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Technology continues to play a more central role in our homes, resulting in an undeniable expansion of your home's security options. In the same way professional systems that have been around for decades, there is a new bumper crop of cheaper DIY systems that you will install yourself, as well as gadgets such as cameras, smart locks and video doorbells which deserve to be taken into account
Better home security that we tested
| Best DIY system |
SimpliSafe |
$ 230 in advance |
The monitoring starts at $ 15 a month, $ 25 a month, to include the application controls and the integration to Alexa. |
See online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best system installed by a professional |
Comcast Xfinity Home |
$ 299 in advance |
Surveillance costs $ 40 a month in the first year, then $ 50 a month; bundles available with TV and internet. |
See online |
| Best video doorbell |
Hello nest |
$ 230 in advance |
Continuous recording starting at $ 5 per month. |
See online |
| Ideal for part-time supervision |
dwelling |
$ 299 in advance |
Surveillance available for $ 20 a month. |
See online |
Of course, a lot has to be done – and current home security providers are not always making comparisons easy. But hey, that's where we come in! Keep reading for a list of all the best home monitoring options we've tested, as well as links to learn more about all of our top choices.
Disclosure: CNET may earn a share of the revenue from purchases made through the links on this page.
Self-installing systems
If a professionally installed system seems excessive, you can save a lot of money by buying a system that you install yourself. For my money, systems like these offer some of the best solutions for the security of your home.
You do not miss a lot of features. Although professionally installed systems can offer a sophisticated touch screen to control the system, the rest of the hardware is much the same as what you'll get if you go for DIY, relying mostly on wireless sensors and battery powered around your house.
When DIY systems began to appear as an inexpensive alternative, they were few, if any, with a professional monitoring option. This is no longer the case. Most DIY systems now offer the option of professional supervision – and most of them are also less expensive than professionals. The fact that most DIY systems do not require any type of service contract is another interesting part of the field.
The best we have tested: SimpliSafe Home Security
Chris Monroe / CNET
The SimpliSafe system, easy to install and use, is well positioned as one of the best values in home security. It offers a full set of features and a very good mix of battery-powered sensors, all of which have performed well in our tests. Starter kits start at around $ 230, or you can create your own custom system with the exact combination of peripherals that interest you.
Professional supervision starts at $ 15 a month, but you will definitely want a $ 25 plan a month, which includes features such as application control and voice assistance via Alexa and the Google Assistant. It also means that you must use another choice, such as Abode or Ring, if you do not want professional monitoring, but still want to control your system from your phone. CNET general score: 8.5
$ 229.00 at SimpliSafe
Read the full review
Another point to watch for: all-in-one safety features designed for small homes and living spaces. Basically just one-point tabletop cameras, with additional sensors for motion, temperature and ambient light, these devices can be perfect for a studio.
Names to watch include Canary, Honeywell and the Abode Iota – Although our favorite of the group, Piper, is no longer on the market after Alarm.com bought its parent company in 2016. If we find another alternative that pleases us as much as this one, I will update this space.
The excellent DIY system of Abode deserves to be examined.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Other options we tested
dwelling
Our best solution SimpliSafe, Abode's well thought out system, supports both Zigbee and Z-Wave, works with Alexa, IFTTT and Nest and offers great flexibility in professional surveillance – with the option to pay only temporary fees. monitoring during the times when you are actually out of town. CNET general score: 8.3
See in Abode
Read the full review
Alarm ringing
Subsidiary of Amazon, the Ring Security Kit is quick to install and use. There is nothing innovative about it – and it does not even offer full integration with Alexa – but with a $ 199 buy-back cost and professional supervision available for just $ 10 a month, Ring Alarm s 'imposes as a value. CNET general score: 7.5
See on Amazon
Read the full review
Nest Secure
This Nest option, a company owned by Google, works very well, but the initial cost of $ 499 is much higher than the competition. It's a decent system, but that's only really worth if you want to lock yourself into a Google smart home ecosystem. CNET general score: 7.2
See at the nest
Read the full review
Professionally installed systems
These are pillars of home security – names such as ADT and Brinks that you've probably been familiar with for years, as well as home security systems offered by major telecom operators such as Comcast and AT & T.
The terrain is quite similar in all areas. In addition to the basics such as motion detectors and door and window entry detectors, professional configurations of this type also promise to seamlessly integrate features such as door locks, thermostats and displays. touch, and often support voice commands via Alexa and the Google Assistant. . Most charge initial equipment or installation fees and require multi-year service contracts. Monthly professional fees are mandatory and typically range from $ 30 to $ 50 per month.
