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Updated: Nov 27, 2024, 2:13am
With so many wireless home security systems available, it’s hard to know which wireless home security system is best for your home. See the differences between wireless home security systems and which features fit best for your home.
We developed our list of the best wireless home security systems by first identifying competitors that met basic criteria, then reviewing the 20 most widely available systems from that list and scoring them all based on 22 different attributes. We further pared our list down to the top 10 systems. Our ratings take into consideration factors like mobile app availability, warranty, voice assistant capability, average price, monthly professional monitoring rates and return period. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
The Forbes Home team is committed to bringing you independent, unbiased ratings and information. We use data and expert advice to inform all of our content. Plus, our advisory board of licensed professionals fact-checks and reviews our content for accuracy and relevancy. You can read more about our editorial guidelines.
Featured Partners
1
Vivint
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
Yes
Lowest Monitoring Price
$19.99
2
ADT
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
Yes
Lowest Monitoring Price
$29.99
3
Simplisafe
Customer Reviews
Great
Contract Required
No
Lowest Pro Monitoring Price
$21.99
Vivint
Vivant has a variety of plans to choose from to fit your needs at different price points. It has terrific smart home integration, though its systems come with a lot of fees. Installation can cost as much as $250 and there are significant upfront costs should you want to purchase equipment outright. You can set up monthly billing for equipment at more palatable costs.
Vivant’s equipment includes a doorbell camera, indoor camera, a smart thermostat, door locks and deadbolts, garage door controllers, outdoor cameras and the Vivint Smart Drive. Additionally, it has door and window sensors.
Vivint’s monthly monitoring ranges in cost, with plans ranging from those that start at $29.99 per month.
***Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission was reviewing claims regarding Vivint accounts being opened improperly. Make sure to properly vet every company you consider.
Vivint has three home security packages: Smart Security Monitoring, Smart Home Monitoring and Smart Video Monitoring. The Smart Security Monitoring plan starts at $29.99 a month, the Smart Home Monitoring starts at $39.99 a month and the Smart Video Monitoring plan starts at $44.99 a month.
Vivint’s Smart Security Monitoring plan includes 24/7 professional monitoring and entry, smoke and CO detectors. You have mobile access with the plan and it can provide medical pendant support. It has smart home integration for things like automating your thermostat and you can also use voice-command devices.
The company’s systems are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, along with Nest Thermostat, Google Home, Amazon Echo, Philips Hue and Kwikset.
Simplisafe
SimpliSafe has seven security packages you can choose from: The Beacon, The Lighthouse, The Haven, The Knox, The Hearth, The Essentials and The Foundation. You can pay in full for each system or set up monthly payments. If you purchase a package, it can start as low as $124.98 and as high as $354.95.
The Essentials is the brand’s most popular bundle and includes a base Station, a keypad, an entry sensor and two motion sensors.
SimpliSafe has two monitoring plans: its self-monitoring plan and its Fast Protect professional monitoring plan. The self-monitoring plan includes camera recording and starts at 33 cents a day. The Fast Protect plan costs 99 cents a day and includes 24/7 live guard protection, whole- home monitoring, faster emergency personnel response, unlimited video recording, instant phone alarms, a lifetime subscriber warranty and a 10% hardware discount.
SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan, formerly known as its interactive monitoring plan, includes instant alarm alerts through its mobile app along with whole house protection. There is also 30-day cloud video storage and all comes with no contract.
SimpliSafe is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It has indoor and outdoor cameras in addition to sensors, video doorbells and smart locks. If you’re not sold on one of its bundles, you can also opt for a build-your-own system. (Just a note that some of these may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if a completely wireless system is what you’re looking for).
ADT
ADT offers you the opportunity to build your own security system or choose one of its packages. Its Video and Smart Home package remains a popular option and includes a digital touchscreen panel, three door or window sensors, one motion detector, one Google Nest camera (indoor or outdoor), one smart door lock and a Google Nest doorbell.
Note: Some of these may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if a completely wireless system is what you’re looking for.
The equipment starts at $14.15 a month. Pro monitoring starts at $61.99 a month. The pro monitoring includes Essential Monitoring, video security and a Quality Service Plan that provides repair or replacement of any products.
The company’s Smart Home plan starts at $14.15 a month for equipment and $49.99 a month for pro monitoring. The plan includes a touchscreen panel, remote arm and disarm, three window and door sensors, a motion detector and a smart door lock.
You can also build your own security system for $9.98 a month plus pro monitoring starting at $45.99 a month. The system includes a touchscreen panel, three door and window sensors and a motion detector, but can also add equipment a la carte to fit your needs.
You can finance or purchase a security system with ADT. If you’d like to go even more customizable (or just fancy a project) you can look into its DIY home security systems.
