Best home security system 2025: Top alarms tried and tested by an expert

As the name suggests, Simplisafe is a home security and alarm system that aims to put simplicity first. In a world where some security kits require a thorough understanding of how smart home systems and voice assistants work, this is a refreshing change.

The Simplisafe system has created a middle ground for itself, somewhere between the more complex offerings of Ring and Nest, while being smarter and more connected than older traditional home security systems. I can see this approach appealing to homeowners (and renters) who want a very simple setup process, and who want to avoid the extra functionality and inherent complexity of more feature-packed systems.

This can make the Simplisafe kit look and feel slightly dated, with the keypad especially resembling something from a decade or two ago. It doesn’t even have a colour display, let alone a touchscreen.

But, again, I can see the appeal here. It’s a product that looks part of a traditional home alarm system, but which is fully wireless, connected to the internet and (with the right subscription) includes professional monitoring and police response – something Ring does not offer in the UK. In this sense, despite offering an entirely DIY installation, Simplisafe is closer to the services of traditional alarm companies like ADT than tech-first systems like Ring.

Cameras

Simplisafe offers two different models of security camera, one for inside your home and one for outside, plus a video doorbell. Adding these to your security system is entirely optional, but all of Simplisafe’s kit bundles come with at least one camera.

These cameras are far simpler than many rivals, like those from Ring and Eufy. This is great news for buyers who want a plug-and-play security system that can be installed quickly and simply, but the cameras’ lack of features might leave other buyers wanting more. The indoor and outdoor cameras both record at 1080p Full HD, and both have a microphone and speaker for two-way audio, plus the indoor cameras has a physical lens cover for extra privacy when it isn’t in use.

Although lacking some features offered by rivals – like face recognition, parcel detection and solar power – the key to Simplisafe’s cameras is how they can be used to verify an emergency situation. If a burglar triggers your alarm, an agent (with your prior permission) can view a live feed from the camera, then inform the emergency services. The indoor camera comes with a power cable and the outdoor camera uses a rechargeable battery.

Monitoring

Constant professional monitoring is arguably the biggest and most valuable feature of the Simplisafe system. If the alarm is triggered, Simplisafe’s call centre is alerted. They then call you to check if the alarm is genuine, and can even use your security cameras (with your prior permission) to assess the situation and call the emergency services if required. If an incident cannot be verified over the phone or through your cameras, Simplisafe will dispatch an agent to visit your home.

Simplisafe will also get in touch with you (or call your emergency contacts if you don’t answer) when smoke is detected, or when your system’s water leak and high/low temperature sensors are triggered.

Subscription cost

Subscriptions start at £19.99 for Simplisafe’s Pro Standard plan. This is a self-monitored alarm system, where you’ll be alerted by the app if there’s a break-in, fire or water leak, and your emergency contacts will be phoned.

The next tier is called Pro Premium and costs £27.99 a month. This includes professional monitoring, as outlined in the previous section, where an agent phones you, establishes the severity of an incident (like a break-in or fire) and calls the emergency services.

Deals and discounts

As mentioned earlier, readers of The Independent currently have exclusive access to a 45 per cent discount using the button below.

Simplisafe is also running an early Black Friday deal, where all systems purchased with a Pro Premium Monitoring subscription have been reduced by 50 per cent – plus, Simplisafe is including a £100 Amazon gift card.

Read the full Simplisafe review

Ring is arguably the biggest name in smart home security, and for good reason. The Amazon-owned brand has built a solid reputation off the back of its video doorbells and security cameras, which we rate highly. But the company also sells a smart alarm system, which uses the same smartphone app and taps into the same subscription services available to owners of Ring doorbells and cameras.

In its simplest state, the alarm includes a base station with integrated sire, a wireless keypad, a motion detector and a door/window sensor. The system uses Z-Wave wireless technology and can be expanded to include up to 100 devices. There’s both battery and cellular backup, so the base station will keep working if your internet goes down, and can run off its own battery for up to 24 hours if there’s a power cut.

However, this cellular backup is one of the many features of this kit that requires a subscription. Prices start at £7.99 a month or £79.99 for a year, and without it the system loses much of its functionality. Pay up, and the Ring Alarm offers just about everything you could ever need, and it of course ties in neatly with Ring’s doorbells and security cameras. There’s also integration with the Amazon Alexa smart home platform and voice assistant.

Despite being available in the US, Ring does not offer professional monitoring in the UK. Instead, it operates a system called Alarm Calls where, if the alarm is triggered, your pre-defined list of emergency contacts will be called, one after another, until one answers. They are then given an automated message from Ring, stating that your alarm has been triggered, as well as what caused it (such as a door being opened, or motion spotted in the kitchen), and when. No human is involved in this, and there’s no direct way of calling the emergency services. That said, it works well and serves as a useful way of alerting your emergency contacts at times when you can’t see a notification on the Ring app, or your phone is switched off.

