Why you can trust ZDNet
ZDNet independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.Our process
'ZDNet Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNet's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNet nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNet's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
We analyzed over a dozen of the best systems available from home security companies in Houston. Criteria such as customer reviews, features, monitoring pricing and equipment were used to narrow the list down to six providers for your consideration.
Whether you're new to the Houston area or a native, adding a home security system has many benefits. Securing your home against intrusions and events such as a fire or a flood can reduce the risk of costly losses. In fact, your homeowner's insurance company may even give you a discount on your premiums.
You don't have to spend a fortune to buy and install a system. The latest state-of-the-art alarm system Houston is wireless. You can install it yourself in just a few minutes without the need to run cables or use nails to mount devices. We analyzed over a dozen of the best systems available from home security companies in Houston. Criteria such as customer reviews, features, monitoring pricing and equipment were used to narrow the list down to six providers for your consideration.
Simplisafe systems can be moved and expanded based on your requirements at the time. You can choose to self-monitor or pay for professional monitoring on a month-to-month basis for Houston's most flexible alarm system.
Pros:
Customizable packages
National monitoring service available
Renter-friendly installation
Highest-rated customer satisfaction by J.D. Power
Cons:
Basic design and functionality
Limited smart home accessories
Self-monitoring requires a camera subscription
Equipment available:
Base station
Indoor/outdoor cameras
Video doorbell
Smart lock
Plans and pricing:
Equipment bundles: $181 - $342
Standard monitoring: $0.50/day
Interactive monitoring: $0.83/day
Camera subscription: $4.99/month for one camera or $9.99/month for up to 10 cameras
A smart home is a safer, more efficient home. Abode's home security system integrates monitoring, safety and convenience, thanks to the system's smart device compatibility.
If the kind of home security you have in mind is all about monitoring your Amazon deliveries and watching over your pets while you're out, video surveillance featuring Arlo's 4K security cameras is ideal.
Pros:
High-definition cameras
Subject detection cameras
No plan is required for live video streaming
Cons:
Video recording requires a subscription
No professional monitoring is available
Limited accessories
Equipment available:
Arlo Ultra 2 4K camera
Two HD 2K cameras
Small Essential camera
Wired and wireless doorbells
Solar panel charger
Plans and pricing:
Equipment bundles: $278.98 - $1,179.95
Continuous video recording: $9.99 for 14 days or $19.99/month
Premier subscription: $2.99/month per camera or $9.99/month for five cameras
Elite subscription: $4.99/month per camera or $14.99/month for five cameras
ADT is well-known for its monitoring and security services. The provider offers Blue by ADT, a DIY system compatible with its professional monitoring subscription.
Pros:
DIY or professional monitoring
No contracts required
Kits start at just $109
Cons:
The mobile app isn't full-featured
Only one pro monitoring plan is available
Pro monitoring plan more expensive than competitors
According to Area Vibes, which pulls information from recent FBI data, Houston is only safer than 2% of American cities.
Total crime is more than double (117%) than the national average
There were over 17 000 reported burglaries in 2019
There are 723 burglaries per 100 000 people in Houston, compared to 393 per 100 000 for the state of Texas
Based on these statistics, an alarm system in Houston would be a good idea to secure your home and property.
Research your neighborhood
Although crime is high in Houston, there are safe pockets with few incidents. To find the safest areas to live in Houston (and which ones to avoid), check out the statistics published by the following websites:
According to Neighborhood Scout, some of the safest neighborhoods in Houston are:
Kingsland Blvd/Baker Road
Westheimer Parkway/South Ferry Road
San Felipe Street/Kirby Drive
Meyerland
Porter Heights
Families and young professionals usually inhabit the safer areas in Houston and its suburbs. If you're moving to Houston, it's best to visit and get a feel for the areas you're considering. If a visit isn't possible, see what locals have to say on websites such as Niche.com or by joining local Facebook groups for the area to meet other residents.
Register your home security system in Houston
Houston has a burglar alarm ordinance. You'll need to register your system and pay an annual fee of $50 to renew your permit. If the system is registered, you can have up to three false alarms per year without a fee. Otherwise, there is a false alarm fine of $116.75 for unregistered burglar alarms.
Interior/exterior cameras: Adding cameras to your alarm system Houston expands on its functionality. You and your monitoring service can filter out any false alarms by checking to see the video feed to see what triggered a motion or door sensor. Houston is a hot, high-humidity area; if you're considering an outdoor camera, make sure it's rated for high temperatures and moisture. To extend the life of your camera, consider placing it in a protected area, such as an alcove or porch, or buying protective housing for the camera.
Control panel: The control panel is the center of your home security system. Most come with a keypad where you arm and disarm your system, change your passcode or configure your devices. Some DIY home security systems use your smartphone as the control panel. When choosing an alarm based on the quality of the control panel, a touch screen version is the latest type, although it may be harder to find and more expensive than the traditional keypad style.
Compatibility: If you already have smart devices in your home, such as Alexa, a smart plug or a thermostat, a home security system that is compatible can create a more functional home. Choose a smart-home compatible system so you can use voice commands from Alexa or Google Assistant to arm or disarm the alarm. Some home security kits also provide home automation, so certain events trigger a light to switch on, for example.
Storage: All video cameras will stream footage live for you to see what's going on in your property. Video recording isn't always included for free but is an essential part of home security. If the motion sensor in the camera is triggered, the camera will start recording whatever triggered the event. Cameras are able to store the recorded events for several days so that you can review the videos. Should an intruder enter, your home or someone stole packages from your front door, stored videos could provide police with the evidence of who is responsible.
Window/door sensors: Window and door sensors often come with a chime to alert you of an opening window or door and can be installed in most rentals and homes with double-stick tape or small screws. Your monitoring company or anyone in the house will get alerted if someone tries to enter, providing you or your monitoring service with an early warning of an intruder.
Local vs. national companies
Pros of local security company
Company more familiar with the neighborhoods Faster response time from local hubs You'll be supporting local businesses
Cons of local security company
Products and services may be limited No service transfer to other states Discounts may be limited
Pros of national security company
Service transfers with you Great deals on service and equipment Money back guarantees and free trials
Cons of national security company
Longer phone and service wait times Lack of personal attention One size fits all equipment and service
Can I self-install my home security system?
The best home security system in Houston is designed to be DIY. You won't need professional installation or wiring to set up an alarm.
What's the best Houston home security system?
The best Houston home security companies depend on your needs. Look at Abode or SimpliSafe for a system that's smart home compatible. Ring features an extensive list of equipment and devices. Blue by ADT's professional monitoring is top-notch.
What's the least expensive home security system?
Ring offers professional monitoring for just $10 a month, and its bundles start at $209. You could always buy a single camera and sign up for professional monitoring to keep your home security system as low-cost as possible.
Methodology
We evaluated home security companies based on equipment cost, monthly costs, contract options, installation, and customer satisfaction to determine our scores and create our best home security reviews. To compare home security companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each score based on the following:
Monthly price: The lower the cost of a home security company's monthly contract, the higher the score. Inversely, the higher the cost of the monthly contract, the lower the score in this metric.
Equipment cost: Affordability is important with home security, so we awarded higher scores to home security companies with lower equipment prices.
Contracts: We reviewed the flexibility in contracts of the home security companies. The more flexibility, like having no contracts to bind customers for long periods, the higher the score.
Customer satisfaction: With J.D. Power's 2020 Home Security Satisfaction Study, we assigned a score to each company based on the rating it received.
Installation: Just like with contracts, we award higher scores to companies that have flexible installation options, like DIY or professional option