Ring
Ring is best known for its doorbell cameras but its line of products includes indoor and outdoor cameras, car cameras and lights. Ring even has outdoor cameras that run off solar power and a floodlight cam, which is great for the backyard.
Ring offers three subscription plans: its basic, Plus and Pro plan. The basic plan starts at $3.99 a month while the Plus plan costs $10 a month and the Pro plan costs $20 a month.
The Plus plan builds off the basic plan and adds extended warranty coverage for all devices. The basic plan includes:
The basic and Plus plans do not include 24/7 professional monitoring: That is only available with the Pro plan. You have the ability to create your own security system by choosing the equipment you want and you can control things through the Ring app.
Ring is best known for its doorbell cameras but its line of products includes indoor and outdoor cameras, car cameras and lights. Ring even has outdoor cameras that run off solar power and a floodlight cam, which is great for the backyard.
Not sure what kind of equipment you need? Ring has doorbell bundles, whole-home bundles, outdoor camera bundles, indoor camera bundles, alarm bundles and lighting bundles. Whole-home bundles can include up to 14 pieces of equipment. (Just a note that some of these may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if a completely wireless system is what you’re looking for).
Ring devices work with Echo, Schlage smart locks, Chamberlain smart garage door openers, Leviton and GE light switches, Amazon and Honeywell smart thermostats, First Alert smoke and CO detectors and Flo by Moen water shutoffs.
Cove
If you’d rather build your own home security system, Cove has you covered. Cove doesn’t offer any packages for its home security products—instead, you select exactly what you want for your home. It’s great if you know what you want, but may not be the best option for those who like to take the guesswork out of things.
Cove’s hub starts at $40 while the touchscreen panel costs $60. Window and door sensors run $6 each while a smoke detector costs $38. Key fobs cost $10 each while an eufy indoor camera runs $74.99 and an outdoor eufy camera costs $114.99.
Note: Some of these may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if you want a totally wireless system.
As for monitoring, Cove has its Cove Basic, which is 60 cents a day. It provides 24/7 alarm monitoring, protection from floods, fires and smoke, alarm verification, 24/7 customer support, dual connection, 24-hour battery backup, smartphone control and a one-year equipment warranty.
The Cove Plus monitoring plan includes all of the items in the basic plan, plus a lifetime warranty on equipment, camera support, free video storage and a $5 a month equipment reward all for 93 cents a day.
Cove has a 60-day money-back guarantee and free shipping. It also offers steep discounts during sales periods, up to 60% off. You can opt for financing to pay for the equipment and there are no contracts. Cove also has professional installation available. You can also take your Cove system when you move to a new address.
Frontpoint
Frontpoint has four packages you can select for security systems. You can build your own or choose The Starter Pack, The Home Shield or The Family Lookout.
The Home Shield is the mid-tier package that includes:
Note: Some of these may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if you’re seeking out a totally wireless system.
The Home Shield package starts at $269 and includes eligibility for Allstate’s Identity Protection, which guards your identity and financial information against online threats. Its motion sensors are designed to not set off an alarm for pets less than 40 pounds and professional monitoring is included with the plan.
There’s no need for professional installation because Frontpoint provides a step-by-step setup guide. Frontpoint also has its own app so you can monitor your security system remotely.
Frontpoint has additional features like a 24-hour battery backup to keep you safe even in a power outage. Frontpoint also touts its video analytics to help distinguish regular events from unusual events, which can save you from unnecessary alerts. You can also create zones and virtual tripwires to monitor more efficiently.
Abode
Abode has a nice offering of bundles and security systems to make it easier to decide what you need. The iota All-in-One Security Kit is a good option because it includes an iota Hub, which is a camera and a motion sensor, one mini door/window sensor and a key fob. The system costs $379.99 usually but is on sale for $269.99. The system has a 93db siren and 4G cellular connectivity. It works with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home.
Note: Some equipment may have wired options available or wired elements, so be sure to ask about that if a completely wireless system is what you’re looking for.
The iota All-in-One Security Kit takes 30 minutes or less to set up and has a battery and cellular backup should you lose power or your internet connection. To take advantage of the cellular backup, you must subscribe to the pro plan. With the kit, you can connect up to 160 devices in your home
Abode has two monitoring plans: its standard plan, which costs $6.99 a month and its pro plan, which costs $22.99 a month. You can save some money by paying for an entire year. The standard plan comes with self-monitoring and home automation access for unlimited users. It also includes unlimited cameras, live and recorded video, notifications, a timeline, in-app panic alarms, premium support and smart detection.
