The best DIY home security system is one you can set up yourself in an afternoon: a base station with a siren, a keypad, and sensors that stick to your doors and windows, with professional monitoring as an option rather than a requirement. Every system here installs without tools or a technician, and none of them asks for a contract.
Where they really differ is what still works if you don’t pay a monthly fee, and which smart home platform they fit into. Ring Alarm, for example, goes back to a keypad-only alarm with no phone alerts without a plan, while eufy charges nothing at all. And if you use Apple Home, the list gets very short: very few alarm systems show up in the Home app. Below are the five DIY home security systems worth buying in the US right now, with what each one costs after you take it out of the box. Prices are regular list prices, not temporary deals.
Quick Recommendations
- SimpliSafe 8-Piece Home Security System — Best overall. Simple setup, a strong 8-piece kit, and the widest choice of monitoring plans, including a free tier with app control.
- Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) — Best for Alexa and Ring homes. Affordable sensors that work with Ring cameras and doorbells, as long as you pay for a plan.
- Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 — Best HomeKit security system. A camera hub with a siren plus three sensors, with alarm modes and HomeKit Secure Video in the Home app.
- eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit — Best without a subscription. App alerts and arming are free, and monitoring is optional.
- Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit — Best with built-in Wi-Fi. The Ring Alarm kit with an eero Wi-Fi 6 router built into the base station.
DIY Home Security Systems at a Glance
| Product | Ecosystem | Key Feature | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe 8-Piece Home Security System | SimpliSafe app, Alexa, Google Assistant | Free app arming, monitoring from $22.99/mo | ~$224 (8-piece kit) | Most homes |
| Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) | Ring app, Alexa | Works with Ring cameras and doorbells | ~$250 (8-piece kit) | Alexa and Ring homes |
| Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 | Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home | HomeKit alarm modes + 2K camera hub | ~$100 (4-piece kit) | Apple Home and small spaces |
| eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit | eufy app, Alexa | No monthly fee | ~$160 (5-piece kit) | Avoiding subscriptions |
| Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit | Ring app, Alexa | eero Wi-Fi 6 router in the base | ~$300 (8-piece kit) | Replacing your router too |
Compatibility Matrix
Values come from each manufacturer’s own documentation. None of these systems uses Thread, so that column is left out.
| Product | HomeKit | Alexa | Google Home | Matter | Hub Required | Wiring/Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe 8-Piece Home Security System | No | Yes (Core plan or higher) | Yes (Core plan or higher) | No | Base Station (included) | Plug-in base with backup battery, battery sensors |
| Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) | No (bridge only) | Yes (arming needs a plan) | No | No | Base Station (included) | Plug-in base, battery sensors |
| Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 | Yes (native) | Yes | Yes | Yes (as a bridge) | Camera Hub G3 (included) | USB-C power (adapter not included), battery sensors |
| eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit | No | Yes | Not stated | No | HomeBase 2 (included) | Plug-in HomeBase, battery sensors, rechargeable keypad |
| Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit | No (bridge only) | Yes (arming needs a plan) | No | No | Alarm Pro Base Station (included) | Plug-in base and router, battery sensors |
The Aqara kit is the only one here that works in Apple Home, so it’s the one to choose if you want a HomeKit security system. Ring is the opposite case: it works with Alexa but not with Google Home or Apple Home, apart from community bridges (we explain those in does Ring work with HomeKit).
The 5 Best DIY Home Security Systems
SimpliSafe 8-Piece Home Security System — Best Overall
SimpliSafe is the easiest full alarm system to set up and live with. The 8-piece kit covers a typical apartment or small house, and you can use it for free, self-monitor with recordings, or add 24/7 professional monitoring without a contract.
Best for: most homes and renters who want a proper alarm with the option of professional monitoring later.
