Reviews Report

• SimpliSafe remains one of the top-rated home security system options across major 2024–2025 expert roundups for its easy DIY setup, reliable monitoring, and no long-term contracts (see Wirecutter and PCMag).
• SimpliSafe and Ring continue to be consensus DIY leaders, balancing straightforward installation, flexible month-to-month plans, and broad device ecosystems; Ring stands out for tight Alexa integration (Wirecutter, CNET).
• Abode offers strong third‑party smart‑home integrations and low-cost monitoring, while Arlo’s newer system best fits households already invested in Arlo cameras; for ultra‑budget monitoring, many guides cite Wyze (U.S. News, PCMag).

When choosing a home security company, you want a system that’s guaranteed to keep your family safe while still charging an affordable rate. Thanks to the rise of DIY home security systems, there are plenty of options for Ohio residents to choose from. For our latest picks, we weighed price, equipment cost, contracts, customer satisfaction, smart‑home compatibility, and installation flexibility. Typical pro monitoring for DIY systems now ranges roughly from $19.99–$29.99 per month (e.g., SimpliSafe, Abode), with Ring Protect Pro at about $20/month; professionally installed systems like ADT and Vivint generally cost more and often require contracts (PCMag, CNET, U.S. News).

The 5 Best Home Security Systems in Ohio

• SimpliSafe: Best overall DIY flexibility
• Ring: Best budget DIY and Alexa integration
• Abode: Best for smart‑home integrations and self-/pro‑monitoring flexibility
• Arlo: Best if you already use Arlo cameras
• ADT: Best for Professional Installation and Monitoring

Compare the Best Ohio Home Security Systems

Information updated as of 2025; pricing reflects typical starting plans and may vary. Verify current offers with each provider.

*J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.

Home Security in Ohio: What You Need to Know 

Ohio crime statistics

It’s important for Ohio residents to understand crime statistics for their home state. Here are up-to-date notes and sources:

• Ohio’s violent crime rate declined in the most recent finalized year and remains near/below the national average; in 2023, violent crime was approximately 307 per 100,000 residents and property crime was about 2,000 per 100,000 (source: FBI Crime Data Explorer).
• While older snapshots summarized odds such as one in 341 for violent crime and one in 49 for property crime, the latest official reporting emphasizes rates per 100,000; consult the FBI Crime Data Explorer for current statewide and city-level rates.
• Indicators through 2024 show continued declines in violent crime with motor vehicle theft easing from 2023 peaks in many cities; verify updates via the FBI’s quarterly releases and independent big‑city tracking (FBI Crime in the Nation; Council on Criminal Justice).

Research your city

Not only is it important to know the crime data in your state, but it’s even more critical to know the crime rate in your own city. Use the FBI Crime Data Explorer for the latest counts and rates and Ohio’s Statistical Analysis Center (OCJS) for statewide context and briefs.

The three cities with the highest populations in Ohio are Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Let’s look at how to access current crime in those cities, based on recent FBI data:

Columbus

• Pull the latest population and offense totals for Columbus using the FBI Crime Data Explorer.
• Recent trend: violent crime decreased in many large cities in 2024; confirm Columbus’s year-end results on official dashboards and the FBI CDE.
• Auto thefts surged in 2023 and moderated in 2024 in numerous jurisdictions; check local data for Columbus.
• Find current precinct/district information on the Columbus Division of Police website.

Cleveland

• Use the FBI Crime Data Explorer to view the most recent Cleveland counts and rates.
• Violent crime generally trended down in 2024; verify Cleveland-specific updates via local dashboards and FBI CDE.
• Review motor vehicle theft patterns, which spiked in 2023 and eased in many places in 2024; consult local reports for Cleveland.
• See current police district maps and contact details on the City of Cleveland website.

Cincinnati

• Access current Cincinnati data and rates through the FBI Crime Data Explorer.
• Check 2024 trend updates (homicide/robbery down in many big cities) and confirm locally with Cincinnati’s published dashboards.
• Monitor auto theft trends from 2023 peaks and 2024 moderation using local year‑end summaries.
• Find the latest district/precinct information on the Cincinnati Police Department website.

Register your home security system in Ohio

Depending on where you live, you may be required to register your home security system with your city government. Ohio cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dayton require residents to register their home security systems. Other cities such as Clayton and Huber Heights have optional registrations for the purpose of helping police collect video evidence of neighborhood crimes.

Another thing to know is that some cities have a false alarm fee, which residents must pay if a false alarm from their security system requires a police response. Fee structures are set locally and typically escalate after multiple false alarms within a 12‑month period; always check your city’s current ordinance and portal (e.g., Cleveland’s code; Cleveland). Some jurisdictions have recently reviewed or revised recurring alarm-user fees following litigation; see the Cincinnati case background via the Institute for Justice and consult your local code for details (Columbus; Cleveland; Dayton).

How To Choose Your Ohio Home Security System 

• Interior/exterior cameras: For many families, security cameras are an important component of their home security system, as they allow people to keep an eye on their homes at any time. Most companies offer interior, exterior and doorbell cameras. Look for on‑device AI detection (person/vehicle/package) to reduce false alerts and check weather ratings for Ohio winters (CNET, PCMag).

• Control panel: Your control panel is the heart of your security system. Many systems now pair app control with keypads or touchscreens and include cellular backup for outages. Prioritize options that keep basic functions working locally if the internet is down, and confirm battery backup for hubs and key sensors.

• Compatibility: As technology advances, many homeowners want a home security system that includes smart home capabilities or integrates with their existing ecosystem. Ring meshes tightly with Alexa, ADT (including Self Setup) aligns with Google Nest, and Abode is known for broad third‑party compatibility; choose based on your ecosystem preference (Wirecutter).

• Storage: Security cameras are an important component of many home security systems, but what happens with the video data? Free self-monitoring plans often don’t include video storage — you can usually watch live view only. If you want cloud storage and professional monitoring together, plans like Ring Protect Pro run about $20/month and bundle both (Ring Protect Plans).

• Window/door sensors: Contacts and motion sensors are still core to intrusion detection. Some newer systems add radar or emerging Wi‑Fi sensing to improve presence detection and reduce false alarms; verify which sensing options your provider supports and how they perform in your home (IEEE 802.11bf).

Local vs. national companies

There are many national security companies with excellent reputations, but some individuals may prefer to work with a local company. Both options have pros and cons, and recent research shows reliability and mobile app experience are top drivers of satisfaction (J.D. Power).

Ohio Home Security Systems FAQ 

Keep Reading

The Best Home Security Systems of 2025

The Best Cheap Home Security Companies

The Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2025