Best Home Security System Companies in Boston, MA [Top 6 for 2018]

BOSTON CRIME

Boston—a city so well-known for its rich history, vast educational offerings, and cultural diversity—might surprise you when it comes to criminal activity. According to a recent study by the FBI, a person’s chance of becoming a victim of violent or property crime in Boston is 1 in 43.

Considering those odds, looking into the best home security systems in Boston is not a bad idea.

Violent crime statistics (murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, and aggravated assault) are particularly high in Boston, where the chances of a person becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 134.

As for property crime (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson), Boston residents have a 1 in 43 chance of becoming a victim of one of these lawless acts.

Boston is considerably more dangerous than the rest of Massachusetts, with more than 95% of other MA cities having lower crime rates than Boston. The city’s overall crime rate is also higher than the national average at a rate of 31 crimes per one thousand residents.

The many charming neighborhoods both of Boston proper and the neighboring cities of Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and others (which are part of Boston’s greater metropolitan area), can make it feel as though you’re in a quaint succession of small towns, yet despite this idyllic setting, 1 in 43 residents are likely to become victims of property crime.

Though there’s been a slight decline in home invasions since 2001, burglaries are still a concern for Bostonians. These types of home invasions directly affect the quality of life of community members, often robbing them of their sense of safety and security and causing obvious monetary losses.

A study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that more than a quarter of all burglaries occur when a family member is in the home, and this can lead to the fear of re-victimization commonly experienced when a home is broken into.

Since they are located in a  a large, developed area, Boston homes are more prone to burglaries than those in more remote and isolated communities. There are, however, several factors that can contribute to an increased risk of property crime, including proximity to transportation hubs, pawn shops, and economically/socially disadvantaged or disorganized areas.

Risky time periods depend on the day of the week, with more burglaries occurring during work hours. Relative proximity to hospitals, police stations, and firehouses can help mitigate risk factors, as the increased traffic of authority figures can deter burglars.

HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS

Whether you live in a single bedroom apartment in the Latin Quarter of Jamaica Plain or a rowhouse in Beacon Hill, you need to know what steps you can take in order to protect your home and your family. Investing in a good home security system is one of the best ways to avoid a burglary altogether.

The simplest of these systems just monitor windows and doors via sensors that communicate with a control panel—but some also offer additional features such as fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, and flood detection.

The latest trend in home security is full automation, which allows homeowners to not only control their security system directly from their smartphones, but also their home's temperature and lighting, for example. These add-ons not only protect you from intruders, but also alert you to other potential hazards.

WIRELESS VS WIRED

One of the first things consumers have to decide when looking into home security systems in Boston is whether they want their home security system to be wired or wireless.

Both of these methods have their pros and cons. It’s important to point out that when talking about wired vs. wireless systems, we are talking about two different factors: wired vs. wireless communication within the home (how all of the system’s door & window sensors, motion sensors, cameras, and other devices communicate with the system’s control panel) and wired vs. wireless communication outside the home (how the security system communicates with the outside world, including monitoring stations).

Wired systems tend to be more stable because they eliminate the risk of losing service or suffering a signal interruption, but they also require professional installation (holes need to be drilled into walls, for example) and communication could be rendered useless if an intruder cuts the wire or line outside.

Wireless systems are usually easier to install and more affordable. The most common and reliable setup is a combination of both wired and wireless technology (if an intruder cuts the line, there’s a cellular backup), with most devices inside the home communicating wirelessly with the central system.

D.I.Y. VS PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

Consumers also need to decide whether they want their equipment to be professionally installed or if they want to install it themselves.

Do-it-yourself installation is usually cheaper than professional installation because it keeps consumers from paying a hefty installation fee.

Equipment meant for D.I.Y. installation is usually light and wireless, making it ideal for renters, but consumers generally have to pay more upfront because D.I.Y. companies might require a higher initial payment for the use of the equipment.

Professional installation, on the other hand, usually costs less upfront because consumers have to sign up for annual contracts and the price of the equipment is either included in the monthly fees or waived.

