Best Hardwired Home Security Systems of 2024 - Security.org
1. ADT - Best for Professional Monitoring
Product Specs
| Equipment Costs | Packages starting at $599 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monthly Monitoring Costs | Starting at $25 per month |
| Contract Lengths | 36 months and up |
| Installation Options | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Type of Wired Equipment
ADT offers a wide range of home security and safety equipment, but the bundles available online include mostly wireless components. The only wired devices you can buy online are the Google Nest Cam (wired, indoor), the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, and the Google Nest Thermostat for temperature automation.1 You might notice that those are all Google products. As of 2021, ADT has entered a partnership with Google.2
While the options available online are limited, you can get more if you call ADT directly. That's our preferred method of buying an ADT system, anyway, because it lets us customize our security system. Other than Google cameras, ADT offers wired ADT-branded cameras that can be linked to a local recorder with a cable, which is often reserved for ADT's business security systems.
Installation
Even though most of ADT's equipment is wireless, it still requires professional installation. The downside is that the service isn't free. ADT's pricing for installation starts at about $100 but can scale up depending on the size of the system. The last time we had an ADT system installed, it cost us a little over $150 for a comprehensive security system.
On the bright side, though, it's because of that professional installation that ADT can offer a six-month money-back guarantee on equipment. For example, when a component they installed malfunctioned a week after getting installed, ADT's technician came back and repaired it for free, but we were told we'd be able to get our money back if they couldn't fix it. They have the longest money-back guarantee in the market; others like SimpliSafe offer a 60-day guarantee, but the industry norm is 30 days.
>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. ADT
Monitoring
ADT's biggest asset is monitoring, which is why it's our best recommendation for those who are looking for a monitored security system with wired equipment. ADT boasts nine monitoring centers, each equipped with backup generators, servers, and communication lines. That lines up well with ADT's equipment, which also comes with backup power (24-hour battery) and communication (cellular).
Another thing about ADT's monitoring to note: if your home comes with existing wired security sensors, you might be able to hook them up with a new ADT system. You'll have to give ADT a call to find out if that's possible, but it's one of the few remaining companies with the technology to bridge the gap between old and new systems. Most ADT alternatives, like Vivint and SimpliSafe, only work with self-branded sensors — which are almost always wireless.
>> Further Reading: Vivint vs. ADT
What We Like
- Gold-standard professional monitoring service
- Mix of wired and wireless equipment from Google and ADT
- Six-month money-back guarantee
- Frequent deals
What We Don't Like
- Requires a monitoring contract
- Monitoring fee can cost up to $60
- Customer support can be a mixed bag
- Professional installation service isn't free
Why We Picked ADT
While ADT security systems aren't fully wired, you can get a good mix of wired and wireless components. The latest ADT security system we tested was called ADT Control, which comes with modern equipment but has some wired devices. For example, we tested the ADT indoor and outdoor cameras, both of which are wired. As you would expect from wired cameras, they don't offer the latest features. They don't have AI-powered detection like the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro we reviewed or facial recognition like the Nest Cam (battery) we tested. Still, ADT's cameras covered the basics, which included live video streaming to our smartphones, timely motion alerts, and event recording.
As for the sensors, unfortunately, ADT has gone completely wire free. That's not necessarily bad, though, because even though they run on batteries, they can last up to five years. They also have pretty good range, up to 350 feet from the control panel. We — or rather, the ADT technician — didn't run into any problems outfitting our 2,000-square-foot abode. The wireless sensors from ADT are good even for large-sized homes.
>> Related: The Best Security Systems for Large Homes
2. Ring Alarm - Best Wired Security and Doorbell Camera Options
Product Specs
| Equipment Costs | Starting at $199 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional and DIY |
| Monthly Monitoring Costs | Starting at $20 |
| Contract Lengths | 1-12 months |
| Installation Options | DIY or professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Type of Wired Equipment
Much like ADT, our Ring Alarm security system worked with a number of wired security cameras, as well as video doorbells. Unlike ADT, though, Ring security cameras and doorbells offered much more advanced features. For example, some of the security and doorbell cameras use advanced motion detection powered by radar, which makes tracking a guest's movement from a bird's-eye view possible. Some versions of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Ring Spotlight Cam we tested offer that feature.
From the sheer number of available options alone, it's clear that Ring has a leg up on ADT from an equipment standpoint. Ring offers three variants of wired outdoor cameras, two variants of wired indoor cameras, and four variants of wired doorbell cameras. You can integrate any of those options into a Ring Alarm security system.
Installation
Another difference between Ring Alarm and ADT is that Ring doesn't require professional installation. It's a DIY system. That said, if you're having wired cameras installed, you can enlist the help of OnTech, a third-party home service provider that specializes in Ring installation.3 They can set up any Ring product, but we recommend hiring them if you're having a Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus or Pro installed, as those require hardwiring the unit to a junction box.
As for the other Ring products, we were able to set them up ourselves without a hitch. The Ring Alarm sensors were pretty much plug-and-play, and while the Ring Video Doorbell Pro needed hardwiring to our existing doorbell setup, the installation was cut-and-dry. We followed the instruction manual to the dot and set it up in under 15 minutes.
>> More Information: How to Install Home Security Cameras
Monitoring
Ring also goes a different route than most other security companies in terms of monitoring. Professional monitoring is highly recommended, but not required. That means you could have a Ring security setup without paying monthly fees. It's one of the best no-monthly-fee security systems right now, next only to SimpliSafe and abode, both of which offer completely wireless equipment.
