Best Home Security Systems That Work with Alexa in 2024 | Security.org

Their affordable packages, simple setups, and functionality make SimpliSafe the best option for Alexa security systems.

“Hey, Alexa. Answer the front door.” “Hey, Alexa. Turn on the floodlight.” “Hey, Alexa. Lock up for the night.” These are real commands you can give your Amazon Echo — as long as you have an Alexa-friendly home security system.

Most home security systems are at least a little friendly with Alexa. They’re on speaking terms, at least — they’ll let you arm your alarm with a simple voice command. But some security systems love Alexa — and they’ll let her control every device in your smart home.

Creepy? A little. Useful? Definitely. With full Alexa integration, you can tell your security system to lock up for the night — and it’ll actually happen.

>> Check Out: The Best Smart Locks of 2024

I researched, tested, and wrote up the security systems that are truly tight with your favorite Amazon-owned AI assistant. It’s no surprise that Ring Alarm, another Amazon product, is on the list. But there are other great options, from old standby ADT to relative newcomer SimpliSafe.

Pro Tip: Haven’t ordered your home security system yet? Sign up for Alexa Emergency Assist in the meantime.1 It turns your Amazon Echo into a monitored alarm.

Pro Tip: To make the most of Alexa, download more Skills. You can even read choose-your-own-adventure books with Alexa and Audible.

When I compare SimpliSafe to Ring Alarm, it’s clear that Ring Alarm works better with Alexa. But it’s also clear that SimpliSafe is a better system overall.

It’s hard to beat SimpliSafe’s affordability, customizability, and idiot-proof installation. That rare combination earned it a place on our list of the best smart home security systems — and it earned it a place on this list too.

Let’s get this out of the way: At 2.1 out of 5, SimpliSafe does not have a highly rated Alexa Skill. No security company does. Compare SimpliSafe to Frontpoint, for example. Frontpoint has the edge, but just barely, at 2.9 out of 5.

FYI: Alexa Skills for security companies tend to garner low ratings — often, for reasons that have nothing to do with the Skill itself. Users leave one-star ratings for everything from forgotten passwords to missing features. That’s why we don’t just rely on online reviews — we test security systems ourselves.

In reality, SimpliSafe’s Alexa Skill is simple but functional. You can arm your system, check its status, and lock your doors (if you have SimpliSafe smart locks). You can’t view security camera footage.

SimpliSafe Alexa Skill Example Commands

SimpliSafe is a security company, not a smart home company. And it shows. You can buy contact sensors, flood sensors, and motion detectors from SimpliSafe. You can’t buy smart lights or a smart thermostat from SimpliSafe.

The news isn’t all bad. SimpliSafe sells one of the most affordable smart locks in the business. It works with August smart locks too (Psst. That was one of our picks for the best smart lock of 2024). That makes commands like “Hey, Alexa. Tell SimpliSafe to lock up” possible.

Pro Tip: Love everything about SimpliSafe except the lack of smart devices? Buy Alexa-compatible devices instead. The best smart home devices don’t need to work with your SimpliSafe system to work alongside your SimpliSafe system.

SimpliSafe is one of my favorite security systems with no monthly fee. But there’s a catch. Some features are available only with a subscription. Unfortunately, for Alexa users, smart home integration is one of them. You need to pay at least $9.99 per month to connect SimpliSafe to Alexa.

When you compare SimpliSafe to Vivint, however, that price starts to look pretty good. SimpliSafe costs $9.99 per month for self-monitoring and $29.99 for professional monitoring. Vivint plans start at about $40 per month.

Pro Tip: Want help watching over your home but can’t afford SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring ($29.99 per month)? Pair SimpliSafe’s self-monitoring plan ($9.99 per month) with Alexa Emergency Assist ($5.99 per month). It unlocks the “Hey, Alexa. Call for help” command.

Ring and Alexa are both owned by Amazon, so it’s no surprise that they work well together. Turn your Ring Doorbell into an intercom. Stream Ring Indoor Cam footage on your Echo Show. Shut off the motion sensors in the kids’ playroom. It’s all possible with Ring and Alexa.

