When seeking out the best Dallas home security systems, we looked for the following:
These alarm companies fit the bill, providing security systems, alarm monitoring, and exceptional customer service in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
Best for | Company | Monitoring (Monthly) | 24/7 Customer Service | Contract Required? | Mobile App Alerts | Years in Business | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Affordable Monitoring |  DFW Security | $15.95 |  No | No |  Yes | 25 | View Website |
Best for Renters |  Fort Knox Security | $15.95 | No | Yes | Yes | 14 | View Website |
Best Customer Service |  ProtectUs Security | $39.99 | No | Yes | Yes | 10 | View Website |
Data as of 1/13/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
While DFW Security has some of the least expensive monthly monitoring fees for both landline and wireless connections, it also offers a lot of services beyond the bottom line.
Free installation, extended warranties, and a full menu of home automation devices make DFW Security a standout among Dallas-Fort Worth security and alarm companies. DFW will monitor your existing system and even cover it with a warranty if you opt for Platinum Service.
DFW earns high customer service marks from customer reviews online and the Better Business Bureau.¹ We were particularly impressed with DFW’s text line that quickly answered straightforward questions and then put us in touch with a rep who went into the details. And this service came without even a whiff of a pushy sales approach.
No contract required
Award-winning app
Five Diamond-rated alarm center
Package customization (after $399 equipment purchased upfront) 
No self-monitoring security options The Bottom Line: DFW security provides outstanding service and some of the most affordable monitoring in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Fort Knox Security aims to make Dallas and Fort Worth customers feel secure in their homes, especially renters. Fort Knox offers a 4G LTE wireless system and three tiers of security packages with add-ons like medical monitoring and smart home control.
The basic “Protect 360” package includes a touchscreen alarm panel, three window and door sensors, and a pet-friendly motion sensor. These sensors are monitored by Fort Knox’s enviable UL-certified monitoring station that is rated #1 in the nation, with 13-second response times.
This Dallas home security company is also one of the few that offer cloud storage. This is a huge perk for customers who want to install home security cameras or a doorbell camera and monitor them from their smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Cloud storage
Same-day installation
No contracts or credit checks
Top monitoring station in the nation
Monthly monitoring plan requires upfront equipment purchase The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for apartment home security systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it’s hard to find a chink in Fort Knox’s armor.
Protectus Security is a small family-run Dallas security company that earns rave reviews from customers.² While we found its bare-bones website lacking in transparency, it does offer a text option for customer service. The responses we received both over the phone and via text were friendly and helpful.
Protectus is one of the few Dallas-based security companies that allow customers to self-monitor systems without contracts. The cost for its Five Diamond-certified professional monitoring, however, is quite a bit more expensive than the competition.
While you must sign a basic service agreement with Protectus, you can opt to go month to month instead of a longer commitment. That flexibility comes with a higher price tag, but Protectus does offer some nice perks to make it worth your while.
Some of the perks include same-day installation, lifetime equipment warranty, a theft protection guarantee, and a program that helps Dallas customers move their residential security systems to a new home for free.
Same-day installation
Self-monitoring available without contract
Five Diamond-certified professional monitoring
Expensive professional monitoring
Lack of pricing transparency online The Bottom Line: Protectus Security shows initiative with its friendly customer service, flexible contracts, and generous equipment warranties and theft protection policies.
Our rankings of Dallas alarm companies reflect the cream of the crop for local home security solutions and services, but another option worth considering is Hawk Security Services. It doesn’t accommodate renters and it does require a three-year contract, but it has received several awards for installation and kudos from customers for exceptional service.³
Whether you choose a national or a local home security company depends on your needs. Big brands like ADT and Brinks Home Security are nationally available and offer more packages.
But they can’t compare with the customized solutions and friendly, Texan-style customer service local providers offer. Plus, local providers know the security concerns of Dallas neighborhoods from Grand Prairie to Five Points intimately since their employees live and work alongside their customers.
In some cases, local isn’t always better when it comes to online experiences or cutting-edge technology. We were disappointed with Dallas alarm companies like AAA Home Security and American Homesecures Inc. whose clunky websites and lack of transparency made for a frustrating customer experience.
Before you purchase a home security system in Dallas, consider the following to help you choose the proper equipment and services.
Everything is bigger in Texas, including crime rates. Unfortunately, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex suffers from a property and violent crime rate, specifically burglary and theft, that is nearly twice the national average.⁴
Some cities within the Dallas-Fort Worth area like Highland Park and University Park earn high marks on our safest cities in Texas rankings. Learn more about the state of safety in Texas and which parts of the Dallas metro area are safest.
Dallas is ranked as one of the most at-risk cities for tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.⁵ Consider adding environmental monitoring devices like flood sensors to your home security system. You can also consult the Texas Disaster Preparedness Center to be sure you’re ready to ride out the next big storm.
Like most big cities, Dallas has fees to prevent false alarms from bogging down the police department’s responsiveness. When you install a home security system in Dallas, you’re required to obtain a permit. The city of Dallas also has a straightforward structure for false alarm fines:
Dallas’s system is pretty forgiving since these false alarm counts reset annually and are designed to curb only the most egregious offenders.
Whether you decide to use a national company like Simplisafe or Frontpoint or choose one of the Dallas/Fort Worth-based home security companies we’ve recommended, you need to know the challenges of your home and neighborhood.
As in most cities, crime is relative to the neighborhood. Check out the Dallas Community Crime Map to learn more about crime in your current or prospective neighborhood. Some of the more dangerous neighborhoods in Dallas include Five Points, the Forest-Audelia Grid, West Oak Cliff, Dixon Circle, Ross Bennett, and Oak Cliff.
Most Dallas alarm companies don’t allow you to self-monitor, and to be frank, we don’t recommend it. If price is an issue, consider investigating how much your homeowners insurance will discount your premiums if you have a professionally monitored home security system. If DIY home security systems are still a must-have, look for a home security provider that offers self-monitoring services with mobile app alerts.
Most states have laws surrounding video surveillance and Texas is no exception. If you plan to install security cameras, read up on Texas laws that protect the privacy of individuals by limiting where surveillance systems can be placed. Then work with a licensed installer to ensure your camera systems meet Texas legal standards.
Many homeowners are looking for smart home devices that provide not only security but comfort and convenience. Most of the Dallas home security companies we included here offer a full range of home automation devices from energy management to lighting control. If you want to integrate automated technology into a security system, make a wish list and ask for a consultation to determine how to get the home automation you want for a price you can afford.
In response to concerns about the crime rate, the Dallas Police Department has compiled a list of resources to help create safer neighborhoods.
Dallas Police Department Crime Prevention Programs
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