On top of the professional monitoring service being optional, it's also affordable. It's more affordable than even SimpliSafe, our top low-cost security option. Ring will monitor your security system for $20 per month, and that includes unlimited cloud storage for as many Ring cameras and doorbells as you have in your home. ADT charges three times as much for similar features, while SimpliSafe charges $29.99 for the same (but cloud storage is for 10 cameras only).
What We Like
- Wide selection of wired security and doorbell cameras
- Advanced features including built-in security lights and smart detection
- Professional monitoring is optional
- Retrofit kits for existing wired equipment
What We Don't Like
- Security and doorbell cameras require an internet connection
- No free or local video storage options
- History of security breaches
- Limited wireless range for wireless sensors
Why We Picked Ring Alarm
Everything we detailed above is for those who are looking to buy a security system with some wired components, but Ring is also a great option for those who've moved into a house with existing wired security sensors. That's because of the Ring Retrofit Kit, a conversion system of sorts that allows wired security sensors to integrate with the mostly-wireless Ring Alarm system.
A friend of ours moved into an apartment with existing wired sensors recently, which gave us the perfect opportunity to test out the Ring Retrofit Kit. We got it for $79.99 and were able to connect most of the existing door and window sensors. Unfortunately, it only works with those types of sensors. Ring says it doesn't work with other types of sensors4, so the existing wired motion sensors and sirens were pretty much bricked.
Another thing to keep in mind is that it still requires a Ring Alarm base station to activate monitoring and remote control features. The Retrofit Kit was basically just a bridge, so we still had to buy a $199.99 Ring Alarm kit to get it to work. So was the Retrofit Kit really worth it? Frankly, it wasn't for our friend's apartment, which only had five existing door and window sensors. But if you've moved into a larger home with more wired sensors, it may be worth it.
>> Learn More: The Best Security Systems for New Construction Homes
3. Lorex - Best for DIY Video Monitoring
Product Specs
| Resolution | Up to 4K HD |
|---|---|
| Field of View | Up to 180° |
| Power | Wired, battery, PoE |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, ethernet |
| Video Storage | Cloud, Local |
| Smart Platform Compatibility | Alexa and Google Home |
Types of Wired Equipment
Lorex isn't a security system in the traditional sense, but rather a security camera brand. It offers the widest selection of wired security cameras we've ever seen. There are 51 different options, each available in two to five configurations sorted by the number of cameras included. The largest systems, which cost over $5,000, include 32 cameras, but that's usually for large establishments and businesses. For homes, Lorex offers solid four-camera systems for as low as $279.
We haven't tested all of them, but we did test a Lorex 4K camera system with four cameras and a 1 TB local recording box (aka NVR). It was wired both for power and internet connectivity, making it one of the most reliable wired security cameras in the market today.
Installation
Unfortunately, Lorex is a DIY brand. It doesn't offer professional installation, but much like Ring, it has a preferred installation partner. InstallerNet handles Lorex installation for the entirety of the United States.
In our experience, though, even wired Lorex cameras aren't too much to handle DIY style. Sure, running a wire from the camera to the NVR necessitated us crawling up into the attic and drilling some holes into our ceiling, but there's nothing too technical to set up, even for an average Joe or Jane. All it took was some creativity and duct tape to make the wiring work in less than half a day. Not bad.
Monitoring
This is completely nonexistent with Lorex. That's one of its downsides compared to ADT and Ring Alarm. Lorex sells hardware and offers apps you can use to assist in DIY monitoring, but it doesn't offer monitoring services at all — not that that's something you should expect from a security camera brand. Most security cameras are self-monitored. Only a handful of them offer professional monitoring, like Deep Sentinel, for example.
That said, Lorex makes DIY monitoring a breeze. Its NVRs and DVRs record continuous video so they don't miss a thing. Some models, like the 4K system we tested, can even highlight motion events in the timeline for easier playback. Just set aside some time every few days to review moments you might have missed. That's not a substitute for real-time professional monitoring, of course, but that's usually as good as it gets with security cameras. Additionally, Lorex can send real-time motion and event alerts.
What We Like
- Can work without Wi-Fi
- Rugged and versatile security cameras
- Continuous video recording without monthly fees
- Expandable local storage
What We Don't Like
- Installing wired cameras can be a hassle
- No professional monitoring
- Bulky equipment
- Limited customer service
Why We Picked Lorex
One of Lorex's greatest attributes is its ability to work without Wi-Fi. As we mentioned earlier, that's a particular problem some homeowners looking to install a wired security system face. Most security cameras don't work without Wi-Fi because they need to be able to connect to the internet to generate alerts and send recordings to the cloud. When we tried using Lorex without Wi-Fi, it stopped generating alerts but still recorded continuously. That's a valuable feature if your home doesn't have Wi-Fi or an internet connection.
Of course, we recommend connecting Lorex to Wi-Fi to enjoy the extent of its features. And don't think of Lorex as just a plain old CCTV system. Its equipment may look bulky, but Lorex offers advanced features like smart home integrations. We were able to pair our Lorex system with the Amazon Echo Show 8 we reviewed for voice controlled livestreaming. Our NVR also supported facial recognition and person-detection features, much like Arlo's high-tech security cameras.
>> Learn More: Arlo Ultra Review
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