Best Apartment Security Systems in 2024

1. SimpliSafe - Best Overall

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $280
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$19.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

800-544-5942

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SimpliSafe Overview

It’s hard to trust a startup to protect your home, and that’s what SimpliSafe was about a decade ago. But today, SimpliSafe has proven it’s here to stay.

SimpliSafe was founded in 2006 and first launched in 2009 as a security system for renters. It set out to prove that there is another way to secure homes besides security systems that require long-term contracts, expensive equipment, and inflexible monitoring terms. And it’s doing an incredible job. In fact, it’s the best DIY security system alternative to ADT – currently our top-pick security system for most homeowners.

The equipment is affordable but effective. Installation is dead simple, and there’s help if you need it. And the Core (formerly Fast Protect) subscription plan is one of the best in the business, even edging out ADT in terms of video monitoring. That makes SimpliSafe a great choice for a lot of people, from those living in a studio-type apartment to those who live in a mansion. In fact, it also made our list of the best security systems for large homes. That’s how good SimpliSafe is.

SimpliSafe Contract

How hard is it to cancel a security system contract? It’s a spectrum. On one end, you have Vivint. Good luck trying to cancel that early without incurring some hefty fees. On the other hand, you have Ring Alarm. All you have to do is click a button on the website.

Apartment-dwellers should go with security systems on the easy end of the spectrum. If your landlord raises the rent, your building raises its fees, or you decide to upgrade to a house, you want to be able to cancel your security subscription or relocate the whole security system that you paid for.

So, where does SimpliSafe fall? SimpliSafe is close to the easy-to-cancel end of things — but not all the way. You still have to call a phone number (in 2024? Really?) and tell the representative your safe word.

How to Cancel a SimpliSafe Contract

1. Call (888) 910-1458.
2. Say your safe word.
3. Prepare to resist sweet deals.

But do you really need to cancel your SimpliSafe contract? Not really, especially since they have one of the best moving policies I’ve seen. SimpliSafe will send you a free Mover’s Kit. It contains fresh packaging and adhesive so you can take the system with you and reinstall it in your new address. You paid for it, so why leave it? Just call ahead of time (at least 30 days before the big move) and don’t forget to update your monitoring address.

SimpliSafe Install

Leave the hardwired security systems to the homeowners. Your apartment needs something super simple to install. Something that won’t damage your walls or lose your deposit. That something could be SimpliSafe.

When we tested SimpliSafe, we plugged in the base station, set our PIN, and let the app guide us through the rest.

The most difficult thing we had to do was install the sensors. But every sensor we needed was peel and stick. Peel. Stick. Done. Was it easy? Yes. Did it hold up? Not in the long run. The peel-and-stick tape kept the sensors in place for months, but I don’t trust it to hold up for years. It loses grip over time. Plus, it could leave nasty adhesive marks when removed. Peel-and-stick is great to avoid drilling, but if you don’t anticipate a move in the next few years or so, talk to your landlord about using screws to anchor the sensors.

We did have the option to add on devices that are more complicated. The SimpliSafe smart lock, for example, requires a screwdriver. But depending on your contract with your landlord, you might not be allowed to change out the locks. The same is true for the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell we reviewed, which weirdly, required hardwiring. It was the only hardwired piece of equipment from SimpliSafe.

Both devices fall into the more advanced category of SimpliSafe equipment though. So if all you want is a simple, reliable, and renter-friendly security system, SimpliSafe checks all the boxes.

SimpliSafe Price

SimpliSafe’s cheapest kit – The Foundation – costs about $250. That might seem like a lot, but try comparing SimpliSafe to ADT. That $250 you’ll spend on a basic SimpliSafe system isn’t enough for even a one-sensor ADT system. The jumping off point for ADT security is $450. SimpliSafe isn’t the cheapest, but it’s close.

What about monthly fees? SimpliSafe doesn’t require one. You can use the app to monitor alerts, arm your system, and view live camera footage. That’s why SimpliSafe was our pick for top no-monthly-fee security system.

