Best Security Systems for Seniors in 2026, Tested for Senior-friendly Features

1. SimpliSafe - Best Professional Monitoring

SecurityScore:

9.8 /10

877-621-6572

See Packages Links to SimpliSafe

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $250.96
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starts at $22.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

877-621-6572

See Packages Links to SimpliSafe

What You Need to Know About SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe’s flexibility is its biggest selling point. You can install the security system yourself or leave it to the pros. SimpliSafe also offers self-monitoring options, but of course, we recommend getting a professional monitoring plan for optimal protection. It starts at $22.99 per month for basic coverage, and $32.99 per month for systems with cameras.

SimpliSafe security systems are well-rounded. They include door sensors and motion sensors for keeping intruders out. They also come with a separate base station that has a built-in siren for scaring away burglars. In our testing, it was slightly louder than ADT’s siren. You can also purchase an even louder siren (105 dB) as an add-on, especially if you or your loved one is hard of hearing.

SimpliSafe has things down pat in home hazard prevention. A dedicated smoke alarm and a combo alarm (smoke and gas leak detector) are available. But there’s one piece of equipment that stands out: The temperature sensor. We recommend caretakers place one in the bedroom to constantly monitor the temperature and get alerts when it gets too hot or too cold for comfort.

What Makes SimpliSafe Different?

There’s one other piece of equipment from SimpliSafe that stands out. It’s an indoor security camera called the Wireless Indoor Camera. Combined with SimpliSafe’s Core monitoring subscription, monitoring agents can use the camera to check on the homeowner. But the device can also be used by the SimpliSafe monitoring center to see why an alarm has been triggered. The agents will even talk to intruders and try to convince them to leave.

SimpliSafe calls this feature Intruder Intervention. During our simulations, the Wireless Indoor Camera privacy shutter opened when it detected the intruder. A SimpliSafe monitoring agent let them know they were being recorded and police were on the way. We think Intruder Intervention makes the Core plan worthwhile, especially for older adults who are vulnerable to home invasions.

The Wireless Indoor Camera’s privacy shutter also offers older adults privacy and independence. In our testing, the shutter stayed closed until our system was armed and motion was detected. It’s a feature we wish was included with more cameras, like the Nest Cam we tested from ADT.

Our Hands-On Experience With SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe is one of the most user-friendly security systems out there, especially for aging users. Instead of a touch screen panel, there’s a calculator-like keypad with physical buttons. It’s wireless, so you can install it anywhere. The keypad even told us we left a window open when we were trying to arm the system.

There’s also a key fob for disarming the system or arming it in home or away mode. It was as easy to operate as the ADT Key Fob, although SimpliSafe’s version can be programmed to send out medical alerts. Note that the one from ADT only triggered the security alarm, so SimpliSafe’s is better for folks prone to medical emergencies.

Frankly though, we spent most of our time testing SimpliSafe with our Core monitoring plan. Although SimpliSafe is one of the best no-monthly-fee security systems, we strongly recommend signing up for professional monitoring to enjoy the same crime-preventing perks we accessed:

• Alarm Texts: SimpliSafe sends text messages within 15 seconds of an alarm being triggered. We could verify or cancel the alarm. If you don’t respond, SimpliSafe will call in around 30-45 seconds to check on you.
• Video verification: Every triggered alarms was verified by the SimpliSafe monitoring center via our security camera live feed. Verifying alarms helps police respond faster
• Intruder Intervention: This feature improves on video verification by giving SimpliSafe monitoring agents access to the Wireless Indoor Camera and deterring intruders.
• Cloud video recording: All SimpliSafe monitoring plans with security camera support includes 30 days of video history for up to 10 cameras.

As for downsides, SimpliSafe’s installation fee could be cheaper. It’s a DIY system, but we encourage users with mobility issues to go with professional installation. Unfortunately, SimpliSafe’s installation partner charges at least $124.99 for the service. It’s still cheaper than ADT and Vivint, which we’ll talk about next.

We would also like to see more home automation options from SimpliSafe. While it has voice support with Google Assistant and Alexa, it’s limited compared to ADT and Vivint. We were hoping for home automation functions such as automatically locking doors when leaving the house or arming the security system at specific times. These types of features can greatly improve safety and security for seniors.

SimpliSafe Equipment and Monitoring Pricing

We love SimpliSafe’s straightforward and affordable equipment pricing. But there are also things to consider, like the fact that SimpliSafe’s equipment financing plans are only up to two years. That means you might have to shell out more upfront than you would with ADT. In the long run, though, SimpliSafe is cheaper.

Also, stay on the lookout for SimpliSafe deals. While the company doesn’t offer senior discounts at the moment, it often has special discounts for new customers that can cut the equipment price by up to 60-percent. A free indoor camera is also usually included in the offer.

Now, for professional monitoring, SimpliSafe offers Standard and Core plans. The features we highlighted above are included in the Core plan.

