Cynthia Paez Bowman

Last updated on Mar 18, 2021

Reviews Report

• SimpliSafe is Reviews.com’s top pick for home security systems in Houston because of its flexibility, monitoring prices, smart home integration, and camera quality. 
• To narrow the list down to six home security companies Houston, we compared price, contract length, equipment and smart device compatibility.
• The top six alarm system Houston companies chosen below come with no contracts or long-term commitments.

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 homeowners 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 Houston. Criteria such as customer reviews, features, monitoring pricing  and equipment was used to narrow the list down to six providers for your consideration. 

The 6 Best Home Security Systems in Houston

• SimpliSafe: Best Overall Houston Security System
• Ring: Best for Devices and Accessories
• Abode: Best for Smart Device Compatibility
• Arlo: Best for High-Quality Video
• Blue by ADT: Best Professional Monitoring Subscription
• Cove: Best for Money-Back Guarantee

Compare the Best Houston Home Security Systems

Information accurate as of March 2021

*J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Security Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

Home Security in Houston: What You Need to Know 

Houston, TX, crime statistics

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 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:

• Neighborhood Scout: Provides maps of the safest areas 
• Area Vibes: Compares how safe Houston is to other cities in the U.S.
• Houston Police Department: Interactive crime maps and spreadsheets of incidents
• Niche: Reviews and opinions from residents

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

The safer areas in Houston and its suburbs are usually inhabited by families and young professionals. 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. You can have up to three false alarms per year without a fee — if the system is registered. Otherwise, there is a false alarm fine of $116.75 for unregistered burglar alarms.

To register your system:

• Fill out a burglar alarm permit application and mail, fax, email, or deliver it in person
• Apply online

How to Choose Your Houston Home Security System

• 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 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

Houston 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, 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 prices on equipment.
• Contracts: Reviews.com 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

About the Authors

Cynthia Paez Bowman

Cynthia Paez Bowman is a contributing writer for Reviews.com. Over the last two years, she has covered insurance, home security and more. She has been featured in MSN, Bankrate, Coverage.com, The Simple Dollar and GOBankingRates. She has dual bachelors degrees in International Business and Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. “Is It Getting Harder to Get Home Insurance in High-Risk Areas?” is Cynthia’s favorite story on Reviews.com.

Keep Reading

The Best Home Security Systems of 2021

The Best Cheap Home Security Companies

The Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2021