SecurityCompassHQ scores systems on 5 weighted dimensions: monitoring quality (30%), equipment value (20%), ease of setup (20%), contract terms (15%), and smart home integration (15%). No brand pays to influence its score — rankings are finalized before any affiliate relationship is established.
This page documents exactly how we evaluate and score home security systems. We publish our methodology because transparency is the foundation of credible editorial content — you should be able to verify our work.
Key takeaways
| Dimension | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring quality | 30% | Response time, Five Diamond certification, redundancy, cellular failover, dispatch accuracy, 24/7 availability |
| Equipment value | 20% | Hardware cost vs. coverage area, sensor quality, camera resolution, battery life, warranty, financing terms |
| Ease of setup | 20% | Installation time (DIY or professional), app quality, configuration complexity, customer support |
| Contract terms | 15% | Cancellation policy, penalty fees, minimum term, equipment financing separation, price lock |
| Smart home integration | 15% | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, Zigbee, third-party automation |
Each dimension is scored 1–10 using a sub-criterion rubric. The final score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal point.
The specific criteria evaluated within each scoring dimension. These criteria inform how each 1–10 dimension score is assigned.
| Dimension | Specific evaluation criteria |
|---|---|
| Monitoring quality (30%) | CSAA Five Diamond certification status · UL-listed monitoring center · Cellular backup included in base plan · Average dispatch response time data · Number of redundant monitoring centers · 24/7 staffing documentation · False alarm response protocol |
| Equipment value (20%) | Starter kit price vs. sensors included · Price per additional sensor · Camera resolution and field of view · Sensor battery life · Hub battery backup duration · Hardware warranty terms · Equipment financing availability and total cost |
| Ease of setup (20%) | Installation type (DIY self-install vs. professional required) · Typical install time · App store rating and review quality · Configuration complexity · Steps from unboxing to first armed state · Customer support availability and documented response time |
| Contract terms (15%) | Monitoring contract length (month-to-month vs. multi-year) · Early termination fee formula and maximum exposure · Equipment financing separation from monitoring contract · Price lock guarantee availability · Portability to a new address · Cancellation notice window |
| Smart home integration (15%) | Amazon Alexa native skill availability · Google Home / Google Assistant support · Apple HomeKit certification · Z-Wave hub compatibility · Zigbee hub compatibility · IFTTT support · Matter protocol roadmap · Number of officially supported third-party devices |
Contract terms criteria are also published as a standalone index — the 2026 Contract Risk Index — which scores all nine brands 1–5 on financial lock-in risk using publicly available Terms of Service and financing agreements.
We include a home security system in our scored reviews if it meets all of the following criteria:
| Source type | What we use it for |
|---|---|
| Brand pricing pages | Equipment costs, monitoring plan pricing, contract terms — verified before each publish |
| FCC filings | Sensor radio frequency, range specifications, regulatory compliance |
| UL certification database | Monitoring center Five Diamond status, equipment certification |
| BBB complaint data | Customer service quality signal, complaint resolution rate |
| Consumer regulatory filings | State licensing, false alarm data where public |
| Hands-on testing (where conducted) | Direct evaluation of install process, app, and sensor behavior — clearly noted in each review |
Note on evaluation method: We distinguish desk research from direct testing and note the primary method used in each review. Learn more about our testing process →
If you believe a score or fact is incorrect, please submit a correction →. We respond within 2 business days.
See our scores in action: Browse all brand reviews scored by this methodology, or compare brands head-to-head. Key reviews: SimpliSafe · Vivint · ADT · Ring
The contract terms dimension of our rubric — covering cancellation policy, early termination fees, and equipment financing separation — is published as a standalone dataset in the 2026 Contract Risk Index → All nine brands we track are ranked 1–5 by lock-in risk using publicly available Terms of Service and financing agreements.
Related reading: How we test · Editorial standards · Corrections policy · All brand reviews
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