What stands out in real use
The flexibility of the plans. With no plan at all, you can still arm and disarm the system from the SimpliSafe app and watch live video from SimpliSafe cameras, which is more than Ring allows for free. If you want help when the alarm goes off, the Standard plan adds 24/7 emergency dispatch and network backup for $22.99 a month, and the Core plan ($32.99) adds unlimited camera recording and Alexa and Google Assistant control. Setup is plug in the Base Station, open the app, and stick the sensors in place. Everything in the box runs on batteries except the base, which has its own backup battery and a 100 dB siren.
Key specs
- Base Station with 100 dB siren and up to 24 hours of battery backup
- Wireless keypad, 4 entry sensors, 1 motion sensor (35 ft, 90-degree view), panic button
- Plans: free, $9.99 self-monitoring with recordings, $22.99 to $79.99 professional monitoring
- No contract
Pros
- Free tier keeps app arming and live view
- Wide choice of monitoring plans, no contract
- Very easy, tool-free installation
Cons
- No Apple HomeKit support (only through the community Homebridge plugin)
- Alexa and Google Assistant need the Core plan or higher
- The keypad is a basic push-button design
Installation and compatibility notes
Place the Base Station somewhere central and out of sight, since it holds the siren and the backup battery. The panic button only calls for help on a professional monitoring plan, so on the free tier it just sounds the alarm. For more entry points, SimpliSafe sells extra sensors, or see our best smart door sensors if you’d rather automate lights and locks as well.
Price: ~$224 (for an 8-piece kit)
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) — Best for Alexa and Ring Homes
Ring Alarm is the natural choice if you already have Ring cameras or a Ring doorbell, or if your smart home is based on Alexa. If you’re choosing between it and SimpliSafe, our SimpliSafe vs Ring Alarm comparison covers the plans and features side by side. The sensors are affordable, and everything lives in the same Ring app as your cameras.
Best for: homes with Ring cameras or doorbells, and Alexa users who plan to pay for a Ring plan.
What stands out in real use
How well it ties into the rest of Ring. Your alarm, cameras and doorbell share one app, so you can check the alarm and the cameras in the same place. The kit includes a range extender, so the signal reaches sensors at the far end of the house. The catch is the subscription: according to Ring’s own support page, without a Ring plan you can only arm and disarm from the keypad, and when the alarm goes off nobody gets a notification, only the siren sounds. So budget for a plan from day one. Professional monitoring comes with Ring’s top plan, Ring Pro, at $19.99 a month.
Key specs
- Base Station, keypad, 4 contact sensors, 1 motion detector, range extender
- Expands with Ring flood, glass break and smoke/CO listener sensors
- Ring app with cameras, doorbells and lights in one place
- Alexa voice arming with a Ring plan
Pros
- Excellent integration with Ring cameras and doorbells
- Range extender included
- Large range of add-on sensors
Cons
- Without a plan: keypad only, no phone alerts
- No Google Home, Apple HomeKit or Matter support
- Professional monitoring needs the $19.99 Ring Pro plan
Installation and compatibility notes
The base station plugs into an outlet and joins your Wi-Fi. For Apple Home, the only route is a community bridge like Homebridge, which can arm and disarm Ring Alarm but isn’t supported by Ring.
Price: ~$250 (for an 8-piece kit)
Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 — Best HomeKit Security System
The Aqara Y100 is the simplest way to put an alarm system in the Apple Home app. The camera is also the hub and the siren, and the three sensors come already paired to it.
Best for: Apple Home users, apartments and small homes, and anyone who wants a camera and an alarm in one small kit.
What stands out in real use
It works in the Home app like a real security system. The Camera Hub G3 supports all four HomeKit alarm modes (Home, Away, Night and Off), so you can arm it with Siri or automatically when everyone leaves, and it records to HomeKit Secure Video. In the Aqara app you choose which sensors trigger the siren in each mode. The G3 is a 2K pan-and-tilt camera, so it can watch the room the sensors protect, and it’s also a Zigbee hub for more Aqara sensors later. There’s no professional monitoring, not even as a paid option. Aqara’s optional HomeGuardian service adds longer cloud history and SMS or email alerts to your contacts instead.
