Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

4 DIY home security systems you can put together today

Veronica Sparks
By

When it comes to security, you want only the best for your family’s safety and your home’s protection. A quality home security system can go a long way in deterring would-be intruders, keeping your family and your valuables safe, and giving you some peace of mind while you’re away from home. While you certainly don’t want to waste money on a sub-par security system that doesn’t work well, it would be nice if securing your home properly didn’t break the bank, right? That’s why DIY home security systems can be a great choice. We’re going to review the benefits of a DIY system for your home and go over some of our favorite brands so you can make an informed decision that will keep your family safe.

Photographicss/Shutterstock

Why choose a DIY home security system over a service?

While a professional security system includes professional installation and monthly monitoring services, some drawbacks are alleviated with a DIY security system. Let’s take a look at the benefits of a DIY system over a professional security service.

Recommended Videos

Customization

While professional services offer package deals with little room for customization, you can do a bit more to make your security system your own with a DIY system. A DIY system typically includes the essentials, like door and window sensors, motion detectors, and a hub equipped with an alarm. However, you can often add components to a DIY system like keyless entry, security cameras, and environmental detectors at a low cost with self-installation.

Related

No contracts

One of the biggest draws of a DIY home security system is that they don’t lock you into a multi-year monitoring contract like home security services. While you can typically purchase optional, short-term monitoring, you have the freedom to forego or cancel these services.

Save money

You can save hundreds of dollars on professional installation alone, but the biggest savings are found in the fact that you can opt-out of the optional professional monitoring and the monthly fees associated with it. Also, with the simple DIY installation of a DIY home security system’s components, you don’t have to tear apart your home with a hardwired security system that is difficult to remove when the time comes.

What makes a good DIY home security system?

While we’ve discussed the benefits of a DIY home security system over a professional service, not all DIY systems are created equal. Out of all of the options on the market, the best-rated DIY systems have a few things in common. If you’re looking for the best possible DIY solution to your home’s security, look for these attributes.

  • Wide selection of components and features
  • Integration with smart home systems
  • Optional and/or affordable monitoring services
man installing home security system
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Our top picks for DIY home security systems

SimpliSafe

The great thing about SimpliSafe is that you can opt completely out of the monthly monitoring service. Without the monitoring, you’ll have the built-in siren alarm that will notify you of an issue or unauthorized entry. You can also completely customize what components you’d like in your security package and how many. The components come equipped with adhesive tabs, and they’re super easy to install.

Why we love it:

  • Easy to install
  • Extensive customizability
  • Optional monitoring

Adobe

Adobe takes the cake for the most comprehensive starter kit. Unlike most DIY security systems, Adobe’s Starter Kit actually includes a security camera as well as a key fob for arming your system. It’s also compatible with both Alexa and Apple Home Kit so that you can integrate it into your existing smart home security systems.

Why we love it:

  • Starter Kit includes security camera
  • Works with Alexa and Apple Home Kit
  • Key fob arming capabilities

Frontpoint

For the most customizable DIY home security packages, Frontpoint is a front runner. Not only can you customize what equipment will be included, but you can also customize your monitoring package. Frontpoint is also known for their stellar customer service, and all equipment is compatible with Z-Wave and Alexa for smart home integration.

Why we love it:

  • Works with Alexa and Z-Wave
  • Customize equipment and monitoring package
  • Great customer service

Cove

Cove boasts that you can install its starter kit in under 30 minutes. That means you can get your DIY home security system up and running right when you get it. Cove also has precautions in place that combat false alarms. Their unique response system integrates InstaText so that you can immediately reply if you’ve resolved your emergency or if it was a false alarm. With their super affordable monitoring services, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck.

Why we love it:

  • Installation is quick and easy
  • Affordable monitoring services
  • Fast response times with InstaText

When you’re facing an emergency situation in your home, you want a security system you can trust. With the hefty cost of professional security services, though, it can be daunting to step up your security game. With a DIY home security system, though, you can cut the high cost of professional installation and even get affordable monitoring services without a lengthy contract. It turns out you can keep your home secure without paying a fortune.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks
Contributor
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…
4 things you should never bother to fix when selling your house
Here's what not to fix when selling your home to save you time and stress
Guy on ladder painting exterior of house.

So it's time to sell your home, and no doubt your head is spinning thinking about repairs, realtors, open houses, finding a new home, and more. Surely you don’t want to add unnecessary stressors to the mix of the chaos of selling your house.

To remove some items from your to-do list, learning what not to fix when selling a house can help. There are some things you can get away without fixing when selling your home — and the best part is, you won’t feel like you’re trying to pull a fast one on the homebuyers.
What makes a house unsellable?
It is important to think like a homebuyer when considering selling your house. If you notice something unsightly or damaged in a home you’re thinking about buying, other potential buyers probably will, too (unless you’re unusually picky). Only a handful of things make a house unsellable, and none of them fall into the "fix-it-real-quick-before-we-list-it" category.

Read more
Buying a forever home? This site shows how future flooding could affect your neighborhood
This research shows the real impact of being cut off from rising sea levels
best netflix ocean documentary woman

Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life. It can be stressful, and in addition to all the considerations like schools, location, neighborhood, and home type, you also need to plan for emergencies. For those looking to buy on one of the coasts, flooding can be one of those risks you need to think about when finding your forever home. But not just flooding of your home; what will happen if that flooding results in your home being displaced from essential services like grocery stores, hospitals, and schools? It's not something we think about every day, but for some, that possibility is closer than you may think.

A group of researchers from the University of Maryland and University of Canterbury showed that "targeted, effective, and timely climate change adaptation planning relies on estimates of how many people may be forced from their homes by sea-level rise and when this displacement will start to occur." Simply put, they measured the possible isolation driven by sea level rise due to climate change.

Read more
New research says your smart home devices are teeming with bacteria
A new study by Vivint proves your smart home devices may have more bacteria than your kitchen sink
Woman using a smart home device in the kitchen with a toaster

Smart home devices have transformed the way many homeowners interact with their spaces, particularly since the pandemic, when many were trying to eliminate viral and bacterial contamination in their homes. But what if our smart home devices aren’t as clean as we hoped? A new study from Vivint brings light to research that proves our smart home devices may be teeming with bacteria. Here’s what you need to know.

What was Vivint’s study?
Vivint aimed to examine the number of bacteria and other living microorganisms that call our smart devices their home. To do so, Vivint looked for four types of bacteria that could be living on the devices. Then, Vivint used CFUs — colony-forming units — to determine the "number of these living microorganisms on a given surface." Vivint said it then "analyzed how many CFUs of each type of germ had amassed on a number of home security components." With this process, the study produced alarming results for many homeowners who may have colonies of bacteria literally at their fingertips.

Read more