So, why isn’t Ring Alarm at the top of my list? One factor is its parent company. Amazon has got into trouble more than once for privacy violations — not exactly something you want from a security provider.2

What’s more, Amazon is a poster child for platform decay: when a company captures the market, only to get rid of the features that got everybody hooked in the first place.3 And yes, it is getting rid of security features. The company ended 2023 on a high note (not) by sunsetting Alexa Guard, Echo speakers’ built-in security system.4

The features you enjoy today could be gone tomorrow. But for now, Ring Alarm is one of the best options for Alexa users.

At the time of publication, Ring’s Alexa Skill is sitting at 3.2 out of 5. Stack up Ring Alarm against ADT? Ring Alarm comes out on top. (ADT has only a 1.9 out of 5 rating.)

The biggest edge Ring has over the competition? Security camera compatibility. You can ask Alexa to stream Ring security camera footage to your Amazon Fire — and she’ll do it. Try asking Alexa to stream footage from your SimpliCam. Spoiler alert: It won’t work.

Did You Know: Your smart TV could be a digital security liability. Learn how to install and use a VPN on an Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Another handy little feature? Multi-way audio. Let’s say you’re hard at work in your home office when someone rings your Ring. Don’t interrupt your workflow. Just ask Alexa to answer the front door and start talking to your visitor. Your smart speaker will route your conversation through the doorbell camera.

Ring Alexa Skill Example Commands

Ring sells approximately a bajillion smart devices on its website. You can get basically anything you can think of and some things you can’t, like a smart pump that shuts off your water supply as soon as the pipes freeze. (Shout out to Flo by Moen: It costs $549.98, but it seems like it could be worth it!5)

Pro Tip: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you don’t want to shell out $550 on a smart pump, set your smart thermometer above 55 degrees to keep pipes from bursting.

That gives Alexa a lot more to work with. You can ask her to arm your alarm, sure. But you can also ask her to check on your pipes, adjust your kitchen thermostat, and turn off your backyard motion sensor while the kids play tag.

A caveat: When we tested Ring Alarm, we ran into trouble with connectivity. We were able to get everything up and running, but it took a few tries. The selection of smart devices is great, but the reliability leaves something to be desired.

Ring Alarm on its own is a good value. Ring Alarm with Alexa is a great value. You can connect the security system to the AI assistant for just $3.99 per month. A Vivint subscription is about 10 times more expensive.

Did You Know: Any Ring Protect subscription gets you 10 percent off select purchases from Ring.com.

Vivint is more than a security company. Vivint is a smart home automation company. It sells oodles of connected devices that pair well with Alexa.

The long, expensive contracts will be a deal-breaker for some. But if you order a smart home package, the professional installation could be worth the price.

>> Read More: DIY vs. Professionally Installed Home Security Systems

Vivint may not offer Ring Alarm’s dazzling array of Alexa commands, but it comes pretty close.

When we tested Vivint, we were able to use Alexa to:

Based on the Vivint’s Alexa Skill reviews, however, it looks like some people weren’t so lucky. Multiple users report having trouble accessing their security footage. The Vivint Complete Skill is sitting at a 2.1 rating out of 5, as of publication.

FYI: Vivint has a short but sweet return policy. If your Alexa integration — or anything else — isn’t working, let the company know within three days of purchase to get your money back.

Vivint Alexa Skill Example Commands

Vivint sells more than just security sensors. Like, a lot more. You can get lights, locks, thermostats, and practically every other smart device from Vivint.

(No smart water monitor, though. That’s where Ring Alarm has Vivint beat.)

>> Check Out: Ring Alarm vs. Vivint

Vivint is a great security system. It’s also a pricey security system. The most basic Vivint package starts at about $600 if you pay upfront.

Here’s one reason it might be worth it. Let’s say you’re a smart home nerd (no judgment — I am too). Alexa is just the tip of the iceberg. You want a smart thermostat, garage door opener, and lighting system too.

That’s a lot of equipment to install. Would you like some help? Vivint will actually give you some. The company sends a technician to install every new system. SimpliSafe recently started connecting customers to a third-party installation company, but that’s just not the same as an in-house installation team.

Pro Tip: In theory, Vivint installation costs money. In practice, you can usually get a deal. Ask your sales rep for free install.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? I don’t know, but someone certainly taught this old security company new technology. ADT systems work with Alexa — and that’s just the beginning.

There’s a lot to like about ADT’s Alexa skill. You can use it to arm and disarm your security system. You can dim the lights, lock the doors, and adjust your temperature.

