The Best Home Alarm Systems in the UK
This website is operated from the US. If you are a non-US resident, your personal data (including IP address and any other information you provide in your interaction with this website) may be transferred to the US and/or to other countries or territories. Please see our privacy policy for further detail regarding how your information is treated.
SimpliSafe home security systems are sleek, small—and above all—simple. There are no contracts, no wires to deal with, and no high-pressure sales. And SimpliSafe works whether you own a detached home or rent a flat. This do-it-yourself home security system has rocked in the US and is brilliant in the UK.
Top home alarm systems in the UK
- : Best home alarm system
- : Most trusted pick
- : Most comprehensive pick
- : Budget pick
- : Smart home pick
Compare the best home alarm systems in the UK
|
Brand
|
Lowest monitoring price
|
Starter equipment price
|
Contract
|
Installation
|
Learn more
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best home alarm system |
 |
£12.99/month | £233.98 |
 No |
DIY | View on SimpliSafe | Read review |
| Most trusted pick |
 |
£38.99/month | £99 |
 Yes |
Pro | View on ADT | Read review |
| Most comprehensive pick |
 |
Quote required | Quote required |
Yes |
Pro | View on Verisure | Read review |
| Budget pick |
 |
£2.50/month | £219.00 |
No |
DIY | View on Amazon | Read review |
| Smart home picks |
 |
£3.59/month | £275.99 |
No |
DIY | View on Abode | Read review |
Info current as of 19/07/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 19/07/21 at 4:00 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
1. SimpliSafe: Best home alarm system
SimpliSafe offers the best of both worlds—easy DIY installation and professional monitoring service. You’re in complete control of your SimpliSafe home security system, from the equipment you choose to optional professional monitoring with no contracts.
SimpliSafe has five preselected equipment packages, ranging from less than £300 to a little more than £500. If you don’t find a good match, you can skip the packages altogether and build your system.
In contrast to its American security packages, SimpliSafe includes its indoor security camera (the SimpliCam) in every UK package. Because visual confirmation is often required for police response, this extra inclusion was an intelligent move.
Transparent pricing Contract-free Affordable
No bells-only option Up-front costsThe biggest drawback to SimpliSafe is the absence of a bells-only system, which is the first signal to a burglar that your home isn’t worth the trouble. Instead, the company provides a yard stake and sign, which is an effective deterrent across the pond, but not as familiar here.
Another consideration is the up-front cost. You have to buy all of your SimpliSafe security devices outright. That can mean a hefty investment, depending on the package you need.
But the good news is that after you buy your equipment, there are no other required expenses. And you can get professional monitoring starting at just £12.99 per month—that’s less than half of the monthly fees from ADT and Verisure.
One of the things we like best about SimpliSafe is that all of its costs and fees are up front and right on the site, unlike many of its competitors. (We’re looking at you, Verisure.)
Our package pick for SimpliSafe: The Windsor
The Windsor costs a little more, but it delivers everything you need to protect your home and loved ones:
- 2 motion sensors
- 5 entry sensors
- 105 dB siren
- Keyfob
- SimpliCam
The siren is an extra security solution that helps make up for SimpliSafe’s lack of a bell box, and once you buy the equipment, it’s yours forever. There are no extra fees, but we strongly recommend adding SimpliSafe’s contract-free monitoring.
2. ADT: Most trusted pick
Over 140 years of experience Smart home options Monitoring centre expertise Smoke and CO monitoring available
No cameras in the base package Higher monthly feesWith ADT Smart Home, you can use your smartphone or computer to remotely access your alarm system and control your home’s lights and other smart home devices. You won’t have to wonder if you forgot to set the alarm or turn out the lights—the power to control security alerts, Wi-Fi cameras, lights, and any other connected devices are in the palm of your hand.
Every ADT alarm package comes with 24/7 monitoring and costs £38.99 per month. If your intruder alarm is triggered, ADT’s central monitoring station responds immediately—monitoring specialists are always on guard and never ignore an alarm.
