Best Affordable Home Security Systems of 2025

SimpliSafe Overview

SimpliSafe originally established itself as one of the best home security systems for renters, but the company has become much more than that in recent years. In addition to moving away from professional installations and landline communications, SimpliSafe also bucked convention by doing away with compulsory long-term contracts. Simply put, SimpliSafe has made home security more accessible.

>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. Frontpoint

In addition to being more accessible, SimpliSafe also offers high-quality, durable equipment in modular packages. This lets you easily build a system that suits your specific needs — in terms of both budget and security.

SimpliSafe Monitoring

Some of the other security companies on this list require you to sign up for one of their monitoring plans. But not SimpliSafe. They have two self-monitoring plans – one that is free and another that gives you access to security camera recordings. It might be tempting to pick one of these plans, but we recommend choosing a professional monitoring subscription.

SimpliSafe professional monitoring plans start from $21.99 per month and go as high as $79.99 per month. Our pick is the Core plan, which is $31.99 per month. It includes cellular backup in case your internet drops out, video verification to speed up police response, and Intruder Intervention, which we’ll discuss later.

SimpliSafe’s Equipment Costs

OK let’s get down to brass tacks. You don’t need a ton of cash to get up and running with SimpliSafe. For an MSRP of about $250, the cheapest package includes a motion sensor, door sensor, base station, and keypad controller. That doesn’t sound like a lot of gear for the price, but SimpliSafe rarely charges full price for its packages, usually offering deep discounts. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the MSRP for each package:

SimpliSafe is almost always offering deals and discounts. Typically, these sales involve significant price drops and extra goodies thrown in to sweeten the deal. At last check, SimpliSafe was offering 50 percent off any new system with a professional monitoring free trial and a $100 Visa gift card. That means the net cost of the cheapest package was about $25.

The most affordable home security systems from SimpliSafe don’t include cameras, but you could add a camera to any package. We want to highlight the Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera as a particularly attractive add-on. When coupled with a premium tier subscription, it allows SimpliSafe security professionals to access a live feed of your home during emergencies to verify alerts. Agents can also use the camera’s two-way audio to ward off intruders. If you’re worried about unauthorized access, the camera has a privacy screen you can close when you’re home.

>> Learn More: The Best Security Cameras of 2025

We tested out this service and were pretty impressed with the results. We purposely set off the alarm and sure enough, the camera’s privacy screen snapped open, and the technician started speaking to us through the camera. We let them know it was a false alarm and gave them our safe code, and they were able to prevent authorities from being dispatched.

The Downside

Every security system is going to have its pros and cons, even great ones like SimpliSafe. For us, that came in the form of the non-negotiable $70 analog keypad you have to purchase with every security system. And that’s on top of the SimpliSafe hub, which is also required for the system to function properly. We can’t understand why SimpliSafe requires a keypad that’s not even a touch screen. SimpliSafe has one of the best security systems apps in the industry after all, so the keypad should just be optional instead of adding it to the cost of the packages.

Another potential downside is the limited home automation features. We get that home automation is not the priority of most people, especially if they’re trying to keep costs low. But at least our other top picks such as Frontpoint, ADT, and abode offer home automation as an upgrade. They can control lights, locks, thermostats, and other smart home products. SimpliSafe just can’t do any of that.

>> Read More: The Best Security Systems that Work With Google Assistant

Cove Overview

It’s not just Cove’s monitoring that’s affordable. Cove’s products are also a bargain, especially when Cove is running a sale, which seems to be most of the time. We don’t think we’ve ever paid full price when buying a security system from Cove. The last time we bought products to test we got 70-percent off and a free HD camera.

But it’s the professional monitoring costs that put it at number two on this list. It might not come with all the bells and whistles that SimpliSafe does, but you’re still getting a reliable professional monitoring service at a good price.
What you will be compromising, though, are a lot of advanced features. Cove is not at all smart home-friendly beyond integrating with Alexa and Google Assistant. And unlike SimpliSafe, Cove doesn’t offer live security camera monitoring. But if you want something really cheap that can protect your home or apartment, Cove will do the trick.

>> Learn More: Best Security Systems for Apartments and Best Security Cameras for Apartments

Cove Monitoring

Thankfully, Cove doesn’t ask you to sign up for a long-term commitment. But you will need to pay for a subscription for your equipment to work. Cove has a self-monitoring plan with camera recordings that’s $9.99 per month. However, we think you’re better off choosing one of Cove’s professional monitoring plans. There are has two to choose from – Cove Basic and Cove+.

