Best Security Systems for Renters in 2024

SimpliSafe Overview

Fun fact: When SimpliSafe first came out, it was advertised as a security system for renters. Even though that was nearly 20 years ago, it’s still a top option for renters. And for good reason. There is a lot to like about SimpliSafe, especially the equipment. It’s all high quality, easy to install, and noninvasive. Even with buying every component they offer, I didn’t need drills or have to punch holes in our drywall to install the entire system. I also didn’t need to touch our wiring either which is all perfect for renters. The only exception was the wired video doorbell, but other than that, SimpliSafe is plug-and-play.

>> Read More: SimpliSafe vs. Abode

SimpliSafe is also one of the best no-contract home security systems. I have more information on that below, but it means you own the equipment outright and can choose whether to pay for a monthly subscription whether that’s cloud recordings or professional monitoring. There’s also no obligation to continue a subscription and no fees if you choose to back out of a plan. That can alleviate some financial headaches if you’re ever in a pinch.

Let’s look at some pros and cons, and then we’ll talk more specifically.

SimpliSafe Monitoring

The first thing you’ll probably be interested in is SimpliSafe’s monitoring options. There are three plans to choose from, as well as a free self-monitoring option. That’s great news for renters who are pretty comfortable keeping an eye on the system themselves, but also may want the option to increase their security profile down the line. I went with the Core (formerly Fast Protect) plan for the Live Guard monitoring feature when I wanted someone else looking after my home, otherwise I kept the camera recording plan active. There’s more information in my guide to SimpliSafe subscriptions and pricing, but here’s a quick breakdown.

All these plans are pretty standard as far as costs go. Cove is a little cheaper, but not significantly. There’s like a $2 per month difference in their plans, but SimpliSafe notably offers more features. For most renters in apartments, the Standard Plan is enough. It’s cheap and straightforward. It gives you access to cellular backup in case your internet goes out.

If you want something more advanced, the Fast Protect plan is also an option. That system relies on SimpliSafe’s new Smart Alarm Indoor Camera and allows professional monitors to check your live feed if an alarm goes off. It’s what we’d recommend if you rent a house instead of an apartment. That will help SimpliSafe communicate directly with authorities about the situation, whether there is a fire, an intruder, or a medical emergency.

>> Also Read: Best SimpliSafe Alternatives

I’ve personally used the Smart Alarm cameras, and I was impressed not only with the design, but also with the functionality. It took a little getting used to — especially since I’m a big privacy advocate and don’t like the idea of people being able to watch what’s going on in my home — but the stainless-steel privacy shutter on the lens put my mind at ease. It loudly snaps open and shut, so you know if the camera is engaged or not, and it can be set to always be closed until an alarm is tripped causing it to automatically open.

SimpliSafe Equipment Costs

SimpliSafe isn’t the cheapest option for renters — that accolade goes to Cove — but it’s still affordable, especially when you consider the quality of the equipment. Here’s a breakdown of their security packages.

SimpliSafe also offers the option to build your own system. That’s probably the best option for renters, since it’s unlikely that you’ll need exactly what one of the bundles offers. We recommend an entry sensor for each door and first-floor window as well as a wireless outdoor camera and wireless indoor camera depending on the size of your rental. To get you started, here’s a rundown of SimpliSafe’s equipment and costs.

>> Read More: SimpliCam Review

Those are the regular retail prices for the individual pieces of equipment and bundles. If you pay attention to this space, though, you’ll know that a lot of providers, SimpliSafe included, tend to run frequent sales, so you’ll never have to pay the regular prices. Every time I’ve checked their site, which is almost weekly, they’re giving at least 20 percent off. If you want to stay up to date on these savings, I recommend bookmarking our guide to SimpliSafe’s deals.

Why I Picked SimpliSafe for Renters

Simply put, SimpliSafe offers a great balance of everything I’d be looking for if I were going to outfit an apartment or rented home with a security system. It has high-quality, affordable equipment that I easily installed myself; affordable subscription and monitoring options that don’t require contracts; and a reputation for excellence in the industry. I’d like to see a few more equipment options, but, all things considered, it’s hard to find a more well-rounded system.

