
Whether you decide to go with a DIY system or opt for a professionally installed system, you'll have to pay a
monthly or annual fee if you require monitoring, and in some cases, you'll be hit with a monthly fee to pay off the cost of hardware components. With most DIY systems, such as the SimpliSafe Home Security Kit, the Ring Alarm Security Kit, and the Nest Secure, you purchase the hardware
outright and can avoid any monthly fees if you decide to self monitor. If you add monitoring, fees will vary: SimpliSafe charges $14. 99 per month for its no contract monitoring service, while Nest charges $29 per month. If you commit to a three year contract, the price of the Nest service drops to $19 per month. Ring's Protect Plus plan goes for $10 per month and doesn't require a contract.
Unfortunately, to view recorded video, you'll need to
subscribe to Ring's cloud storage plans, which start at $30/year.

Works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. Cons: Requires a one or three year monitoring plan. Doesn't support IFTTT. Pricey components. Bottom Line: As long as you're willing to commit to a contract, the FrontPoint Safe Home Elite system offers a nice selection of security, home automation, and environmental components and is easy to install. Read ReviewHoneywell Smart Home
Security Starter Kit ReviewMSRP: $449. 00 at Pros: Easy to install. Built in Alexa voice service. Face recognition. Supports IFTTT applets. Free and paid
cloud storage.