ADT Alexa Skill Example Commands

Unless you can’t, because you can’t log in at all. Multiple users in 2023 reported a bug that sends their authentication code into the void — preventing them from using Alexa. Issues like that have earned ADT’s Alexa Skill a paltry 1.9 out of 5 rating.

Pro Tip: If you run into issues with your ADT system, put down the phone and pull up the live chat. We’ve had better luck getting quick answers online.

You might not think of ADT as a cutting-edge company. But when it comes to smart home automations, it’s one of the best around. You can buy smart lights, switches, locks, thermostats, and more from ADT.

That means you can ask Alexa to dim the lights as well as arm the security system. She’s a multitasker that way.

Like Vivint, ADT funnels customers to sales representatives instead of allowing them to simply add items to a cart. Also like Vivint, ADT encourages customers to sign long contracts instead of paying upfront.

>> Read More: ADT vs. Vivint Comparison

That means it can be tricky to figure out exactly how much an ADT package costs. Allow me to remove the shroud of mystery for you. A typical ADT system costs somewhere in the ballpark of $50 per month for three years.

If you can negotiate free professional installation, do. ADT offers enough smart devices that you could use the extra help.

If you’re looking for a tried-and-true security system that will play nicely with Alexa, Frontpoint should be on your list.

And if you run into problems with installation? You can call up its famously excellent customer service. (Seriously. We managed to get real, live, helpful humans on the phone when we tested Frontpoint.)

Frontpoint’s Alexa Skill earned a mediocre 2.9 rating out of 5, but I think I’ve established that these reviewers are a pretty tough crowd.

More importantly, the Skill enables a range of smart home commands, including checking your room’s temperature, dimming your lights, and disarming your security system.

Not enough automation for you? Pull up the Frontpoint app and make a scene. No, not the screaming “fire” in a crowded room kind of scene. A home automation scene: a list of smart device commands you bundle under one name.

For example, you could create a “go to sleep” scene that triggers turning off all the lights, locking all the doors, and arming the alarm. Say “Alexa, ask Frontpoint to go to sleep,” and watch the magic happen.

Frontpoint Alexa Skill Example Commands

Frontpoint offers smart lights, smart locks, and cameras — all of which are Alexa-compatible. It’s not as wide a selection as Ring’s, but it’s everything you need to start your smart home journey.

>> Learn More: Frontpoint FAQ

Frontpoint offers two professional monitoring plans: the Interactive Plan, for $44.99 per month, and the Ultimate Plan, for $49.99 per month.

Make sure you select the $50-per-month plan, not the $45-per-month plan. That $5 is the difference between excellent smart home integration and little-to-no smart home integration. That’s right: Frontpoint pricing basically has an Alexa tax.

Alexa is a wonderful addition to any secure home. Right? Eh. It’s not that simple. Alexa has advantages and disadvantages as a weapon in your home security arsenal.

Even a basic home security system can come with an overwhelming number of features — that you never use. Are you really going to take the time to set up automatic door locks on your eufy system?

Alexa makes using your smart devices as easy as asking a favor. “Hey, Alexa. Lock all my doors.” Just like that, you’re making the most of your home security system.

Can you really call Alexa safe when it’s constantly listening to you?6 I don’t know about you, but one reason I’m interested in home security is to keep creeps away from me — not to invite them in.

Researchers have shown that it’s not only possible, but pretty simple, to hack Alexa.7 But thankfully, it’s a pretty rare occurrence.

>> Read More: Can Home Security Systems Be Hacked?

So, you’ve decided to invite Alexa to share your home. How do you make the most of your new roommate?

Let’s start with the basics. Alexa doesn’t know you have a security system until you tell her. Add your chosen brand’s Alexa Skill before you start issuing commands.

Don’t stop there. Look for other security-boosting Skills to add to Alexa

I’m a fan of the Guard Dog Skill.8 Owning a big, scary dog is a great way to protect yourself from home invasion. If you don’t actually have a big, scary dog, fake it til you make it!

The $5.99-per-month Alexa Emergency Assist feature turns your Amazon Echo Dot into a supercharged emergency cell phone. When you say, “Alexa, call for help,” you’re connected to a trained monitor who assesses whether you need emergency services.

If you’ve gone with one of our favorite self-monitored security systems, you might want to add Emergency Assist for extra help.

Alexa works with Skills. If you don’t download your security company’s Skill, you won’t be able to use Alexa to control it at all. Here’s what you need to do.

