Best No-Credit-Check Security Systems of 2024

1. SimpliSafe - Best Overall

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $280
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$19.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

800-544-5942

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SimpliSafe Overview

SimpliSafe just offers good products at reasonable prices. There’s really no getting around it. Every year that we test its systems, they keep improving.

For example, in 2023, the company released a new performance mode for its outdoor camera that all existing owners can access with a firmware update.1 This new mode activates when the camera is fully charged and plugged into a power source. It keeps it from entering deep sleep, which conserves power but slows its time to recording when motion is detected. As long as SimpliSafe keeps rolling out new features and updating its product line to keep up with the competition, we can see it staying on our “Best” lists for a long time.

SimpliSafe’s Equipment Quality

Right off the bat, you can trust the quality of SimpliSafe’s equipment because it manufactures and engineers it itself. This puts it in full control of its own production quality while keeping costs down. So, the actual build quality of all its products is a step above most of its competitors.

It recently expanded its offices in Boston to include a dedicated R&D lab for its engineers.2 We saw the investments it put toward R&D firsthand when we tested the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera. It’s one of the only cameras we’ve tested with color night vision, making it easy to see what’s going on outside your home no matter how dark the night gets. Also, check out our review of SimpliSafe’s Video Doorbell Pro, which details its clear picture quality and how the smart sensors helped us avoid false alarms.

With that said, it’s not better than the other providers on this list at everything. When we tested its security system, we could hardly hear the 95 dB siren on our second floor even though we put it in the living room of our first floor. So, we suggest picking up an extra auxiliary siren for each floor of your house.

SimpliSafe’s motion detector detects motion only at a 90-degree angle. Usually, we put our motion detectors in the corners of our rooms, so that works for us. But, if you need a wider angle, abode’s motion sensor offers 110 degrees of detection with the same 35-foot range.

>> Read More: How Do Motion Detectors Work?

SimpliSafe’s Pricing and Value

This is where SimpliSafe really shines. The value it provides is pretty much unmatched for no-credit-check home security systems. As we mentioned, the build quality is great on all its products, so you can expect a long lifespan. It gives you a one-year warranty that you can turn into a lifetime warranty if you subscribe to any of its monitoring plans. But you need to do it before that one-year warranty expires.

The only way SimpliSafe’s value gets outshined is for security systems built around a video doorbell. Every other competitor on this list sells its video doorbell for $100. SimpliSafe’s comes in at $169. While it does support HDR — and we definitely noticed how crisp the video is — its other features are pretty standard for the industry. Aside from its premium video doorbell, its other products are all extremely competitive on price. For a full pricing breakdown, check out our full SimpliSafe Pricing and Package Costs guide.

As for monthly fees, here’s a breakdown of SimpliSafe’s subscription options:

Unlike most providers, SimpliSafe still allows you to receive notifications from your security system even on its free plan. This is a pretty big deal because notifications are usually how you’ll spot someone in your home while they’re in the act of committing a crime.

All in all, if you want a well-balanced security system, SimpliSafe gives you a great bang for your buck.

SimpliSafe Installation

When we last tested SimpliSafe’s products, we opted for DIY installation instead of its authorized third-party installation for $125. Installing its system couldn’t have been easier, so we’re glad we made the choice to do it ourselves.

Our installation started with just plugging in the base station. After plugging it in, we opened up the SimpliSafe app, set our PIN, and then followed the steps on the app. It guided us every step of the way, from which components to install first to naming each device so we could easily tell which motion sensor was tripped when we received a notification. Just note that if you do run into a roadblock during setup, SimpliSafe doesn’t have the best tech support. That trophy goes to Frontpoint.

2. abode - Best No Contract Security System

SecurityScore:

8.0 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $140
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$24.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month or yearly
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

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abode Overview

We really can’t talk about abode without first talking about its smart home integrations. It integrates with pretty much every smart home device on the market, from major brands like Alexa and Google Home to standardized smart home formats that tons of small companies use, like Z-Wave and Zigbee. So, if you want a security system that works with all of the smart home products you already have and the ones in your shopping cart, abode wins hands-down. Now, back to its security system.

abode makes it easy to customize your own equipment package to your home, install all of it, and even monitor it yourself. Even though it still offers professional installation and 24/7 monitoring services, if you want to do it all yourself — like we did when we tested its home security system — abode makes that possible without losing core capabilities.

abode’s Equipment Quality

Most of abode’s equipment almost exactly matches the industry standards you expect. Its cameras are all 1080p HD, with a respectable field of vision (FoV). When we tested its security system, all of the components just worked. Nothing stood out. I mean, the motion detector provides 110-degree coverage instead of the normal 90-degree coverage. But that definitely won’t be a main selling point for most people.