The pro plan has everything the standard plan includes, plus 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup and some deals on homeowner’s insurance and free ground shipping if you live in the lower 48 states.
| COMPANY | FORBES HOME RATING | COMPANY CUSTOMER REVIEWS | MONTHLY PROFESSIONAL MONITORING COST | WARRANTY LENGTH | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 4.9   | Excellent | $29.99 | Good | On Vivint's Website | |
| 4.8 | Great | $19.99 | Excellent | On SimpliSafe's Website | |
| 4.7  | Excellent | $59.99 | Great | From ADT | |
| 4.1  | Excellent | $10.00 | Great | On Amazon | |
| 4.0 | Good | $17.99 | Excellent | On Cove's Website | |
| 3.8 | Great | $24.99 | Excellent | On Frontpoint's Website | |
| 3.8 | Great | $21.99 | Great | Read Forbes' Review |
Any number of factors can play a role in determining which wireless home security system is best for you but there are several common ones. Though some factors make sense, the minutiae of those factors can differ between companies and products. Some factors, like brand loyalty might trump others, so it’s important to weigh them all before picking a wireless home security system.
Most home security systems cost between $200 to $300 but some, like Frontpoint’s Fortress system can cost more than $500. The price of the system will change depending on what’s included in the bundle, items you add that aren’t included in a bundle, plus things like the length of the warranty and how you have the equipment installed. Some of the common cost factors include:
Self-monitoring home security systems usually don’t require a subscription or cost money, but if you want professional monitoring, you likely need a subscription and will pay a monthly fee. Professional monitoring can include additional video features like event capturing and video storage for a number of days. Professional monitoring plans can also vary based on the level of service.
If you choose to install your home security system on your own, you can save some money. Home security companies typically charge around $100 for professional installation. Some companies will charge separately for professional installation and others will roll it into the total cost of your home security system.
Not all home security system companies require contracts but if they do, a contract can last between 12 to 60 months. The longer the contract length, the lower your monthly bill will be. Vivant, Link Interactive and ADT typically have contracts while Abode, Cove, Frontpoint, Ring and SimpliSafe don’t require contracts.
Equipment costs vary between home security companies and vary based on the features. Higher resolution cameras usually cost more than those with lower resolutions. Some devices you might want for your home might come as add-ons, which will incur an additional cost.
A longer warranty length will typically cost more than a shorter one. Warranties for home security systems can range from six months to limited lifetime, depending on the company. Most warranties are either one or three years.
Contracts can be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your point of view. Contracts can provide peace of mind for some while others don’t like the inflexibility of a contract. Contracts can sometimes come with discounts, though you might have to pay for an entire year in advance or contracts can come with additional ancillary fees.
If you’re a techie or care about things like video quality, equipment can play a deciding factor. The amount of equipment included in a home security bundle can factor in your decision, too. Some security systems include an indoor camera while others make that an add-on. Not all security systems come with a keypad and if that’s an important feature for you, it could impact your decision.
Most home security systems have DIY installation, especially wireless systems. But some systems require a landline, which might require professional installation if you don’t have a landline. Companies like Vivint and ADT require professional installation and if you don’t feel comfortable setting up wireless connection, you might consider a professional installation.
If you have smart home devices or use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit, you’ll want to find a home security system that has compatibility with one of those systems. Plus, you will want to check to make sure certain devices like smart locks will work with your home security system. Most smart home devices can operate through an app on your phone, but some use a tablet hub, too, so it’s good to check how you can operate those devices with a security system.
Home security systems can have a host of features, most of which are considered add-ons. Things like glass breakage alerts, carbon monoxide monitoring, smoke detection, medical alert alarms, 24/7 alarm monitoring, flooding monitoring and video storage can vary across security systems. If you want one or more of those types of services or features, it could factor into your decision.
Ease of use can make a big difference. While most apps are fairly intuitive, their compatibility with other devices makes a difference. After all, you shouldn’t need an app for each smart device in your home. Operating them all from one device makes things easier, especially if that hub device is simple to use.
Choosing a home security system can come down to its security and its response to security issues. Security can include the encryption the system uses. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is considered the most secure encryption for wireless devices. You’ll want to check the response times of home security systems to monitoring centers and the systems entry delay time.
The delay entry time refers to the amount of time before the alarm alerts the monitoring center. Most systems default to 30 seconds, but the time can get adjusted. Home security system companies do not track the response time of emergency personnel.
There are several benefits to having a wireless home security system vs. a wired home security system. The versatility of where you can place wireless security system components and the ability to DIY installation make wireless home security systems attractive. There are additional benefits to having a wireless home security system, especially if you use smart home devices or want to add smart home devices to your house.
Wireless home security systems can have more security than wired systems because there aren’t wires to cut and disable alarms. Wireless systems have battery backups to continue to provide protection during power outages.
Wireless home security systems offer flexibility in terms of which rooms you want to monitor and how you want to monitor them. With wireless security systems can always add more devices later on or you can downsize the amount of devices you use. They also offer flexibility in terms of where you monitor your home. With apps and other smart home devices you can control things remotely from your phone.