To our knowledge, $19.99 per month for professional monitoring is the most affordable in the industry. Yeah, we don’t like the fact that monitoring is compulsory with Cove, but professional monitoring at that price changes our perspective on the situation.

However, if security cameras are part of your setup then you’ll have to pay $29.99 for video support. But this is still a good price. ADT charges a minimum of $39.99 for video monitoring, which is one of the reasons why it’s lower on this list. Plus, Cove’s security cameras have local storage and you can increase the capacity with a microSD card if you’re constantly running out of space. So you’ll save even more money by not having to pay a monthly charge for cloud storage. While we’re on the topic of equipment, let’s talk about how much devices cost.

Coves Equipment Prices

Cove makes it easy to build your security system. You’ll answer a couple of questions about your living situation, and your answers will determine what devices you should consider as part of your setup. You will need to include the alarm panel and hub, but the rest of the equipment is up to you.

Cove doesn’t offer many options. It has the core components of security systems like motion, entry, and glass break sensors, as well as a few safety-related sensors like smoke and flood detectors. It also offers security cameras. What’s impressive though is that sensors sell for as low as $15 a piece – sometimes even lower during Cove sales.

The Downside

Cove is a great option for folks looking to build a reasonable security system as cheaply as they can, but there’s a big drawback. You need an active professional monitoring subscription for the equipment to work. If you don’t have an active subscription, it bricks your entire system. We wish Cove could have allowed for basic features – like a sensor triggering an alert – for those of us not wanting to pay a monthly fee.

Frontpoint Overview

Frontpoint doesn’t have the same high profile as SimpliSafe, but you probably know that profile doesn’t often have much to do with affordability. The question is: Does a company provide good value for a lower price point? Last time we tested a Frontpoint system, it really impressed us with its quality and robust protections, as well as its approachable cost.

>> Learn More: Frontpoint FAQ

The company also puts an emphasis on how it treats its customers, from its easy-to-use website — which is, surprisingly, a rarity in this industry — to its extremely friendly, knowledgeable customer service. More on that in just a bit. First, let’s talk monitoring.

Frontpoint Monitoring

Like Cove, you need to sign up to a Frontpoint professional monitoring plan for your equipment to work. Don’t be alarmed when you only see one option on the website that costs $49.99 a month, putting it on par with the most expensive plans from Vivint and ADT. There are other options available that start from $14.99 that are more reasonable.

>> Compare Systems: Vivint vs. ADT Self Setup

Despite the cost, we recommend choosing the Ultimate Monitoring plan. It might not offer as many features as ADT and Vivint, but it comes with:

• 24/7 professional monitoring
• Cellular backup
• Automated system check
• Crash-and-smash protection
• Geolocation services
• Remote access and control
• Sensor history
• Live video streaming
• Video and image history
• Motion-triggered alerts
• Light control
• Smart lock control

A lot of the features in the Ultimate Monitoring plan are non-negotiables, like access to the app. But there are others that make the $50 price tag easier to accept, such as geolocation services, linking your system to multiple locations, and crash and smash protection.

Frontpoint’s Equipment Costs

Similar to SimpliSafe, you can start off with one of Frontpoint’s prebuilt packages and add equipment as you see fit. But here’s where Frontpoint kind of makes up for the high monitoring cost: Its bundled packages are super affordable. The packages are usually three or four times cheaper than what it would cost to buy the included pieces individually. Frontpoint is always running deals to keep the cost of entry low.

Now, if you look at what’s included in those packages, you’ll see that they are cheaper than what SimpliSafe offers. For example, the Starter package includes one hub, one keypad, and one door sensor for $79.99. The cheapest package from SimpliSafe offers the same pieces plus a motion sensor for $250. There’s no chance that the added motion sensor costs the $130 difference. In fact, SimpliSafe sells those sensors for $35 a piece.

Frontpoint’s costs aside, let’s talk about working with this equipment. Similar to Simplisafe, the DIY setup was extremely easy. Since Frontpoint is one of the best wireless security systems out there, we had our test equipment up in about 30 minutes using the provided command strips to affix everything to the walls.

We did have a bit of a problem getting everything to connect through the hub, though, so even though it was already late evening, we called Frontpoint’s customer support. Surprisingly, a representative picked up the phone and helped us troubleshoot the issue. We guess another thing we’re paying for with our $49.99 monthly fee is good customer service.

