A DIY system is a base station, entry sensors on doors and windows, a siren and an app. Some work fully without a plan; others save their best features, like professional monitoring and cellular backup, for subscribers.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Alarm, no plan required
Abode 6 Piece Wireless Security System with key fob
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Doorbell, no plan
Tapo D225 2K+ Wired or Battery Video Doorbell with Chime
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Smart lock
Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 Fingerprint Wi-Fi Deadbolt
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Plan one entry sensor per exterior door and ground-floor window. Starter kits include a few, so most houses add a sensor pack.
Top picks, and why
Abode 6 Piece Wireless Security System with key fob
- plug-in
- siren
- 4 entry sensors
- works without a plan
Base station, siren and 4 entry sensors; abode says it works without a paid plan, with pro monitoring optional. $100 to $250.
- Hub has a 93 dB siren and a backup battery
- Hub supports up to 160 wireless devices over Wi-Fi or ethernet
- Siren and push alerts work on the free Abode plan
- No keypad or motion sensor included, arming is by fob or app
- Cellular backup is tied to a paid plan
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Tapo D225 2K+ Wired or Battery Video Doorbell with Chime
- 2K
- battery
- 180 deg view
- local storage, no plan needed
+4 moreFewer
- detects person, package, vehicle
- spotlight
- color night vision
- head-to-toe view
microSD storage with free person, package and vehicle detection, spotlight and chime included. $100 to $250.
- Free person, package and vehicle detection
- 10,000mAh battery up to 8 months, or 24/7 recording wired
- Spotlight for color night vision, chime and wedges included
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
- microSD card not included; cloud history needs Tapo Care
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 Fingerprint Wi-Fi Deadbolt
- battery
- fingerprint
- auto-lock
- Wi-Fi built in
+1 moreFewer
- Grade 2
Fingerprint lock with auto-lock, Wi-Fi built in and about 8 months per battery. under $100.
- Fingerprint unlock in 0.5 second; anti-peep keypad
- Built-in Wi-Fi; unlock from a Wyze doorbell live feed
- 8 AA batteries up to 8 months; USB-C emergency power
- BHMA Grade 2, not Grade 1
- IP53 weather rating
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Alarm kits that work without a plan
These kits sound the siren and alert your phone with no subscription.
Abode 6 Piece Wireless Security System with key fob
- plug-in
- siren
- 4 entry sensors
- works without a plan
Works without a plan, pro monitoring optional. $100 to $250.
- Hub has a 93 dB siren and a backup battery
- Hub supports up to 160 wireless devices over Wi-Fi or ethernet
- Siren and push alerts work on the free Abode plan
- No keypad or motion sensor included, arming is by fob or app
- Cellular backup is tied to a paid plan
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
eufy Essential Alarm System 7-Piece, no monthly fee
- plug-in
- local storage, no plan needed
- 4 entry sensors
- 1 motion
+2 moreFewer
- keypad
- works without a plan
4 entry sensors, a motion sensor and a keypad, works without a plan. $250 to $500.
- No monthly fee for app control and instant alerts
- HomeBase Mini includes 64GB of local storage
- Four entry sensors cover the main doors
- No professional monitoring option stated in the listing
- No cellular or battery backup stated for the HomeBase Mini
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
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eufy Security 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit
- plug-in
- 2 entry sensors
- 1 motion
- keypad
+1 moreFewer
- works without a plan
2 entry sensors, a motion sensor and a keypad, works without a plan. $100 to $250.
- One-time purchase, no monthly fees for app alerts
- Keypad and motion sensor mount with included hardware
- Instant alerts when motion or a breach is detected
- Only two entry sensors included
- No professional monitoring option stated in the listing
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
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If you want professional monitoring
Ring Alarm and SimpliSafe offer optional professional monitoring and cellular backup, so the alarm still reaches help if your internet is down. Check each maker's current plans for which features need one.
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit for 1-2 bedroom homes
- plug-in
- siren
- 4 entry sensors
- 1 motion
+2 moreFewer
- keypad
- cellular backup
Base station, keypad, 4 entry sensors and a motion detector, cellular and battery backup. $250 to $500.
- Four contact sensors cover front, back and two windows
- Base Station has a 24-hour backup battery
- Keypad arms and disarms the alarm without a subscription
- App arming, mobile alerts and cellular backup need a Ring plan
- Alexa voice arming also requires a Ring subscription
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
SimpliSafe 8 Piece Wireless Home Security System
- plug-in
- siren
- keypad
- cellular backup
Base station with siren, keypad, battery and cellular backup, pro monitoring optional. $100 to $250.