A home security system that integrates with other smart home devices can help regulate things like your thermostat and help keep heating and cooling costs down. It can also integrate with lighting to allow you to turn lights off in different rooms to help save on energy costs. Plus, home security systems can sometimes lower your homeowner’s insurance bill.
Wireless home security systems can come in a variety of bundles that include a doorbell camera, base station, entry sensor and motion sensor. The bundles can have similar equipment but wireless home security systems can be broken into different types based on what they monitor or detect.
Burglar alarm detection devices include things like a door and window movement detection device, property motion detection that can distinguish between animal movement and that of a human and screen alarms that can detect when a screen has been cut for possible intrusion.
Wireless home security systems can just be devices like fire alarms, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These types of wireless home security systems can help protect you against dangerous situations and keep you secure.
Video surveillance usually includes a doorbell camera, an indoor camera and an outdoor camera. Some companies have floodlight cameras, which can provide additional security.
Environmental sensors can help detect things like floods, extreme temperatures or even s in your home. Environmental sensors usually are add-ons but can provide additional security.
Monitored security systems include those you can control through your phone or a tablet. It can also mean having a monitoring center with your security system. Home security systems that get routed to a monitoring center typically require a subscription or a monthly fee.
Both types of home security systems can provide quality home security, but there are some instances where someone might want a wired home security system. Wired home security systems provide reliable signals and don’t have batteries that need replacement.
Wireless home security systems have the ability to place cameras where you want more easily than wired cameras. Wireless home security systems can also integrate with smart home devices and home assistant devices easily.
Most people who buy a wireless home security system install it themselves but some companies require professional installation. Professional installation typically costs around $100 but it varies by company. Most home security companies use third-party companies to handle the installation. Some outdoor cameras you might want to have a professional install to prevent any damage to your home.
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System base price, warranty length and other similar factors made up 20% of the scoring.
Each wireless home security company was evaluated by how many smart home types (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri, etc.) its systems are compatible with, making up 15% of the score.
Things like contract lengths and activation fees and the availability of professional installation helped to make up 9% of the score.
Mobile app ratings were evaluated for each system at 12% of the total ranking.
Customer reviews and ratings from various sources including BBB, Trustpilot and Consumer Ratings accounted for 31% of the total ranking.
The existence of live chat, community forums and phone services accounted for 6% of the final score.
A few percentage points were given to companies with special features and those that went above and beyond.
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Wireless security systems connect to a hub or a control panel and communicate with other security devices through radio waves or systems like Zigbee or Z-wave to send radio signals. The hub communicates to a monitoring center or other agencies through a cellular connection, though some can use a landline. Most home security systems use Z-wave to communicate between devices because it doesn’t interfere with Wi-Fi.
The easiest way to secure your home can be doing the simple things like locking doors and limiting places where they can appear undetected. Most burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window. Keep your home properly lighted to discourage burglars and keep your garage secure.
Burglars can gain entry to your home through the garage, if attached to your home, or they can steal garage door openers and return later to enter your home.
A home security system can help deter porch pirates and burglars and signage indicating you have a home security system might deter burglars.
Outdoor wireless security cameras usually use batteries for power, but they can also use a transmitter inside a home that sends power to the camera. Some outdoor security cameras will need to be plugged into an outlet to remain powered. Outdoor security camera batteries tend to remain powered for up to six months on a charge.
Yes, wireless cameras can work without the internet. Some wireless cameras have SD cards to capture video. If a camera doesn’t connect to the internet, it can also use a cellular connection to send data to a cloud storage site or elsewhere.
Deciding whether a wired or wireless home security system is better comes down to personal preference. Wired systems can provide more stability and more protection against any potential hacking. Wireless security systems can get set up nearly anywhere in the house as long as the connection to the hub remains strong enough. Plus, wireless security systems can connect to other smart home products so you can control everything from your phone.
We named the Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera as the best wireless security camera in 2024 because it provides 12x digital zoom, 1080p video resolution, LED spotlight, full-color night vision, 130-degree field of view and motion detection. In terms of the best outdoor wireless security camera, we named the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight as the best on our list. The floodlight camera comes with higher resolution at 2K, noise and echo canceling audio components and 160-degree field of view in addition to the features of the Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera.
After 10 years in print journalism, Nick transitioned to the home improvement space. He has specialized in maintenance, mortgages, home warranties, moving, car shipping, home security and more for 7 years. Nick contributes to publications like Angi, Trusted Company Reviews and Family Handyman as well.
Shelby is an editor with an affinity for covering home improvement and repair, design and real estate trends. She also specializes in content strategy and entrepreneur coaching for small businesses, the future of work and philanthropy/ nonprofits. An advocate for creativity and innovation, she writes with the knowledge that content trends tell an important tale about the bigger picture of our world. Reach out to her if you want to share a story.