Professional installation and professional monitoring are a good idea for homeowners or those who expect to reside in the same location for the duration of the contract.

MONITORING

Apart from professional and do-it-yourself installation, there’s also the choice of professional or self-monitoring. Professional monitoring means that, for a monthly fee, the security company will surveil your home security system from their monitoring stations.

If an incident occurs, a trained emergency responder will contact you and/or dispatch a response unit (police, fire, or medical emergency unit).

Consumers who decide to go the self-monitoring route will be automatically notified by their home security system via text, email, or push notifications whenever an incident occurs. They will then have to either call emergency response units themselves or disarm the system if it's a false alarm.

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

The best modern home security systems in Boston grant consumers total control over their security and home automation features through technological integration. Using the companies’ mobile device apps (commonly available for Android and Apple operating systems), consumers can arm & disarm their systems, monitor live-feeds, view system logs, and receive push notifications, regardless of location, as long as they have access to the internet through their smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices.

Additionally, more and more home security and automation companies are integrating other proprietary virtual assistant technologies (such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa) into their systems.

This cross-platform integration is of particular interest to tech-savvy customers who wish to have access to all of their home's connected systems.

HOME AUTOMATION & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

For an extra layer of protection, comfort, and efficiency, consumers have the option of adding home automation features and environmental protection to their existing home security plans.

Components such as smart locks, garage door sensors, and indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras can provide an added level of security and give customers greater peace of mind; if they don’t remember whether they locked the door that morning, they can just do it remotely through a smartphone app.

Other features such as smart lights, thermostats, fire, flood, carbon monoxide, and freeze sensors allow customers to better control their environment and prevent any avoidable issues related to natural events (high carbon monoxide levels, frozen pipes, leaks, or fires).

BUDGET

Whether in Boston or any other part of the U.S., your budget will determine the plans you can choose from. But, as real estate prices skyrocket in the Greater Boston metropolitan region, investing in an adequate home security and automation system can safeguard your most valuable asset.

Furthermore, options such as smart lights and thermostat control can help lower utility payments, saving you extra money. Most home security companies offer free consultations, on-site inspections, and quotes with different coverage options, so it may be a good idea to approach more than one in order to accurately compare their prices and services.

Some common costs include an installation fee (which can be avoided by going the do-it-yourself route), a monthly fee (which can include professional monitoring fees), and a possible equipment fee, which may be billed monthly or as a one-time expense.

You should also be aware that some systems require a long-term contract, some have auto-renewal policies, and some insist on cancellation fees. In that sense, knowing how long you will live on the property can help you determine the length of the contract you should opt for and whether you'll eventually have to pay cancellation fees.

REPUTATION

When researching home security systems in Boston, be sure to review each company’s reputation and customer service. Any great home security company will make sure to offer 24/7 monitoring and coverage, with guarantees.

The company's Better Business Bureau grade can be a good indicator of their customer service quality, but make it a point to check whether their monitoring centers are UL listed (this means they’ve met or exceeded the standards set forth by Underwriters Laboratories, an internationally recognized safety organization), and that their Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) rating is respectable (ideally a five-diamond certification).

All the home security systems we’ve researched and recommend for the greater Boston area offer competitive pricing, impeccable response times, and excellent customer service.

1. FRONTPOINT SECURITY

Frontpoint Security is a Virginia-based home security company that provides security solutions and consulting for residential and commercial properties. Founded in 2007, the company services the Greater Boston metropolitan region and features wireless and cellular connections, 24/7 professional monitoring, self-diagnostic checks every sixty minutes, and optional additions for home automation.

They also offer a 30-day money back guarantee and a 3-year warranty on its equipment. Their app for smartphones and tablets (Android and Apple) includes a remote-control feature for smart-home fixtures such as lighting and temperature regulating devices that is compatible with virtual assistant technologies such as Amazon Alexa.

