Modern security systems include everything from motion, glass break, and entry sensors to smart smoke detectors, doorbell cameras, and smart locks. Many offer both self and 24/7 professional monitoring, as well as DIY or professional installation. And even if you’re not home, you’ll get notified if an alarm goes off through a convenient mobile app.
After years of testing all of the most popular home security systems on the market today, here’s my methodology for selecting the best options:
- How well each system worked: I installed and tested each security system to determine how easy it was to set up and how well it worked, including how soon I got notifications when alarms went off, how easy the mobile app was to use, etc.
- Pricing: I compared pricing in terms of equipment costs, professional installation, professional monitoring, and other costs that come with buying and using a home security system.
- Equipment: I looked at the range and the quality of the equipment available, including sensors, cameras, video doorbells, etc.
Using those factors, I’ve found the following systems to be the best options for San Antonio home security systems. Whether you want DIY or professional monitoring and installation, whether you have a high budget or you’re trying to save money, keep reading to find out which security solution is right for various San Antonio area homes and businesses.
Please note that prices are subject to change, but the information in this article was accurate as of November 28, 2022.
Home Security System Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the top home security systems, but keep in mind that all prices are accurate as of November 2022 and could change in the future. To see the most up-to-date prices, be sure to check each company’s website.
System | ADT | SimpliSafe | Frontpoint | Vivint |
---|---|---|---|---|
What it’s best for | Overall | Wireless | Smart home security | Professional |
Alexa or Google-Assistant Compatible | Both | Both | Both | Both |
Type of monitoring | Professional | DIY or professional | Professional | Professional |
Starting cost of professional monitoring, monthly | $45.99 | $17.99 | $49.99 | $10 |
Length of contract in years | 3 | None | None | Monthly or equal to timing of loan |
Type of installation | Professional | DIY or professional | DIY | Professional |
Starting cost of professional installation | $99 | $79 | $0 | $0 |
Best Home Security System Overall: ADT
Want a home security company that does the work for you? Meet ADT, the oldest home security company in the country with more than 140 years in business.
All ADT systems come with professional installation and 24/7 professional monitoring, so you won’t have to lift a finger to set up or monitor your system. And even though the company has been around for over 100 years, ADT has adjusted to the times, with mobile alerts whenever any alarms go off and voice integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant. When I had my hands full one evening, having Alexa disarm my system prevented me from dropping all that I was holding.
With such an established company, it came as no surprise that the equipment worked well, with fast notifications and smooth integrations with the mobile app. Additionally, one major advantage of a system from ADT is its recent integration with Nest Cameras. Formerly only available on the Google Store and through large retailers like Best Buy, now ADT now offers the Outdoor Nest Cam, Indoor Nest Cam, and Outdoor Nest Cam with floodlights for extra protection in the night.
While the industry standard for video quality is 1080p HD, these cameras take things a step further with crystal-clear, 4K video quality. Another impressive feature was the artificial intelligence. Rather than just alerting me whenever the cameras detected motion of any kind, I only got notified when they detected people, leading to smarter and more necessary notifications.
One drawback of ADT, however, is its lack of smart home integrations. It only works with a couple of Internet of Things (IoT) brands: LiftMaster gate and garage door openers and Kwikset smart locks. While I appreciated the ability to have my security system arming and disarming trigger my door openers and locks, this isn’t the greatest number of integrations I’ve seen from a company.
Another drawback is the price. Since every system comes with 24/7 professional monitoring, expect to pay at least $45.99 a month, much higher than the $20 industry average.
ADT packages | Customizable | Smart Home | Video and Smart Home |
---|---|---|---|
Touchscreen panel | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Remote arming and disarming | Optional | Yes | Yes |
Door and window sensors | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Motion detector | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Smart lock | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Free Nest Cam Outdoor | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Free Nest Doorbell | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Price per day minimum, equipment | $0.33 | $0.47 | $0.47 |
Price per month minimum, equipment | $9.90 | $14.10 | $14.10 |
Price per month minimum, professional monitoring | $45.99 | $49.99 | $59.99 |
Total monthly minimum with financed equipment | $55.89 | $64.09 | $74.09 |
Prices also increase if you finance your equipment with a 60-month (five-year contract), which has 0% APR. To save monthly, pay for your equipment upfront. Also, professional installation starts at $99, pretty standard but still more expensive than free DIY installation.
If smart home integrations aren’t super important to you and you’d like professionals to handle your home security, ADT is a great option.
Best Wireless Home Security System: SimpliSafe
From our TVs to our laptop chargers, our Kindles to our charging stations, there’s no doubt that you have a ton of wires in your home. So why add more to the mix?
If you want a wireless home security system, consider SimpliSafe. The majority of the SimpliSafe equipment is both wireless and WiFi-connected. Installing it, if you choose to do it yourself, largely means peeling and sticking the sensors to your walls (up to 99 sensors can connect to one base station). And with customizable systems, SimpliSafe is a good option for everything from the tiniest apartment to the largest home on the block.
Another thing I appreciate about SimpliSafe is its options. I got to choose between profession or DIY monitoring and installation, which essentially comes down to budget vs. convenience. And the good news is that even SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring isn’t too expensive, starting at only $17.99 a month. That’s less than half of ADT’s cost!