Where abode really stands out is with its iota Hub. I’m pretty sure it’s the most expensive security hub on the market right now, and it’s definitely the most expensive one we’ve tested, coming in at $330 for the smallest package. While you can get its basic security hub for $140, it doesn’t give you any smart home integrations. You can also choose the Smart Security Hub for $160, but that works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit only.

The iota Hub is where abode’s smart home integrations really shine. It integrates with:

• Google Assistant
• Amazon Alexa
• Apple HomeKit
• Nest
• Philips Hue lightbulbs
• Ecobee
• LIFX
• Yale
• Kwikset
• Z-wave
• First Alert
• IFTTT

That’s a mouthful, I know. But, the iota Hub doesn’t just integrate with these smart home devices; it automates them.

In the abode app, you can set up automations using CUE, which connects to all of your integrated smart home devices. It uses basic “if this happens, then do that” statements with any of your smart home devices and security system components. We upped the security of our home using this automation by creating a rule that turned all of the lights in my living room on and triggered my Alexa speaker to make a siren sound at full blast if my front door opened between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Want some more ideas on what you can do with home automation? Check out our 2024 Guide to Smart Homes.

Now that we sang the iota Hub’s praises, there are a couple of drawbacks too. We think abode put one too many features in it when they added an integrated security camera. Even though it works, most people aren’t putting their security hub in an ideal place to watch a room. It also lacks human detection capabilities, so you’re going to get false alarms, especially if you have a pet.

>> Read About: What Is Home Automation and How Does It Work?

abode’s Pricing and Value

If you end up going with the iota Hub, that will probably be the majority of your equipment bill. Like I said, it’s the most expensive hub we’ve tested. But that’s really the only product that’s more expensive than the competition. And even though the iota Hub is more expensive, if you plan on buying more smart home products over the years, all of the integrations it offers means you won’t be stuck buying an expensive brand. This can be a great way to save money down the line.

Keep in mind that its integrations are locked behind abode’s Standard Plan, which costs $6 per month or $69.99 per year. You also won’t receive notifications on its free plan like you would with SimpliSafe. But, for the first year, you can get professional monitoring for just $12.42 per month, which is a great deal. Here’s an overview of abode’s subscription plans:

Need some more help deciding which plan is right for you? Our guide to abode Plans and Pricing should help.

Where abode really shines in value is its security cameras. The abode Cam 2 costs only $34.99 right now, and it gives you total freedom to use it however you want. You don’t even need an abode system to use the camera when connecting it directly to your Alexa or Google Assistant. In comparison, Ring and SimpliSafe’s least expensive indoor cameras cost $99.99.

Although you can’t expect the same build quality or innovative features as SimpliSafe, the value of abode really comes from its iota Hub, which allows you to choose just about any smart home product, and its indoor/outdoor security camera. Otherwise, its pricing for sensors, accessories, and doorbell cameras comes in just a bit lower than corresponding items from SimpliSafe, Ring, and Scout Alarm. Want a more comprehensive breakdown of the differences between abode and SimpliSafe? Take a look at our SimpliSafe vs. abode Comparison guide.

abode Installation

Just like SimpliSafe, abode was super easy to install. Our system took only about 15 minutes from the time we opened the package to when our security system was up and running. All of the sensors are really easy to install without any tools. You just stick them onto a door, window, or wall like you would a command strip.

The only drawback we saw in the installation process was the required Ethernet connection of the iota Hub. This could cause a hassle, depending on where the internet connection in your house or apartment is located. Luckily for us, we keep our router in our living room on a small table. So, we put the iota Hub right next to our router, making the Ethernet connection pretty easy. But, if your router is crammed into a small cupboard, you might need to do a bit of cable routing to get an Ethernet cable where you want your iota Hub set up.

