The 10 Best DIY Home Security Companies
Where Can You Find the Best DIY Home Security?
With the ongoing expenses of owning your home and the importance of keeping your home safe, many homeowners are looking for security systems. While there are tons of options out there, these days more homeowners are opting for do-it-yourself home security systems.
Why pay for costly professional installation and long-term service contracts when you can choose the equipment you need and set it up yourself? You can get impressive home security without breaking the bank, and when it's time to move, you can simply take the system down and set it up again in your new home.
Monday, October 14th
2024 DIY Home Security Company Reviews
Frontpoint
Frontpoint has been a leader in DIY home security for over a decade, offering professional monitoring and easy installation. They allow integration with third-party smart home devices, making it flexible to create a customized system. With a range of starter kits, build-your-own options, and monitoring plans starting at $44.99 per month, Frontpoint is known for its reliability, excellent customer service, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. This DIY home security provider earns our highest recommendation.
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe offers a DIY approach to home security with customizable packages and professional installation services available. You can build your own system or choose from seven pre-made kits, tailored to different security needs and budgets. With monitoring plans ranging from $9.99 to $29.97 per month and a 60-day trial period, SimpliSafe provides budget-friendly options and earns high praise from customers, making it a top contender for home security on your terms.
Cove
Cove offers personalized DIY home security systems with features like immediate text alerts and LiveAssist response. Starting at $18 per month, Cove's monitoring plans come with no contracts and a 60-day trial period. With high customer ratings and flexible customization options, Cove is a top contender for tailored home security solutions.
Alarm Relay
Alarm Relay, a longstanding home security company, offers straightforward systems without fancy gadgets but reliable monitoring. You can choose from individual components or select one of their five kits, starting from $198. While they have an excellent BBB rating, recent customer reviews indicate a decline in reliability and customer service, earning them a mid-tier rating overall.
Ring
Ring, a well-known name in home security, offers a range of smart home gadgets and DIY systems with free shipping on orders over $49. Their customizable packages let you choose the components you need, or you can opt for ready-made kits tailored to different security needs. With monitoring plans ranging from $4.99 to $20 per month and no contract commitment, Ring provides affordable options. However, customer service concerns warrant more than a little caution, earning them a just-average rating overall.
Skylink
Skylink, around since 1990, offers affordable DIY home automation and security systems, but their products are self-monitored with no professional monitoring options. They have three kits ranging from $89.99 to $189.99, including basic sensors and cameras, making them a cost-effective choice for those okay with self-monitoring. While Skylink has an "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau, customer reviews are mixed, with many complaints about defective devices and poor customer service. All of that combines to earn Skylink a middle-of-the-road rating here.
Abode
Abode offers DIY home security systems with smart home integration, allowing you to connect various devices even if you buy them elsewhere. They provide customizable options and pre-made kits, but the systems have received mixed reviews due to reliability issues and connectivity problems. While they have a decent return policy, many customers have faced challenges, suggesting that you might be better off with a higher-ranked DIY home security provider.
Arlo
Arlo offers a flexible DIY home security system compatible with various devices, supporting voice commands with Alexa and Google Assistant, but it doesn't work with Z-Wave or Apple HomeKit. You can build your system piece by piece or use their Bundle Builder, and they also offer a starter kit for $199.99 with optional monitoring plans. Despite having an "A+” BBB rating, customer reviews are mixed, often citing poor customer service and technical issues. These problems ultimately result in an overall low score from us.
Ooma
Ooma offers a budget-friendly, seemingly easy-to-use DIY home security system with basic sensors. Their three starter kits are affordable, and professional monitoring costs only $14.95 per month. However, Ooma has poor customer service reviews, with complaints about difficult cancellations and unexpected charges. These concerns, along with low ratings overall (and complaints about scams) put Ooma near the bottom of our list.
Wyze
Wyze offers various tech products, but their DIY home security systems are lacking compared to specialized companies. They provide limited guidance for first-time buyers and only have one kit, making it difficult to customize a system for your home. With poor customer reviews and an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it's best to look elsewhere for reliable home security.
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The main thing to decide when picking a DIY home security system is whether you want to monitor your home security yourself through apps or camera recordings, or have 24/7 professional monitoring which is generally a paid service on top of the cost of your home security equipment. Most people prefer knowing that someone is always watching, so they choose to pay for professional monitoring. However, you can also choose to handle the monitoring on your own if you want to keep costs down.
Next, think about what equipment you need for your setup. At a minimum, you'll probably need door sensors for all first-floor entry points and a panel or touchscreen hub to arm and disarm the system. Other popular components include indoor and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, and sensors for smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide. Some companies let you buy the equipment a la carte, while others require you to purchase a package and then add any extra components you need.
If you're worried about your budget, don't be. With a DIY-style approach, you can decide how much you want to spend, and how many items to add to your security system. If you don't want to add professional monitoring or you prefer to wait and add to your home security system at a later time, DIY systems make that much easier. Keep in mind that adding high-end features like video cameras with storage may increase your monthly service costs, but it's 100% your choice.
Now that you have a basic idea of what you want in a DIY home security system, how do you choose the right company? Here are some criteria to consider as you make your decision:
- Value. What do you get for your money? Does the company offer good service for the equipment you install? Are the components high-quality?
- Contracts. Will you have to sign a contract? Sometimes the cost of the equipment is included in the monitoring price, but this could lock you into a year or a longer commitment. What happens if you need to cancel?
- Satisfaction guarantee. What if you're not happy with your system? Can you get your money back? Does the provider offer a trial period?
- Reputation. What do other homeowners say about their experience? Was the system easy to install? How responsive is the monitoring service when alerts happen? Can you quickly reach a support representative if something goes wrong? Has the company been rated by the Better Business Bureau?
To help you safeguard your home and loved ones, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the most popular DIY home security systems available today. We're confident that this information will help you choose the best coverage at a price you can afford. This way, you can get back to enjoying the peace and tranquility of your home.
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