Home security companies sell very different things under similar marketing. Some give you a box and an app and let you install it yourself. Others send a technician, tie you to a multi-year monitoring contract and charge more each month. This guide compares eight well-known companies on what matters: how the system is installed, what monitoring costs, whether there is a contract and who each one suits. It is part of our guide to choosing a home security system.
How this comparison was built
We did not run lab tests. The figures below are published prices and terms from NerdWallet, Security.org, SafeHome and SafeWise, checked against each other. Prices move and reviewers sometimes disagree by a few dollars, so treat them as a guide and confirm with the company. This article has no affiliate links.
Eight companies at a glance
| Company | Installation | Published monitoring price | Contract | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe | DIY, or professional from $124.99 | Free self-monitoring; professional $22.99 to $79.99 a month | None | Easy setup and deterrence |
| Ring Alarm | DIY | Needs a Ring Protect plan; check ring.com | Subscription | Cameras and doorbells |
| Vivint | Professional only | $24.99, up to $57 with cameras and smart devices | 3 years for discounted equipment | Full smart home |
| ADT (professional) | Professional or DIY | From $34.99 with pro install; from $24.99 DIY | Typically 3 years for pro install | Established monitoring brand |
| ADT Blu | DIY | $9.99 to $34.99 | None | Low monthly cost, cameras |
| Cove | DIY | From $22.99 including cellular backup | None | Low-cost monitored DIY |
| abode | DIY | Free self-monitoring; $8.49 self-monitoring plan; $26.99 professional | None | Self-monitoring and smart home |
| Brinks Home | Professional | $39.99 to $54.99 | 3 years | Professional monitoring with cellular backup |
Company notes
SimpliSafe
Security.org tested SimpliSafe's latest equipment in January 2026 and named it best for deterring intruders. NerdWallet lists four monitoring tiers with no contract: Standard $22.99, Core $32.99, Pro $49.99 and Pro Plus $79.99 a month. Security.org notes that SimpliSafe raised its Standard and Core plans, so check the current price.
Ring Alarm
Security.org names Ring Alarm the best choice for cameras and video doorbells. It lists regular prices of $199.99 to $329.99 for Ring Alarm kits and $299.99 to $379.99 for Alarm Pro. You need a Ring Protect plan to complete the system, and we could not verify plan prices from a primary source, so check ring.com.
Vivint
NerdWallet says Vivint is professionally installed only, with no self-setup or self-monitoring. Equipment starts at $199.99 with a three-year monitoring contract or $550 without one. It is premium priced, with strong smart-home integration.
ADT
NerdWallet reports that professionally installed ADT systems start at $449 and require a monitoring contract starting at $34.99 a month, typically three years (two in California). The DIY version requires at least one month of monitoring from $24.99, after which you can arm and disarm for free. Monitoring costs about $10 a month more with professional installation. ADT Blu, the DIY line, is month-to-month according to Security.org, with plans from $9.99 for camera-only self-monitoring to $34.99 for professional monitoring with cameras.
Cove
Security.org lists Cove's monitoring with cellular backup from $22.99 a month with no contracts. Earlier reviews listed $19.99, which shows how quickly prices change. Cove has no self-monitoring option, and adding cameras requires a higher plan.
abode
Security.org rates abode best for no-contract monitoring. You can run it free as a self-monitored system, pay $8.49 a month for the Standard plan or $26.99 for professional monitoring. The Standard plan has no cellular backup, and abode offers fewer cameras than SimpliSafe. NerdWallet adds that its kits are often discounted by up to 50 percent with an annual monitoring plan.
Brinks Home
Security.org says Brinks monitoring starts at $39.99 a month, includes cellular backup and requires a three-year contract. Installation is not free, but it can be waived if your system is worth at least $500 and you sign the contract. SafeHome lists monitoring at $39.99 to $54.99 depending on the plan.
What it costs over three years
| Plan | Per month | Over 36 months |
|---|---|---|
| abode Standard (self-monitoring) | $8.49 | $305.64 |
| Vivint, entry monitoring | $24.99 | $899.64 |
| SimpliSafe or Cove, entry monitoring | $22.99 | $827.64 |
| ADT, professional install | $34.99 | $1,259.64 |
| Brinks Home, entry monitoring | $39.99 | $1,439.64 |
These figures cover monitoring only. Add equipment, installation and taxes. Compare with the zero-subscription route in home security without monthly fees.
Contracts and sales tactics to watch
The Federal Trade Commission warns about "free" equipment that turns out to require a long, expensive monitoring contract, scare stories about local crime and agents who claim to be from your current company. It advises asking for ID, getting every promise in writing and remembering that you have three business days to cancel a contract signed at home. Ask each company:
- How long is the contract, and what is the early cancellation fee?
- Does it auto-renew, and how do I stop that?
- Who owns the equipment if I cancel or move?
- Can the price rise during the contract?
- Is cellular backup included?
Which company fits you?
- No contract and easy setup: SimpliSafe, Cove, abode or ADT Blu.
- Lowest monthly cost: abode's free or $8.49 plans, or ADT Blu self-monitoring.
- Professional installation and a full smart home: Vivint.
- A long-established monitoring network: ADT or Brinks, accepting a contract.
- Cameras first: Ring Alarm. See our cameras guide.
Not sure whether to install it yourself? Read DIY vs professional home security. For product-level comparisons see best smart home security systems, and for how monitoring works see professional monitoring explained. Renters should also read home security for renters, and older adults home security for seniors. To lower your cost, see affordable home security solutions and home security and home insurance.
Company comparison checklist
- I know whether I want DIY or professional installation.
- I compared three-year monitoring costs, not just equipment.
- I read the contract, including cancellation and renewal.
- Cellular backup is included or affordable.
- I asked my insurer which systems qualify for a discount.
Frequently asked questions
Which home security company has no contract?
Security.org and NerdWallet list SimpliSafe, Cove, abode and ADT Blu as month-to-month. Vivint, Brinks and professionally installed ADT systems typically involve multi-year contracts.
Which is cheapest?
abode's free or low-cost self-monitoring plans and ADT Blu's self-monitoring plans are cheapest monthly, but they offer no professional dispatch. For professional monitoring, SimpliSafe and Cove start around $23 a month.
Is professional monitoring worth it?
It is if you travel often, live alone or want someone to respond when you cannot. See the monitoring guide linked above.
Sources
- NerdWallet, SimpliSafe review
- NerdWallet, Vivint review
- NerdWallet, ADT review
- NerdWallet, abode review
- Security.org, ADT pricing
- Security.org, Cove review
- Security.org, Brinks Home review
- Security.org, best no-monthly-fee systems
- Security.org, Ring Alarm pricing
- SafeHome, Brinks pricing
- FTC, some home security systems may be scams
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