Best No-Contract Home Security Systems

No contract is no contract, right?

Not so fast. When choosing a no-contract security system, you’ll want to look at monthly prices, equipment cost and features, and backup options to help determine the best deal.

• No contracts
• Up-front equipment purchases

No-contract security systems vary quite a bit in terms of installation policies, moving policies, and monitoring options. But you never have to commit to anything long-term, and you’ll always own your equipment right off the bat.

By contrast, systems with contracts typically require a three-year minimum equipment. However, you don’t always have to buy your equipment up front; you can finance it and spread out the cost over a series of monthly fees.

Also, a lot of no-contract systems are DIY. That means you'll install them yourself versus having a professional install them for you.

Even if you own your own home, the thought of having to drill holes in your wall can be stressful. But Abode’s equipment uses adhesive backing, which means you can install it anywhere, and it also means you can pack it up and take it with you if you move.

And that’s not all. You can avoid the strain on your paycheck with Abode’s low self-monitoring costs.

We do recommend choosing professional monitoring if you can because you get an extra layer of protection when someone else is watching out for you. But if a full-time monitoring plan isn’t an option for you, Abode has an alternative that we really like.

If you choose their free, self-monitoring plan, you can still add a month of professional monitoring when you leave for a well-deserved vacation. There’s no contract, and it’s just $20. Ka-ching.

Finally, Abode authentication. A common concern about the security of home security systems (say that 10 times fast) is a lack of two-factor authentication. Apparently Abode is paying attention because now users can add two-factor authentication to their accounts. That earns an A+ in our books.

When you add two-factor authentication, you’ll not only be asked for your password, but also an additional credential that only you have access to. This adds a second layer of protection to your account or device, making it harder for others to hack it. The types of credentials you might be asked for with two-factor authentication include the following:

• A PIN or pattern
• Your phone number, a key fob, or something else you own
• Biometric identification, such as a fingerprint

So what don’t we like about this system? Unfortunately, the basic Abode kit doesn’t come with a keypad.

If you’re all about apps (or the key fob), the lack of a keypad in the Abode Essentials starter kit probably isn’t a big deal. But it may make granting others the ability to arm and disarm your alarm more difficult. Either way, if you want to add a keypad to your wall, you’ll have to shell out a bit more cash in addition to purchasing the starter kit.

Not feeling the pre-packaged sets of equipment? That’s okay because SimpliSafe also lets you build your own security system. Pick a color for your base station and wireless keypad, then go wild adding on different types of sensors, cameras, and accessories.

The price of SimpliSafe’s cheapest equipment kit will make your wallet smile. And probably make you smile too. Not to mention SimpliSafe also has low monthly monitoring costs. Now that’s a double bonus if we ever saw one.

SimpliSafe keeps the focus on home security, but it does integrate with Nest devices, like the thermostat.

SimpliSafe also charges more to use the app, which we kinda sorta hate. Technically, you can self-monitor for free, but you won’t really be able to do anything without the app. That makes self-monitoring incredibly difficult.

Even the Standard monitoring plan is just a little too standard for us. You’ll need to upgrade to the Interactive option to even be able to get text or email notifications or access the online command center to customize your alerts and alarms. (What is this, 1999?) We hope SimpliSafe adds these features to the Standard package in the near future.

If you want camera support, you’ll pay $5.00 per month per security camera. That’s not a steep monthly fee, but it can add up if you need a lot of cameras as part of your security solution.

Vivint is known for its innovative security equipment—it’s one of the few traditional security companies that designs its products in-house (versus DIY security systems, which tend to have proprietary devices). This means your home security system and monitoring include some features that other systems may not have, making Vivint perhaps the most technologically advanced home security and automation system out there.

If you’re looking for two-way talk, live video feeds, a user-friendly mobile app, and a wide range of sensors (including flood/freeze, smoke, and carbon monoxide), then Vivint Smart Home is well worth the price.

Vivint Smart Home also ranks high among smart home security systems in our view, and its wide range of home automation capabilities is sure to satisfy even the most hands-on tech guru:

• Lock/unlock doors
• Set your smart thermostat
• Adjust security cameras
• Turn down the lights (or turn them on)
• Open your garage door
• Control small appliances

If you’re looking for a system with a security camera, we highly recommend Vivint. Of the options on this list, Vivint offers the best video doorbell by far, and its other cameras aren’t shabby, either.

We have a separate review of Vivint cameras if you’d like to learn more.

Now let’s talk about the things about Vivint that we find frustrating.

Vivint’s home security packages lean toward the expensive end of the spectrum, and if you’re aiming for the no-contract option, you can expect to pay a lot out of pocket.

You’ll need to pay for all your equipment up front to be able to choose no contract. And with equipment packages starting around $599, that’s a lot of cash to hand over all at once—especially when you tack on the $49 installation fee.

Also, other home security systems typically offer two to three options when it comes to your connection. Not Vivint. You’ll get the option of only a cellular connection, but you can relax a little knowing it also comes with a battery backup.