3. Ring Alarm - Best Alexa-Compatible Security System

SecurityScore:

7.7 /10

View on Amazon

How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $199
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $20
Contract Lengths	1-12 months
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

View on Amazon

Ring Alarm Security Kit Overview

As one of the most well-known brands for doorbell video cameras, it makes sense that Ring would come out with its own alarm system too. It now has a full lineup of sensors, security cameras, sirens, and more. Even better, you can connect any of your existing Ring cameras to further fortify your Ring Alarm security system.

Ring Alarm does have some limitations, just like every other provider. It’s missing a couple of small components, like a smoke sensor, that more developed competitors like SimpliSafe have. We’ve also all heard of its security vulnerabilities, which can raise some privacy concerns, particularly with indoor cameras. But for an easy-to-install, budget-friendly way to deter burglars, Ring Alarm checks the boxes you need.

Ring Alarm Security Kit Equipment Quality

Ring Alarm lacks a couple of core pieces of equipment we expect in a home security system — especially one that advertises itself as an “alarm.” It’s missing monitored smoke alarms and gas detectors. It has a product called an “Alarm Smoke and CO Listener” but it’s not actually a smoke or carbon monoxide sensor. Instead, it notifies you if it hears your fire alarm going off. You can (and should!) buy a Ring-compatible First Alert Smoke/CO Alarm – but we still think Ring should produce its own.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s dig into the equipment it does have. Its cameras are well known, and for a good reason. They are high-end cameras that easily integrate into your Amazon ecosystem with the features we expect when we test cameras. With 23 camera options and accessory pairings, you’ll definitely find a Ring Alarm camera that fits your needs.

Unexpectedly, where the Ring Alarm Security Kit really stands out is with its motion detector. It uses patented motion detection technology that lets you set it to a low or medium detection setting. In its low detection setting, it ignores pets under 50 pounds. And in its medium detection setting, it ignores pets under 30 pounds. We loved this feature when we were pet-sitting for a friend while testing out the Ring Alarm system.

Ring Alarm Security Kit’s Pricing and Value

Let’s talk dollars and cents here. Because Amazon is its parent company, you know the value of Ring Alarm is there, which we cover in our Ring Alarm Home Security System Cost and Pricing guide. But how does it compare to SimpliSafe and abode?

For a starter kit, Ring Alarm comes out to $200 for five pieces of equipment. It includes the base station, keypad, one door/window sensor, a motion detector, and an alarm range extender. That’s a bit more than abode’s starting point of $140, but it includes a motion detector and keypad instead of a key fob. SimpliSafe is in between with a sale price of around $170 for the same pieces of equipment as Ring Alarm’s five-piece kit. Read our full comparison between Ring Alarm vs. SimpliSafe DIY Security for a complete breakdown.

As for monthly fees, Ring Alarm gives you four options:

• Self-Monitoring: It’s completely free, but you won’t get video storage or digital features, like real-time notifications.
• Basic Plan: At $4.99 per month per camera, you get 180 days of cloud video storage.
• Plus Plan: For just $10 per month, you can get the same cloud video storage as the Basic Plan, except for all of your cameras. That means if you have three or more cameras that you want cloud storage for, the Plus Plan is the way to go.
• Pro Plan: This is where you get 24/7 professional monitoring as well. It costs $20 per month and includes all of the cloud video storage you need.

If you want to cut the monthly expense out entirely, you might want to go with SimpliSafe instead since it still lets you get notifications even without a paid plan. Or check out one of the providers in our guide to the Best No-Monthly-Fee Home Security Systems in 2024.

Based on testing and comparing all three of these systems, you get the most value with abode if you want a lot of inexpensive security cameras. Ring Alarm gives you the most value if you want a few cameras with cloud storage but don’t need professional monitoring. SimpliSafe gives you the most value if your main focus is on sensors and alarms.

Ring Alarm Security Kit Installation

All of the components in the Ring Alarm Security Kits are really easy to install. Every piece uses a simple peel-and-stick adhesive backing, so it took us less than 30 minutes to get the entire system up and running, making its installation process comparable to both abode’s and SimpliSafe’s.

The 30 minutes we spent installing our Ring Alarm Security Kit even included an issue we had connecting the base station to our Wi-Fi. For some reason, it wouldn’t connect right away, and we’re still not sure why. It eventually connected after a few tries, but it was pretty frustrating at the moment. We still don’t know exactly what went wrong, but it seemed like a bug between the base station and our specific router.