The Best Home Alarm Systems in the UK in 2024

SimpliSafe is our pick for the best home security system in the UK. These 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.

The 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. While we've noticed prices slowly creeping up, SimpliSafe regularly has good sales that let you get equipment for a good price.

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 £16.68 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.)

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.

Read our full review of SimpliSafe UK for more information. 

One 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.

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 siren
• Portable control panel

Read our full review of Verisure for more information.

Ring’s DIY installation starts with a few basic equipment packages, like the Ring Alarm Pro, 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.

The best part about Ring alarm systems is the wide variety of security cameras. They have more choices than any other to complete your camera system. Plus it has a lot of other goodies like smoke detectors.

You can choose between self-monitoring or assisted monitoring with a Ring alarm system and Ring Protect. 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.

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

Read our full Ring UK review for more information.

With 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 is in the palm of your hand.

Every ADT alarm package comes with 24/7 monitoring and costs around £40 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.

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

Abode 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.

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

Read our full review of Abode UK for more information.

SimpliSafe has everything you’re looking for in a home alarm 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.

• Everything You Need to Know about Home Security
• Security System Installation: Professional vs. DIY
• 10 Simple Ways to Secure Your New Home
• The Top 8 Reasons to Get a Home Security System