- Motion sensor covers 35 ft at 90 degrees, ignores pets under 60 lbs
- Base Station battery backup runs up to 24 hours in an outage
- Arm at home by voice with Alexa or Google Assistant
- Cellular backup and panic button dispatch need a monitoring plan
- Listing does not break down which 8 pieces are included
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Locks that fit renters and owners
Renters can clamp a lock over the existing deadbolt and keep the original keys; owners can swap the whole deadbolt for a keypad or fingerprint model.
Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Retrofit
- battery
- fits your deadbolt
- auto-lock
- Wi-Fi built in
Fits over your existing deadbolt, Wi-Fi built in, auto-lock, keypad included. $100 to $250.
- Fits over most single-cylinder deadbolts, keeps your keys
- Built-in Wi-Fi, no bridge; keypad included
- DoorSense Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock on approach
- Keypad must sit within Bluetooth range of the lock
- Only fits single-cylinder deadbolts
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Century Trim
- battery
- keypad
- auto-lock
- Wi-Fi built in
+1 moreFewer
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, Wi-Fi built in, auto-lock. $100 to $250.
- BHMA highest residential security, durability and finish
- Up to 100 access codes; built-in forced entry alarm
- Built-in Wi-Fi with adjustable Auto-Lock delay
- Four AA batteries last up to about 6 months
- No fingerprint reader or Apple home key
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Alarm, no plan required
Abode 6 Piece Wireless Security System with key fob
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Doorbell, no plan
Tapo D225 2K+ Wired or Battery Video Doorbell with Chime
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Smart lock
Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 Fingerprint Wi-Fi Deadbolt
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
Can a security system work without a subscription?
Yes. Kits like abode and eufy sound the siren and alert your phone without a plan. What you give up is professional monitoring, where someone calls for help when the alarm goes off.
How many door and window sensors do I need?
One per exterior door and per window reachable from the ground. A typical house needs 6 to 10, so plan on a sensor pack beyond the starter kit.
Does Ring Alarm work without a subscription?
Partly. The keypad arms and disarms the alarm without a plan, but app arming, mobile alerts and cellular backup need a Ring subscription. If you want phone alerts with no fee, abode and eufy kits include them.
What happens to a DIY alarm if the power or internet goes out?
Ring Alarm and SimpliSafe base stations have a backup battery rated for up to 24 hours, and the abode hub has a backup battery too. Reaching your phone or a monitoring center without internet needs cellular backup, which Ring, SimpliSafe and abode tie to a paid plan.
Do I need a motion sensor if I have door and window sensors?
It adds a second layer. Entry sensors trip when a door or window opens, while a motion sensor catches someone who got in another way, such as through broken glass. The SimpliSafe motion sensor covers 35 ft at 90 degrees and ignores pets under 60 lbs, and a SimpliSafe glassbreak sensor listens for breaking glass within 20 ft.
Can renters install a smart lock?
Yes, with a retrofit lock. The Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock mounts over the inside of most single-cylinder deadbolts, so the outside and the landlord's keys stay the same, and it comes with a keypad. Take it off when you move out.
What does ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 mean on a smart lock?
It is the highest of three residential grades for security and durability set by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The Schlage Encode is Grade 1, the Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 is Grade 2, and the eufy Smart Lock C220 is Grade 3, the entry level.
How long do smart lock batteries last?
Most run 6 to 10 months per set. The Schlage Encode lists up to about 6 months on 4 AA batteries, the Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 up to 8 months on 8 AA batteries, and the Ultraloq Bolt up to 10 months; the Wyze also has a USB-C port for emergency power if the batteries die.
Is there a video doorbell with no subscription?
Yes. The Tapo D225 saves recordings to a microSD card with free person, package and vehicle detection, and runs up to 8 months on its 10,000 mAh battery or records 24/7 when hardwired. Ring doorbells need a Ring Protect plan to rewatch events.
Can I add sensors from a different brand to my alarm kit?
Usually not. Alarm sensors pair only with their own brand's hub: SimpliSafe sensors need a Gen 3 Base Station, eufy entry sensors need a eufy HomeBase, and abode sensors need an abode gateway. Buy sensor packs that match the kit you own.
10 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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