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7 min readYou don’t need a landline or holes drilled into your walls to protect your home. We researched wireless security systems so you don’t have to. Of the systems we looked at, SimpliSafe really shined. Its long wireless range creates a network out of all the sensors in your home (up to 80, in fact), and a backup battery keeps it running if the power goes out.
Add easy DIY installation and affordable monitoring service rates, and you’ve got a recipe for the best wireless security system.
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Brand | Best for | Starting equipment price | Monitoring price | Cellular backup | Backup battery | Sensors supported | Learn more |
| Best overall | $249.96 | $21.99/mo. |  Yes
| 24 hrs. | Up to 80 | View Packages | |
| Best customer service | Quote required | $17.99/mo. |
Yes
| 24 hrs. | Up to 80 | View Packages | |
| Best for budget | $199.00 | $20.00/mo. | Yes
| 5 hrs. | Up to 160 | View Packages |
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If confusing equipment, pricing, and contracts have kept you from getting a home security system, SimpliSafe may be worth your time. Everything about this wireless alarm system, pricing, and equipment is easy to understand. Plus, there’s no calling for a quote or searching through small print and hidden fees.
SimpliSafe’s home security system starts at a one-time fee of about $250.00 for equipment and $21.99 per month for professional alarm monitoring. While equipment fees are due up front, there’s no contract or cancellation fee. So you can opt in and out of a monthly fee as you wish.
Installs in under an hour
Uses powerful long-range sensors
Doesn't need Wi-Fi
Doesn't require contract or cancellation fee 
Lacks home automation option SimpliSafe offers the following:
And it doesn’t completely rely on Wi-Fi to connect its sensors, so you're protected if the internet goes out.
SimpliSafe sells most of the devices we like to see: a motion detector, outdoor camera, doorbell camera, smart lock, and a carbon monoxide detector. Like Abode, you need to pay a little more per month for professional monitoring. But its wireless strength is formidable, making it a reliable choice for homes (unless you live in a castle).
Overall, SimpliSafe tosses out the intimidating pricing and contracts found in other security systems. You start with long-range sensors and can easily add more SimpliSafe equipment later on to expand your coverage. Everything about SimpliSafe is straightforward. From pricing to devices, what you see is what you get.
Read our full SimpliSafe review to learn more about equipment, plans, and pricing.
While we love SimpliSafe as a DIY security system, if installing gadgets isn't for you, no problem. They also have a professional installation option starting at $124.99.
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If customer service is as important to you as a dependable wireless connection and easy installation, Cove wireless security is definitely worth your time. Its website is transparent about pricing and equipment features, and you can easily find help if you have questions while shopping, including with their chat feature.
In our experience with the company, it’s been friendly, responsive, and eager to please. You can tell that the people who created Cove and work for the company enjoy what they do and believe in their product.
Doesn't require Wi-Fi
Works 24 hours without power
No-hassle cancellation
RapidSOS and text alerts
Has limited smart home capability Cove is one of the most affordable home security choices you’ll find. One of the company’s core values is to be economical, and on that point Cove delivers. There aren’t any contract requirements, and monthly monitoring is pretty cheap, even if you opt for the higher-priced Cove Plus Plan.
Cove's wireless alarm system backup battery will last for 24 hours, in case of an emergency or power outage.
With RapidSOS, you get faster response times (up to three minutes faster). Cove professional monitoring dispatchers are able to communicate more effectively with emergency responders because it stores vital information (location data, household information, health needs) in a format that's easier to send to 911 responders than sharing the same info over the phone.
Cove was the first security company to use RapidSOS in its professional monitoring.
With Cove LiveAssist, you have a dedicated line of communication with Cove right through your panel. You can use this two-way audio feature to communicate in real-time if you need help or need to address a false alarm. This feature provides an extra layer of security and gives you more control over your home’s security.
Our full Cove review dives deeper into Cove’s costs and features.
Like SimpliSafe, Cove also offers a professional installation option, but for a cheaper price at $79.99.
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Abode’s DIY home security system has a wireless connection strong enough to support an impressive amount of sensors and third-party products. The company also has its share of sensors, cameras, and devices to leave your home protected and connected. Plus, it’s a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
The basic system starts at $199, a steal compared to starter kits like Frontpoint that cost nearly double that up front. Professional monitoring is only $22 per month. You can even opt to self-monitor your system, but you’ll miss out on features like cellular backup (a big deal for a wireless system).
