You’ve spent your career making sure our country is secure, now it’s time someone starts doing the same for you.

Companies like ADT, Vivint, and LifeShield are just a few hi-tech security companies out there whose entire purpose is to give you the security you deserve. Unfortunately, all the choices can make it hard to pick the best service.

That’s why we’ve decided to put a small list together on 7 of the best home security companies for veterans and service members.

Top Home Security Companies for Veterans and Service Members

1. FrontPoint

There’s nothing like making a purchase on something that sucks but you can’t return. FrontPoint is not one of those purchases. In fact, you can have a security system installed, keep it for 30-days, decide you hate it and then return it without all the hassle.

Not to mention, these guys are known for their awesome customer service—because no one likes dealing with someone who doesn’t actually care about your purchase or satisfaction.

 Pros

  • Known for excellent customer service
  • Free 30-day trial and a money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied
  • Home automation devices are available
  • Self-Installation is an option

Cons

  • While FrontPoint is affordable, the affordability comes with a 3-year contract (this is average)
  • The base plan does not include mobile access

2. ADT 

ADT has been around for a long time, as in, longer than anyone else. This means they know how security works and more so, they know what their customers are looking for. In fact, we wrote an article you can read about ADT, including their history, what they offer, and reviews from everyday users.

Pros

  • A professional will come to your home and do the set-up, hassle-free
  • You can control your system from your phone
  • Equipment included

Cons 

  • ADT’s a big company, which means they come at a bigger cost than other security companies
  • ADT is not a self-install system

3. Protect America 

Home security isn’t cheap. Whether your security is in the form of guns and ammo, high-tech security installation, or both—it’s going to cost you. Fortunately, Protect America is a home security company that thrives on affordability. We know as a service member, you already aren’t making that much, so why spend more than you have to.

Read our comprehensive review on the Protect America security company for more details

Pros

  • Affordable
  • DIY set-up, meaning no installation fees
  • All equipment has a lifetime warranty
  • They will price match

Cons

  • If you break your contract, you’ll be required to pay out 100% of the remaining months of service you signed up for. However, if you are breaking a contract due to military service, this does not apply.
  • They don’t have a large selection of equipment compared to some companies

4. Vivint 

Personal experience here, Vivint has great customer service. If you’re looking for a company that will work with you during a PCS, they will make it easy for you. When I left the military, I couldn’t take Vivint with me because they weren’t servicing the tiny town I grew up in. They let me out of my contract, didn’t charge me any extra fees, and I was a happy customer in the end. It was so easy and the customer service was exceptional.

Check out our Vivint vs ADT blog for more information

Pros

  • Professional will come to your home and give you a quote—it’s free
  • You also have the option of online quotes, which is simple to navigate
  • Easy to break the contract when PCSing due to orders
  • You can transfer your system from one home to the next

Cons

  • The touch screen system didn’t work well
  • Unlike most companies who have a 3-year contract, Vivint has one of the highest at 5-years
  • Must pay for the equipment upfront

5. LifeShield

LifeShield has gone through a lot of changes over the years. They’ve been sold, been under new management, and even took on some terrible reviews. However, we’ve included them here because things are looking up. Also, they’re a DIY installation security system. Which is great, because not everyone wants a stranger coming into their home. Also, unlike many security companies, they’re transparent about their prices, which we really like. Because let’s be honest, if the price isn’t listed, it’s generally expensive. You can read our full review on LifeShield here.

Pros

  • Cheaper than most major companies
  • Offers 4-layers of protection
  • DIY installation
  • Transparent about their prices
  • Offers a non-contract option
  • You don’t have to pay extra for fire and carbon monoxide monitoring
  • They offer services for rental properties
  • The company’s customer reviews have been more positive with new ownership

Cons 

  • A lot of negative reviews overall
  • Customer service isn’t great, depending on where you live
  • Equipment failure has seemed to be a common complaint over the years

6. Link Interactive

Link Interactive may not be as well known as ADT, but that doesn’t mean they can’t offer you some good deals. The great thing about these guys is their contract. Many contracts are 3-years, some more, but you’ll get options with Link Interactive. They let you choose a contract length for as little as 1-year. So, while you’re still locked in—excluding military obligations—it’s not near as long as contracts with other providers.

Pros

  • Customized solutions for your individual home security needs
  • 1, 2, and 3-year contracts available
  • 100% cellular connection to monitoring
  • Standard 3-year warranty on all equipment and 3-year price lock guarantee

Cons

  • You can ask for a shorter contract, but if you don’t, you’ll automatically be locked into a 3-year contract
  • You have to pay for equipment up front

7. SecurityPricer

SecurityPricer is more like a resource, in that they can get you to the company you’re looking for. It’s kind of like Progressive, but with home security. Meaning, you start out by telling them what you’re looking for and then they give you your best option.

