The best home security systems of 2020: DIY kits, video doorbells and more – CNET

The home security industry is booming after about 10 years of app-enabled upheaval. There’s a whole new wave of less expensive DIY systems, cameras, smart locks and video doorbells to consider alongside the professional alarm and monitoring system options that have been around for decades. Big names in tech like Amazon and Google want a part of the action, too.

It’s admittedly quite a bit to take in — and today’s home security providers don’t necessarily always make it easy to comparison shop, to say the least. 

That’s where we come in, though — not only by putting these systems and their best features to the test at the CNET Smart Home, but by evaluating the whole buying process, as well. We look at other important factors, too — including the privacy concerns that come with filling your house with cloud-connected cameras. 

So, are you ready to set up a base station, install that window sensor and door sensor, and connect your doorbell camera to an alarm monitoring service or home security company? Keep reading for our breakdown of the best home security systems that we’ve tested to date, including DIY home security systems you can install yourself, professionally installed systems that promise to automate your whole home, and standalone gadgets like video doorbells, too.

Install-it-yourself systems

If a professionally installed security system from alarm companies or Brinks Home Security sounds like overkill, then you can save a lot of money by buying a system that you install yourself. For my money, systems like these offer some of the best value for your home security dollar.

You’re not missing out on much in terms of functionality. Though professionally installed security systems might offer a fancier keypad or touchscreen control panel, the rest of the hardware is largely the same as what you’ll get if you go the DIY installation route, relying mostly on wireless, battery-powered sensors that you stick up around your house. Just keep in mind that while DIY home security systems will deter intruders, they typically won’t offer as many integrations with things like carbon monoxide detectors, smart lights or your smart thermostat.

When DIY alarm systems first started popping up as a low-cost alternative to going with the pros, few, if any, came with an option for professional monitoring or customer service. That’s no longer the case. Most DIY security systems now offer the option of professional monitoring — and most of them charge less for professional monitoring than the professional installation security providers do, too. Automation and smart home devices have helped lower the overhead cost for monitoring services like those, and some of those savings get passed on to you. And the fact that most DIY systems don’t require any sort of service contract — just a Wi-Fi network and maybe some cloud storage — is another nice part of the pitch.

Chris Monroe/CNET

SimpliSafe’s easy-to-install, easy-to-use security system is well-positioned as the best home security system when it comes to value. It offers a comprehensive set of features, security cameras and a very good mix of battery-powered sensors, all of which performed reliably well in our tests. Starter kits begin at about $230, or you can build your own custom system with the exact mix of devices you’re interested in.

Professional monitoring starts at $15 per month, but you’ll almost certainly want to spring for the $25-per-month plan, which adds in things like mobile app controls and voice support via Alexa and the Google Assistant. That also means that you should go with another pick like Abode or Ring if you don’t want professional monitoring via a monitoring station but still want to control your system from a smartphone app. Overall CNET score: 8.5

Read full review.

Something else to keep an eye out for: All-in-one DIY security devices designed for smaller homes and living spaces. Basically, just single-point, tabletop cameras packed with extra motion detectors and sensors for things like temperature and ambient light, these devices can be a good fit for something like a studio apartment that doesn’t have a garage door or many street windows to protect.

Names to look at include Canary, Honeywell and the Abode Iota — though our favorite of the bunch, Piper, is no longer on the market after Alarm.com purchased its parent company in 2016. If we find another alternative that we like as much as we liked that one, I’ll update this space.

Other options we’ve tested

Professionally installed systems

These are the mainstays of home security — security monitoring company names like ADT and Brinks that you’ve probably been familiar with for years, along with home security systems offered by major telecom providers like Comcast and AT&T.

The pitch is pretty similar across the board. In addition to basics like motion sensors, window sensors and door sensors, these kinds of professional installations will also promise to cut back on false alarms to the monitoring center and seamlessly integrate things like door locks, cameras, keypads, thermostats, carbon monoxide detectors and touchscreens. And they’ll often support voice controls via Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, too. Most charge an upfront equipment or installation fee and most require multiyear service contracts. As for the monthly fee for professional monitoring, those are mandatory and will typically range from $30 to $50 per month.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

It isn’t available in all regions (check for local availability), but Comcast Xfinity Home left us impressed when CNET Senior Editor Josh Goldman tested the system out at his home in northern New Jersey. It’s a robust, well-thought-out security system that plays nicely with your smart home gear, including longtime favorites like Lutron Caseta light switches and the Nest thermostat. “What Xfinity Home showed me,” Josh wrote, “was how smart home devices make much more sense when fully integrated with the sensors and cameras of a home security system.”

You’ll get the best value if you’re willing to bundle Xfinity Home with Comcast’s internet and TV service, but you can use it as a standalone service, too. I also appreciated that the sales approach was less pushy and more helpful than the competition when I gave them a test call (I was able to get a quote for my home in about 10 minutes, and the only piece of personal info I gave was a zip code). Overall CNET score: 8.5

Read full review.