Supports up to 160 sensors
Works with third-party devices
Provides affordable monitoring and equipment
Has limited backup battery You can create tons of automations with your Abode system through the CUE home automation engine. Just pair it with compatible smart products. For example, it can kick on the thermostat when you unarm the system after work or keep the front light on at bedtime. Abode makes programming your entire home as easy as microwaving popcorn (which you could probably automate too).
The Abode system hub supports an impressive 160 sensors max, including smart speakers running Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. You can add Abode products like an indoor camera, outdoor camera, motion sensor, and environmental sensor to your home automation too.
But its backup battery leaves something to be desired. With only five hours of juice available, it could leave your home vulnerable during a power outage or other emergency.
Abode comes with a low price and few risks. It’s a powerful wireless security system for renters or folks in smaller homes who want to explore home automation. And while its backup battery needs improvement with only a five-hour lifespan, it’s still a quality system.
To learn more about Abode’s equipment, pricing, and installation process, read our Abode review.
We also considered a couple of security giants for our list of best wireless systems. Vivint and ADT both claim to have wireless security systems. But this isn’t totally true, at least not according to our wireless/wire-free definition. Equipment from both companies uses wireless connections like your home Wi-Fi, radio signals, and cell signals. But they aren’t completely wire free.
Both companies are worthy options if you want a recognizable home security system with professional installation. But they both have confusing pricing, policies, and contracts that could lock you in for several years, and neither fits our definition of wireless.
Vivint’s SkyControl panel and more current Smart Hub control panel require installers to drill holes in your wall to connect to a power source. The newer Smart Hub requires a 12 VDC power source, making it only kind of wireless.
On the other hand, the cheapest ADT option requires a landline, or you can choose its cellular system. ADT requires a contract but Vivint lets you go contract-free if you drop a lot of money up front.
If you’re considering cutting the cord on your hardwired security system or buying a system for the first time, consider one of the highest-rated wireless home security systems like SimpliSafe, Cove, or Abode.
Wireless home security systems are getting popular nationwide. It’s easy to see why. Wireless systems make home automation easier, have several methods of backup in an emergency, and are easier to install.
Wireless security systems are just the tip of the iceberg. Check out our favorite DIY security systems or learn more about self-monitored systems if you’re curious about cutting cords to traditional security systems.
Connection strength
Wireless systems tie sensors throughout your home together with different types of signals. The best wireless home security systems can support over 30 individual sensors, a feat that requires a strong wireless signal. A secure connection like this doesn’t just mean more gadgets, but also faster notifications and smoother system control.
Backup battery life
If an intruder cuts off the phone or power supply to your system, it’s toast. But the battery backup found in a base station or control panel keeps the power running for up to 24 hours. So if there’s an emergency like a power outage or tampering, your system is still up and running.
Installation ease
In our book, wireless also means wire-free. Shedding the wires makes installation easier and safer. Plus, skipping the landline, wired control panels, and wired sensors makes your system safe from tampering.
Wireless security systems use radio signals, cellular towers, and Wi-Fi to connect your security equipment to your phone and the monitoring center.
If your Wi-Fi or power goes out, the signals from cellular towers keep these devices online and in contact with the monitoring center, keeping you covered even without power.
If a storm knocks out your power, your Wi-Fi won’t work. That’s where cellular and battery backup come in.
Battery backup keeps your security system up and running for anywhere from 5 to 24 hours (depending on your system). Cellular backup keeps your system linked to the monitoring center so professionals can still watch your home in case of an emergency.
It depends on which wireless security camera you have and whether it's compatible with your wireless security camera. To ensure compatibility, buy a camera from your security provider. Otherwise, check out Abode—it works with a variety of high-quality camera brands.
No system is completely fool-proof, but wireless systems are less vulnerable to tampering than traditional landline or wired systems but can still be vulnerable to hacking.
With no cords to unplug or cut, burglars have to be inside to damage your security system. Even if they unplug your system hub, wireless systems have cellular and battery backup, so the monitoring professionals would know before you do.
We looked at wire-free systems that use wireless connections like your home Wi-Fi network to connect equipment with your phone and the monitoring center. In our research, we found some big-name systems that claim to be wire-free but aren’t.
For the truly wire-free systems we found, we compared connection strength, backup battery life, installation ease, and customer service in our testing. Pairing these factors with customer reviews gave us some helpful insights on the factors we found most important.
Finally, we contacted each of the companies with questions to see how helpful the reps are. Read our methodology to find out how we conducted this and all our reviews.
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