Key specs
- Camera Hub G3: 2K (1080p in HomeKit), 340-degree pan, built-in siren
- Motion Sensor P1, Door and Window Sensor P1, Vibration Sensor T1
- Zigbee hub for up to 128 Aqara devices, Matter bridge
- 7 days of free cloud clips, microSD up to 128 GB (not included)
Pros
- Native HomeKit alarm modes and HomeKit Secure Video
- Works with Alexa and Google Home too
- No subscription needed for alerts or local recording
Cons
- No professional monitoring at all
- One camera and three sensors cover a small space only
- USB-C power adapter and microSD card not included
Installation and compatibility notes
Set the kit up in the Aqara Home app first, then add the G3 to Apple Home with its HomeKit code. HomeKit Secure Video needs a home hub (Apple TV or HomePod) and an iCloud+ plan. If you want more cameras in Apple Home, our best HomeKit security cameras guide covers the other options.
Price: ~$100 (for a 4-piece kit)
eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit — Best Without a Subscription
The eufy kit is the best home security system without a subscription in this guide. App alerts, arming from your phone and the siren all work with no monthly fee, and it shares the eufy Security app with eufy cameras.
Best for: anyone who wants an alarm with phone alerts and no monthly fee, and homes with eufy cameras.
What stands out in real use
You pay once. Entry and motion sensors send alerts straight to your phone, and you can arm and disarm from the keypad or the app, all without a plan. If you later want someone watching, eufy’s optional Protection Plan Plus adds 24/7 monitoring and emergency dispatch for $9.99 a month (US only). The HomeBase 2 in this kit is eufy’s older hub (it also runs eufyCam 2 cameras), and it’s the reason the kit costs far less than eufy’s newer HomeBase 3 kits. The sensors run for about two years on a charge, while the keypad needs charging about every six months.
Key specs
- HomeBase 2, keypad, 1 motion sensor (100 degrees, up to 30 ft), 2 entry sensors
- No monthly fees, optional monitoring from $4.99/mo
- Sensors about 2 years per charge, keypad about 6 months
- eufy Security app with eufy cameras
Pros
- Free app alerts and arming
- Optional, cheap professional monitoring
- Works alongside eufy cameras on the same app
Cons
- No HomeKit for the sensors (only some eufy cameras work in Apple Home)
- Built around the older HomeBase 2
- Only two entry sensors in the box
Installation and compatibility notes
Plug the HomeBase into your router, then add the keypad and sensors in the eufy Security app. Alexa can switch security modes, but there’s no Apple Home support for the alarm. If cameras without fees matter to you as well, see our best security cameras without a subscription.
Price: ~$160 (for a 5-piece kit)
Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit — Best With Built-In Wi-Fi
Ring Alarm Pro is the same alarm as the standard Ring kit, except the base station is also an eero Wi-Fi 6 router. If your router is due for an upgrade anyway, it replaces two boxes with one.
Best for: Ring homes that also need better Wi-Fi, or want backup internet for the alarm.
What stands out in real use
The base station covers up to 1,500 sq ft with Wi-Fi at speeds up to 900 Mbps, and you can add eero extenders to make a mesh network. With a Ring plan, it can also keep the alarm online over cellular backup when your internet goes down. Everything else matches the standard Ring Alarm: the same sensors, the same app and the same subscription question, since without a plan you’re limited to the keypad and the siren.
Key specs
- Alarm Pro Base Station with built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router (up to 1,500 sq ft)
- Keypad, 4 contact sensors, 1 motion detector, range extender
- Backup internet with a Ring plan
- Alexa voice arming with a Ring plan
Pros
- Security system and mesh Wi-Fi router in one
- Backup internet for the alarm with a plan
- Same Ring sensors and app as the standard kit
Cons
- About $50 more than the standard Ring Alarm kit
- Same plan requirement for app control and alerts
- Replaces your router, which not everyone wants
Installation and compatibility notes
The Alarm Pro base connects to your modem and becomes your main router, so set it up in both the Ring and eero apps. If you’re happy with your current Wi-Fi, the standard Ring Alarm kit does the same security job for less.
