Reviews Report
- SimpliSafe is our best overall DIY pick for Minnesota in 2025, consistently top-rated across U.S. News 360 Reviews, CNET, PCMag, and Tom’s Guide.
- Ring (budget DIY with Alexa), Abode (broad integrations), and brand-backed options like ADT/Vivint (professional install and monitoring) are also strong choices available statewide.
- Most DIY systems offer month-to-month monitoring with no long-term contract, while many professional installs (e.g., ADT, Vivint) use multi-year agreements; typical monitoring costs run about $9.99–$29.99/month for DIY and roughly $39.99–$60+/month for pro-installed plans.
While the winters may be cold and bitter in Minnesota, the state still carries the charm, peace, and quiet of a Midwest state. Recent statewide data shows violent and property crime trending lower than their post‑2021 peaks, though vehicle theft remains elevated. A modern home security system can add protection and peace of mind — especially with dual‑path (cell + Wi‑Fi) connectivity for resilience during winter outages (Minnesota BCA Uniform Crime Reports; FBI Crime Data Explorer – Minnesota).
At Reviews.com, we reviewed the five best home security systems in Minnesota. We evaluated current pricing, contract terms, installation options, and customer satisfaction benchmarks (including the latest J.D. Power study) to help you choose confidently.
The 5 Best Home Security Systems in Minnesota
- SimpliSafe: Best overall DIY for most homes
- Ring: Best budget DIY with Alexa
- Abode: Best for smart‑home integrations
- Arlo: Best for camera‑first setups
- Blue by ADT: Best for brand‑backed monitoring (ADT Self Setup replaced Blue by ADT)
Compare the Best Minnesota Home Security Systems
| SimpliSafe | Ring | Abode | Arlo | ADT Self Setup | |
| Reviews.com Score | Consensus top pick (2025 guides) | Value pick (2025 guides) | Strong smart‑home option (2025 guides) | Camera‑centric option | Brand‑backed monitoring (DIY path) |
| Monitoring prices start at | From $19.99/mo (pro); $9.99 self‑monitoring | $20/mo (Ring Protect Pro) | $22.99/mo (Pro Plan) | Varies by plan; mid‑tier with pro monitoring/video | Mid‑$20s/mo (typical DIY monitoring) |
| Contract length | None | None | None | None | None |
| Cameras | IndoorOutdoorDoorbell | IndoorOutdoorDoorbell | IndoorOutdoorDoorbell | IndoorOutdoorDoorbell | IndoorOutdoorDoorbell |
| Sensors | Glass breakIntrusionSmoke/COFloodFreezePanic button | Glass breakIntrusionSmoke/COFloodFreezePanic button | Glass breakIntrusionSmoke/COFloodFreezePanic button | IntrusionEnvironmentalMulti‑sensor | IntrusionSmoke/COFloodFreeze |
| Smart home integration | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Watch | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit | Google Home/Nest, Amazon Alexa |
| Control panel | Mobile app and keypad | Mobile app and keypad | Mobile app and keypad | Mobile app | Mobile app (ADT+) |
Information updated with current 2025 sources
Most Flexible
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple DIY setup process
- Flexible plan options
Cons
- Equipment is expensive
- Poor customer service ratings on BBB
- Add-on features can be pricey
Equipment Available
- Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras
- Window and door sensors
- Mobile phone control panel
- Environmental sensors
- Smart locks, lighting, and thermostat
Plans & Pricing
- Standard monitoring: $0.50/day
- Interactive monitoring: $0.83/day
Most Simplistic
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Quality smart-device connections
- Top-end equipment
- Quick installation process
Cons
- Starter kit can be pricey
- App has poor ratings
- No bluetooth capabilities
Equipment Available
- Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras
- Window and door sensors
- Mobile phone control panel
- Environmental sensors
- Smart locks and lighting
Plans & Pricing
- Basic plan: $3/month
- Plus plan: $10/month
Most Affordable
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Cheapest of security plans
- Flexible plans
- No contracts
Cons
- Trial period is short
- Expensive installation
- Not rated by J.D. Power
Equipment Available
- Doorbell
- Motion detection
- Indoor and outdoor cameras
- Door sensor
- Window sensor
Plans & Pricing
- Standard plan: $0.20/day
- Pro plan: $0.66/day
Best for High-Quality Cameras
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Access to 4-K video
- Simple self-monitoring process
- Quality cameras