The bad news: You have to pay if you want several key features. If you want your SimpliCam and other SimpliSafe cameras to record, that’s $9.99 per month. That allows you to have up to ten cameras under your account. If you want professional monitoring with cellular backup, that’s an additional $21.99 per month with the Standard plan. But, if you want both, you’re better off paying $31.99 per month for the Core plan. It gives you the features of the Standard Plan, cloud recording for up to 10 security cameras, and some extra features.

My favorite feature is Live Guard Protection. If you opt in, a live guard will be on call to respond to threats in real time through your Smart Alarm indoor camera. It works with only that one, but it’s the only option that offers video monitoring at that price. What’s more, SimpliSafe can monitor as many Smart Alarm cameras as you have. Companies with a similar feature – like Deep Sentinel – charge on a per-camera basis.

Whichever SimpliSafe package you choose, you can rest assured that you won’t spend more on security than you do on co-op fees.

2. Cove - Best for Affordable Professional Monitoring

SecurityScore:

8.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Must customize package
Monitoring Options	Professional
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $17.99 per month
Contract Lengths	No contract required
Installation Options	DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

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Cove Overview

Cove launched its affordable, top-rated DIY home security system in 2018. But SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm are also affordable DIY systems. What does Cove have that the other guys don’t?

For starters, the cheapest professional monitoring in the game. If you live in a rough apartment complex and you need extra security, that $17.99 Cove subscription could be money well spent.

When we tested Cove, we found more to like than cheap monitoring. The sensors were extra small, so they didn’t stick out on the door. Battery life was extra long, which gave us peace of mind. And everything worked seamlessly with our Google gear. (Cove is one of the best home security systems for Google Home users.)

Cove Contract

You can cancel your Cove contract anytime as long as that time is at least 30 days before your next billing date. This is not ideal when your lease is up in two weeks and you realize you forgot to cancel your security subscription, but at least you won’t pay a cancellation fee like you would if you signed a contract. Even if you pay an extra month because you forgot to cancel in time, the $17.99 to $27.99 monthly cost isn’t hard to swallow.

That said, you have to make an actual phone call to cancel your Cove service, as with SimpliSafe. Come on, Cove, it’s 2024. Still, compared to a traditional provider like Alder, Cove makes cancellation a walk in the park.

How to Cancel Cove

1. Call (855) 268-3669 at least 30 days before your next billing date.

You might not have to cancel Cove though. It’s as easy to uninstall as it is easy to install. You can take it with you and resume your monitoring plan at your new address, provided you’re just crossing city or state lines; not country. Just make sure you give Cove a call to update your billing and monitoring address. That way, they have your new location in case they need to send the cops to your house in an emergency.

Cove Install

Cove is yet another security system that claims to be easy-install. But is it? The short answer is yes. It took our team 25 minutes to install every component. We devoted a full day to testing, but that’s just because we like to be thorough.

If you don’t want security technicians (aka strangers) entering your apartment building, don’t fret. This is definitely a system you can DIY.

The sensors have adhesive backing. The base station is free standing. And the cameras? You can either mount them or set them on a flat surface, like a bookshelf or something. And because none of Cove’s equipment is permanently installed, you can take Cove with you when you move.

One key distinction between SimpliSafe and Cove is the size and weight of equipment. Cove sensors were on the smaller side next to SimpliSafe, so they are more suited for peel-and-stick tape installation.

I should also mention that Cove comes with a touchscreen controller, something I’ve been longing to see from SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe offers a bulky, remote-like keypad designed for wall-mounting only. With Cove, you’ll get a tablet-like keypad you can attach to the wall or put on the nightstand next to your bed. It also has battery backup, so you can take it with you anywhere in the house.

Cove Price

One of my pet peeves is when a security company hides its true pricing behind perpetually-in-place discounts. (Looking at you, Frontpoint!) Cove is also guilty of this.

If you add a Cove hub, panel, and contact sensor to your shopping cart, you’ll see what I mean. Supposedly, the full price is $265. As of publication, a discount brings it down to $92.75. It seems like must-buy savings — until you realize there’s a sale going more often than not.