Feature | Self-monitoring plan (no camera recordings) | Self-monitoring plan (with camera recordings) | Standard plan | Interactive plan |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cellular backup | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Extended warranty length | None | One year | One year | Lifetime subscription |
Home insurance discounts | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Livestream | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Maximum number of cameras for unlimited recordings | Zero | Five | N/A | 10 |
Professional monitoring | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Video alarm verification | No | No | No | Yes |
Water damage/temperature monitoring | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Daily cost | $0 | $0.33 | $0.60 | $0.93 |
Monthly cost | $0 | $9.90 | $17.99 | $27.99 |
Yearly cost | $0 | $120.45 | $219.00 | $339.45 |
Professional installation starts at $99, the industry average. Of course, you can choose to self-monitor and self-install to avoid any fees aside from the equipment costs. However, no monthly fees mean no live footage and no camera recordings at all, meaning your system would be sensor-only. At the very least, we recommend doing self-monitoring with camera recordings for only $9.90 a month.
Best Smart Home Security System: Frontpoint
Founded back in 2007, Frontpoint was the first home security company to offer smart home automation, and the brand has been innovating ever since. Having tested the system, I can say that Frontpoint is lightyears ahead of most DIY systems in terms of smart security.
Frontpoint offers custom “scenes” and even geofencing. That means you can set Frontpoint to automatically arm as you leave your home and disarm when you return. You can even set your thermostat to adjust at pre-determined times, schedule lighting to turn on/off, and even have your cameras automatically record when someone’s at the front door. (It’s usually just the pizza guy around here.)
You can choose between camera options, including an indoor, outdoor, and video doorbell camera. And there are also three package options: The Starter Pack, The Home Shield, and The Family Lookout. There are just enough equipment options, and you can upgrade with an LCD touchscreen display and extra door/window sensors as you wish.
Unfortunately, Frontpoint is pretty pricey, at least when compared to other DIY systems. But as of November 2022, Frontpoint has slashed its home security packages by more than 50%. Sure, their 24/7 professional monitoring is slightly higher than the industry average. But add it all up and I’m actually impressed with Frontpoint’s current price points as of November 2022. Expect to pay between $250-$400 for equipment and about $50 monthly for round-the-clock monitoring. Not bad.
Also worth noting is that Frontpoint no longer requires a three-year contract. They took a page from SimpliSafe’s book and they now offer month-to-month service. You can see why Frontpoint earned a spot on our list of the best home security systems for San Antonians.
Features | The Starter Pack | The Home Shield | The Family Lookout |
---|---|---|---|
System Size | 4-piece | 9-piece | 9-piece |
System type | Basic intrusion protection | Intrusion + environmental + video | Intrusion + video |
Door/window sensors | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Motion sensors | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
Smoke/heat sensors | 0 | 1 | 0 |
App-based controls | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Indoor camera | No | Yes | Yes |
Video doorbell | No | No | Yes |
Equipment cost (current sale as of November 2022; prices may change) | $129 | $269 | $349 |
Monthly monitoring cost | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 |
Best Professional Monitoring Plan: Vivint
DIY isn’t for everyone. If you barely want to lift a finger to get your home security system up and running, consider Vivint.
All of its security packages come with professional monitoring, which starts at $10 a month, and professional installation, the cost of which depends on your equipment. There’s no question that Vivint is one of the pricier options out there, but what it does well is in the quality of its equipment.
While an alarm system from ADT has Nest Cams, Vivint has its own proprietary cameras like the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. It boasts features such as:
- 4k video: Like the Nest Cams, the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro has the highest quality video available in smart home security cameras.
- Two-way audio: You’ll be able to hear what’s happening at home, and even speak to people through the camera’s speaker. Just use your Vivint app!
- Infrared night vision: See at night due to the camera’s infrared LED sensors, which show a clear, black-and-white video.
- Red LED light and warning sound: Last but not least, this camera has a unique feature we haven’t seen anywhere else. If someone is lingering on your property for a specific amount of time that you set, one to 90 seconds, the camera’s red LED ring light will shine and a warning tone will sound. The camera will take a shot of the person and send you a thumbnail image. That’s an easy way to see who’s at home!
Of course, this camera comes with a pretty price tag: $399.99, or $6.67 a month for five years. That’s a minimum of $100 more than Nest cameras. But if you’ve got the budget and love quality technology, Vivint is a great option.
More Home Security System Options
If none of the above options sound right, consider other security systems I’ve tested. All are good options, but they may not be the absolute best in terms of equipment and pricing.
- Abode: The company abode has the greatest number of smart home integrations I’ve come across, working not only with the voice assistants Google Assistant and Alexa but also IoT brands like LIFX, Yale, Kwikset, Philips Hue, Nest, ecobee, and more. It’s a good choice for the DIY-er, with free live streaming and sensor notifications.
- Brinks: Brinks offers home security systems and cameras, smart home automation devices, and life safety devices like smoke, carbon monoxide, and water leak detectors. All systems work with Alexa and Google Assistant and come with professional monitoring and cellular backup.
- Deep Sentinel: If you want the most artificial intelligence capabilities the smart home security market has to offer, look no further than Deep Sentinel. It doesn’t just have person detection like the Nest or Vivint cameras. Rather, it takes things a step further, notifying you if someone tries to steal your car, break into your house, or even assault someone on your property. Of course, all of this AI comes at a cost, a minimum of $100 a month for professional monitoring and $499 for equipment, so it won’t be for everyone.
- Ring: Last but not least is Ring, Amazon’s owned and operated smart home security company. With $20 a month for professional monitoring and dozens of cameras and video doorbells to choose from, Ring gives you the most equipment options for low prices.