Worth Considering

One thing I didn’t particularly like about SimpliSafe is that, regardless of the system, the company requires you to purchase and install a push-button keypad that costs $70. Something about that doesn’t sit right with me. You’d think such a modern system could do away with that outdated piece of equipment, especially since you’ll be managing everything from your smartphone most of the time.

Cove Overview

One thing I like about Cove is that it makes home security accessible to everyone. Its low cost of entry coupled with affordable monthly monitoring means your money goes a long way, and its high-quality equipment is reasonable. During my research, I put together a sample home security system for an average ground-floor apartment and found that costs were usually below $300 since they’re always running a sale.

Just because Cove is one of the best affordable home security systems doesn’t mean it’s cheap. These systems are built to last and offer some of the high-quality protection I only expect from systems at twice the price.

Cove Monitoring

Although it’s affordable, Cove unfortunately doesn’t offer a self-monitoring option. That’s a turnoff for me since I like flexibility with my monthly subscription, but if you know you want monitoring, Cove’s price points are better than most. There’s more on this in my guide to Cove’s prices, but here’s the quick breakdown.

Both of Cove’s plans will work great for renters, and they’re both priced about where they should be. If you really want a self-monitored system, though, you can always check out my guide to the best unmonitored home security. Keep in mind, though, that it puts a lot of responsibility on you. If an alarm sounds, you’ll be on your own.

Cove Equipment Costs

There’s no two ways about it: Cove is the most affordable home security provider in the industry. It doesn’t have an extensive list of equipment, but the components it does have are all durable and designed with human use in mind. Nothing is too obtrusive, either. That’s useful for smaller apartments without enough space to hide security equipment. When I tested the system, my partner was out of town on a business trip. When she came home, it took her a full day to notice that we had a whole new security system installed. How’s that for discreet?

Design aside, here’s the breakdown of Cove’s prices.

Why I Picked Cove for Renters

Three words: affordability, affordability, and affordability. If you’re looking to build a basic system with Cove, you can keep your costs really low. That’s great news, especially since rent prices are always going up. Their entry sensors regularly go on sale for under $5 a piece which means a system for my old apartment would cost under $100 for the Hub, Control Panel, and two entry sensors. I would like to see an option for self-monitoring, but Cove is near the top of the bang-for-your-buck list.

Worth Considering

You don’t have a lot of options when it comes to equipment. You can count the list using your fingers (and one toe.) If that list covers your needs completely, that’s great, but I can see it being a little lacking for anyone renting a bigger home.

Similar to Frontpoint, I wish Cove would offer a self-monitoring option. For a brand that bills itself as affordable, it’s weird that it requires a monthly fee with every system.

Frontpoint Overview

Frontpoint is another great option for renters who are looking for the ease of a DIY system with the power of a professionally monitored one. You’re getting the best of both worlds here.

>> Check Out: DIY vs. Professional Installation

The last time I tested Frontpoint, it took me about an hour to get everything up and running, from unboxing to a fully secured home. I was testing quite a few pieces of equipment, too, including the outdoor camera, flood sensor, and wireless light control. If you’re looking for a more basic system, you could probably cut that install time in half.

I was impressed by the quality of the system. Everything is really well designed, everything feels durable and substantial, and — probably most importantly — everything works as intended. I was most impressed by the Frontpoint touch screen. I’ve worked with a few other touch screens that were pretty sluggish and had a lot of lag time between tapping something and the system reading the input. Not so with Frontpoint’s touch-screen panel; everything is really snappy. And there’s no doubt that I preferred Frontpoint’s touch screen to SimpliSafe’s analog keypad.

Let’s talk pros and cons, and then we’ll get into the details.

Frontpoint Monitoring

Here’s where Frontpoint starts to lose some ground with me. There is no option to self-monitor the system, and there is only one subscription plan, which costs $49.99 per month. You don’t have to sign a contract, which is good, but $50 per month is a little steep. Here’s a breakdown of what you get.

Ultimate Monitoring Plan

That’s a pretty advanced monitoring system. I especially like the crash-and-smash protection. How that works is if an intruder comes through your door and then immediately breaks or disables your alarm panel, the Frontpoint system automatically responds as if it were an alarm event, and dispatches authorities.