Price: ~$300 (for an 8-piece kit)
How to Choose a DIY Home Security System
Self-monitoring or professional monitoring
With self-monitoring, the alarm alerts you and you decide whether to call for help. Professional monitoring adds a 24/7 team that contacts you and dispatches police or fire services when the alarm goes off. A DIY home security system lets you start with one and switch later, without a contract. If you travel a lot or would sleep through a phone alert, professional monitoring is worth it.
What works without a subscription
This is the biggest difference between brands, and it’s easy to miss on the box:
| System | App arming without a plan | Phone alerts without a plan | Professional monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe | Yes | Not listed by SimpliSafe | From $22.99/mo |
| Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro | No (keypad only) | No (siren only) | $19.99/mo (Ring Pro plan) |
| Aqara Y100 | Yes | Yes | Not available |
| eufy 5-Piece Kit | Yes | Yes | $9.99/mo (Plus plan) |
If you’re after the best home security system without subscription costs, eufy and Aqara are the safest choices. SimpliSafe works for free too, but its free tier is mainly arming and live view.
HomeKit security systems
Very few alarm systems work in Apple Home. Aqara is the easiest option today. Abode is the other name you’ll see for HomeKit, but only its iota and Smart Security Kit hubs support it, and both were out of stock on Amazon when we checked in October 2026. Its cheaper Security Kit doesn’t support HomeKit at all. SimpliSafe and Ring support neither HomeKit nor Matter, so they stay out of the Home app unless you use a community bridge. If you want recorded video in Apple Home, HomeKit Secure Video needs an iCloud+ plan: 50 GB covers one camera, 200 GB up to five, and 2 TB or more is unlimited.
Start small and expand
An 8-piece kit covers the main doors and one room. Add entry sensors to ground-floor windows and a back door first, then think about the rest of your safety: SimpliSafe, Ring and eufy all sell water and smoke sensors, and our best smart smoke detectors guide covers standalone options.
Final Recommendations
For most homes, the SimpliSafe 8-Piece Home Security System is the best DIY home security system: it’s easy to install, useful even without a plan, and has the widest range of monitoring options. If your home runs on Ring and Alexa, the Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) fits best, but plan on a subscription. For Apple Home, the Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 is the HomeKit security system to get. Choose the eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit to avoid monthly fees, and the Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit if you want a new Wi-Fi router as well.
Can I use Ring Alarm without a subscription?
Only in a limited way. Without a Ring plan you can arm and disarm Ring Alarm from the keypad only, and when it’s triggered the siren sounds but no notifications are sent to your phone. App control and alerts need a Ring subscription, and professional monitoring comes with the Ring Pro plan at $19.99 a month.
Does SimpliSafe work without a monitoring plan?
Yes. With no plan you can still arm and disarm the system from the SimpliSafe app and watch live video from SimpliSafe cameras. Camera recording starts with the $9.99 self-monitoring plan, and 24/7 emergency dispatch starts with the $22.99 Standard plan.
Does SimpliSafe work with Apple HomeKit?
No. SimpliSafe doesn’t support HomeKit, and the only way to get it into Apple Home is the community Homebridge plugin. For a HomeKit security system, the Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 supports the Home app’s alarm modes natively.
What is the best home security system without a subscription?
The eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit, because phone alerts and app arming work with no monthly fee, and monitoring is optional. The Aqara Y100 is also subscription-free, but it has no professional monitoring option.
Is a DIY home security system hard to install?
No. The systems in this guide use a base station that plugs into an outlet and battery-powered sensors that stick to doors, windows and walls with adhesive. Most kits take under an hour to set up through the app, with no drilling or wiring.
Written by Evan Mercer
Founder & Lead Researcher, Smart Home Matrix
Evan digs through spec sheets, firmware changelogs, and thousands of owner reviews so you don’t have to. Every guide starts with a compatibility check and ends with picks he would install in his own home. Read more about Evan and this site, or see exactly how we choose products.