You don’t have to sign your life away on a contract just to protect your family—or, if you’re us, that killer TV you got on Black Friday. Keep reading to find the best cheap security system for your home or apartment. Another way to cut costs with home security is to get a system that offers a self-monitoring option. Because you’re doing all the work, self-monitoring is typically free. All of the systems we recommend in this review have some or all of these features. SimpliSafe doesn’t go overboard on extra features and frills you may not even use. Nah, SimpliSafe stays down to earth with a super simple, no-contract system that gets the job done. And it won’t break the bank either. Speaking of saving money, SimpliSafe might cost more than Ring Alarm for monitoring and equipment, but it’s still extremely affordable by security system standards. You can buy enough SimpliSafe equipment to turn your house into a stunning impression of Fort Knox—and your bill won’t even come close to what you’d have spent on Vivint devices ($229 vs. $599). Take it from us—the SimpliSafe system is super easy to set up. When we tried it out, installation for a single-story house with two main entrances took us only about an hour. Just connect your sensors to the SimpliSafe hub and stick them where you want them. You’re all set. To learn more, read our SimpliSafe cameras review. If you want to watch your system yourself but could use professional monitoring for times when you’re on vacation, then Abode has a unique feature for you: temporary professional monitoring. Abode’s the only company we’ve seen that offers this. And sure, you could cancel your SimpliSafe monitoring plan one month and reinstate it the next, but that’s a little more involved than Abode’s deal. Here are the deets. When you choose Abode, you have the option to sign on for full, 24/7 professional monitoring for your system. It’ll still be pretty cheap compared to other home security systems. And if you don’t need that, then you can self-monitor your system for free, or for $7 per month depending on what features you want. As for automation, Scout’s not the only system out there that supports both Z-Wave and Zigbee. Abode’s hub uses both those protocols so you can use all the third-party smart home devices your heart desires. And don’t think you’re limited to just lights and locks—those third-party smart devices include things like night vision cameras and extra security sensors. Last but not least, affordability. Abode’s equipment costs more than most of the other companies on this list. And the more equipment you buy, the more those higher prices add up. If you go wild with equipment, your cost could end up being significantly higher than you thought. So keep an eye on those extra devices as you’re loading up your digital cart. If you want affordable security, then Ring Alarm is here to deliver. Not only can you get a starter equipment package for a remarkably low price, but you also get professional monitoring for only $10 per month. Unbeatable. Even the other cheap providers on this list can’t match Ring Alarm when it comes to affordable equipment and monitoring prices. SimpliSafe used to be our affordability star before Ring came along and beat it out with $199 starter equipment and $10-per-month monitoring plans. And that $10 per month? That’s just for full professional monitoring. If you want to monitor your system yourself, that’s either free or just $4 per month, depending on what features you want. Though Ring might be cheap, but it’s not skimpy. The Ring Alarm system works with Z-Wave, which means you can add on things like smart lights, smart locks, and smart outlets. Plus, if you already use Ring doorbells or cameras, you can control your Ring Alarm system in the same app you use for your cams. Way to simplify your life. Finally, Ring also has some concerning privacy policies with its footage. Anything you share to Ring’s proprietary Neighbors app could end up in the hands of the police. If you live for choices, then Scout has just what you need. The Scout hub works with both Z-Wave and Zigbee, which are the two biggest connection types you need if you want to use smart home devices. Z-Wave and Zigbee are the two biggest names in home automation. They’re protocols, which means they’re the connections your security system uses to support cool smart home devices like lights, locks, outlets, garage door openers, and more. In short, Scout lets you get started on building your robot home of the future—and for a reasonable price. There’s a drawback, though. A lot of these cheaper security systems offer free self-monitoring through a mobile app. But Scout makes things a little pricier by requiring you to sign on to either its self-monitoring plan or its professionally monitored plan—and both come with a monthly charge. The $9.99 cost for self-monitoring is the same price as what you’d pay for professional monitoring through Ring Alarm—and only $7.99 less than what you’d pay for professional monitoring through SimpliSafe or Cove. Not the best deal in our book, Scout. If all you want is a top-notch security system with a fancy touchscreen control panel and you don’t care about things like, say, home automation, then Cove is for you. It’s got SimpliSafe-level pricing for better-than-SimpliSafe equipment. Cove’s control panel is way more than the mere keypads we see with a lot of cheaper, DIY home security systems. It’s a full touchscreen panel, and it’s not just there to look pretty. Most security companies call and maybe text you if someone triggers your alarm system. But Cove monitoring reps can contact you directly through the control panel as well. Then, if it’s a false alarm, you can just tell them. No big deal. The Basic plan monthly rate will increase to $17.99/month. Any new customers to join the Cove Plus plan can now expect to pay $27.99/mo.
Price Equipment Smart home integrations Security cameras Customer experience
When choosing cheap systems, we put the biggest weight on price, but our recommendations still have quality equipment with good integrations and decent customer service experiences. We love the idea of self-monitoring in theory, especially because it saves a ton of money. But self-monitoring makes it hard for users to enjoy leisure time, like sleeping or movies, because there’s a chance that they’ll miss something when they don’t have their phone on hand. Luckily, since most self-monitored systems don’t have contracts, you can easily sign up for a month of monitoring here or there when you need to go on vacation. Most cheap security cameras are indoor cameras, but sometimes you’ll see outdoor cameras and video doorbells at lower prices as well. Read our Best Cheap Security Cameras Review to learn more. DIY systems tend to be cheaper and easier to use than most professional systems, but they may not have all the benefits. For more information, read Best DIY Security Systems and Best Professionally Installed Security Systems.