• The Standard plan comes with 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup, and not much else. It costs $22.99 per month.
• The Core plan adds camera support, alarm texts, video verification, and Intruder Intervention. You can access your system with voice commands via Google Assistant or Alexa. Core costs $32.99 per month.

2. ADT - Best Professionally Installed

SecurityScore:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

Get Free Quote Links to Adtsecuritysystem.com

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $269
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $24.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month or 36 months and up
Installation Options	Professional and DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

855-908-4461

Get Free Quote Links to Adtsecuritysystem.com

What You Need to Know About ADT

ADT has been around for over 150 years and has earned a reputation for being one of the best home security system providers in the industry. It’s backed by its award-winning 24/7 monitoring that covers intrusion, hazard, and health monitoring.

You can build your own ADT security system or grab one of the equipment packages. But we recommend starting with a physical keypad and a few motion sensors to monitor for any intrusions. From there, you can add on safety equipment like smoke alarms and gas leak detectors, which are also monitored by ADT. The center will dispatch police, fire, or medical responders if required.

We also recommend adding security cameras. The ADT security cameras are from the Google Nest range, which is great. These devices can recognize regular visitors, such as family members or caretakers, and send notifications to the homeowner to let them know they’ve arrived. And while those features typically require a subscription from Google Nest, they are included in ADT’s professional monitoring. That means you won’t have to buy separate subscriptions from ADT and Google Nest, saving you money.

What Makes ADT Different?

ADT offers choices. You can buy the equipment you need off the ADT website and set it up yourself. Alternatively, you can tick a box at checkout for someone to come out and install the security system for you. This comes at a price depending on how many devices you bought.

We took a different approach when signing up for ADT. Our experience with ADT started with a consultation and continued on with professional installation and monitoring. Here’s how it went:

1. On day one, we called ADT for a quote.
2. A security expert visited us personally on the same day to discuss our options and make recommendations based on our home’s layout.
3. We finalized our order. The next day, an installation specialist set up the system for us.
4. The installer activated the professional monitoring service before leaving.

We didn’t have to do anything labor-intensive throughout the process. ADT took care of everything. The company’s white-glove service is its main advantage.

Of course, ADT’s full-service offering comes with a full-service price to match. (It’s not cheap!) But if it’s within your budget, ADT is a great pick to take care of you or your aging loved one.

Our Hands-On Experience With ADT

While we were watching our technician install the equipment, we started to wonder if ADT was going to be too high-tech for seniors. But playing around with the ADT keypad and getting hands-on with the ADT+ app helped relieve those fears. Even if someone struggles with technology, they’ll have no trouble managing this security system.

Arming and disarming the system is all you really need to do to enjoy ADT’s protection. When armed in Away mode, all sensors actively monitor for potential break-ins. In Home Mode, all sensors except the motion sensors are armed. This will allow you or your loved one to roam freely inside while the rest of the ADT system keeps burglars out. And keep in mind, anytime an armed sensor detects an intruder, it notifies ADT’s monitoring center.

So, how easy was it to arm and disarm ADT? We had several options:

• ADT Key Fob: This was the easiest method for arming and disarming. It has dedicated buttons for arming (shield with a check), disarming (shield with an X), and Home Mode (shield with a person icon). There’s also a button to trigger a panic alarm manually. The Key Fob doesn’t require a passcode to arm or disarm – recommended for seniors who tend to be forgetful.
• ADT+ App: The ADT+ app is as easy to use as a TV remote control. It can be used to arm and disarm the system, turn on lights, and lock and unlock smart locks. This all-in-one security system app also works with Google Nest features like Trusted Neighbor. That means seniors won’t need to switch to another app to access specific features.
• ADT Keypad: The ADT hub has a keypad, but we recommend getting a second one for the living room or bedroom. It’s handy when you want to cancel false alarms or you need quick access to police, medical, or fire. It also lights when you’re within three feet, making it easier to find at night.

The ADT hub has a siren that sounds when the alarm is triggered. We could hear it from the living room and kitchen, but the noise didn’t quite make it upstairs. We recommend getting extra sirens or keypads to cover upper floors.

The monitoring service was really the icing on the cake. With cellular and battery backup, ADT monitored our security system day in and day out, with or without power and internet. Also, every time we spoke with a monitoring agent – about six to eight times throughout our month-long test – they always sounded calm and level-headed.

ADT Equipment and Monitoring Costs

Our biggest concern about recommending ADT is the price, especially the price of the equipment. The system we received was high-quality, but it was nearly twice as expensive as SimpliSafe equipment (our #2 pick for seniors). To give you some context, here’s SimpliSafe vs ADT’s pricing on some components:

Thankfully, you do have the option to pay in installments with ADT. The equipment cost will be added to your ADT monthly fee and you can choose to pay in two, three, or five years. SimpliSafe offers financing too, but only for up to two years. ADT’s longer financing plans mean that you can enjoy lower monthly installments. Just note that there will be an early cancellation fee if you try to cancel your security contract early (up to 75% of your remaining balance).

