Best Home Security Systems Comparison | Top 8 Reviewed for 2024

The best home security systems offer 24/7 protection of your property, 365 days a year, allowing you to monitor your home or business wherever you are, so you can react quickly and prevent theft.

In this guide, we reviewed the best home security systems with cameras, motion sensors, smart alarms, and state-of-the-art locks to help you make the right choice to give you peace of mind. Read on to learn how Vivint, Frontpoint Security, Deep Sentinel, and other security systems can help keep your home safe from lurkers and criminals.

Best Home Security Systems Ranked

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here’s a breakdown of the 8 best home security systems, with a defining characteristic for each one:

1. Vivint — Overall, the Best Home Security System That’s Custom-Built for Your Unique Home
2. Frontpoint Security — Fully Customizable DIY Home Security System With a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
3. Deep Sentinel — Powerful Home and Business Security System With Live Guards Behind Every Camera
4. X-Sense — Fire, Water, and CO2 Alarms for Your Home, With Wireless Interconnected Detectors
5. Eufy — Security Equipment Manufacturer That Lets You Build Your Ideal Home Security System
6. Arlo — An All-in-One Security System With Phone Notifications and Video Previews of Each Alert
7. Swann Security — Wi-Fi Home Security System With Up to 16 HD Cameras
8. Lock and Key — Customizable Home and Business Security Solutions With State-of-the-Art Door Hardware and Locks

Top Security System for Home | Reviewed In Depth

Here are in-depth reviews of the best home security systems, so you can see what different providers offer and choose the one that best caters to your needs.

1. Vivint — Overall, the Best Home Security System That’s Custom-Built for Your Unique Home

Vivint is a smart home security system that can be fully customized according to your home to ensure round-the-clock protection and prevent crimes before they occur.

Vivint’s high-definition cameras protect your perimeter and actively deter burglars, lurkers, and package thieves with sound and light. On top of recording the activity outside your home, these smart cameras leverage Smart Deter technology to detect suspicious activity.

They automatically light up their LED rings and play a loud sound, letting the lurkers know they’ve been spotted to drive them away. The smart camera also uses a computer vision chip to differentiate between people, pets, and cars and only sends important notifications.

This means you won’t get false alerts when there’s something like a bee at your doorbell or a stray dog on your porch. Beyond this, Vivint also features a doorbell camera with a 180° x 180° field of view, infrared night vision, and a 1664p HDR resolution.

It displays the visitor’s faces and detects when someone attempts to take a package, playing the alert sound and proactively protecting it. The best part about Vivint’s home security systems is that you can control everything from a single app on your phone.

With a single tap, you can unlock doors, turn the lights on/off, control the temperature, and tap into the camera feed to see what’s happening outside your home in real-time. Additional layers of protection that Vivint offers include:

• A smart door lock
• An indoor camera
• Security sensors for doors and windows
• Garage door control and Car Guard
• Safety alarms that help protect your home from disasters like fires and floods

2. Frontpoint Security — Fully Customizable DIY Home Security System With a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Frontpoint Security offers the best DIY home security system on the market, allowing you to pick and choose between an array of world-class security products and create a customized package that’s tailor-made for your home.

At the core of the Frontpoint Security system are the Frontpoint Hub and keypad, which let you set up a unique number password for your front door and prevent break-in attempts.

Thanks to the motion sensor, the system will immediately notify you if an activity outside your home requires your attention. If you opt for a package that includes the doorbell camera, you can stream the front porch view directly to your Frontpoint Hub.

This lets you see exactly who’s at your door, so you can quickly tell if it’s the mailman, a friend, a package delivery, or someone shady and suspicious.

All security packages by Frontpoint Security also feature door and window sensors connected to the Hub that sends alerts whenever they detect any sign of attempted forced entry.

You can also set up an indoor camera to monitor your home remotely when you’re on vacation, visiting your parents out of town, or simply working from the office.

The entire system can be configured and monitored through an intuitive phone app, so you’ll always know what’s happening in and around your home, regardless of how far away you are.

Another thing we love about Frontpoint Security is that you can try it risk-free for an entire month. If you’re unsatisfied with the security system, you can return it within 30 days and get a full refund, no questions asked.

3. Deep Sentinel — Powerful Home and Business Security System With Live Guards Behind Every Camera

Deep Sentinel is an advanced security system designed to provide optimal protection for your home. It stands out from other home security systems because there’s a Live security guard behind every camera.

When the camera AI detects suspicious activity, a security guard gets alerted in the control room. Then, they can verbally engage the trespasser and contact the police in seconds, scaring the robbers away and ensuring your home is protected.

