Best No Subscription Home Security Systems in 2026

After hands-on testing with dozens of security systems, we found that there’s a self-monitored system to match your lifestyle. For instance, if home automation is your focus, Abode is unmatched in smart integrations. Plus, Abode just added an exclusive 12-piece kit just for SafeWise readers (and it only costs $249.99!).

No-contract security systems give you the freedom to monitor your home on your terms. You can always add professional monitoring later, but with the right setup, it may not be necessary. Whether you’re starting small or going all-in, self-monitored security is a cost-effective way to gain peace of mind without ongoing fees.

Each system on this list offers different strengths, making it easy to find the right fit based on budget, monitoring preferences, and smart home compatibility.

• If you want the flexibility to change your mind between professional and self-monitoring on a monthly basis, go with SimpliSafe. To buy pro monitoring for days — not months — at a time, choose Abode.
• Reolink offers top-notch cameras, easy setup, and local storage.
• If you want the best value with no monthly fees, Eufy is a good option overall (but you won't get cellular backup if the power goes out).
• If you want an all-in-one system that works with Apple HomeKit and/or a variety of smart home devices, then Abode is for you.
• If you're a fan of Amazon's Alexa and Ring cameras, then Ring Alarm is a good option.
• If you want the overall best option for self-monitoring, go with Arlo.

Every system in our review provides an optional professional monitoring subscription (except for Reolink) in case you change your mind about monitoring your system on your own. Here are the starting prices for professional monitoring for each home security system brand:

• Eufy Plus: $9.99/mo.
• SimpliSafe Standard: $31.99/mo.
• Arlo Total Security Starter: $9.99/mo.
• Abode Pro: $24.99/mo.
• Ring Protect Plus and Monitoring: $19.99/mo.

You can also check out our review of the best home security systems to see more of the best professionally monitored options.

One of the main reasons people choose to self-monitor their security system rather than paying for professional monitoring is to save money.

These are the primary things to keep in mind when looking for a self-monitored home security system:

• Do-it-yourself installation saves you the cost of an installation fee.
• Monthly professional monitoring shouldn't be required.
• You want to be able to arm/disarm the system, access the primary system features in an app, and get alerts and notifications without having to pay a monthly fee.

Reminder: If you add cameras to your system, you may still need to pay a monthly fee for cloud storage and video recording, even if you're not paying for professional monitoring every month. However, no-subscription cameras with local storage are available as well.

The bottom line is that you want to be able to use all the system's security functions without a required monthly fee.

Learn more: How to choose a home security system

Despite costing less than Vivint, Frontpoint, and ADT—Abode is one of the pricier self-monitored security systems on our list. Abode's hubs and sensors cost more than similar devices from competitors. Also, its mobile app ratings on Android are relatively low. Although the app works well enough, critical reviews (and our testing confirms this) complain about buggy geofencing and instability affecting the user experience.

Overall, we really like Abode for its self-monitoring and smart device compatibility. We hope that Abode can fix the hit-or-miss mobile app experience to unleash the potential of this DIY system.

👉 Visit our Abode review to learn more about this smart home powerhouse.

As for Arlo's cameras, you can view live video and receive basic motion notifications without a subscription. 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 $20 a month) is generally worthwhile if you have multiple cameras. 

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. If you want that functionality, you'll have to pay for professional monitoring—Arlo's priciest plan. You'll also have to pay for smart motion detection and interactive notifications from the cameras.

The Arlo security system lacks the smart home compatibility of Arlo cameras, so you can't use it with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa yet. There's also no battery or cellular backup unless you buy an $80 accessory—and cellular backup requires a pro monitoring plan. Overall, Arlo is an excellent system for self-monitoring, but the equipment costs can balloon if you need a lot of cameras.

👉 Check out our Arlo Security System review for more info.

Ring Alarm has a strong selection of sensors and other equipment. Its starter kit selection is gigantic—with many combinations of sensors, cameras, and Amazon Echos. Unless you have a small apartment with one point of entry, we recommend skipping the cheapest starter package (5-piece) since it comes with only a single motion sensor and entry sensor.

Since the cameras lack local storage, they work best with a subscription, which adds a monthly fee. Getting the Ring Basic Plan (for less than $5 per month) is worth it. It stores video for up to 180 days, gives you person and package alerts, and offers video preview alerts.  I especially love Smart Search, which lets you search your video footage (e.g., "green jacket") to find specific clips faster.

Overall, Ring Alarm is the best self-monitored security system with cameras, wired sensors, and Amazon Alexa smart devices. It's one of the most expensive options in our top five between the system and cameras, but it's often worth the higher costs for most folks.

👉 Check out our full Ring Alarm review to see how this system stands out beyond self-monitoring.

All the brands we chose allow DIY installation and self-monitoring while offering optional professional monitoring. But unlike our other home security comparisons, we used a laser focus on self-monitoring and didn't allow pro monitoring to affect our rankings. Visit our methodology to learn more about how we test and review products.

SimpliSafe is a reader-favorite with simple do-it-yourself installation and an optional subscription, with easy month-to-month monitoring. It's easy to turn on professional monitoring when you want it (like when you're going on vacation).

Abode is great if you want your security system to work with the rest of your smart home. It's one of the only security systems that is compatible with Apple HomeKit and Zigbee, plus it works with Z-Wave, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Reolink is super easy to set up and offers high-quality cameras with local storage for those who want a camera-based system.

If you want self-monitoring without a monthly subscription, any of our top picks will work, but Eufy wins for best value.

Arlo offers excellent camera resolution and sensor variety.

Ring is ideal for users who love Amazon’s ecosystem and premium camera features.

The average percentages for home security preferences are based on surveys completed by 2,795 SafeWise readers.

SafeWise star ratings: Star ratings reflect the editorial assessment of each company for the purposes of this particular article (e.g., SimpliSafe vs. Vivint, Best Apartment Security Systems, etc.). These ratings may differ from star ratings found on other articles, such as Best Home Security Systems of 2026.