Don’t let my grumbling stop you from picking up Cove equipment. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether the discount is totally honest or not; it’s uber-affordable either way. You can buy a Cove set for less than it took to fill your apartment with Ikea furniture.

There is one more thing you should consider before you hit “buy.” Cove requires a subscription.

Annoying? Yes. Affordable? Also yes. A price of $17.99 per month for professional monitoring is one of the cheapest deals I’ve ever seen. Even Ring Alarm charges $20 per month.

If you are in the market for professional monitoring anyway, you should consider giving Cove a try. Who knows? Maybe they’ll catch a nosy roommate sneaking into your bedroom while you’re at work.

3. abode - Best for Smart Apartments

SecurityScore:

8.0 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $140
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$24.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month or yearly
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

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abode Overview

Is your smart apartment a smart home? You should consider abode. It has all the plug-and-play ease of SimpliSafe with the supercharged home automation of Vivint.

Even if you’re not a home automation geek, the possibilities of abode’s CUE system just might turn you into one. When we tested abode, we set a rule that if the front door opened between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the living room lights would turn on and the Alexa speaker would blast a siren. Take that, intruders.

One word of caution, though: abode is affordable as a security system, but adding smart home gadgets drives up the equipment cost. It’s cheaper than Vivint as a smart home system, but with more home automation possibilities, abode could outprice SimpliSafe and Cove,

abode Contract

abode doesn’t force you to speak to a human (yuck!) to cancel its monitoring plan. Just open the app and tap unsubscribe.

Compare abode to SimpliSafe, which requires you to call its customer service line. abode makes it much easier to opt out of monitoring. When you have to move out because your landlord decided to sell your apartment building, you’ll be glad you went with abode.

How to Cancel abode

1. Open the abode app.
2. Tap Plan Details.
3. Tap Unsubscribe.

When it comes to moving, you’re also free to take abode with you. Just know that it won’t send you a free kit like SimpliSafe would.

abode Install

If you live in an apartment, you’re more likely to call maintenance than break out the power tools. Don’t worry. Even the least confident DIYers can install abode.

It took us a grand total of 20 minutes to install the abode security system. For context, it took us about 30 minutes to install SimpliSafe.

How did we manage to set it up so quickly? You guessed it: peel and stick sensors. Installing our abode kit was almost as easy as placing stickers in a scrapbook.

It would be a different story if we’d gone with abode’s recessed door sensors. They require drilling. We might have needed some professional help. Thankfully, abode offers professional installation starting at $99.

abode Price

You don’t need to pay thousands of dollars for dozens of sensors for your studio apartment. You can save money and protect your place for less than $200.

The simplest, cheapest abode kit is only $139.99. That’s the lowest price on the list. It’s also as basic as it gets: one contact sensor, one key fob, and a security hub. For context, the Ring Alarm starter kit costs $199.99, but it comes with a keypad, motion detector, and range extender too. If you have a sprawling suite, you might want to go with Ring. But for a tiny apartment, abode is enough.

That’s the equipment. What about the features? With abode, you can stream security camera footage, integrate smart home products, and receive push notifications. That’s not so unusual. What is unusual is the price: free 99. In other words, you don’t need a subscription to use abode.

If you do decide to upgrade, you have two plan options: Standard and Pro. Both are pretty good deals.

I should mention that abode’s biggest selling point is CUE, the home automation program the system uses to smarten up homes. You can create schedules with it, set up automation rules, and program smart scenes. CUE, however, requires the Pro plan. You can connect smart home devices to abode without a fee, but if you want access to CUE, you’d better pay up.

4. Ring Alarm - Best for Alexa Users

SecurityScore:

7.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $199
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $20
Contract Lengths	1-12 months
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

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Ring Alarm Overview

If you live in an apartment complex, there’s a chance that your neighbors already have Ring. It’s that ubiquitous. And it’s that good.

When we tested the Ring Alarm system, we were actually pretty impressed. The cameras recorded clear footage. The sensors detected people and ignored cats. And the Ring – Always Home app kept us informed about every little event.

Even better? It’s affordable. For $200 up front and $20 per month, you get a functional, professionally monitored security system. That’s hard to beat.

