David Priest Former editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET.
David Anders Senior Writer
David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David’s work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.
Expertise Broadband providers, Home internet, Security Cameras
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While many home security systems require drilling to install, even if you do a DIY installation, renting doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Even if your landlord doesn’t want extra holes in the doorframe or walls, you still have home security options. There are a few good systems out there we’d consider to be the best apartment security systems.
To put together our list of the best home security systems for renters, we tested every major security system on the market, from professionally installed systems to DIY ones. In general, the professional systems don’t make much sense for renters because they tend to rely on permanent fixtures and sometimes come with contracts that last longer than a lease. The better picks for home security systems for a rental property are going to be cheaper, DIY products. Here are the best systems for the job.
Read more: 7 Home Security Tips for Apartment Dwellers
Best Apartment Security Systems
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Editors’ note, Sept. 22, 2023: A reported security breach has affected some Wyze camera users. Out of caution and until Wyze resolves its systems for reporting breaches to users, we’ve removed our Editors’ Choice designation from Wyze products. We will update this page as we reevaluate home security cameras and accessories.
Wyze’s home security system is ridiculously cheap — even after the price bumps many of its products saw in early 2021. The company’s home monitoring system costs about $100 and comes with two door/window sensors, a motion detector, a keypad, and a base station with a built-in siren — plenty of devices for an apartment.
In short, Wyze’s is a solid system with a really appealing price tag — and it’s cheaply and easily scalable for a variety of apartment or home sizes (adding a camera, for instance, will set you back as little as $30). The big drawback? It doesn’t have cellular backup, which means if the power or internet goes down, you lose the professional monitoring service and remote alerts. The system will still work locally, so if someone breaks in while the power is down, the siren is still going to sound.
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Ring has a ton of baggage, but its five-piece home security system is a solid midrange DIY security option for renters. It comes with a door/window sensor, a motion sensor, a keypad, a range extender and a base station. While it’s not as good as its Ring Alarm Pro system, many renters don’t need a new router — let alone a mesh Wi-Fi system.
What I like most about this Ring Alarm for renters is that it works with the Ring Peephole Cam, which is one of the only video doorbells that works with those peepholes you often find in apartment buildings. Like Wyze, Ring unfortunately doesn’t have cell backup.
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Editors’ choice
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SimpliSafe is our favorite DIY home security system for renters for several reasons: it’s reliable, well-priced and has no significant weaknesses (that’s right, you have cell backup here, unlike the two systems above). That said, SimpliSafe does have one shortcoming for renters in particular: its video doorbell is wired-only. For many renters without doorbell wiring (or without permission to fiddle with it), that takes the video doorbell off the table.
If you’re not worried about the video doorbell, SimpliSafe offers fantastic packages at prices that, while slightly higher than the systems above, beat out direct competitors like Abode. Packages start at $250, but you can regularly find them on sale on the SimpliSafe website for significantly less — at the time of writing, for instance, the base package only costs $200.
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Security systems for renters compared
| Wyze Home Monitoring | Ring Alarm (5-piece) | SimpliSafe (6-piece) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 | $200 | $280 |
| 24/7 professional monitoring fees | $10 | $20 | $0.99/day |
| System hardware | 2 door/window sensors, 1 motion detector, 1 keypad, 1 base station with built-in siren | 1 door/window sensor, 1 motion sensor, 1 keypad, 1 range extender, 1 base station | 1 base station, 1 keypad, 3 entry sensors, 1 motion sensor |
| Setup | DIY installation | DIY installation | DIY installation |
| Extra features | 24/7 professional monitoring, remote alerts, false alarm prevention, no long-term contracts, Alexa and smart home integration | Mobile notifications and remote alerts, integrates with Alexa and other Ring products | Cell backup, 24/7 professional monitoring service, customizable system, Alexa and Google Assistant integrations, 24-hour battery |
| Review score | 8.4 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
For each system we test, we install it ourselves just as you would at home, or we have an installer come set it up in the case of professional systems like ADT and Comcast Xfinity. Once it’s installed, we spend at least a week testing the system and all the device-by-device features. Our ranking puts a priority on value but also takes into strong consideration the quality of hardware, service and general user experience — including how easy it was to set up and the frequency of false alarms. For more robust information on any of the recommended security systems above, please read the full reviews.
If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security systems and services.
Home security for renters FAQs
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You can add a home security system to your rented apartment or home, but a DIY, noninvasive system (one that does not require drilling into walls or doors, or rewiring a doorbell, for example) will often be your best bet. What’s more, professionally installed security services may come with a contract that extends past the length of your lease, further complicating your next move.
Before purchasing a system or signing up for a service, check your lease agreement to make sure any major changes, like the installation of a home security system, are allowed in your apartment or home.
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An exterior camera, unless reserved for private spaces like your back patio, is generally not recommended for apartments because it will routinely capture footage of people in public spaces. Additionally, many lease agreements do not allow for the exterior installation of devices such as cameras or satellite dishes.
On the other hand, there are many reasons why you may want to add a security camera or two inside. Smart home cameras are great ways to monitor kids from another room or pets when you’re out of the house. As for security, a camera may capture images or videos of intruders and send you an alert. Furthermore, the presence of a security camera is often enough to deter a potential burglar, so consider placing a camera somewhere it can be easily seen by others.
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Installing a home security system that monitors entryways and the interior of your apartment is one of the best ways to secure your dwelling, but there are other measures you can take. It’s a good idea to keep any valuables out of sight, especially from windows (where someone may see them from the outside).
The buddy system can be a free but invaluable way to enhance your apartment’s security: Make friends with your neighbors, communicate suspicious activity and ask them to keep an eye on your property while you keep an eye on theirs.
You may also want to consider renter’s insurance to minimize losses in the event of a burglary or other security breach. To learn more about home security for apartments, check out these home security tips for apartments.
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