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Best Chicago, Illinois Home Security & Alarm Companies 2023

Here's what we found when we analyzed home security providers and crime data in Chicago

Recommended Home Security Providers in Chicago

Best Customer Service
  • Wireless Install
  • DIY Install
  • Offers responsive customer support
  • Perfect for Renters
  • Has no contract plans
Best DIY Install
  • Fire Protection
  • No-Contract
  • Recommended for Regions with High Violent Crime
  • Simple Professional Install
  • Includes top-tier integration options
Affordable Option
  • Pro. Install
  • Home Automation
  • Options with Video Cameras
  • Best value option
  • Simple Wireless Install

Our Analysis of Safety in Chicago

The amount of criminal activity in Chicago is quitehigh, with 43.82 incidents for every one thousand residents. When measured against other U.S. cities, Chicago places in the 67th percentile for highest crime figures, placing it in the second-highest tier.

The plurality of criminal activity is property crime, including burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In Chicago, homicide offenses are the most recurrent incidents against individuals. arson is the city’s most rampant property crime.

Criminal infractions against property are very high in Chicago. 37.22 property offenses transpire for every one thousand citizens annually, placing Chicago in the 99th percentile. The city’s significantly above average property crime is acutely lopsided when compared to Illinois — and the United States across the nation. Chicago is more vulnerable to property-related crimes than 102% of Illinois counties and 143% of counties in the country.

Chicago experiences very high person crime — the city ranks in the 100th percentile for crimes against people. For every one thousand inhabitants, there are about 6.6 crimes against people. In particular, Chicago's rates are prominantly disproportionate to crime levels in the state of Illinois; they do, however, not diverge significantly from national crime rates. Chicago's significantly high person-related crime rates are reflective of those throughout the state of Illinois and with estimates across the nation.

With its quitehigh crime levels, Chicago has a moderate officer-to-civilian ratio, with 5.01 safety officers per 1,000 residents. That's one officer to protect 199 civilians.

Aside from crime rates, the rate of crime is an additional consequential safety index. Chicago has significantly high crime frequency, with 13.54 offenses occurring every hour. A crime occurs every 4 minutes in Chicago. Specifically, a property-related incident happens every 5 minutes and incidents against people occur approximately once every 29 minutes.

Data sourced from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2017 (last available dataset)
2,706,171
Arson
5.013
Top 40% Percentile
13.536
Top 20% Percentile
37.22
Top 20% Percentile
6.596
Top 20% Percentile

Recommended Provider for Accessible Customer Service

While most customers focus on the cost and features when comparing home security companies, it's also important not to overlook the customer service. In our experience rating home security systems, we've found that the companies that provide high-quality customer service are also often the ones that provide the best security service to their clients.

After comparing the home security companies that offer services in Chicago, IL, we concluded that Alder is the strongest option. Looking beyond their customer service, we also found that their pricing is better than most alarm companies in the area and that they offer the right features to protect their clients from the most common crimes in Chicago, IL based on our crime data analysis. If you're in the search for an alarm company near you that offers a a perfect balance of high quality customer service, best value pricing, and reliable security features, Alder is an obvious choice.

The quickest way to set up service with Alder is to call (844) 746-2481 and talk to an agent or you can visit their website.

Recommended Provider for Self-Install Options

While there are many benefits to having your security system installed by a trained technician, most customers today lean towards the flexibility and expandability of DIY installed security systems. For one, DIY systems are often wireless, giving the experience of a hassle-free and wire-free installation. DIY systems are also easier to expand, letting you add new products to your system yourself without paying a technician to simply hook up a sensor And of course, DIYers enjoy being able to control exactly where security devices should be set up.

In Chicago, IL, there's an endless selection of security companies offering DIY installed security systems, making the process of choosing an alarm company all the more daunting. But don't fret; if you're looking for a reputable security company with DIY installed security systems, we recommend Simplisafe. Of the companies offering DIY security systems in Chicago, IL, Simplisafe has one of the most responsive customer service. This is paramount because when installing a DIY system, it's easy to feel like you're on your own. With Simplisafe, a team of well-trained customer support agents are only one call away if you need them. Simplisafe also offers detailed online resources specially put together for their DIY customers.

Our recommendation for Simplisafe is further backed up by the fact that their security system is extremely easy to install, that they have reliable equipment, and that they offer an industry-best monitoring service. Their pricing is also among the most competitive in the security industry. Overall, Simplisafe is the strongest option for consumers looking for a DIY installed security system, especially in Chicago, IL.

