- ADT – Best Industry Experience
- Vivint – Best Smart Home Equipment
- SimpliSafe – Best DIY Installation
- Frontpoint – Best Professional Monitoring
- Protect America – Best Basic Security System
About Chicago
Chicago is home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Wrigley Field, Millennium Park (where the giant, stainless steel “bean” lives) and much more. Despite waning in population, Chicago is still the third largest city in the U.S., according to the Chicago Tribune. Currently, the city has over 2.7 million residents. But why are residents leaving the city?
The Economist writes that high taxes as well as political issues fuel the reasons why some are choosing to leave. Violence is also a mentioned as a contributing factor to why some are choosing to leave.One essential measure to take as a resident is protecting your family and home, and we want to help you find a security solution that will work best.
Chicago, IL Crime Statistics
According to the FBI’s 2016 Crime Report, property crime followed by larceny-theft are two of the most prevalent crimes in Chicago. Violent crime falls third to both according to the report. Here is a breakdown of several crimes by category as reported for Chicago:
- 86,960 incidents of property crime
- 61,229 incidents of larceny-theft
- 30,126 incidents of violent crime
- 15,815 incidents of aggravated assault
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that violent crimes as well as “burglaries, motor vehicle thefts and robberies [are] at their lowest levels citywide since 2000″. This is good news for the city. While you’re searching for the best home security system, we want you to keep several factors in mind as you consider your options.
Best Home Security Systems in Chicago
Starting at $45.99/mo
Our Take on ADT Home Security
ADT is known for its longevity in the industry and its certified monitoring centers. Choose from one of ADT’s four packages or customize to fit your needs.
★ Recommended Plan
ADT’s Video Lite Plan is nothing minor — you’ll get motion detection, smart home capabilities, and video surveillance. Equipment starts at $599. Professional monitoring starts at $54.99 per month.Pros
- 140+ years in business
- 6-month money back guarantee
- $500 Theft Protection guarantee
Cons
- Contract required
- No self-installation option
- Mobile app access not available in basic package
Starting at $29.99/mo
Our Take on Vivint Home Security
Winner of the 2020 IoT Breakthrough Award for its outdoor camera, Vivint is a leader in home security with its expansive equipment lineup and features.
★ Recommended Plan
Vivint’s Smart Home Service has a ton of features and devices to help you protect your home to include the basics plus home hazard monitoring devices. Equipment starts at $599.99. Professional monitoring starts at $29.99 per month.Pros
- Flexible equipment configuration
- Flexible payment options
- Variety of cutting-edge smart home devices and features
Cons
- Long contract if financing equipment
- Expensive equipment cost
- No DIY installation option
Our Take on SimpliSafe Home Security
Keep those pesky burglars away with a SimpliSafe security system. Choose from a range of packages and equipment, and get inexpensive professional monitoring.
★ Recommended Plan
We recommend The Barrington if you’re interested in SimpliSafe. This package combines intrusion detection and video surveillance. Equipment starts at $388.93. Professional monitoring starts at $14.99 per month.Pros
- Inexpensive professional monitoring
- Wireless equipment
- Cellular monitoring
Cons
- Mobile alerts not available in the basic monitoring plan
- No selection of smart home devices
- Smart home capabilities not available in basic monitoring plan
Starting at $44.99/mo
Our Take on Frontpoint Home Security
Nationally recognized for its customer service, Frontpoint is a top contender in home security with a range of packages you can choose from.
★ Recommended Plan
For the basics—a hub, sensors, and signage—Frontpoint’s Safe Home Starter plan comes at an affordable price. Equipment starts at $319.95. Professional monitoring starts at $44.99 per month.Pros
- Month-to-month contract
- Renter-friendly services and equipment
- Good customer service
Cons
- Outdoor camera, doorbell camera only available as add-ons
- Limited home automation devices available
- High monitoring starting price
Our take on Protect America Home Security
Protect America stands out for its low-cost landline monitoring and great coverage for rural areas. Their professional monitoring has over 25 years of award-winning service and monitoring plans that are based on connectivity type. If you’re looking for a capable no-frills home security system you can install yourself, Protect America is a good choice for your family.
What we like
- Price-match guarantee
- Smart home devices and features
- Mobile app access & control
What we don’t like
- Contract required
- Must upgrade to get video surveillance, smart features and smoke detection
- Cellular monitoring is the most expensive plan
Best Home Security Systems of 2020
See allCommon Home Security Equipment and Features
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Can’t decide? Compare top providers side-by-side: ADT vs. SimpliSafe, Vivint vs. Frontpoint, and more.
4 Questions To Find Your Home Security Provider
Select the features you want and we’ll match you with the right home security provider.
FAQs About Home Security Systems in Chicago
Which provider will best fit my needs?
This can depend on a number of factors, but we share brief highlights of each provider listed so you can have more insight. ADT has over 140 years of experience in home security, so if you’re looking for a company with more experience, we’d recommend ADT. If you prefer a regional security provider that provides the basics and home automation options, we’d recommend Security Doctors. For innovative home security equipment, Vivint is a great choice. If you’d like to self-install your home security system and avoid paying an installation fee, we recommend Frontpoint, SimpliSafe or Protect America.
Do all of these providers offer security cameras?
Yes – with each provider you’ll find security camera options.
Do all of these providers have home automation features?
Yes – each provider listed offers home automation features. With SimpliSafe, there aren’t any smart home devices you can purchase, but SimpliSafe does offer home automation integration, which means you can use the provider’s services with devices like Apple Watch, August Lock and digital assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.
