Best smart home security
The five systems worth buying, ranked by who each actually suits.
Read moreBuying guides
Best-of rankings and buying guides
Twelve rankings and guides. Each states who a product is for, who it is not for, and what we would buy in your position.
A ranking is only useful if you know how it was made. Ours order products by how often we would actually recommend them, using the criteria in our methodology — not by commission rate. Where the honest answer is a cheaper product, that is what you will find at the top.
Security systems
Whole-system rankings for different situations.
Best DIY home security
Self-install systems, plus how to plan sensor placement properly.
Read moreBest no-monthly-fee security
Everything that works without a subscription, and what you give up.
Read moreBest apartment security
Nothing drilled, everything reversible, all of it moves with you.
Read moreCameras, doorbells and devices
Individual product categories.
Best smart doorbells
The camera most people buy first — and how to check your wiring.
Read moreBest security cameras
Indoor and outdoor picks, plus the placement mistakes that ruin footage.
Read moreBest outdoor cameras
What survives real weather, and what IP ratings actually mean.
Read moreBest smart thermostats
Room sensors or learning? Diagnose your problem first.
Read moreBest smart locks
Retrofit and deadbolt picks, plus the door checks that prevent returns.
Read moreBest smart blinds
From $70 retrofit motors to Lutron, with realistic per-window costs.
Read moreDecision guides
How to think about the choice, before you look at products.
Start here if you are new to this
Read how to choose a home security system first. It works through six questions in sequence, and by the end most of the market is eliminated. Then check what it costs so the quotes you receive have context.
If you already know roughly what you want, go straight to the main ranking or the relevant head-to-head comparison.
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