Requires three year contract with hefty termination penalty. Some Pulse peripherals require third party mobile apps.
Bottom Line: ADT Pulse offers just about everything you could want in a full service home
security system, including many component options, support for popular third party smart home devices, and a solid app experience. Read ReviewSimpliSafe Home Security System ReviewMSRP: $229. 96 at Pros: Affordable hardware, reasonable monthly monitoring fees. No contract required. Quick, easy installation. Cellular and Wi Fi connectivity, the latter of which is optional. Cons: Underwhelming camera options. Bottom Line: If you want to secure and monitor your home from afar without spending a bundle or signing a long term contract, there's a lot to like about the newly redesigned, versatile, and easy to use DIY SimpliSafe Home Security System. Read ReviewVivint Smart Home ReviewMSRP: $39.
Also, if you’re installing add on equipment, ask about any additional fees such as extra
cloud storage for security camera footage. If you’re not buying the security gadget upfront, ask about the leasing price and any additional terms. Whether you’re a senior or simply buying a security system for a senior, I’d recommend Vivint. They have professional installation, so you won’t have to worry about your system working correctly; the person who installed my system was very kind, patient, and most importantly, knowledgeable. This could be very helpful for a senior, who may not know much about modern DIY installation. Aside from that, Vivint has one of the highest rated security apps in the Apple and Google Play stores, so you can rest assured that it’s easy to use, even for someone not super tech savvy.
The franchise nature of ADT can also mean that you’ll find a somewhat inconsistent level of customer service and support depending upon where you are based, and that can be frustrating when you are used to receiving good service, but move somewhere else, and suddenly have poor service. On the whole, though, most ADT franchises are very good
with customers, and are committed to providing a high level of quality and value for everyone who contracts with them. It’s a DIY installation system, so you don’t have to take the time out of your busy life to wait for someone to come hook things up for you. Instead, you can just get the equipment and set everything up on your own. It’s great for people who are on a budget, and it’s also great for people who rent—You can take the equipment with you when you move, and won’t have to worry about being charged another installation fee for setting things up in your new location. If you choose SimpliSafe, you also won’t have to worry about canceling a contract and paying a high fee if you move to an area where a service provider doesn’t operate this system. You have to buy the equipment upfront, but that means you own it, and it reduces the monitoring costs every month. That can make things easier for anyone who’s on a monthly budget and don’t
want to spend a lot of money on monitoring. You can pay as little as $15 to $25 a month for SimpliSafe monitoring, depending on whether mobile access is important to you. That’s about half of what you would pay with some of the other best home security systems, and it can be well worth it for budget conscious people who still want a good system. Read more about what our team found with Simplisafe here.