While some trespassers might be unphased by security cameras, especially when they’re wearing a hoodie, sunglasses, or a balaclava, hearing a security guard address them directly and mention police will discourage the vast majority of break-ins and package stealing attempts.

When choosing your security package, you’ll have the choice between wireless and PoE (Power over Ethernet) wired cameras, so you can choose the ones that best fit your property needs.

One thing to note is that if you opt for wireless cameras, you must set up the Deep Sentinel security system yourself. That said, it’s incredibly easy to set up the system and install the cameras, so you’ll have it up and running in less than 30 minutes.

In addition to protecting your home, Deep Sentinel also prevents car theft, provides clear, HD footage of all break-in attempts, and offers a variety of security add-ons that turn your home or business into an impenetrable fortress.

4. X-Sense — Fire, Water, and CO2 Alarms for Your Home, With Wireless Interconnected Detectors

X-Sense is an ideal option for people less concerned about break-ins and burglaries and warier of accidents and disasters, such as fires and floods. The Home Security package also includes an entry sensor with real-time alerts, but the company doesn’t offer surveillance cameras.

The main advantage of X-Sense is that you can choose which and how many alarms you need in your house. The individual alarms can be interconnected through Wi-Fi with the X-Sense Link+ so you can control them all with a single remote.

The available alarms include smoke, carbon monoxide, water leak, combination, and Link+ alarms. The alarms are incredibly easy to install, and the company provides step-by-step video instructions to ensure they function properly and are placed optimally.

In addition to the alarms, you can subscribe to the Protect+ plan, which provides access to a 24/7 fire dispatch service. If an alarm goes off, dispatch is automatically contacted, ensuring help arrives quickly during a fire, flood, or another disaster.

Additionally, with the Protect+ plan, you’ll enjoy a home insurance discount of up to 20% and a free waiver if you’re penalized by local law enforcement for false alarms.

5. Eufy — Security Equipment Manufacturer That Lets You Build Your Ideal Home Security System

Eufy is a popular home security equipment, vacuums, and pet accessories manufacturer. The company offers everything from alarms and security cameras to baby cams, smart locks, and home security systems.

While you can purchase each device separately, Eufy also offers pre-built Home Protection packages and lets you build your own security system by mixing and matching all the different products you need.

The standard package includes the Home Protection hub, an HD video doorbell camera, two entry sensors, and a yard sign.

If you want to take home protection to the next level, you can opt for the Advanced bundle, which also features a smart lock, a floodlight camera, and two motion sensors on top of what’s included in the basic package.

If neither bundle meets your needs, you can create your own perfect security system that includes add-ons like a baby monitor, pet care, an alarm kit, a garage sensor, and everything else you need to keep your home safe.

In addition to the security system, Eufy also offers a Protection Plan, which lets you set up custom monitoring settings, gives you priority support, allows you to reach the dispatch with a single tap, and gives you up to 20% discount on home insurance.

6. Arlo — An All-in-One Security System With Phone Notifications and Video Previews of Each Alert

Arlo offers an all-in-one home security system that features powerful sensors with eight different detection functions, one-tap emergency response, and security experts available 24/7 whenever your alarm triggers.

The powerful Arlo cameras support 4K video quality and have a wide field of view, so everything is crystal clear in the videos.

As soon as the cameras detect people, vehicles, animals, or packages, you’ll get a notification on your phone with a short video preview, so you’ll know exactly what’s happening on your porch.

You can contact Arlo’s security experts with a single tap if you detect any unusual activity, be it trespassers, a fire, or a flood. They’ll contact the local police or fire departments and dispatch them to your address in seconds.

In addition to the security system, Arlo provides doorbell cameras, floodlights, solar panels, battery backups, and a range of other security accessories to ensure your home is 100% protected and the security system is up and running 24/7.

7. Swann Security — Wi-Fi Home Security System With Up to 16 HD Cameras

Swann Security offers home security camera systems powered by Wi-Fi, allowing you to place HD cameras to cover every corner of your property.

With Swann Security, you can choose between a wide variety of pre-built security systems, so you can get as little as four and as many as sixteen cameras, depending on your property needs.

In addition to the security cameras, Swann Security offers video doorbells, motion sensors, alarms, sirens, and other security accessories. While the standard package only includes the hardware, you can subscribe to the Secure+ Pro Monitoring service.

When enabled, the service detects all events in and around your property and automatically alerts security professionals who can further assess the situation. If the security professionals determine a reason for concern, they’ll contact you.

