Best Cheap Home Security Systems

Cheap security systems prove that home safety doesn't require a second mortgage. Our top picks all include free mobile app access. Learn why Ring Alarm beats other affordable burglar alarms.
Best overall
Ring
Ring Alarm
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
Pro monitoring starts at
$20.00
/mo
  • pro
    Financing available
  • pro
    Cellular backup
Best monitoring
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Pro monitoring starts at
$19.99
/mo
  • pro
    Self-monitoring option
  • pro
    Cellular backup
Hub-free pick
Kangaroo security system logo
Kangaroo
4 out of 5 stars
4
Pro monitoring starts at
$8.25
/mo
  • pro
    Cheapest equipment
  • con
    No cellular backup
Smart home pick
Abode
Abode
4 out of 5 stars
4
Pro monitoring starts at
$21.99
/mo
  • pro
    Apple compatible
  • pro
    Cellular backup

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

Whether you own your home, live in a rental, or simply want to stick to a budget, we recommend checking out our top pick: Ring Alarm. It delivers the biggest bang for your buck with one of the cheapest monitoring plans at $20 a month. It's also the most comprehensive plan under $25.

Ring Alarm doesn't have the cheapest equipment on our list (especially if you count its cameras and doorbells). Still, it's more affordable than offerings from budget security rivals like Abode and SimpliSafe. Check out our list of the best cheap security systems to learn why we picked Ring over the rest.



Compare the best cheap home security systems

Brand
Best for
Cheapest pro monitoring plan
Equipment price
Mobile app in base plan
Smart home compatibility
Learn more
Best overall Kits start at
$199.99
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Z-Wave
Best monitoring Kits start at
$244.00
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Google
Hub-free pick Kits start at
$179.00
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Google
Smart home pick Kits start at
$279.00
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Apple,
Google, Z-Wave,
Zigbee
Budget pick Kits start at
$115.89
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Google

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

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Cheap home security system reviews

1. Ring Alarm: Best overall

Best overall
Ring's 2nd gen 8-piece Alarm system
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
$249.99

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Ring Alarm outshines other cheap security systems by offering the best monitoring deal in the bunch. At $20 a month, Ring Protect Pro is an affordable plan, but it also has the full benefits of Ring's 60-day cloud video storage and a lifetime warranty that other brands can't match.

pro
Pros
pro Cheap professional monitoring
pro Affordable equipment and starter kits
pro Works with Ring doorbells and cameras
pro Financing available
con
Cons
con Some pricey security cameras

It's not cheaper than Wyze or Kangaroo in terms of equipment, but no matter how you design your Ring Alarm system, you're bound to save compared to high-end security brands like ADT and Vivint. We also like that Ring Alarm has some smart home skills—it works with Amazon Alexa and Z-Wave.

And it doesn't cost that much more to trick out your system with Ring doorbell cameras and outdoor security cameras starting around $100. This is utterly delicious since you won't pay extra for cloud storage on cameras as it's part of the monitoring plan.

Because we're familiar with Ring Alarm, we recommend the eight-piece security kit as the best way to maximize Ring's affordable home security options. Unless you only have one door and one window (hello, studio apartment), you'll need more than the lone door sensor that comes in Ring's five-piece kit.

See everything that Ring has to offer in our full Ring Alarm review.

Notepad
Ring also sells some pricey cameras

Some of Ring's pricier cameras cost around $200 apiece (or more), making it very easy to bust your budget if you don't stick to the cheaper models.​

2. SimpliSafe: Best monitoring

Best monitoring
Simplisafe basic security system
SimpliSafe The Hearth
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
$389.00

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

SimpliSafe is our most expensive cheap security system, but it's still a screaming deal. It's perfect for folks who want a no-frills monitoring service that doesn't distract from a security system's primary purpose of watching over your home.

