- ADT Security – Best Industry Experience
- Vivint – Best Smart Home Equipment
- SimpliSafe – Best DIY Installation
- Frontpoint Security – Best Professional Monitoring
- Guardian Protection – Best for Remote Access
Compare Top Providers
| Pro. monitoring starts at | $45.99/mo. | $29.99/mo. | $14.99/mo. | $44.99/mo. | $45.99/mo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | Professional | Professional | DIY or Professional | DIY | Professional |
| Contract | 36 months | 42-60 mos. or pay for equipment in full | None | None | 36 months |
| Smart home compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video surveillance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Option to extend limited warranty | 120-day equipment warranty | 3-year limited equipment warranty | 3-year limited equipment warranty | Lifetime equipment warranty |
About New York
New York, NY – also known as the “Big Apple” and “the city that never sleeps” – is home to the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial and so much more. WordAtlas.com lists that New York is currently the largest city in the United States with over 8 million residents. But something that may come as a surprise is that the state is seeing a decrease in residents. The New York Daily News mentions the state saw a decrease in 48,500 residents between 2017 and 2018, yet the city is still our nation’s most populous.
The FBI’s 2012 Crime Report shows that property crime and larceny-theft are two of New York’s most common crimes. It’s essential to secure your home and protect your family with a home security system. To help you find the best solution, we share 5 of New York’s most popular home security providers.
New York, NY Crime Statistics
In 2016, the FBI reports that New York City had over 125,000 reported property crime incidents. Larceny-theft came in second with over 106,000 incidents reported in 2016. Here is a breakdown of some of the major offenses by type in New York City:
- 125,278 incidents of property crime
- 106,868 incidents of larceny-theft
- 49,124 incidents of violent crime
- 30,873 incidents of aggravated assault
Despite the large number of property crime incidents reported for 2016, the New York Daily News states that “[c]rime in New York dropped in all seven major categories in March [2019], helping push the city’s overall crime rate to an all-time low for any quarter in at least 25 years.” This included “murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny auto” (New York Daily News, 2019).
This is good news for New York being the largest city in the U.S., yet taking additional steps to make sure your home and family are more secure is definitely an essential.
Home Security Systems in New York
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
Starting at $45.99/mo
Our take on Guardian Protection Security
Guardian offers three professionally installed home security packages with a range of modern options, from the basic to the fully equipped. All packages have fairly low upfront costs and are backed by guarantees. Drawbacks? Guardian doesn’t operate nationwide, there’s no trial period and a long-term contract is required.
What we like
- Geo-location services for arming/disarming
- $500 Theft Protection Guarantee
- 6-month money-back guarantee
What we don’t like
- Provider’s service is not available in every state
- Touchscreen control panel not available in basic package
- May have to pay an installation fee
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 New York
Which provider will best fit my needs?
This is going to depend on several factors. If you would prefer home security services from a provider with the most experience, we would recommend ADT. For more innovative home security and smart home features, Vivint would be a great option. For a regionally recognized provider, you can consider Vector Security. But, if you would like to self-install your security system, we would recommend Frontpoint, SimpliSafe or Protect America. The provider you choose should meet your security needs.
Do all of these providers offer security cameras?
Yes – each provider has security camera options.
Do all of these providers have home automation features?
Yes – each provider has home automation features. While SimpliSafe does not offer any smart home devices you can purchase, you can use SimpliSafe with digital assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. SimpliSafe also integrates with Apple Watch and August Lock.