Although it lacks proper monitoring, Ring Alarm is still a great system – especially for anyone who already owns a Ring product, like one of its video doorbells. Adding this kit is the obvious next step for upping your home security game, and the extra functionality makes Ring’s subscription feel like better value for money than when it’s usually purely for a doorbell.

Cameras

Ring sells a wide range of security cameras, all of which work with the same app as the Ring Alarm system. Prices start at under £50 and run up to £200 for the more advanced models. Both indoor and outdoor cameras are available. Some work with optional solar powers for unlimited power, and some have integrated spotlights too.

The smartest models, like the Ring Outdoor Camera Pro, use radar and satellite imagery to accurately track the movement of visitors (or trespassers) across your garden or driveway. Some have colour night vision for more detailed low-light footage, and others can even save video from the moments before movement was first detected.

Cameras like the Ring Outdoor Camera Plus perform well, with 2K imaging sensors and long battery life, but none offer local video storage. Instead, to save video recordings in the cloud you must pay for a Ring subscription.

Monitoring

Despite being available in the US, Ring does not offer professional monitoring in the UK. Instead, it operates a system called Alarm Calls where, if the alarm is triggered, your pre-defined list of emergency contacts will be called, one after another, until one answers. They are then given an automated message from Ring, stating that your alarm has been triggered, as well as what caused it (such as a door being opened, or motion spotted in the kitchen), and when.

No human is involved in this, and there’s no direct way of calling the emergency services. That said, it works well and serves as a useful way of alerting your emergency contacts at times when you can’t see a notification on the Ring app, or your phone is switched off.

Subscription cost

Ring has two tiers of alarm subscription. The first is called Standard and costs £7.99 a month or £79.99 for a year. This adds cellular backup, so the alarm keeps working if your WiFi goes off, and enables cloud storage for your Ring video doorbell and security cameras too.

The Premium tier costs £15.99 a month or £159.99 a year and, while this doesn’t add any more features to the alarm system, it unlocks the option for 24/7 recording for your Ring cameras.

Deals and discounts

Since Ring is owned by Amazon, its products are frequently discounted by the retail giant. Plus, as is often the case with tech sales, when Amazon cuts its prices, everyone else does too – so it’s always worth checking out Ring products at retailers like Currys, Argos, AO, B&Q and others to check which has the biggest savings.

As of the most recent update to this article, these are the best Ring deals and discounts we’ve found:

• Ring Alarm pack, medium: Was £339.96, now £289.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Ring Alarm pack, large: Was £339.96, now £289.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Ring Alarm pack, extra large: Was £449.91, now £389.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Ring Video Doorbell Wired, chime and power adaptor: Was £100.97, now £79.99, Amazon.co.uk

Read the full Ring Alarm review

Eufy is currently my favourite subscription-free home security system. Also known for its impressive robotic vacuum cleaners and mops, Eufy offers a wide range of security devices, from cameras and video doorbells, to motion detectors, sirens, and a complete home alarm kit. I especially like how Eufy allows local video storage by default, with footage saved on its camera (and video doorbells) themselves, instead of charging an ongoing fee for cloud storage.

What’s more, I like how the Eufy HomeBase can act as a central storage hub. It has 16 GB of internal storage, but can be expanded to 16 TB, putting all of your recordings in one place and removing the risk of files being lost due to an external camera being damaged or stolen. The Home Base also works as a burglar alarm and doorbell chime, and the latest model (called the S380) introduces a new AI-powered facial recognition system to compatible Eufy security cameras. There are door and window sensors too, and a keypad for using your Eufy cameras as part of a wider home alarm system.

I’ve also tested the Eufy Smart Display E10, which is a simple touchscreen that shows recent activity spotted by your connected cameras and doorbell. It also doubles as a doorbell chime, and can be used to view a live feed from several cameras at once. It’s portable too, so can be taken to different rooms. On my desk it acts as a handy doorbell intercom while my smartphone is switched to silent.

Euro’s app works well, although I have encountered the occasional bug – such as an inability to rename devices for a few weeks until a fix arrived – and it sometimes takes a moment to connect to each camera. But it’s otherwise a good app with lots of options for customising exactly how each element of your security system works. There are a few adverts in there, for other Eufy products, but since there’s no subscription fee I’m willing to let that slide.

Read the full Eufy Home Alarm review

TP-Link’s Tapo brand is another good option if you want a home security system with no ongoing fees. Tapo offers a range of indoor and outdoor cameras, plus a video doorbell, motion detector and door/window sensor. It can’t quite match fully-fledged alarm systems for breadth of products, but a solid surveillance and alarm system can be created from Tapo’s catalogue.