Pros

  • Free home security estimates from experts
  • Compare plans and prices from the top home security companies
  • Fire protection, video surveillance, 24/7 monitoring
  • Option to self-install or have a professional do it for you

Cons

  • You can’t get a lot of information from their website
  • You have to give them all your information and get a quote to see what’s available to you

DIY Home Security

LifeShield is our winner for DIY Home Security, because well, that’s what they’re known for. While you have the option of scheduling an appointment for a professional to come in, you don’t have to. This is especially a great option for individuals who are tech-savvy. If you’re not, they claim anyone can set up their system easily—most within an hour—without a lot of hassle.

Another great upside to this option is, you don’t have to worry about some stranger coming into your house, tracking mud around, and then leaving knowing all your security information—because you had to give it to them to set the system up. Either way, it’s good to have options, especially when those options come at a decent price.

Interested in building a safe room? Check our blog: How to Build a Safe Room

Pet-Friendly Home Security

If you have a pet, you might be thinking that you can’t get those fancy little motion detectors because your cat or dog will set it off. However, security companies are one step ahead of you on that one. Both ADT and LifeShield are an example of companies who’ve thought that one out. Of course, if your pet is over 80-lbs, you might have some difficulty, since most cameras are rated around this weight range.

Mobile Monitoring

Times are changing. We’re becoming a society that relies heavily on our phones, but for more than talking and texting. We now use our phones for GPS, Internet usage, games, and even monitoring our homes. If you have an approved security camera, you can watch what’s going on in your home from your phone. And some even record, so you can watch everything later. If that’s something you want, there are definitely security companies providing these services. Link Interactive, ADT, and LifeShield are only a few of them.

Home Automation

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much better, someone goes and makes it so you can change the temperature of your home, turn on the lights, and even start the washer from your phone—miles away. ADT and Front Point are a couple of those companies that provide such a luxury.

Security Cameras

ADT has some top of the line cameras, they also offer several types. They provide both an indoor and outdoor camera. Even a doorbell camera. Which is actually pretty cool. If someone rings your doorbell, you can see who’s there without leaving your couch. Or, if you’re not at home, you can do the same thing using the ADT Pulse app.

ADT Indoor Security Cameras

ADT also offers Indoor Security Cameras. If you purchase ADT Pulse +Video, you get this option. Because your indoor cameras are motion-activated, the pet-friendly motion sensor comes in handy. If it senses something other than your dog, it will send you a video clip automatically. If you have more than one indoor camera, you can always shift between them. You also have the option of recording.

ADT Outdoor Security Cameras

Outdoor Security Cameras are where it’s at. These cameras let you see who’s coming up to your property and when they leave. It’s also a great deterrent for burglary, both inside and outside the home. Combined with your ADT app, you can see your camera’s video footage at any time. The outdoor camera is similar to the indoor version, but with the weather in mind. Outdoor cameras are snow, rain, and humidity resistant. The cameras also come with a built-in heater, to guarantee function at temperatures as low as -40 degrees.

Not a fan of ADT, check out Guardian Protection home security

Security Signs

Sometimes the best deterrent is nothing more than that, a deterrent. Security signs aren’t going to physically keep an intruder out, it won’t shoot someone who breaks in and attempts to harm your family, and they won’t record the incident or report it to the police. However, simply having a sign in your front yard or stickers in your window is enough to make an intruder think twice before he enters your home unannounced and unwelcomed. While we don’t recommend this be your only layer of home protection, it might be a good place to start if you don’t have the money for more.

Smart Home Security

While some of us may choose the above option for financial reasons, home security gets a little more hi-tech than that. Thank goodness, we don’t have to or aren’t relying on signs to keep out bad guys—oh, wait, we are! It’s called signed laws, those are supposed to keep out the bad guys, right?

For the rest of us realistic people out there, we know that it takes more than a law to keep thieves out, so we resort to more reliable sources of home security, such as smart home automation and maybe a gun or 12 for those who try and outsmart “smart security”—And since we know smart people don’t break into homes, clearly we don’t need them—that’s a joke, maybe. Because if they were smart, they’d be conforming to societal recommendations (recommendations?) Yeah, let’s go with recommendations, since that seems to be how the thieves are taking it.

Anyway, getting back to our point—sorry, but not sorry for that small rant—smart home security is an excellent way to monitor what’s going on in your home when you aren’t there. Signs may act as a deterrent, but that’s all they do. Again, like we mentioned above, they don’t record who broke into your home, and they won’t report it to local authorities either.

So be smarter than your thief. Do more than put out yard signs, if you can afford it. We’re not even saying buy a home security system, but maybe at least some form of home protection—are we allowed to make that recommendation these days, oh wait, we don’t care. Just make sure you know how to use that form of protection before you actually have to use it.