If you're ready to set up service with Simplisafe, you may speak to one of their security experts by calling (844) 725-9572 or you can head over to their website.

Recommended Provider for Small Budgets

Wherever you are, the overall cost of the security system and monitoring will always be one of the top concerns when deciding between security systems. For this reason, we sent tasked our researchers to find the alarm companies with the lowest pricing in Chicago, IL but still offer high quality equipment, monitoring, and customer service. To accomplish this, they gathered information about monitoring plans, deals, and promotions offered by security companies in the city and stacked them against each other based on the overall security value that the companies provide. Their research shows that Vivint is the lowest priced option in Chicago, IL.

If you do your own research, there's a possibility that you'll find alarm companies with even lower expensive offers than Vivint. However, for this research, we decided to exclude companies with subpar equipment, monitoring, or customer service. It's also possible that you've found a rare promotion by one of the alarm companies in your area. If that's the case, this home security guide we've put together will help you decide whether the promotion is worth grabbing or not. If we've reviewed the company before, the guide will also lead you to our review.

Overall, we have strong confidence that Vivint is the lowest priced company in Chicago, IL with high quality equipment, monitoring, and customer service. If you're ready to get started, a quick call to (844) 746-2467 will put you through a direct line with a Vivint security expert who will assist you in the buying process. If you want to learn more about Vivint first before buying anything (highly recommended!), be sure to check out our Vivint review. Alternatively, you can learn more about Vivint pricing, deals, and promotions here.

Chicago Home Security Providers

Here is a complete list of providers available in Chicago:
ProviderHAR ScoreWebsiteInstall TypePhoneMonitoring TypeBusiness Service
Frontpoint8.7www.frontpointsecurity.comDIY(833) 606-4477ProfessionalYes
ADT9.4www.adt.comProfessional(844) 741-8968ProfessionalYes
Alder7.2www.alder.comDIY(866) 717-8611ProfessionalNo
Link Interactive8.5www.linkinteractive.comDIY(877) 826-5443ProfessionalNo
Brinks7.5brinkshome.comProfessional or DIY(866) 305-6806ProfessionalYes
Ring9.5ring.comDIY(800) 656-1918Professional or Self-MonitoredNo
Protect America7.8www.protectamerica.comDIY(800) 951-5111ProfessionalYes
Simplisafe8.5simplisafe.comProfessional or DIY(800) 297-1605Professional or Self-MonitoredNo
Vivint7.8www.vivint.comProfessional(801) 377-9111ProfessionalNo
abode7.5goabode.comProfessional or DIY(650) 443-7834Professional or Self-MonitoredNo
Xfinity Home Security8www.xfinity.comProfessional(877) 591-2503ProfessionalYes
Lifeshield7.5www.lifeshield.comProfessional or DIY(877) 632-7657ProfessionalNo
Swann7www.swann.com/usDIY(562) 906-3983Self-MonitoredNo
Fortress Security7.5www.fortresssecuritystore.comDIY(206) 981-5371Professional or Self-MonitoredNo
iSmartAlarm7www.ismartalarm.comDIY(408) 245-2551Self-MonitoredNo
My Alarm Center7.5myalarmcenter.comProfessional(855) 334-6562ProfessionalYes
Ooma8www.ooma.comDIY(888) 711-6662Self-MonitoredNo
LivSecure7.8www.livsecure.comDIY(844) 349-7233ProfessionalNo
Alarm Grid8.5www.alarmgrid.comDIY(888) 818-7728Professional or Self-MonitoredYes
Cove8.3www.covesmart.comDIY(855) 268-3669Professional or Self-MonitoredYes
Protection One7.3www.protection1.comProfessional(877) 776-1911ProfessionalYes
American Defense Systems7.8www.americandefensesystems.comProfessional(800) 610-2134ProfessionalNo
Canary8.5canary.isDIYSelf-MonitoredNo
Centurylink7.5www.centurylink.comProfessional(888) 723-8010ProfessionalYes
AT&T Digital Life7.8my-digitallife.att.comProfessional(855) 288-2727ProfessionalNo
Scout Alarm7.3www.scoutalarm.comDIY(844) 287-2688Professional or Self-MonitoredNo
Uxari7.8uxari.comDIY(877) 877-9788ProfessionalNo
GetSafe8getsafe.comDIY(888) 799-6255ProfessionalNo
Alarm Relay8www.alarmrelay.comDIY(800) 624-6866ProfessionalNo
Security One6.5securityoneonline.comProfessional(888) 584-5152ProfessionalYes