The 10 Best Smart Home Alarms
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in October of 2017. Keeping your residence safe is a round-the-clock job, which is why it makes sense to have a home security system that you can monitor from wherever you are. These smart home alarms connect to a phone or mobile device, alerting you to any trouble, with some giving you the ability to check in on family and pets even when you're out of the country by providing remote-viewing capabilities. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Arlo Pro 3
2. Ring 2nd Generation
3. Safevant Wireless
Editor's Notes
April 21, 2020:
Availability issues sent the GW model from our last ranking packing, and we also saw a number of upgrades to significantly popular lines, like the Arlo Pro 3 and the Ring 2nd Generation. There's also a new model on our list from Simplisafe in the SimpliSafe Security System, which has a much nicer keypad than its predecessor, both in its tactile performance and its ease of use and programming.
Users are going to want to think seriously about whether or not they want video incorporated into their home security systems. It's a popular thing to have, but it also opens you up to the dangers of hacking, and if you like to do chores in your birthday suit, that's not the kind of footage you want leaking to the world. There are some extraordinarily capable options out there that eschew cameras for upgrades to things like magnetic door and window sensors, and can still send alerts to your phone when you're out and about. One of the best among these is the Kangaroo 14-Piece, which seamlessly integrates with both Alexa and Google Home, and comes with a pair of climate sensors to give you even more data. Of course, if you're looking for a smaller no-camera setup, the Abode Essentials Starter Kit is extremely basic, but effective for something like a small apartment.
Keep an eye out for subscription costs, as well. This is a category in which some companies will give you a little something for free — like remote monitoring without recording — while others will make you pay for every single feature.
October 22, 2018:
Removed discontinued items and replaced with three new options, one of which—the Ring Whole-Home—has become increasingly popular. The 16-channel GW Security system boasts a price that is many digits long, but for the homeowner who wants to make sure not an inch of their house's perimeter goes unmonitored, this model is the way to go.
Special Honors
ADT Home Security Well-known for having offered protection from intruders long before the advent of smart devices, this company has a wide-reaching reputation and a familiar logo that works well to deter potential criminals when they see it staked on a yard sign or stuck on a window. Their newest technologies incorporate everything you'd expect from a 21st-century monitoring system, including real-time video and mobile alerts. Of course, their subscription costs can be a little steep. adt.com
Scout Architect Pack This company offers a nice array of kits designed for different sized homes with specific needs. The most interesting of these comes with a Yale Smart Lock that adds keypad protection to the deadbolt on a door of your choosing. There's also a useful glass break sensor that can sound the alert if it detects the high-pitched sound of a shattering window. scoutalarm.com
4. Blink XT2
5. Kangaroo 14-Piece
6. Home8 UltraShield Wireless
7. SimpliSafe Security System
8. Abode Essentials Starter Kit
9. Nest Cam
10. Fortress S02-E
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).