Achieving peace of mind for your home doesn’t have to be pricey or difficult.
Traditional home security systems often require long contracts and expensive professional installation, but most smart DIY security systems are affordable and easy to install, and allow you to pay for a monitoring plan only when you want it.
Ring offers two of the most comprehensive and easy-to-use DIY home security systems we’ve tested: the Ring Alarm Pro and the original Ring Alarm. Both use the same simple app, have multiple add-ons (including more choices for cameras and video doorbells compared with our other picks), and offer the most comprehensive monitoring plan for the least amount of money.
Our pick
The latest Ring security system has a built-in Wi-Fi 6 router, works with almost every type of add-on you can imagine, and provides internet backup (for a fee), as well as the option to add up to 24 additional hours of backup power in case of an outage.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring
The strength of the Ring Alarm Pro, in addition to all of the sensors and accessories it can support (including a wide variety of cameras), is that it includes a built-in Eero Wi-Fi 6 router. That means you can replace your standard router, depending on your service, or create a mesh network to improve your Wi-Fi’s speed for security cameras and other smart-home devices around the house. Ring has limited the way self monitoring works for new Ring owners, who will no longer receive smartphone alerts in the event of an emergency, and will need to call emergency services themselves (although we don’t love the policy change, we don’t really recommend self-monitoring anyway). Still, the Ring Protect Pro plan offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to professional monitoring at$20 per month or $200 per year. With that plan, you’ll receive 180 days of video storage, a cellular backup, and 3GB of 24/7 backup internet with the option for more ($3 per 1GB).
Our pick
The original Ring system is easy to use and inexpensive to set up, and has more camera add-ons than any of our other picks.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring
If you already have a mesh network or don’t want one, we recommend the original Ring Alarm. This easy-to-use DIY security system works with all the same add-ons as the Ring Alarm Pro, including the Ring Protect Pro monitoring plan for $20 per month. Unlike the Ring Alarm Pro, it doesn’t offer internet backup or work with external battery packs, but the base station provides 24 hours of battery backup, and the Pro plan includes a cellular connection.
Runner-up
This SimpliSafe kit is affordable and easy to install and use. Its optional monitoring plan is slightly cheaper than that of our top pick, although it doesn’t provide video storage.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, August Smart Locks
SimpliSafe is another easy-to-use DIY security system, with add-ons such as indoor and outdoor video cameras, a doorbell camera, a smart lock, and smoke and other sensors. Its 24/7 professional monitoring fees are competitive with those of other DIY systems, though all of their kits also offer a self-monitoring option. Unfortunately, outside of smart speakers, the only non-SimpliSafe devices it’s compatible with are August locks. Still, for anyone who wants a reliable system that’s easy to use, works with voice-control systems, and offers a good selection of add-ons, the SimpliSafe setup is still a great choice.
Also great
Abode offers more smart-home integration than any other security system we tested, which means you can tie it into smart-home devices from different manufacturers.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Z-Wave, Zigbee
Abode is for the person who wants a security system that can integrate with smart lighting and thermostats, voice-controlled speakers, and other smart-home devices—and doesn’t mind going through the steps to create that setup. Abode supports both Zigbee- and Z-Wave–enabled devices, as well as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and IFTTT (If This Then That). That type of support comes at a price: We found Abode starter packages and most accessories to be more expensive than our other picks.