For round-the-clock monitoring, the company retains the services of Rapid Response Monitoring, an award-winning firm whose trained personnel specialize in advanced response technologies. Frontpoint Security has a reputation for excellent customer service, particularly their fast response times, and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, the highest possible grade.

2. ADT

ADT is the largest and one of the most trusted home security companies in the U.S. and Canada, with over 140 years of experience and more than 8 million customers. It offers home security equipment with fully customizable features that can be monitored and controlled via the company's smartphone app.

With more than 18,000 representatives across the country, the experts at ADT can assist customers in customizing alarm systems to fit their specific home needs. The company's Boston team offers same-day installation, a 6-month money-back guarantee, a theft protection guarantee (if applicable), and 24/7 live phone support.

ADT also offers a variety of options in addition to burglary protection, such as flood detection, smoke and heat sensors, and smart-home automation (lights, locks, thermostats, garage doors, and others). The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which speaks to its reliable customer support whether by phone or online.

3. PROTECT AMERICA

Protect America is a home security company that has been servicing households and small businesses for over 25 years. Founded in 1992 and based in Austin, Texas, the company’s entire operation is handled in-house and they offer their services in all 50 states, including the Boston metro area.

They provide customizable home security systems of the DIY variety (self-installation) with an assortment of home automation features for customers looking for hi-tech solutions. The company's app lets consumers arm or disarm the system, monitor live video, and control the lighting and front door lock, all from their mobile devices.

Protect America also offers 24/7 monitoring services via traditional landline, broadband, or cellular network. The company has been featured on NPR, ABC, and the History Channel, among others, and maintains an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

4. VIVINT

Founded in 1999 and located in Provo, Utah, Vivint is one of the leading providers of smart-home solutions in the U.S.A and Canada. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Vivint Smart Home provides home security, energy management, home automation, local cloud storage, and high-speed internet services in an integrated platform.

Their systems are fully customizable, offering plans that specifically match the customer’s needs while allowing greater flexibility when choosing payment options (either financing or upfront). They feature 24/7 professional monitoring and a smartphone app that can remotely access, view, and control all aspects of their systems, such as locks, windows, lights, thermostats, and cameras.

The company is a great fit for those looking for home security systems that are smart home-compatible (including integration with virtual assistant technologies) and easy to control through mobile devices. Vivint requires professional installation and a contract, but their systems can be installed in homes of any size and are available in the Cambridge-Boston-Newton metro area.

5. SIMPLISAFE

Born out of the need for simple, effective, and affordable security systems, particularly for renters, SimpliSafe emerged as a local, Boston-area home security company in 2006. They now offer monitoring services and systems across the United States, with over 2 million customers.

These systems are self-installed, or do-it-yourself, but are easily set up without drilling or tools. They don't require a contract or a landline and come with a 60-day, money-back guarantee.

SimpliSafe offers different packages to fit different budgets and home sizes, such as a 14-piece system for larger homes and a 4-piece system for smaller apartments. These systems communicate wirelessly, are professionally monitored 24/7, and fully customizable.

SimpliSafe's keypad has smash-proof protection, which alerts authorities even if damaged. The company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating, which is a good indicator of reliable customer support.

6. LINK INTERACTIVE

With over 60 years in the business, Link Interactive offers customizable home security systems tailored to homeowners' needs and budgets. Link Interactive is a home security provider with fully cellular systems, two-way voice technology, and smash and crash protection.

They have a do it yourself systems that are completely customizable, professionally monitored 24/7, and include a 30-day risk-free trial. They also offer optional home automation and three different contract lengths (1, 2, or 3 years) with a guaranteed rate lock for the duration of the term.

Link Interactive’s affordable plans include features regularly found in higher-end plans from other companies and come with a 3-year warranty for all security or home automation equipment.

For homeowners with a previously installed system, Link Interactive even has a takeover program for equipment integration. Their A+ Better Business Bureau rating speaks to the quality of their customer service, which is also evidenced by a high number of positive online reviews.