Monitoring starts from $34.99 for professionally installed systems. But if you take our advice and add security cameras, you’ll need to subscribe to the top plan, which is $49.99 per month. That’s on par with Frontpoint’s sole monitoring plan. We considered adding them to this list, but we thought the Frontpoint’s prices were too expensive.

One way to bring the price down is to install the ADT security system yourself. You won’t have to pay an installation fee, and the monitoring plans are cheaper. Professional monitoring starts from $24.99 and the top plan is $39.99. That’s a saving of $120 over the year for the same features.

3. Vivint - Best Senior Home Security With Home Automation

SecurityScore:

9.4 /10

855-949-2109

Get Free Quote Links to Vivintdeals.com

Product Specs

Equipment costs	Starting at $199
Monitoring options	Professional
Monthly monitoring costs	Starting from $24.99 per month
Contract lengths	Starting at 42 months
Installation options	Professional
Smart platform integration	Alexa and Google Home

855-949-2109

Get Free Quote Links to Vivintdeals.com

What You Need to Know About Vivint

Vivint is about as full-service as ADT. It offers professional installation and monitoring. And in our experience, Vivint offers a top-notch level of customer service. There is that four- to five-year monitoring contract to watch out for, which is longer than ADT’s three-year standard contract. But Vivint is a great security system nonetheless.

A Vivint security system relies heavily on sensors and security cameras to offer protection against intruders. The security cameras are especially great at deterring crime. We tested the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro and saw how the Smart Deter feature powered by A.I. used lights and sound to proactively scare off trespassers. And before you get nervous by the mention of A.I., let us assure you that Vivint’s camera isn’t hard to use. After initial setup, Smart Deter worked on its own without additional input from us. That’s the power of automation.

What Makes Vivint Different?

You might have already guessed it – Vivint’s biggest advantage is its home automation technology. We don’t normally hear the words ‘home automation’ and ‘seniors’ together, but Vivint set up its smart security system in a way that benefits older adult users, even if they’re not particularly good with new technology.

Let us give you a couple of examples from our Vivint hands-on test.

• Automated temperature control: We paired our Nest Thermostat with our Vivint system and made it so that arming and disarming Vivint would adjust our thermostat automatically. Armed Home and Disarmed set the thermostat to 72 degrees because those modes indicate that we are home. Armed Away sets the thermostat to Eco Mode to save energy while we’re away. Automating the temperature can help seniors stay comfortable at home.
• Automated lighting: We also programmed our smart lights to respond to our Vivint sensors. The motion sensor outside our bedroom triggers our hallway lights to turn on when there’s movement – useful both for scaring away burglars and for when we have to get up in the middle of the night. We imagine it would be useful for seniors too.

So you see, automating smart devices can help aging adults live safely and more comfortably. And if you’re looking for a smart home security system to do that, we personally recommend Vivint.

Our Hands-On Experience With Vivint

Automation can also help deter burglars, but let’s talk about our experience with Vivint purely as a security system.

For starters, we noticed really fast response times from Vivint’s professional monitoring. We received text alerts as fast as under 10 seconds after triggering a sensor and then a phone call within 45 seconds. ADT was a little faster, but Vivint’s response time is within the 30- to 60-second industry average.

Here’s how Vivint’s response times compared to ADT and SimpliSafe:

Those text alerts from Vivint were exceptionally fast. And since we could confirm or ignore alerts through text, Vivint’s alerting process saved us precious time.

Additionally, we liked that Vivint’s Smart Hub – the touch screen control panel that controls the system – has a two-way audio link to the monitoring center. We think that would really be helpful to seniors in emergency situations as they won’t need to pick up the phone. They can speak with Vivint’s monitoring hands-free as long as the Smart Hub is within earshot. It’s pretty loud, too! We could audibly hear it from the kitchen, which is a good 15 feet from the Smart Hub.

Vivint Equipment and Monitoring Pricing

We loved Vivint for all the smart technology it offers, but we’re not big fans of Vivint’s pricing nor its lack of transparency. You won’t find out anything about Vivint’s pricing through its website. The only way to get a quote is to request one by leaving your contact information or by calling Vivint’s phone numbers. That can make comparing security systems more difficult if you’re considering more than one option. Plus, we noticed that Vivint’s sales representatives have a tendency to try to upsell customers.

On the bright side, we think Vivint’s monitoring pricing is fair. It starts at $39 per month, so it’s more expensive than ADT (starts at $24.99) and SimpliSafe’s (starts at $22.99) cheapest offers. But considering the home automation features, that’s a good price.

On the equipment end, though, expect to pay Vivint more. The base package starts at $599.99, and add-on equipment can be expensive too. The Outdoor Camera Pro we tested cost us $399, and the indoor camera and video doorbell sell for $249 each. Vivint’s higher equipment pricing is the main reason it’s only third on this list, even though it’s about as good as ADT feature-wise.