What really helps here is the new Tapo H500. Similar to the Eufy S380 mentioned in the previous section, the H500 acts as a central hub for expandable video storage, bringing AI-powered facial recognition to compatible Tapo cameras, and doubling as a burglar alarm and doorbell chime. There’s also a microphone, and with a press of a button you can answer doorbell calls by speaking to the H500, instead of opening the Tapo phone app.

What sets the H500 apart is how it can act as a tablet dock, with an iPad or compatible Android tablet turning into a central command system for your smart home. It can show security camera recordings, but also has an interface for controlling smart switches, plugs, light bulbs and other devices compatible with the Matter smart home standard.

This all works well, and I’ve recently been impressed by several Tapo security cameras – especially the C660, an outdoor 4K camera with solar charging and motorised movement. But the system lacks a keypad and external siren, so can’t quite be used like a traditional home alarm system. There’s also no professional recording, like you get with the Simplisafe and Verisure, but given there’s no subscription fee with Tapo that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Instead, the app will alert you when the alarm is triggered, such as by a door or window opening while the system is armed, or motion being spotted by a camera.

Read the full TP-Link Tapo review

The Yale Smart Alarm kit is a welcome step forwards from the company’s ageing Sync system. Packs of various sizes are available, and additional components can be purchased separately to expand the system. The starter kit I tested came with two door and window sensors – more than the single sensor offered by most rivals – plus an external siren, which is also omitted by most other security systems, and helps provide both a visual and audible deterrent.

It all works with the Yale Home app, which is also used to set up and control Yale’s latest cameras, door locks and video doorbell, creating a simple, subscription-free security and home alarm system.

Setup is quick and easy, with everything needed to mount the sensors and siren included in the box. The central control hub connects to your router with Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and the system can be armed or disarmed via the Yale Home app, the included keypad, or by interacting with a compatible smart home platform like Alexa. There are fewer features here than with other systems, like Eufy, but the simplicity will no doubt be appealing to customers who just want the basics.

Yale’s security cameras work well, the alarm system is quick to respond, and video footage is stored locally on each device or an inserted microSD card – no cloud storage necessary.

While this system can operate with no ongoing fee, Yale’s optional subscription tiers include cloud video hosting, automated phone call alerts and cellular backup to keep the alarm working during a broadband outage. Professional monitoring is available too, but at £36 a month it’s more expensive than rivals like Simplisafe.

None of these are required, though. The core alarm works perfectly well without a subscription, making it an attractive option if you want traditional, easy-to-use home security from a trusted name and with no ongoing cost.

Read the full Yale Smart Alarm review

If you only need the basics, the Yale Sync is a solid option for your home. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other systems – and nor does it offer professional monitoring – but it includes a wireless outdoor siren that other systems lack. It also has a more compact base station than most, and the keypad is nice and small too.

Coming from a name synonymous with door locks and home security, the Yale Sync is a little more expensive than some rivals. But the inclusion of the siren helps make up for this, along with the lack of any costly subscription service. There’s support for Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue smart lighting, and the base station has a battery that can keep the alarm working for up to 12 hours during a powercut.

There‘s no cellular backup though, so you won’t receive a smartphone alert if your home internet is down when the alarm is triggered, and the base station doesn’t have Wi-Fi. This means it needs to be plugged into your router with an Ethernet cable, which limits where you can locate it.

Yale sells extra accessories like motion detectors and door/window sensors, letting you build up a larger system than what’s included in the kit. The base station works with up to 40 devices at a distance of up to 200 metres, giving you the option to secure an outbuilding like a shed or garage as well as your house.

I liked how the outdoor siren and door/window sensors come with tamper sensors, which send an alert to the app if they are removed from wherever they are mounted.

This system is a little older than Yale’s latest Smart alarm system, which uses the equally new Yale Home app. Instead, the Sync kit featured here uses the older Yale Alarm app, which is starting to show its age with limited functionality and a sense that it is no longer being developed. Although more expensive, the newer kits also have the option to subscribe to professional monitoring by Securitas.

Cameras

As well as its range of smart cameras mentioned earlier, Yale also sells standalone indoor and outdoor security cameras. Some models feature floodlights and sirens to act as an intruder deterrent, while others offer motorised panning and tilting to capture a full view of their environment.

Yale’s more conventional home CCTV kits can be bought with two or four cameras and offer wired or wireless installation.

Monitoring

A simpler system than the Yale Smart alarm featured above, Yale’s Sync kit does not offer monitoring. As such, this is a system that you monitor and control entirely yourself.

Subscription cost

There are no subscriptions available for Yale Sync.

Deals and discounts

As with the Yale Smart system above, there are some deals to be found on Yale’s own website, and at retailers like Amazon too.

• Yale Sync alarm system: Was £269.99, now £236.99, Amazon.co.uk

Read the full Yale Sync review