A complete survival pack with food, water, tools, and first aid to sustain up to 3 people for 3 days — durable, organized, and ready for real emergencies.
Home Safety Awards 2025
We’re delighted to launch the inaugural SafeWise Home Safety Awards, recognizing the standout products and services that truly make homes safer. From smarter security cameras to lifesaving medical alerts, these winners were chosen for their proven performance, innovation, and real-world impact — helping families live safer lives at home every day.
The Winners: Disaster & emergency preparedness
From floods to power outages, these award winners deliver reliable, real-world protection when it matters most — keeping families safe and ready for the unexpected.
Best for staying prepared in any crisis: Everlit 72-hr Emergency Kit
Best to keep basements dry
Wayne CDU980E Sump Pump
A powerful, durable submersible sump pump that moves over 5,000 GPH, operates quietly, and comes with a five-year warranty to keep basements dry.
Best backup power
Honda Portable Generator
A compact, ultra-quiet inverter generator that runs up to 8 hours on one tank — ideal for backup power, RVs, or essential appliances during outages.
Best to battle extreme cold
Dr. Infrared Space Heater
Stylish, safe, and efficient, this infrared heater with a built-in humidifier and tip-over protection warms up to 1,000 sq. ft. without drying the air.
Best to beat the heat
Dreo Portable Air Conditioner
A quiet, easy-to-use portable AC with auto shutoff, smart controls, and reliable cooling; perfect for beating the heat and keeping nights comfortable.
Key features:
- Works reliably in critical conditions
- Durable materials
- Easy to use quickly in stressful situations
- Provides essential survival needs
- Proven performance from expert testing, customer reviews
What you need to know:
With nearly 6 in 10 Americans worrying about natural disasters, it was crucial to look at products that help prepare for the onslaught and aftermath of extreme weather events and other natural hazards. We evaluated disaster-prep products by focusing on their reliability during real emergencies. We compared durability, ease of use, and performance in critical conditions — from keeping power on during an outage to ensuring warmth in extreme cold. Customer reviews, expert insights, and third-party data informed our choices, and we prioritized tools that provide immediate, practical protection when families need it most.
The Winners: Best for fire safety
Seconds matter when it comes to fire. These award-winning picks are proven to prevent, detect, and respond fast — helping families escape danger and minimize damage.
Best for 24/7 fire response: Vivint Monitored Smoke Alarm
With 24/7 monitoring and smart home integration, Vivint detects fires quickly and triggers life-saving actions — even when you’re not home.
Best for quick window escapes
Kidde KL-2S Escape Ladder
Strong, tangle-free, and quick to deploy, this escape ladder supports up to 1,000 lbs. for safe, fast exits from upper floors.
Best to knock out flames fast
Amerex B402 Fire Extinguisher
Firefighter-recommended and fully rechargeable, this heavy-duty extinguisher delivers reliable, powerful protection against A, B, and C fires.
Best to catch signs of smoke early
X-Sense Smart Smoke Detector
This dual-sensor alarm reduces false alerts, provides voice and color-coded warnings, and features a 10-year lifespan with a sealed lithium battery.
Best to smother small fires
Prepared Hero Fire Blanket
Simple and effective, this fire blanket smothers flames quickly — making it safer and easier to use than a traditional extinguisher.
Best to protect valuables from fire
SentrySafe SFW123GDC
Built to withstand fire, water, and falls, this steel safe protects valuables with multiple locks, a backup key, and up to 2.05 cu. ft. of storage.
Best to prevent kitchen fires
StoveTop Fire Suppressor
Easy to install with strong magnets, this suppressor provides discreet and affordable protection against common stovetop fires.
Key features:
- Certified effectiveness (UL, NFPA standards)
- Quick and easy deployment
- Reliable detection and alerts
- Durability and readiness
- Clear instructions to help families respond fast
What you need to know:
Fire safety devices were evaluated based on their effectiveness in preventing, containing, or responding to fires. We looked at ease of deployment in emergencies (escape ladders, blankets), reliability and certifications (extinguishers, alarms), and customer experience. Hands-on demonstrations, expert firefighter input, and national safety standards helped guide our final selections.