Cons
- Not rated by J.D. Power
- Only battery-powered cameras
- No door or window sensors
Equipment Available
- Spotlight
- Floodlight
- Motion detection
- Indoor and outdoor cameras
Plans & Pricing
- Smart plan: Free
- Premier plan: $2.99/mo. (1 camera) or $9.99/mo. (up to 5 cameras)
- Elite plan: $4.99/mo. (1 camera) or $14.99/mo. (up to 5 cameras)
Best for Monitoring
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- High-quality professional monitoring services
- $500 for theft protection
- Strong customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
- More expensive monitoring
- Requires a hub for devices
- App has been reported to lag
Equipment Available
- Indoor and outdoor cameras
- Motion detection
- Door sensor
- Window sensor
- Smoke sensor
- Carbon monoxide sensor
Plans & Pricing
- Professional monitoring: $19.99/mo.
- DIY monitoring: Free
*J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Home Security in Minnesota: What You Need to Know
Minnesota crime statistics
When it comes to Minnesota crime statistics, it depends heavily on where you live, but overall, the state mostly has a lower crime rate than the national average. False-alarm policies and fees are set by each city00 — always verify current requirements before activation; Minneapolis, for example, requires an alarm permit and uses escalating false‑alarm fees (see the city’s alarm permit program). Below are a few up-to-date points to consider if you’re planning a security system:
- Statewide violent crime declined in 2023 compared with 2022 and remains below the national average; see official data from the historical estimate alongside the Minnesota BCA Uniform Crime Report and FBI Crime Data Explorer.
- Property crime has eased overall since 2022, though motor vehicle theft remains elevated versus pre‑2020 levels; track statewide trends and Minneapolis city data (example estimate), plus the Minneapolis crime dashboards.
- Risk varies widely by neighborhood; for context, Minnesota’s violent‑crime rate remains below the U.S. average, and local dashboards can guide targeted precautions (third‑party estimate; see also Minnesota Compass).
Research your neighborhood
Use official sources to understand local trends before choosing equipment or monitoring: the Minnesota Crime Data Explorer provides statewide and agency views, while city dashboards (for example, Minneapolis) offer neighborhood‑level patterns that can inform sensor coverage, lighting, and camera placement.
In Minneapolis, recent dashboards show continued declines in violent and property crime since 2023, with auto theft trending down from late 2023 into 2024. Check the Minneapolis police dashboards for current figures. To learn more about your city, town, or even neighborhood, use this crime map for more information.
Register your home security system in Minnesota
It’s important to register your home security system with your city so that, if the worst was to ever happen, your local law enforcement and emergency workers can respond as soon as possible. Registering your home security system in Minnesota differs depending on where you live. Here is an example of how to register your system with the City of Saint Paul:
Visit the city website and click on the Alarm Permit Application.
- Fill out the owner contact information, information regarding your alarm company, information on any keyholders for your home, and your payment information.
- To register your alarm, confirm the current fee and payment method posted by the city; amounts and billing options are updated periodically.
- Mail in your application and fee payment to the following address:
City of Saint Paul, Department of Safety & Inspection
375 Jackson Street, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55101
How to Choose Your Minnesota Home Security System
Local vs. national companies
| Pros of local security company | High-touch service Faster on-site response Flexible, custom integrations |
| Cons of local security company | Smaller coverage footprint Certifications vary (UL/TMA/ASAP) Pricing leverage limited |
| Pros of national security company | Broad tech/monitoring options (ASAP, UL/TMA) Competitive pricing Standardized SLAs |
| Cons of national security company | Less customization Higher minimums/fees Branch service can vary |
Minnesota 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 latest 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 options.