I tested the crash-and-smash feature by coming through my door and immediately yanking the batteries out of the panel, which, sure enough, sounded my alarm. Definitely thinking ahead, Frontpoint.

Frontpoint Equipment Costs

Less than a year ago, Frontpoint simplified their equipment packages down to two choices and a build-your-own option. They used to have a bunch of packages like SimpliSafe. Here are their current offerings:

Something to note: Similar to SimpliSafe, Frontpoint tends to overinflate the “regular” price and then offer a deep discount that puts its packages in a reasonable range. As you can see, each package is well over half off just like every time I check their prices. I’m not exactly sure why the company does that — I’m sure it’s a marketing thing — but if you’re interested in a Frontpoint system, you’ll probably be able to build one capable of fully protecting an apartment for about $300. You can read more about that in my guide to Frontpoint’s pricing.

Here are all the Frontpoint components you’ll be able to select, as well as their current prices.

A lot of these components cost a little less than their SimpliSafe counterparts when counting the sales I always see from Frontpoint. They change their percentage discounts frequently, so we listed their retail pricing, but you can expect them to be roughly half off. You can always keep a close eye on things with my guide to Frontpoint’s deals.

Why I Picked Frontpoint for Renters

Frontpoint’s powerful professional monitoring, coupled with its super-simple DIY install, make it a great option for renters. The price is a little steep, but the added peace of mind you’ll get from a professionally monitored system is invaluable.

I also really liked Frontpoint’s customer-support system. I had a bit of an issue with my sensors connecting to my base station, so I gave them a ring. The person who answered was super friendly and helpful, and was able to walk me through a few options to get everything working again.

Worth Considering

I have to point out again that Frontpoint doesn’t offer a self-monitoring option, which is a particularly hard pill to swallow when you consider its mandatory $49.99-per-month monitoring fee. They offer plans as low as $14.99 per month, but that requires calling Frontpoint and asking them for a lower priced plan. I don’t like getting on the phone and negotiating pricing, so I just bought the full monitoring plan which is what I imagine most customers do too.

I’m also not a huge fan of the sales technique in which the company marks up its prices tremendously and then says you have to take advantage of a sale that never actually ends. It seems a little shady to me, but now you’re in the know.

>> Read More: Best Professionally Monitored Home Security Systems

Abode Overview

Just because you rent your home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t live out your George Jetson fantasies. With easy home-assistant integration and a large selection of smart home components, abode is a great option for high-tech renters.

>> Read More: Best Security Systems for Google Home

I really enjoyed arming and disarming the system using my Amazon Alexa during the testing period, and I appreciated that I could check the status of individual components using voice commands. It was really helpful during winter mornings, when I could shout from my bed, “Alexa, pull up the doorbell feed,” so I wouldn’t have to make the frigid walk to the front door when it was just a FedEx delivery. It also let us integrate all of our smart home devices from our Philips Hue lights to the automated watering device for our plants we ordered off Amazon. That makes it a great choice if you want to set up home automation in your rental.

Abode Monitoring

We’re getting back to what I like to see. Unlike Frontpoint, Abode offers three tiers of service with the option to self-monitor your system. That’s a bare-bones plan, though, and you won’t even have access to your timeline of video events. Here’s a quick breakdown, and then I’ll give you some recommendations.

I have more general information in my guide to abode costs, but the long and short of it is this: If you’re a renter, you may want to start with at least the Standard plan. It’s only $7 per month, and you’ll get the full capabilities of your equipment. If you want to step things up with professional monitoring, though, you can always upgrade to Pro. It’s only $25 per month — way less than Frontpoint and more affordable than most other competitors as well. That’s what we recommend.