The Winners: Environmental safety
Invisible threats like gas leaks, radon, and poor air quality can be just as dangerous as visible hazards. These winners make it simple to monitor and protect your home’s environment.
Best all-in-one security + climate watch: Canary Pro
More than a camera — built-in siren and climate sensors track air, humidity, and temperature for all-around protection.
Best to create cleaner air
uHoo Air Quality Monitor
Tracks more pollutants than any rival, with app tips and smart home integration to help improve your indoor air instantly.
Best to catch gas leaks early
TOPTES PT199 Gas Leak Detector
A compact, affordable gas sniffer that detects leaks in seconds with adjustable sensitivity, LCD display, and easy storage.
Best to detect hidden radon
Ecosense RadonEye RD200
Performs fast, accurate radon checks 3o times per hour — delivering continuous monitoring and updates every 10 minutes.
Best to control comfort
Honeywell X2S Smart Thermostat
Simple, familiar design with smart energy savings — easy for anyone to use, from homeowners to short-term rental guests.
Best for smoke + CO alerts: First Alert OneLink
Combines smoke and CO detection with voice alerts that identify the hazard and location for safer, faster evacuations.
Best plug-in CO protection
Kidde Nighthawk
Rest easy. Just plug it in for instant carbon monoxide protection, with a digital display, backup battery, and no drilling required.
Best to stop leaks fast
YoLink Starter Kit
Smart sensors and auto shutoff prevent costly water damage — ideal for rentals, vacation homes, or frequent travelers.
Best to beat dampness
HomeLabs
With continuous drainage and washable filters, this dehumidifier is a reliable, low-maintenance way to control humidity.
Best for quiet air cleaning
LEVOIT Core 400S
Whisper-quiet purifier with HEPA filtration and smart controls, it's perfect for bedrooms and spaces up to 400 sq. ft.
Key features:
- Accurate, real-time monitoring of invisible risks (air quality, gas leaks, radon, CO)
- Clear alerts you can understand at a glance (visual, app, or voice)
- Continuous monitoring for early warnings
- Easy setup and everyday use
What you need to know:
While everyone knows the importance of smoke alarms, we often overlook other crucial factors, such as the air quality in our homes. Because it's not just a visible emergency that can put us at risk, we decided to broaden this category to include devices that monitor invisible risks like poor air quality, gas leaks, radon, and carbon monoxide. We prioritized accuracy, reliability, and ease of setup. We also considered whether products integrate with smart homes and provide real-time alerts. Reviews from homeowners and data from safety organizations helped confirm which devices deliver consistent, life-saving performance.
The Winners: Digital safety
With nearly every household online, digital risks are real. These winners protect families from cyber threats with tools that are powerful, easy to use, and privacy-focused.
Best to keep browsing private
NordVPN
With strong encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy, NordVPN keeps your online activity private without slowing you down.
Best for full device protection
Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender offers all-in-one protection with anti-theft tools, ransomware defense, and parental controls — keeping every device safe and fast.
Best for around-the-clock ID protection
IdentityForce
IdentityForce monitors court records, credit, and the dark web, sending instant alerts to stop fraud and protect your identity around the clock.
Best for credit monitoring and coverage
LifeLock
LifeLock pairs Norton antivirus with top-tier ID theft insurance and high reimbursement limits — ideal if you need strong credit monitoring.
Best to protect your whole family's privacy
Cloaked
Cloaked creates secure aliases for emails, calls, and payments while blocking scams, removing broker data, and protecting the whole family.
Best to wipe personal data from the web
DeleteMe
DeleteMe automatically scrubs your personal info from 750+ data brokers, with continuous monitoring and reports to keep you in control.
Key features:
- Strong protection against malware, hacking, and ID theft
- Privacy safeguards
- Easy-to-use dashboards
- Real-time monitoring and instant alerts
- Family or multi-device coverage
What you need to know:
With nearly every household going online for some reason (e.g., streaming, gaming, home security, smart devices), digital safety has become a vital part of overall home safety. We reviewed digital safety tools for their ability to protect against cyber threats like malware, hacking, identity theft, and security breaches. We considered independent lab results, expert security testing, and customer satisfaction ratings. Products that combined strong protection with ease of use and clear privacy policies rose to the top.