If you confirm that there’s an emergency or if you can’t be reached, security professionals will contact local law enforcement and provide details and video recording to the police, ensuring priority response.

8. Lock and Key — Customizable Home and Business Security Solutions With State-of-the-Art Door Hardware and Locks

Lock and Key offers customized security solutions for your business and home, including alarm systems, video surveillance, door hardware, and access controls.

When it comes to video surveillance, the company offers customized small business, school, hospital, and home CCTV security systems. If you opt for Lock and Key, you’ll have the option between analog and IP cameras, which provide clear videos of theft and break-in attempts.

The company also offers analog alarm systems for personal and business use. The systems are installed by professional technicians with over 20 years of experience in the industry, so you can rest assured that they’ll work flawlessly.

Upon installation, you can set a unique number password to ensure unauthorized personnel or shady individuals can’t access the property. If someone attempts to enter the premises without the right number code, the alarm will go off, instantly notifying you.

Lock and Key stands out from other security systems because it offers state-of-the-art door hardware with commercial locks, access controls, smart locks, and programmable keys.

Home Security Systems Comparison | Which Home Security System is Best?

All the security systems we reviewed in this article are widely considered among the best by security experts and users. Since the security needs of every property differ, it’s next to impossible to objectively name one as the best.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison so you can determine which security system is the best option for you:

Why Invest in a Security System for Home?

Unfortunately, break-ins, burglaries, and package theft have become common in the United States in the past decade.

According to sources like Thezebra, FBI, and Crimepreventiontips.com, a break-in happens once every 26 seconds, while burglary happens once every 15 seconds in the US.

This data alone should be enough for anyone to invest in a premium home security system. Another compelling argument for investing in a surveillance system is that a single burglary could cost you as much as 20 times the amount you’d pay for a security system.

And we’re not talking just about a home burglary. Thieves often target cars, garages, delivery packages, and tools and equipment you might have in your yard or shed. Even if you’re in a safe neighborhood, it pays off to be vigilant.

Aside from break-in attempts and burglaries, security systems can protect you from disasters like fires and floods. In most cases, the systems allow you to contact the local police and fire department with a single tap and ensure priority response due to video evidence of the emergency.

When it comes to these situations, a few minutes can make all the difference. You know how the saying goes — prevention beats the cure. So, if you want to ensure the safety of your property, we strongly recommend investing in one of the home security systems we covered in this guide.

How Do I Choose a Security System? Factors to Consider

On the surface, every security system looks quite similar — you just install several security cameras, hook them up with a display screen, and you’re good to go.

However, there are quite a few differences between home security system providers, from the equipment itself to the installation process and additional security features. Here are the key factors you should consider when choosing a security system for your home:

• The size of the property — Depending on the surface area you want to cover, you’ll need a certain number of cameras. Two security cameras and one doorbell camera will do the trick for smaller homes. For larger properties with backyards, you might need six, eight, or more cameras to cover every corner.
• The type of camera — While many types offer varying video quality, we’re primarily talking about wireless vs. wired cameras here. Wi-Fi cameras are a better option for larger properties since you don’t have to deal with a ton of cables, but you have to ensure that you have a strong internet connection to support them.
• The installation process — If you’re not handy with a drill, a DIY system might not be the best option, as you’ll struggle to set everything up. At the same time, if you’re confident in your skills, a DIY system offers more flexibility than the one installed by the company, given that you can set it up exactly how you want it.
• System controls — Some security systems can only be controlled via a touchpad inside your home. In contrast, others allow you to connect the system with a security app on your phone and control everything with a few simple taps.
• Value for money — Price is an important factor when choosing a security system, but you shouldn’t look at the price tag alone. Instead, consider how much value you’re getting for your money regarding equipment, support, and priority response.

How Do I Set Up a Home Security System?

The setup will heavily depend on the type of system you purchase, but here are a few general steps you can take and tips to ensure you get the system up and running as fast as possible without any hiccups:

1. Step 1 — Set up the hub and install the home security panel
2. Step 2 — Place motion sensors on doors and windows
3. Step 3 — Install the cameras in areas you want to monitor
4. Step 4 — Connect the cameras to your Wi-Fi using the security panel
5. Step 5 — Install the doorbell camera
6. Step 6 — Activate the system using the hub/security panel

Every company that sells DIY home security systems will also have a detailed, step-by-step guide to install them. Before purchasing a specific system, we recommend going through the installation guide to better understand how easy or complex it would be to set up.

Alternatively, you can always opt for a system like Vivint and have the company install the cameras and connect the system for you.

Home Security FAQs