Best No Subscription Home Security Systems

Yes, you can self-monitor SimpliSafe for free. SimpliSafe without a subscription lets you remotely arm and disarm the system through the app and view live camera feeds, but you typically have to sign up for the first month of professional monitoring to start. If you want to record video footage but stick to self-monitoring, you can do that for around $10 a month for up to five cameras.

If you prefer self-monitoring without a subscription, you can change your plan after the first month—just make sure to call to cancel or change your plan before the 30-day mark. (You can often get a deal as a new customer if you sign up for the 24/7 Fast Protect™ Monitoring plan when you sign up).

Although its cellular backup isn't free and there's no way to quickly dial 911 through the app, we think SimpliSafe deserves a spot on our list for folks who may want to switch to professional monitoring in the future.

If that's the case, you'll already have the equipment for one of the best pro monitoring packages in the industry. At around $30 a month, SimpliSafe's Fast Protect™ plan includes quick dispatch technology, video alarm verification, and a new live guard feature.

Because SimpliSafe's a no-contract system, you can turn on monitoring if you need it and cancel it when you're ready to go back to self-monitoring. Its on-demand subscription is perfect for extra security that you don't need all year, like while on vacation.

Read our full SimpliSafe review.

As the newest entry on our list, Arlo stands apart from other self-monitored systems and is the best way to go if you don't want a monthly subscription. First and foremost, the Arlo All-in-One Sensor offers an affordable way to add various sensors to your home in a compact package. It detects motion, light, temperature, water leaks, and multiple types of doors opening—and it can hear when your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm goes off.

Arlo's all-in-one smart sensor can perform most functions with no monthly fees. You're not required to pay for an Arlo Smart Plan subscription in order to use the system. 

As for Arlo's cameras, you can view live video and receive basic motion notifications without a subscription. However, they aren't as useful without the video storage, smart motion detection, and interactive notifications you get with a paid plan. Although Arlo offers a local video recording option, prepare to pay extra for the required Arlo Smart Hub and a USB drive. Paying for Arlo Secure (about $13 a month) is generally worthwhile if you have three or more cameras.

While Arlo doesn't sell as many camera types as Ring, its 2K and 4K models easily win in video quality. Ring tops out at a standard 1080p—as do most brands on this list. During testing, we loved Arlo's simple setup process, though some features are tough to track down in the app.

Arlo's sensors and cameras work to varying degrees without a paid Arlo plan. For example, you can use most of the All-in-One Sensor's features, except for smoke and carbon monoxide alarm detection. Anyone wanting this functionality must pay for professional monitoring—Arlo's priciest plan. Fortunately, Arlo cameras can detect the same alarms on the cheaper, camera-centric plans.

Abode always makes the cut when we compare security systems—its smart home prowess and flexible monitoring options are hard to ignore. It’s the only security system with Apple HomeKit, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Those first two are important because other security systems don't have them.

We like that Abode gives you two hubs to choose from: Gateway and Iota. The Gateway is a traditional smart hub with no additional features beyond an integrated siren. On the other hand, Abode Iota is an all-in-one security system with a smart hub, siren, security camera, and motion sensor. It watches your home without extra sensors, though we recommend getting some to improve its abilities.

As you might expect from a system with this level of smart home compatibility, Abode also can automate how your devices work together. Unfortunately, it locks this feature behind the Abode Standard plan ($7 a month)—free app users can't record videos, schedule tasks, or receive notifications without a fee. You still have manual control over every device, but remote control is less beneficial than automation.

Eufy has the makings of a solid security system without a subscription. It stores security camera footage locally without a plan and offers plenty of cameras. The latest base station, the HomeBase 3, offers built-in security camera smart detection to help you spot people, vehicles, and animals—there's even facial recognition.

You can sign up for optional professional monitoring through Eufy's Protection Plan Plus for around $10 monthly. 

Eufy offers a lot without a subscription, but it does have some limitations. We like that Eufy works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, but other than that, it's limited when it comes to smart security integration. 

The Eufy security system offers only the basics when it comes to security devices: entry sensors, a motion sensor, and a water leak sensor. There's currently no direct integration with glass break sensors, life safety devices like smoke and CO alarms, or smart home gadgets like smart lights and locks. 

Where Eufy stands out is its vast array of local-storage security  cameras. It gives you the freedom to store and review video footage without paying for a monthly cloud subscription. Overall, Eufy is an exciting newcomer to the home security game. With what we've seen from its cameras, we have high hopes for how the Eufy security kit will evolve. For now, it's a great, low-risk, entry-level security option with no essential functions behind a paywall.

However, Eufy falls short on sensor selection, and there's no battery or cellular backup to keep your system running when the power goes out. Learn more in our Eufy home security review.

As a security system, Ring Alarm is nearly on par with Abode in terms of smart home functionality. But Ring really resonates when it comes to camera selection—a delicious buffet of video doorbells and security cameras. Much like Arlo, Ring cameras aren't as affordable as ones from Wyze and Abode, but there's a model for almost every need and price.

Since the cameras lack local storage, they work best with a subscription, which adds a monthly fee. If you have more than three cameras, getting Ring Protect Plus, which stores video for unlimited cameras, is worth it.​​ Ring Protect Plus also adds a lifetime warranty on your devices—need we say more?

The biggest smart home differences between Ring Alarm and Abode are that Ring doesn't support Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or Zigbee—and it doesn't support as many Z-Wave devices. But if you're a dyed-in-the-wool Alexa user, Ring is the easy choice. (Amazon owns Ring.)

Unfortunately, Ring no longer provides a fully functional mobile app to non-subscribers. You must subscribe to Ring Protect Basic or higher if you want full access to smart home integrations, alarm history, and alarm notifications.

Every Kangaroo device is a standalone product that connects to your Wi-Fi network. This is a vastly different strategy from the other systems on our list, which all require a hub or base station to work. This means you can build a Kangaroo system without a pricey starter kit. But, even with this flexibility, you'll appreciate Kangaroo's starter kits, which bundle devices together in a cheaper package.

We've done hands-on testing with every brand in this review. Those experiences were a good starting point for putting this comparison together and ultimately determining our rankings. We also researched each brand's current offerings to reconfirm our conclusions.