CNET tested home security systems, named SimpliSafe best for 2026

Home Security Subscription Costs and Top Picks

CNET tested home security systems for more than 180 hours and named SimpliSafe's starter kit the best overall choice for 2026. The company's hardware packages start at $250 and reach $734, while self-monitoring plans begin at $10 monthly for basic camera support.

Professional monitoring plans from SimpliSafe start near $30 per month and include live guard watching plus AI-powered alert systems, according to CNET's 2026 testing for subscribers.

Ring Alarm's eight-piece second-generation kit earned a CNET Review Score of 9.0 and was named the best DIY system overall. Remote arming and professional monitoring require the brand's top-tier subscription, which costs $20 per month for most users in 2026.

Arlo's five-piece system earned an 8.3 score and was named the best affordable home security system by CNET reviewers, with starter kits available for $150 after discounts.

Arlo professional monitoring starts at $30 monthly, while Abode's kit costs as little as $100 and offers optional $8 to $26 subscriptions for existing smart homes.

Competing Systems and Subscription Requirements

Vivint's HomeProtect system received a 7.7 score and was named the best expandable smart security system, requiring professional installation, with monitoring starting at $25 monthly and no contract.

ADT Home Security with ADT+ was named the best professionally installed system and offers strong Google Nest compatibility for consumers. Its monitoring contracts often cost more than $70 monthly and are described as clunky and expensive by testers in CNET's review.

CNET advises buyers to weigh equipment choices, smart home and AI features, installation, monitoring alerts, emergency features, and expandability, along with initial costs, ongoing costs, and privacy safeguards.

The home security market in 2026 continues to add Matter support, more face recognition, and new corporate collaborations across major brands. ADT recently ended much of its collaboration with Google Nest and Yale, signaling shifting partnerships according to CNET's latest report.

CNET does not recommend Frontpoint because of its $45 monthly monitoring fee or Cove's restrictive subscription model that blocks self-monitoring and app access without significant fees.

Philips Hue, ADT, and Buyer Considerations

Philips Hue entered home security in 2023 and is a top option for self-monitored systems, according to U.S. News reviewers. It offers two paid plans with 60 days of video history, but can also be used free without a subscription.

Virginia-based tester Erika Giovanetti said Philips Hue was extremely easy to install and took less than an hour to set up the full system and mobile app.

She noted the mobile app had a learning curve, but the equipment and packaging felt luxe and intuitive to use during her testing period, according to U.S. News.

Philips Hue's wired camera delivered perfect clarity at five feet indoors and captured half the subject's features at 15 feet. Nighttime clarity was slightly poorer but still captured more than half of details up to 10 feet according to the review.

ADT says users can call or complete a form, and a specialist will contact them with a personalized quote for home security systems, services, and monitoring options.