The 10 Best Alarm System Companies
Which Company Offers the Best Alarm Systems?
There are so many options today, from well-known providers that have been around for fifty years or more to brand-new companies selling DIY-installed, wallet-friendly home alarm systems and automation all in one.
You've got plenty of reasons to use an alarm system, whichever route you choose. Not only can they protect you against break-ins while you're away, but they can also give you extra peace of mind if you're one of the millions of Americans who find themselves working from home on a regular basis. Need to know who's at your door before you open it? Many systems will send live video right to your smartphone, letting you decide if you should interrupt that conference call with your team!
Thursday, September 28th
2023 Alarm System Company Reviews
Frontpoint
In a competitive industry, Frontpoint still manages to earn our highest ranking for alarm systems. Over 10,000 customers give this company a perfect five stars because of the no-hidden-fees pricing on monitoring and equipment, reliable home protection, and zero contracts required. Frontpoint systems are also expandable to a wide range of home automation features - even ones you buy somewhere else. Frontpoint deserves to be the first provider you look at for your home alarm system needs.
Cove
Cove is one of the newest names in the alarm system industry, and we encourage you to give them a look. They deliver transparent pricing, affordable equipment, and monthly monitoring fees that won't break the bank - all with no required contracts and a 60-day risk-free trial. Cove has a little bit of room for improvement when it comes to customer service, but the vast majority of their clients are extremely happy with these alarm systems. This is an up-and-comer you should consider for your home protection.
Alarm Relay
Alarm Relay offers solid, affordable protection - whether you purchase their alarm system equipment or bring over what you already have in your home. You won't have to sign a multiple-year contract, either. This provider has a long list of loyal customers who have used this service for many years, throughout the US and parts of Canada. Although it's a little light in the home automation department, you can rely on Alarm Relay to deliver excellent - albeit basic - alarm system features.
Brinks
Brinks Home monitors over a million alarm systems throughout North America. One of the best features of all three of their home alarm system packages is the smart hub capability that lets you connect over 100 devices like thermostats and light switches. While Brinks Home can be more expensive than some - and they don't come out and tell you what you'll pay until you contact them for a quote - it's a reputable alarm system provider with thousands of satisfied clients.
Guardian Protection Services
Guardian Protection offers alarm systems you can count on - as long as you live in one of their nine service areas. Their monitoring centers get plenty of awards, and thousands of people give Guardian a five-star rating. But, like many alarm system companies, you'll have to talk to a rep to get a price quote, and our research indicates that Guardian Protection is spendier than most.
ADT
Over six million homeowners trust ADT's alarm systems. Should you? The company has been around for almost 150 years and has nine monitoring centers that provide extensive coverage around the clock, but you'll pay much more for your equipment and installation here. It would be worth it if ADT had a flawless track record for customer satisfaction, but thousands of people have given these alarm systems a "poor" rating. You may want to shop around before committing to ADT.
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe used to be near the top of our rankings for alarm systems, with a 60-day risk-free trial and low-cost monitoring that made home alarm system accessible for the everyday consumer. Unfortunately, some recent changes to their platform have resulted in a lot of negative customer feedback, dropping the company in our rankings and putting them at a "wait and see" status for home alarm system providers.
Ring
Ring first became famous for its do-it-yourself video doorbells and then expanded into a whole suite of home alarm system products. Whether you monitor your alarm system yourself via smartphone or choose $20/month professional coverage, you can include as many Ring components as you like. Too good to be true? Thousands of people give Ring the lowest possible rating, and privacy issues leave us feeling even more hesitant to trust this company with our protection. There are better options than Ring for DIY alarm systems.
CPI Security
CPI Security is based in North Carolina - and unless you live in NC or a service area in the neighboring states of SC, GA or TN, you're not eligible to use one of their alarm systems. While this company has been around for more than 30 years and has an "A+" from the Better Business Bureau, customers report having a lot of trouble getting support when it's needed most. CPI has a long way to go before they can compete with our higher-ranked alarm system providers.
Vivint
Vivint looks sleek and secure on the outside: you may have had your curiosity piqued by a clean-cut, earnest sales rep or an ad online, and it's true that there are a lot of home automation and alarm system features in their alarm systems that sound great. However, we don't recommend trusting your protection to a company that consistently gets an "F" from the Better Business Bureau, with thousands of customer complaints every year. Vivint maintains its last-place ranking among providers of alarm systems.
Continued from above...
What are the basics of an alarm system? Most packages come with a few window/door sensors and some kind of control panel. You can still find traditional equipment that includes a wall-installed panel, but most of today's systems have a portable tablet used to arm and disarm it. From there, the options are nearly limitless and can include indoor/outdoor cameras, video doorbells, smoke/fire and carbon monoxide detectors, and many other features to keep you feeling secure.
Beyond safety, alarm systems now give you plenty of choices for home automation. What might have seemed like space-age tech just ten years ago is commonplace: use your smartphone to turn down the thermostat before you get home from work, arm your system with a voice command even when you're already in bed for the evening, or sign into your system from your computer at work to make sure you really did remember to lock the front door (and take care of it if you didn't!).
With so many options, it can feel overwhelming to choose an alarm system. There are several things to keep in mind that can help make the decision clearer and lead you to the package that will meet your needs:
- Features. What are the most essential components your alarm system needs to have? For most people, that will be the right number of window and door sensors to cover all easily-accessible entry points (such as the first-floor), and a control panel that works best for all occupants. Is there any nice-to-have equipment on your wishlist? That could include indoor video recording/storage, lots of home automation capabilities, and so on. Use your must-have and nice-to-have lists to determine if a provider has what you need.
- Cost. There are several costs associated with an alarm system. This usually includes the price of the equipment (either upfront or monthly with a contract), monthly monitoring fees, and possibly installation. The company may tell you straight out what you can expect to pay, or you might have to reach out for a quote. Make sure to carefully read all of the terms and conditions before you commit, especially if your home alarm systems provider requires you to sign a contract of a year or more.
- Service Area. Most home alarm systems companies service all 50 states, but some have limited coverage areas. Before you get too far into your research, check to see if you're eligible to be a customer and, if so, which authorized retailer might be responsible for your installation and service.
- Reputation. What do clients say about their alarm systems? Is it worth the money? Have they been able to get prompt, professional support when equipment doesn't work properly? It's not uncommon for the larger companies to have thousands of complaints, but that's not cause for concern if they're responding appropriately each time.
TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best alarm systems available today. We're confident that this information will help you get the right protection to keep you, your loved ones, and your property safe and sound!
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