The best we've tested: Comcast Xfinity Home
Joshua Goldman / CNET
It's not available in all areas, but Comcast Xfinity Home impressed us when CNET's editor, Josh Goldman, tested the system at home in northern New Jersey. It's a robust and well thought out system that works well with your smart home equipment, including long-time favorites like Lutron Caseta switches and the Nest Thermostat. "What Xfinity Home showed me," writes Josh, "was the reason why smart devices for the home made more sense when they were fully integrated with the sensors and cameras of one. home security system. "
You'll get the best value if you want to combine Xfinity Home with Comcast's Internet service and TV service, but you can also use it as a stand-alone service. I also appreciated the fact that the sales approach was less aggressive and more helpful than the competition when I gave them a test call (I was able to get a quote for my house in 10 minutes about, and the only personal information I gave was a zip code). CNET general score: 8.5
See on Xfinity
Read the full review
High-end systems like these sometimes make it difficult to compare prices. For example, visit the ADT website and you will find a multitude of marketing texts touting the value of the company's various security offerings – but you will not find much in terms of specific prices. Instead, the site invites you to request a "free quote," by calling the company's sales team or submitting your name, zip code, phone number, and email address. Doing this ensures that an "ADT specialist will call you from time to time about ADT offers". Read the fine print and you will see that these calls are "provided" with the help of "automated numbering technology".
Mind you, ADT is not alone here. Some are less blatant than others, but you'll find similar tactics – and similar details – just about every website for installed business systems like these. If the website does not tell you exactly what a system built for your house would cost you, it's best to call the company directly, tell it the type of setup you want and ask for a quote .
Your experience may vary depending on the seller you are talking to. For example, when I tried to call ADT for the first time, the seller told me that he could not give me a quote. without doing a credit check first. I politely ended the conversation and recalled another day. I've had a much better experience with a seller who has evaluated the price of a basic system within 10 minutes without credit check or other exchange of personal information.
Shopping for a pro system
| Basic initial cost | Monthly cost | The duration of the contract | How long did it take me to get this information when I called | What personal data I had to provide to get them | |
| ADT |
$ 129 ($ 229 for a system with a camera at the door) |
$ 47 ($ 67 for a system with a camera at the door) |
3 years |
The first attempt would not give a quote without a credit check, the second attempt would take 10 minutes. |
No |
| Digital life of AT & T |
$ 550 installation fee |
$ 40 |
2 years |
Easily available on the site. |
No |
| Brinks |
$ 399 setup fee |
$ 29 |
3 years |
Easily available on the site. |
No |
| Comcast Xfinity Home |
$ 299 installation fee (canceled if provided with TV and Internet) |
$ 40 for the first year, then $ 50 ($ 175 with television and Internet) |
2 years |
10 minutes |
Postal code |
| Vivint |
$ 99 setup fee |
$ 40 plus cost financed devices (for a simple setup, about $ 18 per month for 60 months) |
None, but the equipment is funded over 5 years |
17 minutes |
No |
Whoever you call, do not be afraid to put your privacy at risk. Companies that use automated calls and junk e-mail as a sales tactic do not have the right to access your address or other personal information until you reach the end of the day. they have won your trade, period.
Aside from this caveat, the advantage of systems such as these is that professionals will come to your home to install everything for you, and you can usually expect a higher level of technical support. in the field if you also want to change your configuration. . Choose a professional system from a telecommunications provider and you can probably integrate the security of your home with your TV or Internet service. It's a convenience that can also help you get a discount.
The Vivint system works well, but the equipment is not cheap.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Other options we tested
Digital life of AT & T
It's not cheap, but we liked this sleek system and the fact that simple pricing details were available online. Our service professionals made sure to optimize the signal strength of each device in our configuration during installation – a nice touch that made the professional approach more interesting. CNET general score: 8.3
See AT & T
Read the full review
Vivint Smart Home
Vivint is a solid system that worked well when we tested it, but be aware that you will have to finance the cost of your devices in addition to your monthly fees for five years. As an example, do you see this touch screen panel in the image above? Vivint is charging you a huge $ 600 for that – and it's a mandatory part of the system. CNET general score: 7.6
See at Vivint
Read the full review
Video doorbells
If you do not need a complete security system, but you just want to monitor the activity at your door, you can consider installing a video doorbell to monitor.
