Reviews Report

• In 2025, DIY leaders like SimpliSafe, Ring, Arlo, and Abode offer flexible, no‑contract monitoring tiers; SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect adds video‑assisted alarm verification, while ADT with Google Nest leads the pro‑installed category.
• If you want deep smart‑home integration with professional installation, ADT with Google Nest and Vivint are standouts; if you prefer DIY flexibility, SimpliSafe, Ring, Arlo, and Abode emphasize easy setup and month‑to‑month options.
• For a budget‑friendly DIY setup, Ring Protect Pro offers professional monitoring around $20 per month, and Abode Pro is about $22.99 per month; several brands also provide low‑cost self‑monitoring.

When it comes to choosing the right security system for your Chicago home, you want a company that will keep your family safe without charging you a fortune. Luckily, Chicago residents have plenty of options to choose from. We looked at leading systems and emphasized recurring monitoring costs, backup connectivity (cellular + battery), and camera features like smart detection and video verification.

The 6 Best Home Security Systems in Chicago

• SimpliSafe: Best for flexible, no‑contract monitoring and video verification
• Ring: Best for low-cost professional monitoring
• Arlo: Best for camera‑first, multifunction sensors
• Cove: Best for simple DIY installation
• Vivint: Best for in‑depth home automation with pro install
• Frontpoint: Best for device options and DIY setup

Compare the Best Chicago Home Security Systems

*J.D. Power’s U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

Home Security in Chicago: What You Need to Know 

Chicago, Illinois, crime statistics

The most recent complete year of official Chicago Police Department data is 2023. Lethal violence declined from 2021 peaks, while motor vehicle theft reached modern highs. If you’re planning a move, check the latest CPD Citywide CompStat and the City’s open data for up‑to‑date counts.

• While third‑party sites like Neighborhood Scout publish crime rate estimates, official reporting shows Chicago recorded 617 criminal homicides in 2023 and more than 30,000 motor vehicle thefts citywide.
• Violent crime declined from 2021 to 2023, but property crime — especially auto theft — remains elevated compared with pre‑pandemic levels.
• Recent years show mixed trends: shootings/homicides are down from pandemic‑era peaks, while robberies rose and burglaries have seen a decrease by historical standards.

Given this mix, investing in a right‑sized home security system with strong deterrence and timely alerts can help manage household risk.

Research your neighborhood

It’s not just your city’s crime rate overall that you should research. It’s also important to understand your specific neighborhood, especially if you’re new to the area. The city is made up of 77 community areas, and CPD also reports by police district — both are available in the City’s open data.

When choosing a Chicago neighborhood to call your home, consider these tips:

• Use the City’s data portal to filter by community area or police district to compare burglary, theft, robbery, and motor vehicle theft near your address.
• Check year‑over‑year trends rather than a single month; seasonal patterns can affect burglary and robbery counts.
• Match your security gear to local risks: for porch/package thefts, emphasize a doorbell camera; for break‑ins, prioritize door/window sensors and glass‑break; for auto thefts, add exterior lighting/cameras and garage sensors.

There are interactive crime maps residents can use to identify how their neighborhood compares to the city as a whole.

This type of information can give you important information about what type of security system to buy. For example, if you find that your particular neighborhood has a higher rate of forced entry, you might want to invest in window and door sensors. 

Register your home security system in Chicago

Many cities require homeowners to register their home security systems with the local government. In fact, you may even need a paid permit to install an alarm system. Requirements vary, but Chicago’s policies focus on false alarm enforcement and emergency response processes. Verify current rules with the city before activation.

Chicago enforces escalating penalties for repeated false burglar or fire alarm activations within a defined period, with notices and an appeal process. Keeping equipment maintained and using features like enhanced call verification or video verification can help reduce false dispatches. 

How to Choose Your Chicago Home Security System

There are many home security companies to choose from, and it can easily feel overwhelming trying to choose the right one. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the right home security system for you:

• Interior/exterior cameras: Do you want both interior and exterior security cameras for your home, or just one or the other? Newer cameras add on‑device AI for person/vehicle/package detection and options for video verification. Consider the outdoor space available to you and a camera’s temperature/weather ratings — Chicago winters can be harsh.

• Control panel: Each home security system will be controlled by a control panel. Some use a traditional keypad, some rely on a mobile app, and others offer a touchscreen hub. Prioritize dual‑path connectivity (broadband + cellular) for outages and make sure the base/hub has battery backup.

• Compatibility: In the digital age we live in, many of the devices in your home connect to one another. Confirm ecosystem fit (e.g., ADT with Google Nest, Alexa/Google compatibility) and look for growing standards support like Matter and Thread if you want cross‑brand flexibility.

• Storage: If your security system includes cameras, confirm whether video is stored in the cloud, locally, or hybrid — and for how long. Some plans only keep short clips unless you upgrade. Consider retention needs and privacy features like end‑to‑end encryption and activity zones.

• Window/door sensors: First things first, decide whether window and door sensors are important to you. While most of the security companies we’ve shared do offer them, Arlo now includes multifunction “All‑in‑One” sensors as part of its Home Security System. If you definitely want a company that offers window and door sensors, compare DIY versus professional installation and features like glass‑break detection and automation triggers.

Local vs. national companies

One of the decisions you’ll have to make when choosing a home security company is whether to choose a local or national company. While the national companies may have more name recognition, local firms have narrowed the technology gap by using robust dealer platforms and UL 827–listed monitoring partners.

Ultimately, you’ll have to identify your priorities. Are you more concerned with turnkey professional installation and a tightly integrated ecosystem (e.g., ADT with Google Nest or Vivint), or would you prefer local technicians, more customization, and potentially month‑to‑month options from a regional provider?

Chicago Home Security Systems FAQ

Methodology 

We evaluated home security companies based on equipment cost, monthly costs, contract options, installation and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best home security reviews. To compare home security companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Monthly Price: The lower the cost of a home security company’s monthly contract or plan, the higher the score. We consider typical monitoring ranges across the market and weigh plans that include cellular backup and video verification features more favorably. 
• Equipment Cost: Affordability is important with home security, so we awarded higher scores to home security companies with lower prices on equipment.
• Contracts: Reviews.com reviewed the flexibility in contracts of the home security companies. The more flexibility, like having no long‑term contracts to bind customers, the higher the score. 
• Customer Satisfaction: With J.D. Power’s U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study, we assigned a score to each company based on the rating it received.
• Installation and Resilience: We award higher scores to companies that have flexible installation options (DIY or professional), along with strong backup connectivity (cellular + battery) and options for video‑assisted alarm verification.

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