round the clock monitoring, Vivint is one of the easiest and most professional companies you could work with. To start with, you can opt for month-to-month contracts, something that you’d be hard-pressed to find with most other home security companies. Additionally, Vivint offers a huge variety of security hardware including:

• Cameras

From doorbell detectors to auto recording, Vivint cameras are state of the art and pimped out to the gills.

• Smart Locks

Vivint supplies Kwikset smart locks, so you can control your door locks from anywhere. You can even set up mobile alerts so that you are notified when you forget to lock the door.

• Sensors

Of course, Vivint has all of the usual sensors including door, window, and motion sensors. Additionally, you can get carbon monoxide, smoke, flood, and freeze sensors as well.

And best of all, Vivint designs and manufactures most of its equipment, so you know you’re dealing with top of the line quality.

Vivint systems also sync beautifully with some of the most common home automation systems of today including the Nest and Amazon Echo. Vivint’s free installation is a godsend as well. A technician will come over, hook you up, and explain exactly how each device and app works.

Top quality equipment, fast and professional responses, and convenient tech solutions. Wondering what else Vivint has in store for you? 

Read the full review

How to Choose the Right Home Security System for You

Each year, millions of homes in the United States are burglarized and while belongings can always be replaced, your sense of security can really suffer once you’ve been the victim of a break-in. 

One of the best ways to avoid being the victim of a burglary is to “harden the target.” That is, make your home a less-appealing target, and would-be burglaries will be more likely to try elsewhere. This can be as simple as setting up exterior lighting outside the house, getting extra locking devices for windows left open in the summer months, or just making sure to always lock your doors whenever leaving the house. 

One step that tens of millions of Americans have taken is to install a home security system, which can provide a layered defense against burglars. 

When purchasing a home security system there are a number of considerations: 

• Do you want a system that only secures windows and doors, or a more comprehensive system that includes home automation, such as cameras and 24/7 monitoring? 
• Does the security system require professional installation or can you install it yourself?
• How long is the service plan, and can you easily change to another provider?
• Do you want a system that automatically alerts police in the event of a security breach, or would you prefer a system that contacts you first?
• Is there a charge for false alarms?
• Will installing a security system help you get a discount from your insurance provider?
• Does it also safeguard against fires?

What Type of Features do Home Security Systems Have?

With any home security system you can expect certain features, in particular motion detectors that will automatically alert you and/or authorities in the event of a security breach. The features can be far more extensive though, depending on the plan you sign up for. 

• Remote Access 

Today's home security systems make full use of our reliance on mobile devices. Most come with a smartphone app that you can use to control the security system when you’re aways from home.

• 24/7 Professional Monitoring

The majority of break-ins happen during the workday hours, when most people are at work or school. With a comprehensive security system, operators will be on hand day and night to contact you and/or local law enforcement in the event of break-in. 

• Wireless Connection 

Security systems of the past were easier to disable, in that they ran off phone lines outside the house, which a burglar could easily cut. A wireless connection solves this problem—just make sure the system can still run in the event that the WiFi connection goes down. 

• Cameras 

Cameras are a fixture of our modern life, and more and more security companies are including HD cameras in their service packages. These can be set up inside and around the house, to provide high definition, real-time images from your house. The cameras can be hidden so that would-be thieves cant see them, and can be set up to work with your mobile device, so you can remote zoom in, out and pan cameras at your house even if you’re miles away. 

• Fire and Flood Monitoring 

Many security systems include sensors that can detect heat and humidity, thus letting you know if there is potentially fire or water damage in your house while you’re away. These can even be set-up to detect a carbon monoxide leak.

• Smart Doors and Smart Locks 

Smart doorbells can be set up so that when someone approaches your house and rings the doorbell, a cameras switches on, and you’ll get an image directly to your smartphone. These can also be motion-activated and enabled for two-way audio.

With smart locks, you can lock the doors remotely with your mobile device,allowing you to lock or unlock your doors no matter where you are. 

• “Crash and Smash” Protection

One method burglars use when hitting a house with a security system is called “crash and smash.” Most security systems have a delay to allow the homeowner to enter in the security code after they enter the house. In a crash and smash, the burglar will quickly force their way in and then attempt to smash and destroy the security panel before it can go off. With crash and smash protection, the security system is setup to notice these forms of sabotage, and will set off the alarm no matter what damage is dealt to the panel. 

Safety First

Being the victim of a burglary can leave you feeling violated and unsafe, not to mention saddled with replacing stolen valuable. A home security system is one of the best ways available to reduce your chances of falling victim, and to safeguard your house and family.