The Winners: Aging at home
Independence and peace of mind go hand in hand. These award winners help older adults stay safe and supported while easing caregiver concerns.
Best to get help fast at home
Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm Medical combines reliable equipment, fast response, and stylish wearables to keep seniors safe at home and on the go.
Best to detect falls accurately
Medical Alert Mobile
With three types of fall sensors for more accurate alerts, Medical Alert Mobile provides extra reassurance for active seniors.
Best to connect caregivers
Aloe Care Health
Aloe Care blends motion and fall sensors with a caregiver app, for smart, hands-off protection and easy communication.
Best to track health on the go
Apple Watch
Apple Watch tracks health stats, detects falls, and can call 911 — making it a powerful, all-in-one health and safety companion.
Best to check vitals easily
Paramed BP Monitor
Paramed’s large display and voice guidance make it easy to get accurate, accessible blood pressure readings at home.
Best to stay connected simply
Jitterbug
Jitterbug offers seniors an easy-to-use phone with affordable plans to stay connected and maintain independence.
Best to prevent bathroom falls
Drive Medical Bench
Sturdy, adjustable, and slip-resistant, this transfer bench helps prevent bathroom falls and supports safe, stable bathing.
Best to add extra stability
Gotega Grab Bars
Textured, sturdy grab bars support up to 500 lbs., providing reliable balance where it matters most — like showers and tubs.
Key features:
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Safety features that prevent falls or accidents
- Reliable emergency alerts and response
- Long-lasting batteries and dependable connectivity
- Affordability without sacrificing protection
What you need to know:
We evaluated aging-at-home products based on how well they support independence, prevent accidents, and ease caregiver concerns. To pick our winners, we relied on our years of hands-on testing of medical alerts and other safety devices, input from both healthcare professionals and real families, along with customer ratings and feedback. We prioritized products with the ideal blend of usability, safety, and affordability.
The Winners: Package theft proteciton
Porch pirates strike fast, but these winners help stop them in their tracks. From deterrents to alerts, they make it easier to protect your deliveries and your wallet.
Best to scare off porch pirates: SimpliSafe Active Guard Monitoring
SimpliSafe’s Active Guard live monitoring lets agents watch and communicate through cameras to scare off porch pirates before they strike — and if they don't scoot fast enough, agents immediately contact law enforcement.
Best to keep packages safe at home
Hyve Smart Pod
Hyve is a secure, app-controlled delivery pod with photo confirmation, smart locks, and returns pickup — keeping packages safe until you’re home.
Best to track packages in real time
Zflo ZackTrack
With GPS, motion alerts, and geofencing, ZackTrack gives real-time updates, proof of delivery, and 110 dB alarms to stop thieves in their tracks.
Best to stay on top of multiple deliveries
Shop App
The Shop app provides real-time delivery updates, allowing you to plan to be home (or ask a friend to grab your package) before porch pirates have a chance.
Best to watch doorstep deliveries live
Ring Video Doorbell
Ring’s video doorbell records every delivery, sends real-time alerts, and lets you talk to visitors — shooing away strangers and deterring porch pirates on the spot.
Key features:
- Real-time alerts when packages arrive or are moved
- Deterrents to stop thieves
- Compatibility with smart/security systems
- Easy installation and use
What you need to know:
We considered package security products for their ability to prevent theft or provide real-time alerts. We considered several factors, including the ease of installation and use of protection, its reliability, compatibility with smart home or security setups, and customer ratings for each protective method. Products that balance affordability with proven deterrence were prioritized.
The Winners: Outside protection
Home safety starts at the curb. These award-winning products safeguard your yard and perimeter with reliable, weatherproof protection that integrates with your home.
Best to watch every corner in 4K
Reolink Argus 4 Pro
With 4K clarity, 180° coverage, solar power, and local storage, Reolink Argus 4 Pro offers full-yard protection without subscription hassles.
