Reviews Report

• SimpliSafe and Ring come with the greatest variety of devices to choose from.
• Blue by ADT offers the best professional monitoring, with the benefit of ADT monitoring at DIY security system prices.
• SimpliSafe is our most highly-rated security system thanks to its flexibility, affordable monitoring and device options.

Austin residents want a home security system they can trust to keep their families safe. And while it might feel overwhelming choosing from the many companies on the market, we’ve narrowed it down to the best home security systems in Austin, Texas. When choosing our favorite systems, we considered factors such as price, equipment cost, contracts, customer satisfaction, and installation. 

The 5 Best Home Security Systems in Austin

• SimpliSafe: Best for Flexibility
• Ring: Best for Ease of Use
• Abode:  Best for Self-Monitoring
• Arlo: Best for High-Quality Cameras
• Blue by ADT: Best for Professional Monitoring

Compare the Best Austin Home Security Systems

Information accurate as of March 2021

Home Security in Austin: What You Need to Know 

Austin, Texas, crime statistics

If you live in Austin or are preparing to move there, it’s important to be aware of the city’s crime rate. Here are some recent statistics based on recent FBI data:

• Austin’s crime rate is 65% higher than the national average. Its property crime rate is considerably higher than the national average, while the violent crime rate is only slightly higher.
• Crime has been consistently increasing in Austin, with a 7% increase year over year.
• Austin is safer than roughly 17% of cities in the United States, and residents have a one in 25 chance of becoming the victim of a crime.

Research your neighborhood

In addition to paying attention to Austin’s crime rate overall, it’s even more important that you pay attention to your particular neighborhood. This research can help you choose where to live and decide what type of security system you may need.

Austin is home to more than 900,000 people in 61 different neighborhoods. Here are the largest based on population:

• North Austin is the largest Austin neighborhood, home to nearly 28,000 people. The neighborhood also has one of the highest crime rates, with a total rate of 235% higher than the national average. 
• Franklin Park is home to nearly 18,000 Austin residents and has a crime rate 150% higher than the national average. 
• Pleasant Valley is home to more than 16,000 Austin residents and has a crime rate 158% higher than the national average.

Register your home security system in Austin

Austin requires that all security system alarms be registered with the city government. The registration comes with a permit and an annual fee of $50 per residential alarm or $110 per business alarm.

The purpose of the alarm registration is to reduce the number of false alarms, which direct police resources away from more important matters. Like many cities, Austin charges a fee for any false alarms where police are called.

For burglary alarms, residents may have three false alarms before they must pay a fee for each one. For robbery or panic alarms, there’s only a grace period of two false alarms. After that, fees for burglary alarms range from $50 – $100, and fees for robbery or panic false alarms are each $100.

If police are called to your home for a false alarm and you haven’t registered your home security system, you’ll receive a $200 fine and be subject to a Class C misdemeanor charge.

To register your home security system in Austin, either register online or mail in an alarm permit application. 

How To Choose Your Austin Home Security System 

• Interior/exterior cameras: One of the most important features of any home security system is the cameras. Most companies offer indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras. Arlo offers some of the highest quality cameras on the market, while Abode’s system only has a single outdoor camera available right now. When choosing a system, it’s important to consider what types of cameras you want. Given the higher crime rate in Austin, residents might appreciate the extra layer of security that comes with cameras.

• Control panel: The control panel is the hub of your home security system. Companies either have a keypad, touchscreen, or mobile app as their control panel, though most companies offer a combination of two or more of these options. When choosing a company, consider what type of control panel you want. Many people prefer to control their security system from their smartphone, so be sure the company you choose offers that feature.

• Compatibility: One of the most important considerations for many homeowners is their security system’s compatibility with other devices. Many security systems either come with their own smart home devices or easily integrate with smart devices from other brands. SimpliSafe has the largest variety of smart home devices but doesn’t integrate well with others. Abode offers no smart home devices, but its system integrates easily with other devices.

• Storage: If you opt to use security cameras in your home security system, it’s important to consider what will happen to the video data. Many companies don’t offer video storage with their free plans, meaning you only have access to the live feed. You can’t go back and re-watch or share. And in case of a crime, you may really want video storage. For that, many companies require that you upgrade to a premium monitoring plan.

• Window/door sensors: Window and door sensors are placed around your home and are activated anytime someone enters your home, either by breaking in or by opening an unlocked window or door. Some companies also offer glass break sensors, which alert you if any windows in your home are broken. Arlo doesn’t currently offer sensors with its home security system, and therefore may not be suitable for customers who want that extra layer of security.

Local vs. national companies

One of the first decisions homeowners have to make is whether to use a national or local company for their security system. While most people opt for a national provider, Austin, like other large cities, has some great local options available as well. Here are a few things to consider when choosing between a local or national company.

Austin 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 options.

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