Abode Equipment Cost

I wish Abode made it a little easier to purchase its equipment online — the company’s website is a bit confusing — but, alas, here we are. There are three types of security system offered by Abode: those with the standard Hub, those with the Smart Security Hub, and those with the smart home Iota Hub. I went with the Iota Hub and it left me impressed. Here are its key features:

• A motion-sensitive IP camera with a 127-degree field of view
• Closing shutter for privacy mode
• Two-way audio with VOIP
• An 88-decibel siren
• Temperature and light sensor
• Apps for Amazon Alexa and Google Home
• Rechargeable backup battery

Since it includes an onboard camera, a light sensor, and a siren, you can save a lot of space. That’s great news if you’re an apartment dweller. When I lived in the heart of New York City, my place was something like 500 square feet, so I needed all the space I could get.

Here are the packages offered by Abode. As always, you can build out your own system if these packages don’t suit your needs or add any component you want to any package.

It’s relatively affordable for renters, especially since Abode also keeps regular prices high and always offers sales. Keep that in mind when you’re looking at the list of component costs. These are the retail prices, so expect to pay significantly less like I did.

Why I Picked Abode for Renters

If you live in an apartment but want some of the comforts that come from home automation, abode is likely the right system for you. Vivint is one of the best systems out there for home automation, and I’d consider Abode to be its little cousin. Perfect for renters!

Setting up home automation can be an exercise in trial and error though. Things won’t always work exactly how they should, and, depending on how many components you’re using, dimming your lights might make your TV turn on. It usually takes me three attempts to get home automation to work right.

Worth Considering

I wish Abode would invest in redesigning its website. I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to navigate, but it doesn’t make things easy. What’s more, it’s almost impossible to find a number to call if you’re confused. Not the best way to approach things, in my opinion.

Like Frontpoint, the company should probably knock off the whole “sale ends in eight hours” timer at the top of its site. I’ve been researching, testing, and covering Abode for years, and that sale never actually ends.

Ring Overview

Like SimpliSafe, Ring is probably a name you’re familiar with if you’re interested in home security.

Ring’s video doorbells are probably its biggest claims to fame. In the years since the first home on your block put one up, however, it has expanded to offer a massive lineup of security equipment, from indoor and outdoor cameras to advanced entryway sensors to car dash cams.

Before I started testing security equipment professionally, I was looking for a small outdoor camera with integrated lighting that wouldn’t blind me as I was coming up my walkway at night. I simply couldn’t find what I was looking for until I started looking at Ring’s offerings. Check out my review of the Ring Spotlight Cam for more information on the piece of equipment I ended up using.

Ring Monitoring

I have more detailed information in my breakdown of Ring’s costs, but the Cliff’s Notes version is that it offers three plans with a free self monitoring option. Here’s the cheat sheet.

If you’re a renter with a system that goes beyond one camera, I recommend either the Protect Plus or Protect Pro subscription. Like the other providers on this list, the subscription plan will help you get the most out of your equipment. If you want professional monitoring, you’ll have to go with Pro. That’s the only plan that offers it. It’s not too costly at just $20 per month, and you can always scale things back since Ring doesn’t make you sign a contract.

Ring Equipment Costs

Ring offers a handful of security kits, which I’ve detailed below. I’d focus more on the sale price than the regular price. It doesn’t offer discounts as frequently as Frontpoint or Cove, but it’s rare not to see them on some sort of sale.

My favorite Ring deals happen on Prime Day since it’s owned by Amazon, but they offer other deals year-round.

Just like the other providers on this list, Ring offers an extensive list of components you can choose from to build out your own system. That’s usually the best option if you live in an apartment or other smaller residence.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a complete list. It’s just a sampling of Ring’s full offerings.

Why I Picked Ring for Renters

Ring’s options make it a great choice for renters, since there are tons of components to choose from. It takes a different approach than, say, SimpliSafe. No two rental homes are the same — whether it’s a house, an apartment, a townhome, a condo, or a yurt in your friend’s backyard — and that means each home will have different security needs.

Worth Considering

I don’t know how to couch this, so I’ll just come out and say it: I don’t love the design choices on a lot of Ring’s products. They’re boxy, bulky, and not what you’d consider elegant or sleek — you know, what most of us are going for when we’re purchasing electronic equipment to install in our homes. The Ring Alarm isn’t so bad though. I’m mostly taking issue with the company’s doorbell and camera designs. They could use some work in the aesthetics department.