Protecting your home is a top priority for most people. It’s the place where we spend time with our families, store important documents and items, and plan for the future. And while some of us might not have a lot of money to invest in high-end security systems, there are still plenty of low-cost options available that can help keep our homes safe.
In this blog post, I’m going to go over 5 different security systems from popular companies like SimpliSafe and Nest so you have an idea about what’s out there in terms of home protection.
Google Nest
Nest is best known as a smart thermostat company, but they’ve recently gotten into home security by partnering with two industry leaders: Google-owned video doorbell company, Nest Hello, and ADT. Their starter kit includes the most important devices that are used for any home security system including a keypad, base station, contact sensor with two entry sensors for doors or windows, motion detector, range extender (for larger homes), and z-wave smoke/CO alarm while still maintaining an affordable price tag.
Nest’s newest security device is Nest Secure which was announced at their big event earlier this month. The starter kit includes one base station with built-in alarm siren, two wireless door/window sensors that integrate into the Nest app for real time alertings, and one Nest Tag that can be used to disarm the system without a passcode. They also showed off new security cameras at their event which will likely start shipping sometime this year.
ADT
ADT is an industry leader in home monitoring systems with over 140 years of experience between them and now-spun-off company, Protection One (which is now an independent company). Compared to SimpliSafe and Nest, they’re on the pricier side of things with their most basic package starting at $34.99 per month that includes 24/hour monitoring by security professionals who will contact local authorities in case something is detected.
Additionally, ADT Pulse has an upgraded package with interactive security options including remote control of all your devices, home automation capabilities via IFTTT integration, and the ability to adjust the temperature, lighting, smart locks, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide sensors with one touch.
Ring
Amazon’s Ring is a home security company that specializes in cameras and doorbells. Their starter kit includes four different contact sensors, one motion detector, two wireless keypads (so you can place them anywhere), one range extender to help with signal problems, and three separate video doorbells so there are multiple entry points for thieves.
Qolsys
Qolsys is a company that was recently acquired by security giant, Honeywell. They offer competitively priced systems with the latest in technology including smartphones apps to control devices and video monitoring options. Their starter kit includes one base station, two wireless door/window sensors, one motion detector, one key fob used to arm and disarm the system, and a touchscreen keypad to add more devices to your home.
SimpliSafe
The most cost-effective on this list, SimpliSafe is a well-established company that has been around for almost ten years. Their starter kit includes one base station, two entry sensors (one motion detector), and three window decals to help deter intruders from entering through an open door or window. And like ADT, they offer 24/hour monitoring by professionals (at an extra cost). While there are some limitations, they have a lot of positive reviews and boast an extremely high customer satisfaction rate.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of home security companies that are on the market today. Chances are, one of these can provide the right service for you, but if you want to explore your options, feel free to do more of your own research before selecting a brand.
