Best Cellular Home Security Systems Guide & Reviews of 2021

ADT is probably the best-known security company in the country, and even abroad. They have built such a strong reputation over the years because of all the options they offer and how reliable they are. They were founded in 1874, and since then, their services have evolved incredibly. For example, their current basic plan includes motion detectors to be used inside the house, some door and window sensors for the entrances, a siren that will go off if anything out of the ordinary happens, plus a keypad and a siren.

And then, if this is not enough, one can keep on adding more tools as they are needed. It is possible to also buy video cams, smart locks, and more sensors from them. Bear in mind that the most advanced functions, like smart locks or live streaming from the app, will only be available for the most expensive plans.

As has already been hinted, ADT is among the most expensive providers in the market. They charge an installation fee every time, and the equipment and monthly fees are quite pricey, too, especially in contrast to the competitors. To top this off, some key functions, like accessing the mobile app, are only available for those who are willing to pay premium monthly fees.

On the positive side, their team is among the best trained in the field. They know how to react to every possible situation. And the best part is that they service users through a wide variety of means, like call, chat, and email. And as most other vendors do, the team is available to answer queries 24/7.

Vivint is a nice option for those who do not mind paying an extra dollar or two. Their cellular monitoring equipment is among the most advanced in the market. Their catalog includes all the latest gadgets, and they are among the ones of the highest quality too. Yet, this comes at a (rather high) price. Their basic plan costs as much as the most advanced one from other competitors. On the positive side, there are some nice financing options for those who need them.

It is possible, for example, to sign a contract and pay for tools in different installments each month. It usually takes between 42 and 60 months to finish with the payment. Also, those who can afford to pay for the equipment all at once do not have to get a contract if they do not want to. But, again, this is rather pricey and will cost at least $500 to get the very basics. And do not forget that only a pro can come and set everything up, and this is not free. The whole installation process will cost $99.

One of the features that make Vivint a good option in this competitive market is that not only is all the equipment top-tier, but it is also compatible with smart home devices. All their options work with Z-Wave tech, for example. In this way, one could set all the lights to turn themselves off once there is no one at home, for example. Their customer care is also effective and easy to get in touch with. They work through calls, but also by live chat, which is a very welcome feature. And they always answer fast and professionally. And the best part is that they answer all types of queries 24/7.

The feature that makes this vendor stand out is how simple it is to install its systems. They all have DIY wireless setups, so there is no need to pay expensive fees for a pro to come and do everything. What is more, its upfront costs are not that high when taking into account the industry’s standards. So, it is possible to save some money with them.

It also integrates easily with smart devices, especially with Z-Wave compatible ones. This means that it is possible to use voice commands and automation. Plus, the user can choose that when something happens, it should trigger something else. For example, the entrance lights can turn one when someone presses the doorbell. Also, Frontpoint does not ask its users to sign long-term contracts. In this way, it is up to them to decide when to start using the service when they can stop without having to pay any extra fee.

After some time, the Frontpoint team managed to reduce the prices to try to attract more clients. First, they started by cutting off installation fees by offering only a DIY wireless setup. This means that they had to simplify the whole process. Also, they significantly reduced the up-front costs of buying the equipment.

Another interesting measure for this was offering five different plans to ensure that there was one for each different budget. The most basic one includes some sensors, a keypad, and a panel. But as prices go up, it is possible to add indoor and outdoor video cameras, doorbell cameras, and more sensors.

To help clients, the Frontpoint team offers two support lines. One is the emergency line, which is available at all times, every day of the year. It should be used for major issues only. The other one is for all types of problems and queries. It works from 8 am to 11 pm (ET) during the week and from 10 am to 7 pm (ET) on the weekends.

Since it was founded in 2006, SimpliSafe has gotten quite a good reputation. Their services are efficient, but they are, most of all, cheap and flexible. They have prepared everything to cut down unnecessary costs and fit to what their users need. For example, they do not ask for long term contracts, and the whole setup process can be carried out entirely by users without the help of a pro.

Also, they do not charge any type of fee to activate the system and get it running. And their monitoring service has a quite low price too. Clients also have the option to choose which devices they want. In this way, if one has a lower budget, he can decide to get only the basic equipment and avoid the most expensive tools. Yet, bear in mind that, though everything works fine, it does not feel as high-end as with other brands, like Vivint.

One of the aspects the SimpliSafe team should keep on working on is how their devices integrate with smart home systems. It does work with Alexa and, to some degree, with August and Nest. But it is not compatible with Z-Wave tech, for example. And this is becoming an industry standard that this provider has not been able to keep up with yet.

Nonetheless, they make up for this with how flexible they are. And this is not only in terms of equipment. But it also regards their monitoring service. As there are no contracts involved, users can decide to use it for one month and not the following if they need to make ends meet.

Their customer care team is effective and works through email and calls. Most previous users review the team to be helpful and fast to act. Yet, they are only available from 9 am to midnight (ET). So, those looking for 24/7 support will probably want to look elsewhere.

This luxury system aims at protecting Americans with a large budget. But what they offer is worth what it costs. Their equipment is of the highest quality, and it works very well with other smart gadgets. Their prices will vary depending on what the client decides to include. The more sensors one needs, the higher the monthly plan will be.

It is important to bear in mind that the tools are not paid upfront. Instead, they are included in the monthly fee. The most basic plans have only essentials. This is a control panel and some sensors for the inside of the house together with others for the entrances. Then, users can add what they need, but remember that the prices will go up as one adds more devices. Some other options are smoke detectors and video cams.

All the Protect America equipment is compatible with Z-Wave tech and Alexa. This means that one can control it with voice commands and set it so that actions are triggered when something happens. On the negative side, many users have reported problems with their customer care team. For starters, they are available only during limited hours. They work by chat and calls. But not 24/7 and on weekends they work even fewer hours. To top this off, some previous clients claim that they were not as efficient as expected when it came to solving problems.

Though their cellular connection is decent and it delivers, its landline surpasses this service by far. They do not have the best cellular monitoring yet. This is something that those who are not sure if wireless systems are for them should consider.