High-end systems like these will sometimes make it tough to comparison shop between companies. For instance, head to ADT’s website and you’ll find plenty of marketing copy touting the value of the security company’s various home security offerings and customer service — but you won’t find much by way of pricing specifics. Instead, the site directs you to request a “free quote,” either by calling the security company’s sales team or by submitting your name, zip code, phone number and email address. Doing the latter ensures that an ADT customer service specialist “will call you, from time to time, about ADT offers.” Read the fine print, and you’ll see that these calls are “provided” using “automated dialing technology.”

Mind you, the alarm company is hardly alone here. Some are less egregious about it than others, but you’ll find similar tactics — and similar fine print — on just about every website for professionally installed alarm systems like these. If the website is unclear about what a system built for your home would cost you, then your best bet is just to call the security company directly, tell them what kind of setup you’d like and ask for a quote.

Your experience might vary based on the salesperson you’re speaking with. For instance, when I first tried calling ADT, the salesperson told me that he couldn’t give me a quote without running a credit check first. I politely ended the conversation and called back another day, and had a much better experience with a salesperson who priced a core system for me within 10 minutes, no credit check or other exchange of personal info needed.

Whoever you end up calling, don’t be afraid to put your foot down over your own privacy. Companies that use robocalls and junk mail as a sales tactic don’t have a right to your address or other personal info until they’ve earned your business, full stop.

That caveat aside, the advantage with alarm systems like these is that professionals will come to your place to install everything for you, and you can typically expect a higher level of hands-on tech support and customer service if you ever want to make changes to your setup, too. Pick a professional system from a telecom provider and you’ll likely be able to bundle your home security with your TV or internet service. That’s a convenience that can also help you score a discount.

Other options we’ve tested

Video doorbells

If you don’t need an entire security system, and instead just want to keep an eye on activity at your front door, then you might consider installing a video doorbell to keep watch.

Read more: The best video doorbells of 2020

You’ve got lots of options right now, and thanks to automation, all will send real-time alerts via a Wi-Fi connection or cellular connection to your cell phone or smart device whenever someone rings to show you who’s at the door. Some also track for unexpected motion or allow for two-way audio — and we’re seeing lots of new options that are capable of recognizing faces, too. That includes our top pick:

Best video doorbell: Nest Hello

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Nest’s stylish video doorbell is a smart, sleek pick that aced our tests. Features like person detection and geofencing are helpful and easy-to-use, and you can also upgrade to the Nest Aware cloud subscription service to enable facial recognition and access to saved recordings.

It’s obviously best for households that have already committed to Google and Nest’s smart home ecosystem, but Nest’s doorbell also works with both Alexa and IFTTT, which helps make it a very solid choice for just about anyone. Overall CNET score: 8.5

Prices for doorbells like these typically range from about $100 to $250 and most also charge an optional fee for viewing saved video clips. To pick one, first, figure out if your front door has a hardwired doorbell connection or if you’ll need something battery-powered. Then, consider features — for instance, do you keep a porch light on at night, or will you need something with night vision?

From there, think about which smart home platforms you want your doorbell to work with. On that front, you’ll find lots of options that work with Alexa and plenty that work with IFTTT, and with Google and Nest, too. Siri is still playing catch-up, though — the only HomeKit-compatible video doorbell we’ve gotten our fingers on thus far is the Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell, which debuted at CES this past January.

Many of the major home security systems now offer video doorbells of their own, and some offer compatibility with standalone video doorbells and keypads like these, too. Keep that in mind if you think you might want to expand to a full system later on down the line.

Oh, and want more tips on picking out the right video doorbell? CNET’s Megan Wollerton has you covered.

Other options we’ve tested

Smart outdoor lighting

Lots of us use motion-activated lights on our porch or outside our garage door — and though there’s plenty of debate as to whether or not exterior lighting can actually help deter a burglary, most experts agree that it can help play a role when used correctly. If you’re thinking about upgrading to something a little smarter than that cheap porch light, you’ve got a couple of options worth considering.

Chris Monroe/CNET

For the most part, I think that Philips Hue’s outdoor lights are overpriced and really only worth it if you’re willing to splurge. That said, I really liked the Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor, which you can get for less than $50. Stick it up anywhere you like outside, and it’ll track motion, temperature and ambient light conditions. You can use that info to trigger your Hue lights, and also to trigger any Apple HomeKit gadgets under your roof. 

I wish that the Hue team offered a better variety of practical outdoor lights that don’t break the bank, as well as lights with motion sensors of their own — but if you’ve already bought in, or if you’re using Apple HomeKit-compatible lights, then the Hue Outdoor Sensor is definitely worth a look.

Read more on CNET.

Ry Crist/CNET

If you use Alexa to control the smart lights in your home, then you should consider trying out Alexa Guard, a relatively new home security mode with a couple of neat tricks. After turning Guard Mode on in the Alexa app’s settings, just say, “Alexa, I’m leaving” as you walk out the door to activate it. From there, Alexa will cycle your lights on and off to make it look like you’re home — and you’ll also get a notification if your Echo speakers hear the sound of an alarm, or broken glass.

Don’t have an Alexa smart lighting setup yet? Right now, you can get a third-gen Echo Dot bundled with a two-bulb Sengled starter kit for just $67, which is a pretty good deal.

Read more on CNET.

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