- SimpliSafe – Best DIY Installation
- ADT Security – Best Industry Experience
- Vivint – Best Smart Home Equipment
- 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
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 $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
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
Starting at $45.99/mo
Our take on Guardian Protection Security
Rather than offering set packages, Guardian has one Base package that can be upgraded with individual products as needed. The basic package includes all of the whole-home security essentials including a control panel, sensors and motion detection plus popular security features like a mobile app to control your equipment and remote arming and disarming. Free professional installation is also included. Equipment starts at $250.
Package devices
- 1 PowerG motion detector
- IQ2 Power G Panel
- 3 PowerG door and window sensors
Package Features
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Free professional installation
- Free Guardian Protection mobile app
What we like
- 6-month money-back guarantee
- $500 theft protection guarantee
- Smartphone app available
What we don’t like
- Not available in all 50 states
- Relatively expensive monitoring services
- Professional installation only
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.
