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Home security can bring peace of mind, whether you’re traveling for the holidays or just going out for the night. But it can also cost hundreds or thousands of dollars if you want more security than a single smart camera can offer. Between the countless sensors, alarms, cameras and video doorbells that many modern security services offer, the final bill can quickly add up.

As home security systems — both professional and DIY — have gotten smarter, some have also gotten more affordable. In fact, you can find a few systems starting at under a hundred bucks. Here are the best cheap home security systems on the market right now.

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If it has to be cheap, you can’t get a much better system for the money than Wyze Home Monitoring. If you spend $80 on the starter kit, you’ll get a hub, keypad, two entry sensors and a motion sensor. But you can put together a package to meet your specific needs, too, and it will almost certainly cost less than the alternative from any major DIY service provider — especially if you want to integrate security cameras or video doorbells. What’s more, Wyze’s monthly fee for 24/7 monitoring is an incredibly low $5. All in all, you could end up spending well under $200 for all your hardware and a year of monitoring.

Read the Wyze Home Monitoring review.

 

David Priest/CNET

Ring’s Alarm Pro system is a little pricier than Wyze’s, landing at $300 for the starting kit (though you can often find it on sale for less). But it brings more value-per-dollar than any other DIY security system. For that price, you’ll get the base device, four entry sensors, one motion detector, a keypad and a Z-Wave range extender. That may not sound particularly exciting until you realize that the base station is also an Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh router — and it enables select Ring security cameras or video doorbells to process their data and store their footage locally. Add that to other perks, like an included Alexa Guard Plus subscription and cellular-powered back-up Wi-Fi (if your internet or power go down), and you’ve got an incredible product for the price.

Ring’s highest level Protect Pro subscription costs $20 per month, which clocks in lower than the $25-$30 range for most of its DIY competitors.

Read the Ring Alarm Pro review.

 

Josh Goldman/CNET

Professionally-installed home security systems usually cost an arm and a leg, but that’s not the case with our favorite system, from Comcast Xfinity. While it’s not available in all regions, if you can get it, it’s a steal (relatively speaking), starting at $360. That price will get you a touchscreen controller, three entry sensors and one motion detector. And the bigger the system you get, the better the price breakdown — all the way up to the $600 Ultimate package that adds seven more entry sensors, two cameras and a wireless keypad.

Xfinity Home has a few big perks going for it: First, it doesn’t require a contract; second, its $30/month basic and $40/month premium 24/7 monitoring plans are consistently cheaper than other professionally installed systems; and third, you can connect a wide range of smart home gadgets into the system and integrate them easily through the app. All in all, Xfinity Home offers that excellent user experience you’d expect from higher end systems like Vivint and ADT — but at significantly lower prices.

Read the Comcast Xfinity Home Security review.

 

Other home security systems we’ve tested

The CNET home security editors have tested out every major home security system over the years. We haven’t listed every single on here since some, such as AT&T Digital Life, are no longer available.

• Abode/Abode Iota: While Abode’s performance was solid, its prices were higher than other DIY options, such as Cove and SimpliSafe. The Iota all-in-one security camera is an interesting option for renters or those living in smaller spaces — but it still doesn’t match the affordability or simple value of the options above.
• Ring Alarm: Ring’s first home security system is a solid contender for best cheap home security system, but it just can’t quite edge out Wyze’s system for straight-up affordability. In addition, its Pro version adds so much value, it’s hard to recommend the original system over its upgraded successor.
• Frontpoint: Although Frontpoint’s hardware is solidly priced, its $45/month subscription fee is simply too much to recommend it to anyone trying to stick to a budget.
• Kangaroo: While Kangaroo is an incredibly wallet-friendly DIY security system, its value simply isn’t as high as Wyze’s. Its hardware isn’t just cheap on paper — it also feels cheap. And its doorbell camera is terrible.
• Cove Home Security: While Cove’s hardware is reasonably priced, the inability to self-monitor the system — or even have app access — without significant monthly fees makes it a less-than-ideal option for the budget-conscious buyer.
• ADT: Professionally installed systems probably aren’t the way to go for the best cheap home security system, and ADT is worse than others on the list simply for its astronomically high prices and forced contracts.
• Vivint: Like ADT, Vivint isn’t for the faint of wallet. While it’s a great system for those interested in smart home integration, opting for Vivint simply won’t save you money in the short run or long run.

How we test home security systems

For each system we test, we install it ourselves (or have the company install it, in the case of professional systems), just as any customer would. From there, we spend a week at minimum testing the system, device-by-device and as a whole. Our ranking prioritizes value, but also takes into heavy consideration the quality of hardware, service and general user experience (things like ease of use and number of false alarms are key). For more thorough information on any of the recommended security systems above, please read the full reviews.

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