You have plenty of options right now, all of them sending an alert on your phone whenever someone rings to show you who is at the door. Some also look for unexpected movements or allow a two-way conversation – and we see many new options which are able to recognize faces as well. This includes our first choice:
The best we've tested: Nest Hello
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
Nest's stylish video doorbell is an elegant and stylish choice that has responded to our tests. Features such as people detection and geofencing are useful and easy to use. You can also upgrade to the Nest Aware cloud subscription service to allow facial recognition and access to saved recordings.
It's obviously best for households that have already engaged in Google and Nest's smart home ecosystem, but Nest's doorbell also works with Alexa and IFTTT, making it a very solid choice for just about anything. the world. CNET general score: 8.5
$ 229.00 at Best Buy
Read the full review
Prices for doorbells like these typically range from $ 100 to $ 250, and most also charge an optional fee for viewing saved video clips. To choose one, first determine if your door has a wired connection or if you need a battery powered device. Then consider the features – for example, do you keep a porch light on at night or do you need something with night vision?
From there, think about the smart home platforms that you want your door to ring with. In this regard, you will find many options that work with Alexa and many others that work with IFTTT, as well as with Google and / or Nest. Siri is still catching up – the only HomeKit compatible video doorbell that we've had access to so far is Welcome Netatmo, who made his CES debut last January.
Compare smart bells
|
August View Doorbell Camera |
Ringtone video doorbell 2 |
Ring Video Doorbell Pro |
Nest Hello Video Doorbell |
|
|
Price |
$ 230 |
$ 199 |
$ 249 |
$ 229 |
|
Finishing color |
Black, Red, White, Blue, Brass, Satin Nickel, Night Gray, Bronze |
Satin Nickel, Venetian (both finishes are included with the purchase) |
Satin Nickel, Venetian, Satin Black, Pearl White |
White and Black |
|
Source of energy |
Rechargeable rechargeable battery |
Rechargeable wired or removable battery |
Cable |
Cable |
|
Resolution |
1 920×1 440p HD |
1 920×1 080p HD |
1 920×1 080p HD |
1600 x 1200p HD |
|
Field of view |
No information |
160 degrees |
160 degrees |
160 degrees |
|
Live streaming |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Online storage |
Yes, free basic package, plus 15 day storage for $ 3 a month and 30 day storage for $ 5 a month |
Yes, 60 days storage for $ 3 per month |
Yes, 60 days storage for $ 3 per month |
Yes, free 3 hour picture history; continuous recording starting at $ 5 per month |
|
Local storage |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Mobile app |
Android and iPhone |
Android and iPhone |
Android and iPhone |
Android and iPhone |
|
Web application |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Night vision |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Alerts |
Movement |
Movement |
Movement |
Movement, Person, Face Recognition (with Nest Aware) |
|
Zones of activity |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (with Nest Aware) |
|
Dimensions (HxWxD) |
5.2 x 1.8 x 1.3 inches |
5.1 x 2.5 x 1.1 inches |
4.5 x 1.9 x 0.8 inches |
4.6 x 1.7 x 1.0 inches |
|
Third-party integrations |
Alexa Assistant Google; Nest |
Alexa IFTTT; Eye patch |
Alexa IFTTT; Eye patch |
Alexa Assistant Google; Nest |
|
Operating temperature range |
-4 to 122 degrees F |
-5 to 120 degrees F |
-5 to 120 degrees F |
14 to 104 degrees F |
Most major home security systems now offer their own video doorbell, and some also offer compatibility with standalone video doorbells like these. Keep this in mind if you think you want to develop a complete system later.
Oh, and you want more advice on choosing the right video doorbell? Megan Wollerton from CNET to you covered.
Ring makes a variety of popular video bells that are worth the detour.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Other options we tested
Ringtone video doorbell 2
We are big fans of the removable and rechargeable battery of this version of the famous Ring Video Doorbell ring – although it also makes it a bit bigger than average. If this suits your door frame, it's a great choice that plays well with Alexa and IFTTT. CNET general score: 7.4
See on Amazon
Read the full review
View of August
One of your last options, August View, is superb and easy to install, but the application was boring every time we try to watch the live stream. That's the last thing you want if someone is removing a package from your porch. CNET general score: 7.1
$ 229.00 at Amazon
Read the full review
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