“Hey, Alexa. Enable SimpliSafe” (or Frontpoint, or Vivint, or Ring, or ADT). The Skill will be ready to use in a jiffy. Isn’t that convenient?

If you’d rather tap than talk, open up the Alexa app and navigate to Skills and Games. From there, you can find your home security company’s Skill and add it.

You can always search the Amazon website for a skill. Just make sure you’re signed in to the account that’s linked to Alexa before you hit “enable.”

I thought long and hard about what makes a home security system pair well with Alexa. In the end, I decided on three main criteria. First, does the system have a functional Alexa Skill? Second, is it built for smart homes? Finally, is it a good value for Alexa users?

I’ll be real with you: No security company has a highly rated Alexa Skill. Not even Ring. If and when that changes, I’ll update this list.

For now, I focused on the basics. First, is there an Alexa Skill at all? Deep Sentinel doesn’t have one, which knocked it out of the running.

Next, how much can the Alexa Skill do? Is it limited to arming and disarming, or can it do more advanced tasks, like adjust camera angles? More complexity means more points on my scale.

Alexa can do more than arm and disarm your home security system. She can lock all your doors. She can turn your doorbell into an intercom. She can dim the lights.

That is, if (and this is a big if) you have the smart devices she can talk to. I looked for home security systems that sell smart locks, lights, thermostats, and more.

I didn’t just look at how much a security system costs. I looked at how much it costs to use a security system with Alexa.

For example, you can self-monitor SimpliSafe with Alexa’s help for $9.99 per month (or less). But Frontpoint? Frontpoint’s Alexa-friendly plan costs five times as much. That’s one reason SimpliSafe is my top pick and Frontpoint comes in at No. 5.

Picture this: As you get ready for bed, you say, “Good night, Alexa.” Automatically, your lights turn off and your security system goes on standby. If anyone sneaks around your yard at night, the floodlights will blind them and your siren will go off. And your Alexa will keep you posted every step of the way.

That kind of seamless security is exactly what you can get from the right home security system paired with Alexa.

FYI: Lost Google Home user? We wrote a list for you too. Check out our favorite security systems for Google Home.

As you might expect, Ring Alarm works seamlessly with Alexa. But don’t count out ADT, SimpliSafe, Vivint, or Frontpoint.

Your Amazon Echo can perform basic security functions if you’re signed up for Alexa Emergency Assist.

Combining Alexa with a compatible home security system is where the magic happens. You can ask Alexa to arm your system, turn off sensors, and manage smart lights.

If you sign up for Alexa Emergency Assist, your smart speaker becomes a mini-security device. It will listen for your fire alarm and notify you if it’s going off. It also enables the “Alexa, call for help” command, which connects you to emergency services.

It’s rare, but possible. Researchers have discovered numerous vulnerabilities in Alexa. A determined hacker could listen in on your conversations, gain your password, and more.

Amazon. (2024). Alexa Emergency Assist.amazon.com/dp/B0BZSZBK3T

U.S. Department of Justice. (2023). Amazon Agrees to Injunctive Relief and $25 Million Civil Penalty for Alleged Violations of Children’s Privacy Law Relating to Alexa.justice.gov/opa/pr/amazon-agrees-injunctive-relief-and-25-million-civil-penalty-alleged-violations-childrens

National Public Radio (2024). From Amazon to Facebook and Google, here's how platforms can ‘decay'.npr.org/2024/01/04/1222040458/amazon-google-facebook-twitter-social-media-online

The Verge. (2023). Amazon is placing free Alexa Guard security features behind a paywall.theverge.com/2023/9/25/23888910/amazon-alexa-guard-security-features-paywall-emergency-assist

Ring. (2024). Flo by Moen 1-Inch Smart Water Shutoff.ring.com/products/flo-moen-smart-water-shutoff-valve-1-inch

TIME. (2019). Thousands of Amazon Workers Listen to Alexa Users’ Conversations.time.com/5568815/amazon-workers-listen-to-alexa/

Ars Technica. (2022). Attackers can force Amazon Echos to hack themselves with self-issued commands.arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/03/attackers-can-force-amazon-echos-to-hack-themselves-with-self-issued-commands/

Amazon. (2024). Guard Dog.amazon.com/Voice-Apps-LLC-Guard-Dog/dp/B06XC3D4KN