The Downside

Frontpoint is a great security system for anyone on a tight budget. But contacting the team to discuss cheaper professional monitoring options seems like an unnecessary step, especially when you can get cheaper professional monitoring packages on other companies’ websites. Our next pick has been in business for over 150 years and used to require all security systems to be bought over the phone. But now you can buy them online and get a monitoring plan from just $29.99 per month.

ADT Overview

Up until now, we’ve been talking about DIY systems. That makes sense — nine times out of 10, they’re the most affordable options. But that doesn’t mean more traditional providers should be ignored.

It’s true that if you just look at ADT’s pricing, “affordable” might not be the first word that comes to mind. But putting this Cadillac of a security system in your home is actually more reasonable than you might think.

One word: financing.

Most of the other providers on our list don’t have flexible financing, which means a higher cost of entry. If you’re paying upfront, the equipment will cost you at least $250 with SimpliSafe, $150 with Cove, and $79 with Frontpoint. With ADT, you can get started for just $7.47 plus the cost of the first month of monitoring. You don’t even have to pay for professional installation anymore, because like SimpliSafe, ADT has a DIY option now.

>> Compare: ADT vs. SimpliSafe

ADT Monitoring

Now, this might surprise you, but ADT is more affordable than Frontpoint in terms of monitoring. Prices start at $24.99 per month for Self Setup customers wanting basic protection. But the max you’ll pay is $49.99 per month if the system is professionally installed. That’s more expensive than Cove and SimpliSafe’s most popular plans, but ADT’s monitoring is some of the best in the industry.

>> Learn More: DIY vs. Professional Install

For starters, ADT has 12 monitoring facilities around the country, and each one of those facilities has its own redundancies built in. This means that even if the center closest to you gets completely knocked out by, say, a natural disaster, you’re still going to have eight other facilities keeping your system online. They also use some of the most advanced technology in these centers, like SMART — a text-based communications system that can help reduce false alarms.

ADT’s Equipment Costs

ADT offers prepackaged systems that you can customize, but the packages change up all the time. As of the time of writing, these were ADT’s available options for professionally installed systems.

Also keep in mind that ADT is our No. 1 pick for the best professionally installed security system, so if you have the budget, go for professional installation. You won’t need to grab the toolbox or even lift your finger to get your security system set up.

That said, if you want to save on an ADT system, ADT does offer a DIY option now with the same components as the professionally installed ADT system. You can read more about that in our guide to ADT Self Setup.

The Drawback

The main drawback of going with ADT is the long-term contract you’re going to have to sign. You can avoid the contract by buying the equipment upfront and installing it yourself. But since its flexible financing is ADT’s greatest strength as an affordable security system, you will have to sign a 36-month contract to qualify. That makes ADT a tough sell for people who are renting or folks who don’t want to be locked into any particular service.

abode Overview

Last but not least, we have abode. If you’re looking for a more high-tech system without breaking the bank, abode might be the provider for you. It works well with most voice assistants, like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home Kit, and you’ll have the capacity to integrate scores of third-party smart home technologies into your system.

When we tested abode, we set up morning routines, which included adjusting the Google Nest thermostat so the room was nice and toasty when we got out of bed. We also dimmed the lights so we could walk down the stairs safely without waking up the rest of the house.

abode Monitoring

As you’d imagine, abode’s monitoring plans aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. Also, we’re happy to report that you do have the option of self-monitoring this system, making it the second brand on this list to offer that option. You’ll miss out on what we’d consider some pretty key features, but it’s nice to know you can fall back on that if money gets really tight. We have more information in our guide to abode’s pricing, but here’s a quick rundown:

>> See Also: Best Smart Home Security Systems

Now let’s talk about the other major factor in the bottom line: abode’s equipment prices.

abode Equipment Costs

Similar to the other DIY systems on this list, abode offers you the choice to select a security package or build your own system. Here’s what the packages look like:

Similar to Frontpoint, abode likes to jack up its “regular” prices but somehow is always running a sale. Also, don’t pay any attention to the timer at the top of its website’s home screen — it’s a gimmick that’s meant to make you feel a sense of urgency. Dubious sales tactics aside, here’s a breakdown of the prices of individual pieces of equipment:

The Drawback

The main downside to abode is that building a security system isn’t exactly easy to do on their website. When we designed one with SimpliSafe, it had pre-built packages and a separate page with a step-by-step process to add equipment. Abode’s product page is similar to Amazon’s, where you navigate through individual equipment categories. It’s easy to lose track of what you’ve added to your cart.

>> Compare: abode vs. SimpliSafe