Ring Alarm Contract

Maybe someday, you’ll want to upgrade your apartment to a home and your Ring Alarm to ADT. (Hey, it could happen.)

If that day comes, Ring Alarm will be easy to cancel. All you have to do is click, well, cancel.

How to Cancel Ring Protect Pro

1. Log in to Ring.com.
2. Select Protect Plan.
3. Click Cancel Plan.
4. Select now or at end of billing cycle.
5. Confirm.

Ring Alarm Install

The basic Ring Alarm package is dead simple to install. It took us under half an hour to get the five-piece package up and running.

That’s even more impressive because we ran into some technical difficulties. Our base station wouldn’t connect to the Wi-Fi network at first. Obviously, it would be better if the process was bug-free. But the fact that we handled this snag and installed everything else in less than 30 minutes is telling of Ring’s user-friendliness.

The “everything else” came together so quickly thanks to Ring’s peel-and-stick sensors. All we had to do was remove the pull tabs from the battery slots, peel off the protective film, and affix the sensors on our doors, windows, and walls.

The Ring store does sell some more complicated equipment. You wouldn’t want to try installing a high-tech pipe sensor on your own, for example.

If you do choose to add on some advanced tech, you might want to fork over the $129.996 for professional installation.

Ring Alarm Price

At $199.99, the Ring Alarm 5-Piece Kit is one of the most affordable security systems in the business.

Does that mean Ring is cheap? Not necessarily. You could go all out on Ring.com buying up the place. The most expensive piece of equipment I’ve found on the site is nearly $800.7

If you’re renting a room in an apartment to save money, you probably don’t want a luxury water monitor. Skip the extras and stick with the basic kit.

Ring Alarm will function without any extra purchases. You can view live security footage from the app, free of charge. But if you do decide to subscribe, Ring’s  plans range from affordable to luxe.

Ring Protect plans range from $3.99 to $20 per month. Where is the luxe plan, you may ask? That would be the Virtual Security Guard, which rings up for an additional $99 per month.8 Think of this feature like supercharged professional monitoring. Your virtual guard can respond to security events in real time.

Sound familiar? That’s because SimpliSafe offers a similar feature for a fraction of the price. If you love the idea of a virtual guard but you’re on a tight budget, you might want to go with SimpliSafe.

>> Read More: Ring Alarm vs. SimpliSafe

5. Scout Alarm - Best Value

SecurityScore:

7.0 /10

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How We Review

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Scout Alarm Overview

What’s a seven-out-of-10 system doing on our best-of list? Well, let’s take a look at why we knocked points off in the first place. The hardware price can add up for large homes, and the camera is pretty basic.

Here’s the thing: That’s not a big deal for apartment-dwellers. You don’t need lots of hardware. And you don’t need a fancy camera.

If those issues don’t matter, what are you left with? An affordable, easy-install system.

Scout Alarm Contract

Every security system on this list had to pass what I call the “sudden move-out test.” If your property manager tells you that your apartment is full of mold and you have to move out immediately, could you cancel your security subscription? Scout passes with flying colors.

All you have to do is call or email Scout support. Even a yearly plan will be prorated.

How to Cancel Scout Alarm

1. Call (844) 287-2688 or email support@scoutalarm.com.

Scout Alarm Install

Scout Alarm sensors are — you guessed it — peel and stick. That makes them easy to install. Unfortunately, there is a “but.” When we tested Scout ourselves, we found the camera to be clunky. It took 20 minutes to set one (one!) up.

It’s annoying, but it’s not a dealbreaker. You can still set up Scout Alarm on your own — no awkward calls to your property manager necessary.

Scout Alarm Price

The entry-level Scout Alarm package costs $229. When you stack up Ring vs. Scout Alarm, Ring is cheaper, but Scout Alarm comes with one more contact sensor.

There’s one more cost to consider: monitoring. Like Cove, Scout Alarm requires a subscription to work.9 Unlike Cove, there’s a cheap self-monitoring option.

Still, you have to pay at least $10 per month to use your Scout system. If you’re saving for a nicer place, every dollar counts. You might want to skip Scout.