ADT monitoring can also keep an eye on other vital emergency response systems like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
But security cameras aren’t included in the base equipment package, so you’ll have to upgrade if you want the extra reassurance of video surveillance.
Our package pick for ADT: Keyholder Smart Home
ADT's Smart Home Package offers outstanding security services, which ADT is known for, plus full home automation integration:
- Mobile access and control through the ADT app
- Smoke and CO monitoring
- ADT bell box
- Touchscreen alarm panel
- Wireless door contact
- 2 PIR motion sensors
- Your choice of Wi-Fi camera, video doorbell, or both
3. Verisure Smart Alarms: Most comprehensive pick
Verisure offers the most home security options of any security company on our list.
These smart alarm systems adapt to the needs of your home—no matter what type or size of residence. Verisure designs custom alarm systems for flats, villas, apartments, detached houses, garages, and sheds.
ZeroVision smoke barrier Fast response time
Consultation required for a price quote Higher monitoring feesOne of the best features of a Verisure alarm is the company’s quick response time during an emergency. Verisure claims an average response time of 45 seconds. That means help is on the way in around 45 seconds from the moment Verisure’s Alarm receiving centre gets an alert.
And it’s the only security company we’ve found that offers the extra deterrent of smoke to scare off burglars. The ZeroVision smoke alarm expels a dense fog that impairs an intruder’s vision and buys extra time for the police or a guard to arrive.
Verisure offers the protection each home needs to ward off theft and other home security threats. Before you commit to a Verisure alarm, a security expert will visit your home and recommend a package that meets the needs of your family and property.
The security consultation is free with no obligation to enter into a contract, so you can explore Verisure alarms without risk. But you will have to wait for a consultation to get full pricing information. We don’t like that the website doesn’t offer any price information, even for monitoring. You don’t know what you’re getting into until you have someone at your flat.
Our pick for Verisure: Flat Alarm System
Verisure’s Flat Alarm System is custom-designed based on a free security consultation and comes with plenty of options:
- Guard response
- SOS panic button
- Lifelong warranty and maintenance
- High-power external siren
- Portable control panel
4. Ring Alarm: Budget pick
Affordable equipment and plans DIY installation Alexa compatibility
No professional monitoringRing’s DIY installation starts with a few basic equipment packages that you can add to as your pocketbook allows. If you move to a new flat, you can take your equipment with you, adding new sensors, cameras, or other equipment to cover additional square footage or entrances.
You can choose between self-monitoring or assisted monitoring with a Ring system. With assisted monitoring, Ring’s automatic telephone system will call your emergency contacts one by one until someone answers and disables the alarm. It’s a little more protection than managing the system on your own, but you’ll have to call the police on your own.
You can control the system with Amazon Alexa devices or use your Echo smart speakers to chat with people on the other side of your cameras—convenient when you need to arm the system before heading to work and already have your morning tea in-hand.
Our package pick for Ring: 7-Piece Kit
Ring’s Alarm Siren 7-Piece Kit has enough sensors to cover entrances of most homes:
- Base station
- Keypad
- 2 contact sensors
- 2 motion detectors
- Range extender
- Outdoor siren
5. Abode: Smart home pick
DIY installation Optional professional monitoring Smart home compatibility
Limited video options High up-front costsAbode is all about DIY security. You pick the starter kit that's right for you, add accessories to fit your dwelling, install equipment, and choose if you want a professional to look after your system.
Its Smart Security Starter Kit costs less than £300 and includes the basics for a small flat. You can add sensors, cameras, and other safety and security equipment to cover additional entries or alert you to hazards like fire or flooding.
Abode's camera options are limited to an indoor and outdoor camera. (No video doorbell camera here.) Still, Abode allows you to integrate with a dizzying number of smart devices and most major smart assistants like Google Home, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.
Abode has also eliminated monitoring contracts, which you can pay for month-to-month or annually to receive a discount. If you get professional monitoring in January but change your mind in February, you can cancel your subscription. Just note that if you've paid for a year of monitoring, you won't get a refund—best to try it out for a month or two first before committing to the year if you're unsure.