This security company delivers sleek, simple solutions with no contracts and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

pro
Pros
pro Five equipment packages under $500
pro Free self-monitoring option
pro 60-day money-back guarantee
pro Financing available
con
Cons
con Limited smart home options

SimpliSafe's app controls used to be limited to its top-tier monitoring plan but recently opened up remote arming, disarming, system settings, and some notifications to all users. It still restricts smart home integration, camera recordings, video verification, and advanced alerts to customers paying $30 a month.

SimpliSafe provides five starter kits—all under $500—with different protection levels, but you can also modify your kit to match specific needs. We recommend The Hearth equipment package (about $389) thanks to a large helping of sensors, including three door sensors, a motion detector, a smoke detector, and a siren. You can finance your SimpliSafe equipment through Affirm.

Best of all, there are no contracts involved, so you can add or eliminate professional monitoring at will to save money when needed.

Learn about all the possibilities—and how this system performed during testing—in our complete SimpliSafe review.

3. Kangaroo: Hub-free pick

Hub-free pick
Kangaroo Front Door Security Kit

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Kangaroo is has some the cheapest equipment on our list, with nearly all of its devices costing $30 or less. A low price doesn't mean low quality here. Kangaroo's equipment feels fresh and innovative. It takes a big leap to innovate with these devices: they all use Wi-Fi. You don't need a control panel or hub, and you can build a system without getting a starter kit first—though Kangaroo has those too.

pro
Pros
pro Innovative equipment uses Wi-Fi
pro Cheap equipment
pro Cheap professional monitoring
con
Cons
con Limited equipment options
con Smart home integrations require monitoring plan

Don't expect Kangaroo to blow you away with equipment selection—this system has only seven devices (compared to 51 from Ring Alarm and 17 from SimpliSafe):

  • Doorbell Camera + Chime (about $40)
  • Indoor + Outdoor Cam (about $60)
  • Motion Sensor (about $30)
  • Motion + Entry Sensor (about $30)
  • Water + Climate Sensor (about $30)
  • Roo Tags key fobs (included in kit)
  • Siren + Keypad (included in kit)

The limited equipment selection means it doesn't have many smart home goodies to offer, though it is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa—as long as you pay for monitoring.

Its monitoring plan costs $8.25 a month (paid annually)—less than half as much as Ring Alarm (although it’s slightly behind in terms of features). Kangaroo’s most impressive monitoring feature is a full year of cloud storage for its doorbell camera—though the clips from this camera are basically animated GIFs. We also like the included theft protection which covers stolen packages up to $1,000.

Check out our Kangaroo review for more information.

4. Abode: Smart home pick

Smart home pick
abode security kit

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Abode kind of snuck into our hearts by continually improving its smart home offerings enough to outclass larger security companies. Most budget security companies limit their smart home ambitions to popular platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

But Abode throws in Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, and Zigbee device compatibility for good measure. No other smart security system, budget or otherwise, matches this feat.

pro
Pros
pro Excellent smart home compatibility
pro Free self-monitoring option
pro All-in-one system option: Abode Iota
pro Financing available
con
Cons
con No custom home automation on free plan

You can pick from Abode's Smart Security Kit that features a hub, a motion detector, and window sensors, or you can go with the Abode's Iota camera system. Although you can expect to pay around $80 more than the traditional system, Iota's built-in security camera more than makes up the difference by offering easy and affordable video surveillance.

You can add on professional monitoring with all of Abode's security equipment, which adds an extra $22 per month.

But if you want to monitor things yourself, Abode is one of the cheapest deals out there. We recommend Abode's $6 plan if you want more out of the smart home devices in your system since the system doesn't allow users to create custom automations on its free plan.

Abode's mobile app is much easier to use than earlier this year, so we're glad that it takes a thoughtful approach to improve its products—making it easier and easier to recommend.

Learn more in our complete Abode review.

More security systems we considered

Wyze Home Monitoring: Budget pick

Bell
Caution: Recent Wyze security issue!

