Independent. Published prices only. No fake reviews.
The home security decision, by the numbers.
Most home security advice is written by whoever pays the highest commission. We do the math instead. Start with your ZIP and we will ask about your home, then request current quotes from providers that cover your area.
About a minute of questions. Free, and no obligation. Or read the 204 guides first.
What actually happens when the alarm goes off
Three tiers of home security, and the real difference between them is how far up the response chain each one reaches.
Cameras only
Your phone buzzes. You decide what to do next.
Cloud video and smart alerts. Nobody is dispatched on your behalf.
DIY monitored
A monitoring centre verifies the alarm and calls dispatch.
You install the kit yourself. Most brands in this tier ask for no long contract.
Professionally installed
The same monitoring, with installation and service handled for you.
The fee usually subsidises equipment and install, and often involves a contract.
The four things this site will not do
- No star ratings or "editor's choice"
- Scores hide the reasoning. We publish 5-year costs, response commitments and contract fine print, and let you disagree with the conclusion.
- No unpublished prices
- Every figure traces to a provider's own page and carries the date we checked it. Where a company does not publish a number, we write "not published" instead of estimating one.
- No claims we tested hardware
- We have not installed these systems in a lab, so we never pretend to have. What we compare is what manufacturers and monitoring companies publish about themselves.
- No pretending you need this
- Sometimes the honest answer is a no-subscription camera and a door bar. When self-monitoring genuinely covers your situation, the guides say so, and nobody pays us to say otherwise.
We are compensated by the providers who receive a quote request, which is why the guides have to be right about everything else. See how we make money.
Start with the question you actually have
All 204 guidesMonitoring decisions
40- Alarm Certificate for Home Insurance: How to Get OneInsurers ask for an alarm certificate before applying a discount. How ADT, SimpliSafe and others issue one, per their own support pages.
- What Is Alarm.com? The Platform Behind Many Alarm BrandsAlarm.com powers many dealer systems. What it is, which providers use it, what you pay for it, and what happens if you switch dealers.
- Alarm Monitoring Response Times: Published Figures OnlyHow fast monitoring centers say they respond, using only figures each company publishes. Where no figure exists, we say so.
- Alert 360 Cost: Monitoring Plans and Contract LengthAlert 360's published monitoring prices, equipment terms and contract length as of 2026, with quote-only figures stated as not published.
Price data
6- US Burglary Statistics: The Numbers and Where They Come FromUS burglary counts and rates from FBI estimated crime data (2025) and the BJS victimization survey (2024), with the reporting caveats that matter.
- States With the Highest Burglary Rates (FBI Data)New Mexico leads the nation at 404.9 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2025 FBI data. Full 50-state table, rates, and what the numbers actually mean.
- The Subscription Creep Index: Security Plan Prices 2020-2026Documented security subscription price hikes from Ring, Blink, Nest Aware, Arlo, and Wyze, with old prices, new prices, dates, and sources for every increase.
- US City Burglary Rates: The 15 Largest Cities Compared (FBI Data)2025 FBI burglary rates for America's 15 largest cities: Houston tops the list at 486.5 per 100,000, New York and San Diego run lowest. Data and caveats.
Equipment, by the datasheet
42- Are Smart Locks Safe? ANSI Grades, Hacks and LockoutsSmart lock security on paper: ANSI/BHMA grades, documented vulnerabilities and lockout risks, sourced to standards bodies and makers.
- Battery Security Camera Battery Life: Published RatingsHow long Ring, Blink, Arlo, Eufy and Reolink battery cameras last per their makers' published ratings, and what shortens it.
- Best DIY Security Systems: Self-Install Kits and Monitoring Compared (August 2026)DIY security systems compared on published pricing as of August 2026: SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, Abode, Cove, Wyze, and ADT Blu kits and monitoring.
- Best Door and Window Sensors: Specs and Prices Compared (August 2026)Door and window sensors from SimpliSafe, Ring, and Abode compared by published specs as of August 2026: battery life, range, size, price, and system lock-in.
By situation
35- After a Break-In: A Checklist for the First Hours, the First Week, and Feeling Safe AgainA calm checklist for after a break-in: staying safe, the police report, insurance documentation, securing the entry point, and honestly reducing repeat risk.
- Airbnb Host Security Cameras: What the Rules Actually Allow in 2026Airbnb bans all indoor cameras, even switched off. What hosts can legally install outside, how disclosure works, and where audio recording law bites.
- Apartment Door Security: The Complete ChecklistRenter-legal, no-drill ways to harden an apartment door: door jammers, security bars, portable locks, sensors, and viewers, with published prices and strength claims.
- Condo Security Systems: What Works When You Share Walls and an HOAHow to secure a condo: door and window sensors, HOA-safe installs, and what monitoring costs by published pricing as of August 2026, with no-contract options.
Head to head
33- Abode vs Ring Alarm: No-Fee Tiers and Monitoring ComparedAbode vs Ring Alarm on published prices: what works with no plan, what monitoring costs, and which integrates with more devices.
- Abode vs SimpliSafe: Smart Home Depth vs Monitoring MuscleAbode vs SimpliSafe compared by published pricing as of August 2026: monitoring plans, free tiers, smart home integrations, and which DIY system fits you.
- ADT vs Frontpoint: Pro Install and Contracts vs DIY Day-Rate PlansADT vs Frontpoint compared by published 2026 pricing: monitoring plans, contracts, install models, and which security approach costs less overall.
- Arlo vs eufy Security Cameras: Cloud Plans vs Local StorageArlo vs eufy security cameras compared on published specs and August 2026 pricing: hardware costs, subscription fees, local storage, and night vision.
Where you live
34- Home Security in Charlotte: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsCharlotte burglary data from the FBI, CMPD's mandatory alarm permit that gates police dispatch, and what monitored home security really costs in 2026.
- Home Security in Chicago: Burglary Numbers, False Alarm Fines, and CostsChicago burglary counts from the city's own open data portal for 2023 to 2025, the false burglar alarm fine schedule, and what home security costs.
- Home Security in Columbus: Burglary Rates, Costs, and What WorksColumbus burglary numbers from FBI data, the city's suspended alarm registration and false alarm fee program, and what monitored security costs in 2026.
- Home Security in Denver: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsDenver burglary data from the FBI, the city's mandatory alarm permit, false alarm rules that reduce your response priority, and security costs for 2026.
Evidence and background
14- Alarm Permits Explained: Who Needs One and What They CostMany US cities require a permit to operate a home alarm system. What permits cost, who is exempt, and what happens without one, from official city pages.
- Are Home Security Systems Tax Deductible?For a personal home, no. With a qualifying home office, the IRS lets you deduct the business share of monitoring costs. What Pub 587 and Pub 530 actually say.
- Can Security Cameras Be Hacked? Published Incidents by BrandDocumented camera security incidents and settlements by brand, from regulators and company statements, plus settings that reduce risk.
- CryWolf Alarm Registration: What It Is and Who Uses ItMany cities run alarm permits through CryWolf. What it is, how registration and false alarm billing work, and which cities publish it.
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