- 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 a well-recognized name in the home security business thanks to its top-notch equipment, award-winning monitoring centers and commitment to customer service. For people who feel like you get what you pay for, it’s hard to beat ADT.
ADT prefers to provide a brief consultation before quoting a custom package. Contact ADT to get started.
★ 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
- 6-month money-back guarantee
- $500 theft protection guarantee
- High-quality equipment
Cons
- Must pay for an extended warranty
- Lengthy contracts
- More expensive than competitors
Starting at $29.99/mo
Our Take on Vivint Home Security
Vivint really shines when it comes to equipment. Perhaps no other provider has such an extensive catalog, which makes it an excellent provider for those who plan to install new equipment over time.
★ Recommended Plan
Vivint’s Smart Home Service is our recommended plan because it unlocks a larger selection of smart home devices, as well as video monitoring.
Pros
- Month-to-month contract option if equipment is purchased up front
- Backup battery included with the Sky Control panel
- Extensive equipment features, including Vivint Car Guard
Cons
- Long contract if equipment is financed
- Installation can take 3-4 hours
- Short (120-day) equipment warranty and service guarantee (unless you purchase Premium)
- Short (3-day) trial period
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. Self-monitoring is free.Pros
- Inexpensive professional monitoring
- Wireless equipment
- Cellular monitoring
- Free self-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
- Research SimpliSafe
Starting at $44.99/mo
Our Take on Frontpoint Home Security
Frontpoint recently changed its billing model to month-to-month contracts, which we believe shows that the company strives to stay on top of industry trends and cares about customer service. We also appreciate that Frontpoint’s equipment is compatible with the major smart home hubs.
★ Recommended Plan
Our recommended Frontpoint plan is the Safe Home Starter equipment package combined with the Ultimate monitoring plan, which will give you access to a smartphone app for monitoring your security devices.
Pros
- No lengthy contracts
- Excellent customer service
- Variety of equipment to choose from
Cons
- Monitoring fees are relatively expensive
- Short (30 days) trial period
- No professional installation option
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.