Our package pick for Abode: Smart Security Kit Plus
The Smart Security Kit Plus plan gives you a solid starter security system that you can add onto as needed:
- Gateway hub
- 2 mini door/window sensors
- Motion detector
- Abode Cam
- Key fob
More brands we considered
Yale Smart Home Alarm combines home automation and home security—with no monthly fees. Use the Yale mobile app to set up your system, control your alarm, and receive instant alerts. You can also add up to 40 extra devices (including panic buttons and smoke alarms) to make sure every inch of your home is covered.
When it comes to smart home features, the Yale alarm system works with Amazon Alexa for voice control and Philips Hue smart light bulbs for an extra burglar deterrent. When your alarm is triggered, Hue lights flash red to warn off intruders.
We like that you can customize the Yale system to meet your needs—including a “part-armed” setting that lets you arm devices in designated areas of your home while leaving other areas unarmed. This is a good way to avoid false alarms from rambunctious pets.
But there’s no option to add professional monitoring, so you’ll be fully responsible for keeping an eye on your home and contacting the police in an emergency.
Final word
SimpliSafe has everything you’re looking for in a home security system. It’s affordable, easy to use, and there are no contracts. What we like best is that you know exactly what you’re getting into. They make no secrets about how much your system will cost or monthly fees. Plus, there are no contracts.
How we reviewed the best home alarm systems in the UK
To find the best home alarm systems in the UK, we combined hands-on testing, dozens of years of safety and security experience, and hundreds of hours of research. We focused on price, transparency, equipment options, installation, and monitoring. To learn more about how we review products and systems, check out Safewise’s methodology page.
FAQ...
National Security Inspectorate (NSI) accreditation assures consumers that products and security companies consistently meet or exceed security industry standards.
Look for companies that hold gold-level certification from NSI. Gold-level alarm companies deliver the “greatest perceived value across industry and by the police, fire and rescue services and insurers.”
Protecting your home can require a sizable investment. It’s important to know how much an alarm system will cost you up front and long term. When you’re researching burglar alarms, keep these three things in mind:
- Equipment and activation fees
- Installation fees
- Monthly maintenance fees
Companies usually provide different options—from buying equipment outright to leasing it on a monthly basis. Before you commit to an alarm system, identify both your monthly budget and the amount you’re willing to spend up front. This will keep you from biting off more than you can chew regarding the overall system price.
You rely on your alarm system to keep your loved ones and property safe, and you need the company you choose to provide top-notch service. Chances are you’ll interact with customer service multiple times throughout the lifetime of your security system.
To ensure the best service, we recommend thoroughly vetting the alarm company before signing on the dotted line.
Search online to find out what other customers say about reliability, responsiveness, and overall quality of service. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, give your top choices a call to find out firsthand how you’ll be treated as a customer.
This means the alarm company has either National Security Inspectorate (NSI) accreditation or certification from the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB). This helps cut down on false alarms and ensures that police resources are used only for real emergencies. If you want an alarm system with police response, professional monitoring by a regulated alarm company is required.
If you want the extra security and convenience of home automation, look for an alarm company that offers smart home features. However, keep in mind that upgrading to home automation may increase your monthly and up-front costs.
Thanks to home automation, your burglar alarm system can turn your house into a smart home. Most security companies are starting to offer packages that include smart home technology that lets you control everything in your home—from the lights to small appliances—right from your smartphone, tablet, hub device, or computer.
With mobile access, you can manage your alert settings and preferences or remotely arm and disarm your system.
If you have a system with home automation, mobile access is granted through an app that you download to your mobile phone or computer. If your system includes CCTV surveillance, you may also be able to view live or recorded video from anywhere at any time.
Related articles on SafeWise
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time."
Recent Articles
The post The Best Home Alarm Systems in the UK appeared first on SafeWise.
Article source here: The Best Home Alarm Systems in the UK