Best to deter intruders
Arlo Floodlight
Bright, adjustable lighting plus crisp 2K video, color night vision, a built-in siren, and two-way talk make Arlo a powerful outdoor deterrent.
Best to brighten paths with ease
HMcity Solar Lights
Simple to install and wire-free, these adjustable solar lights offer wide 270° illumination — perfect for boosting safety on a budget.
Best to monitor long driveways
Dakota Alert
With a one-mile range and multiple sensor options, Dakota Alert offers unmatched coverage for long driveways and large properties.
Key features:
- Weatherproof design
- Accurate detection for movement, leaks, or intrusions
- Integrations for home security/smart home
- Reliable performance in outdoor tests
What you need to know:
Protecting your home doesn't start at the front door — securing your yard and perimeter are also crucial. For protecting the outside of your home, we researched and tested devices that can stand up to the weather, perform reliably and accurately, and integrate with home security or smart home systems. Products that did best in real-world outdoor testing earned top marks.
How we picked the 2025 SafeWise Home Safety Award winners
Image: SafeWise staff testing SimpliSafe's outdoor camera with Live Guard monitoring.
At SafeWise, we’ve spent over a dozen years testing and reviewing security systems, smoke alarms, safety devices for every family member, and smart home technology. Now, for the first time, we’re recognizing the standouts that truly make homes safer with the SafeWise Home Safety Awards.
From everyday essentials like smoke detectors to emerging smart devices that monitor air quality or detect leaks, these awards celebrate the products and services that help families feel secure, prevent accidents, and respond to emergencies faster.
How we built the categories
We designed award categories around real home safety concerns rather than just specs or marketing claims. Each award highlights a solution to a practical problem — whether it’s protecting your kids, preventing fires, or making sure your aging parent is safe living alone.
To finalize the categories, we combined:
- Decades of in-house expertise from the SafeWise editorial and testing teams
- Feedback from safety professionals and first responders (including firefighters, electricians, and home security experts)
- Consumer priorities reflected in thousands of customer reviews and market research
Our award process
We considered hundreds of products, services, and devices across multiple home safety categories. From there, we used a multi-step review process to identify the winners.
For each nominee, we evaluated:
- Safety features and effectiveness
- Does the product reliably prevent, detect, or respond to threats like fire, carbon monoxide, break-ins, or falls?
- Is it certified by trusted safety organizations (UL, NFPA, JPMA, etc.)?
- Ease of use
- Can the average person set it up and use it without special training?
- Are the controls intuitive, even in stressful or emergency situations?
- Reliability and durability
- Does it perform consistently (even during a power outage or internet disruption)?
- Is it built to last in real-world home environments?
- Expert and user insights
- We incorporated advice from safety professionals and medical experts where relevant.
- We factored in customer feedback and satisfaction ratings to see how products work in everyday homes.
- Hands-on and comparative testing
- Whenever possible, our team tested products directly, looking at installation, performance, and usability.
- When hands-on testing wasn’t possible, we relied on verified third-party testing data, video demos, and reputable product evaluations.
What we prioritized
While each category had its own unique criteria, we consistently looked for products and services that:
- Are proactive – Safety devices should prevent harm first (not just respond after an incident)
- Make safety simple for every household, regardless of size, age, or ability
- Balance value and performance (affordable, but not at the expense of safety)
- Respect privacy and security for connected devices
- Show proven results in both lab and real-world conditions
We also avoided products that:
- Gave a false sense of security without reliable protection
- Required complicated upkeep that might cause lapses in safety
- Lacked transparency about certifications, data use, or warranty coverage
Why this matters
Home should be the safest place in your world — but accidents, fires, burglaries, and everyday risks can threaten that sense of security. The SafeWise Home Safety Awards spotlight the tools that go beyond convenience and truly protect what matters most.
This is just the beginning. As technology evolves and safety standards shift, we’ll continue to refine our categories, testing methods, and product recommendations to reflect what families truly need to stay safe at home.
