Best Modular Home Security System (2026)

One morning, approx Seven years ago, I woke up to the sound of my cell phone ringing on my bedside table. As I sat down and the world slowly began to come into focus, I heard a high-pitched siren-something I’d never heard the entire year we’d lived in the house-coming from somewhere downstairs. I answered my phone.

“Hello, this is the officer [redacted] from [my town’s] Police Department. “I understand there is an emergency?” A man’s voice asked, the car engine revving in the background. “Do you need help?” At that moment, my preschooler burst through our bedroom door in a panic.

Apparently, he woke up early, went into the garage for some reason to waste time, set off the alarm, and forgot the code to the garage’s smart lock to get back inside the house. He finally remembered, but it was too late. One of our home security system customers, SimpliSafe, called to see if it was a false alarm and, after receiving no response, sent the police.

I immediately explained the situation to the officer, which saved him a trip home, but I was pleased to learn that my security system, which I installed myself in minutes without tools when we first moved in, had done its job. However, this event disturbed me enough to inspire us to step up our preparation.

In the years since that morning, I’ve expanded my SimpliSafe system. I now have a smoke alarm listener for our solid network of smoke alarms, a smart CO₂ A detector, an outdoor camera with a monitoring plan, and an additional smart lock that I added to my front door.

It was easy for me to install all of these add-ons myself and didn’t add to my monthly monitoring fee, which also wasn’t tied to any contract length, unlike competitors like ADT. My SimpliSafe journey hasn’t been entirely smooth, especially with the smart lock and outdoor camera (more on that below), but if the idea of ​​owning or installing a security system intimidates you, SimpliSafe and its DIY ecosystem may be the solution for you.

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The heart of the SimpliSafe system is its base station, which looks a bit like an essential oil diffuser, as well as a keypad, from which you can arm and disable the alarm and monitor plug-ins. You can also do this using the connected app. I keep the base hidden in a closet, but you can place it anywhere with an outlet (it also runs on battery backup in case the power goes out), and mount the keypad near the door with the included adhesive tape. The system is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home and operates on a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.