Recently a Wyze security issue was brought to light in an article from The Verge. For a brief period of time, Wyze was experiencing an issue with its online camera portal and a small number of logged in Wyze users were able to see camera feeds that were not their own.

Katie McEntire of SafeWise explains more in a short Tik Tok video.

Wyze's status page provided an apology for the incident and states that "this experience does not reflect our commitment to users or the investments we’ve made over the last few years to enhance security." Based on their lack of communication and transparency related to this incident, we have moved them out of our top lineup.

Wyze Core Starter Kit

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Wyze Home Monitoring proves that 24/7 professional monitoring can cost less than your weekly coffee budget—just $10 a month. It's also the absolute cheapest way to add entry sensors, a motion detector, and a keypad to your home.

pro
Pros
pro Most affordable monitoring
pro Cheap security cameras
pro Includes cloud video storage for one Wyze camera
con
Cons
con No cellular backup
con Short warranty

That means just about anyone can add some security to their home. Plus, Wyze sells the best cheap security cameras on the market. The Wyze Cam v3 is our current favorite for folks looking to add an affordable camera, thanks to great video quality and the ability to work outdoors.

While Wyze works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it doesn't work with Z-Wave or Zigbee like Abode does. It also doesn't offer cellular backup like Ring has. This means the system can't contact the monitoring center when your home internet goes down. The warranty lasts only a single year compared to the lifetime coverage Ring includes in its monitoring plan.

Overall, we think Wyze Home Monitoring is a solid home security solution for folks interested in affordable cameras and monitoring with low monthly fees. Learn all about Wyze Home Monitoring in our full review.

Cove

Cove's professional monitoring starts at $17.99 per month, making it technically cheaper than Ring Alarm and Abode. But that affordable Basic plan doesn't include smartphone control—a must-have feature in any modern home security system. 

To get smartphone control, you'll need the $28-monthly Cove Plus plan.

That's still pretty affordable considering the national average cost of professional monitoring is closer to $32 a month, but Cove home security doesn't have the blend of convenience and affordability that we looked for when making our list of cheap home security systems. 

Learn more about this system in our full Cove review.

Final word

Ring Alarm is the best monitored home security system for the money. While much of its value comes down to having the cheapest monitoring around, we think benefits like a lifetime warranty and 60-day cloud storage ultimately seal the deal.

Ring brings the same smart tech behind its video doorbell camera to help you protect more than your front doorstep. If a security system doesn't feel like the right fit, take a look at our favorite security cameras under $50.

Cheap security system FAQ

You can buy dependable equipment and reliable professional monitoring from security companies at practically every price. But there are fewer equipment options with less expensive security systems. Overall, if your main goal is to keep criminals out of your house, you don't need to spend a bundle.

All of our cheap security system recommendations don't require a monthly fee if you self-monitor your DIY security system through a mobile app.

This means you won't have any extra monthly costs, but you won't have the protection of 24/7 alarm monitoring either. If something happens, it's up to you to call for help.

Here's the core gear we recommend including in your DIY system:

  • Motion detector: Install one in a hallway or near the main entrance
  • Contact sensor: Install an entry sensor all ground-level doors and windows
  • Base station: Controls equipment and system arming (included in starter kits)
  • Siren: Alerts you to problems and deters burglars

But for just a little bit more money, you can boost your DIY home security system with video surveillance and 'round-the-clock protection. See if any of these extras fit in your budget:

How we reviewed cheap home security systems

To find the best home security system on a budget, we focused on the things that matter most to your wallet. We looked for affordable monthly monitoring, reasonably-priced equipment, a free mobile app, DIY installation, and no contracts. We also gave extra credit to every home security provider that includes a lot (like mobile app access) at an entry-level price point.

We used all of our hours of testing, research, and customer interviews to narrow it down and then let the math lead us the rest of the way. Learn more about how we evaluate products and services on our methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

†Google and Google Nest Secure are trademarks of Google LLC.

John Carlsen
Written by
John Carlsen
John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over a decade of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.

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