Lastly, if you’re not a fan of aggressive sales tactics, you may want to steer clear of Vivint. While its representatives are very knowledgeable and often make helpful recommendations for additions to your system, there have been quite a few complaints about their overly aggressive door-to-door sales tactics.

Not many no-contract security systems can give you a touchscreen control panel, but Cove can. And its panel does more than look nice—it lets you talk to a monitoring agent right through the screen. (That’s a feature we’ve only ever seen from bigger companies like Vivint.)

Cove’s pricing is only a little above market average. And its monitoring pricing won’t break the bank either. Plus, we like that Cove still lets you pay for your equipment over time if you don’t have a couple hundred bucks in up-front costs.

Home automation, where are you? Cove doesn’t really have any home automation options. If you sign on for its top monitoring plan, you do get some integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but that’s about it. We’d like to see at least Z-Wave or Zigbee integration from Cove.

Also, unless you subscribe to Cove’s highest-priced monitoring plan, you won’t be able to use the Cove mobile app to arm and disarm your system (or do anything else). But unlike SimpliSafe, Cove does give you some extra perks to go along with the higher-priced plan, including a lifetime equipment warranty.

If you find most “one-size-fits-all” security equipment packages don’t quite meet your needs, Scout is the alarm system for you. You can even select a color (black or white—they both look shockingly nice) before adding as many—or as few—devices as you like. Say it with us, Braveheart-style: “Freeedooom!”

Smart home lovers will adore Scout. Scout has more home automation than we can shake a stick at. Amazon, Google, Z-Wave, Zigbee, IFTTT: it’s got it all. Smart home items that aren’t compatible with your Scout system will be few and far between.

And just like Abode, Scout Alarm is perfect for anyone who gets antsy about drilling holes in their walls. Just peel off the adhesive backing and stick those sensors wherever you please.

Also like Abode, the biggest downside to Scout is that the $229 package doesn’t come with a keypad, which means that unless you want to pay $50 more, you’ll mainly rely on your app to set up, arm, and disarm your system.

While this could be a pro if you’re looking for a minimalist approach to home security, it also means you’ll have to hand over a key fob if your babysitter, visiting aunt, or anyone else needs access and doesn’t have the app—unless you want to make use of Scout’s RFID stickers, which are an ingenious way to turn literally anything into a security system key. It’s the modern version of keeping your key under your mat.

If you like the idea but not the execution of more traditional home security offerings like ADT or Vivint, ADT Self Setup could be a good fit for you. ADT Self Setup combines the power of the ADT name with inexpensive no-contract DIY security.

Like Abode, ADT Self Setup doesn’t force you to pay for the privilege of monitoring your system. And its equipment prices are similar to other DIY brands’. And it offers all three camera subtypes: indoor, outdoor, and doorbell. Honestly, that’s a miracle for a DIY system that isn’t Ring.

The equipment is also … kind of pretty? Seriously, if more security brands put as much work into their aesthetics as Scout and ADT Self Setup, people would line up around the block to get systems just for the ‘gram.

And ADT Self Setup has awesome home automation. It’ll connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave Plus, and IFTTT. That’s almost as much compatibility as Scout.

But whatever your reasons for going ADT Self Setup, the biggest benefit is that you get to plant an ADT sign in front of your house. Since ADT is one of the most recognized names in home security, that’s sure to act as a deterrent to some troublemakers.

So what’s not-so-great about ADT Self Setup? Sadly, the cameras still need some work. Their super-cool facial recognition feature was faulty when we tried it. It didn’t always recognize our testers. Also, the outdoor camera struggled to stay connected to the Wi-Fi and the ADT+ app.

Also, ADT Self Setup is a wild card. The service has undergone a rebranding process since ADT bought it out a while ago, which has made it difficult to find accurate reviews of the current service.

If you’re searching for a home security system without a contract, you’ve got plenty to choose from. Here’s how our top five stack up:

• Abode is our top pick thanks to its flexible monitoring plans—including the option to add professional monitoring only when you think you most need it.
• SimpliSafe hit a home run with its home security system, but we hope they’ll add more home automation features in the future.
• Vivint Smart Home impressed us with its intuitive design and loads of extra features. But the high price required to get in on that no-contract deal is a doozy.
• Cove is a lot like SimpliSafe, but with a bit higher-end equipment. Just like with SimpliSafe, we’re hoping Cove adds more home automation options to its system in the future.
• Scout is a close runner up. We love its à-la-carte approach to equipment selection and its low monthly costs.
• ADT Self Setup is a great way to plaster ADT’s name all over your yard without getting an ADT-sized contract (and payments). But we still aren’t sure what kind of customer service you’ll get from ADT Self Setup vs. ADT, so use at your own risk.

Picking out just five home security systems without a contract is no easy feat. There are a lot of excellent options on the market these days, and you’re likely to find something that fits your specific needs, even if it didn’t make our list.

When we picked Abode, Scout, Vivint Smart Home, SimpliSafe, Cove, and ADT Self Setup, we looked at the following criteria:

• Professional monitoring cost
• Home automation features
• Battery backup
• Cellular backup
• Equipment