Best Door and Window Sensors of 2021

The door and window alarms from Wyze Sense come in a pack of four for under $20 from Wyze's website. Other companies charge that much or more for one sensor alone. And we’d guess you have more than one door or window to protect.

Wyze’s sensors are compact and fit in door frames, window sills, and even on cookie jars (for those cookie thieves in your house). Whatever you want to keep closed, these devices make it easy and cheap to do.

If Wyze doesn’t hit the mark for you, we’ve got sensors that work with smart home systems, standalone sensors, and more in our list below. Take your pick from the best door window sensors.

The sensors send a notification when their magnetic field breaks by opening the door or window. The Wyze app lets you name each device in your home so you’ll know which entrance opened instantly.

Read our full review of the Wyze Sense starter kit to take a deeper dive.

The SmartThings sensors connect through your home’s wireless network to the SmartThings Hub. Folks with larger homes may need a range extender to boost the signal between devices. These window and door sensors need to be within 30 to 50 feet to communicate with the hub, so choose the most vulnerable areas in your home and cover those first.

The final cost of contact sensors comes down to how many sensors you want in one purchase and what you want them to detect. If you want a sensor that detects more than just an open door or window, the SmartThings is the smart choice for an affordable price. But opting for super smart sensors will mean you end up paying more for each piece of equipment than for our top pick Wyze.

The iSmartAlarm contact sensor is compatible with a suite of other motion sensors, indoor security cameras, and the whole iSmartAlarm system. This standalone system doesn't require contracts or monthly monitoring, making it easy to self monitor your home from anywhere.

And while the price may throw you off initially, it comes in packs of two, making it around the same price as the SmartThings sensor.

The Geeni contact sensor is smart, but not smart enough to connect with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. So when you install one in your home with the included adhesives or screws, it truly does stand alone, so it’s better for solving specific problems than boosting home security or automation.

We recommend using it for off-limits or private areas like sheds and storage units, or in areas that could be dangerous or you want to keep private. So while you’ll miss out on app notifications, it won’t be hard to hear if the alarm sounds.

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The following sensors are accessories to larger home security systems and require you to purchase monthly monitoring. Comprehensive security offers more protection, but it does come with a steeper price tag.

Learn more about the entire system by reading our full Vivint review.

Our Frontpoint review will give you more information on this sensor and the rest of the system.

Our Link Interactive review has more details.

If you like to stay connected to your home while you’re away, consider door and window sensors with mobile apps and alerts. Most of the sensors we chose in our lineup connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and can send updates directly to your phone.

Your smart assistant (Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant) can connect to home devices like door sensors. You can include one that plays well with others in automations like turning off the lights when a door closes or triggering a camera when the door opens.

Where you install your sensors changes the way they function. Window and door frames are the most common places for contact sensors, but they also fit on medicine cabinets, drawers, safes, the refrigerator, or anything that opens and closes.

The type of door frame you have may also affect the sensors. Doors with raised molding around them may put the sensors out of range of each other and create false alarms. Wherever you install your door and window sensors, be sure each piece aligns comfortably before finishing your installation.

If a door opens and nobody’s home to answer, does it make a sound? It does if you have mobile alerts or notifications through your contact sensor. These devices aren’t locks, so they’re best paired with devices like smart locks.

Contact sensors are helpful for knowing when a door opens or closes whether you’re home or not. Some contact sensors let you set chimes and sounds that trigger when the sensor goes off. Others send you push notifications to your phone when they activate.

We wanted to feature contact sensors that don’t require monitoring or too many other components. So we started with Amazon reviews from verified customers to find the best candidates. From there, we looked at ease of installation, responsiveness, app navigation, and other factors that make the best door and window sensors.

Learn more about how we conduct reviews like this one in our full methodology.

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