The Best Monitored Alarm Systems Josh Jackman Last updated on 17th September 2021 6 minutes read ✔ The best monitored alarm system is the SimpliSafe Bamburgh✔ A monitored alarm system can cost as little as £249✔ Monitoring services watch over your home 24/7The best way to protect everyone and everything you love is to keep an eye on it every minute of every day – but that’s impossible.That’s where monitored alarm systems come in. When any of your sensors are triggered, staff at your monitoring centre will contact you to check it’s a genuine emergency. If they can’t get in touch, they’ll assume it’s real, and will alert the authorities.We’ve rated the SimpliSafe Bamburgh as the best monitoring system, ahead of packages from Verisure, AMCO, and ADT. If you want to find out why, keep reading – otherwise, fill in this form to receive quotes for security alarm systems.What’s on this page? 01 | What is a monitored alarm system? 02 | Verisure 03 | AMCO Compact 04 | ADT Police Response 05 | SimpliSafe Essentials 06 | What kind of system should I get? 07 | Monthly cost and installation 08 | Monitored vs unmonitored 09 | Pros and Cons 10 | Summary Best 5 monitored alarm systems1. SimpliSafe Bamburgh2. Verisure3. AMCO Compact4. ADT Police Response5. SimpliSafe StarterWhy are these the best?Our ratings are based on how the quantity and quality of hardware that comes in these packages, how much they cost, and customer reviews.There are very few national monitoring services in the UK, with these four companies dominating the market. Fortunately, they’re all excellent.SimpliSafe came out on top because it offers the most cutting-edge packages around, for hundreds of pounds less than its competitors. It’s also for this reason that its starter pack is the best budget option.Verisure also possesses top-tier hardware, and is perfect for anyone willing to splash the cash to get the latest innovations in security technology.AMCO and ADT made the list because of their sterling reputations, which they’ve earned over many years of serving the public.AMCO is perfect if you want a small company that values close relationships with its customers, while ADT – at 146 years old – is ideal if you’re looking primarily for a name you can trust. SimpliSafe BamburghPrice: £503.88, then £19.99 per month (£743.76 for 1st year)CameraSensorsSirenExtrasTrustpilot score (/5)720p3 entry sensors,2 motion detectors,1 broken glass sensor95dB2 key fobs,1 panic button4.5The SimpliSafe Bamburgh package is the perfect size for a small house. You can easily install it yourself – for free – before connecting it to your smart hub, whether it’s made by Amazon, Google, Apple, or Nest.If you need more sensors – we recommend a motion detector in the top corner of any hallway or main room – they can be added for £30 each.And if you don’t like it, you can cancel or pause at any time, as SimpliSafe operates on a monthly rolling contract. Uniquely, you can even return it within 60 days for a full refund. VerisurePrice: contact Verisure for more informationCameraSensorsSirenExtrasTrustpilot score (/5)1080p4 entry sensors,2 motion detectors105dB1 key fob,1 panic button,fake fog4.6Verisure is best for those who enjoy premium services. Its state-of-the-art smart home hardware is exemplified by the ZeroVision fog barrier, which promises to expel burglars within 45 seconds by making it impossible to see anything.The system uses a SIM card, meaning that if wifi, 3G, and 4G all go down, your alarm will still alert Verisure’s monitoring centre.The company also offers to send guards to secure your home for 48 hours after an attempted break-in, if you’re away. AMCO CompactPrice: £659, then £18.99 per month for 1 year (1st year: £886.88)CameraSensorsSirenExtrasTrustpilot score (/5)720p1 entry sensor,3 motion detectors115dB1 key fob,1 panic button,1 decoy siren4.8This family-owned company, which only has around 10,000 customers, is the one for you if you’re after a small, trustworthy firm with a personal touch. AMCO’s best offering costs around £140 more than SimpliSafe’s package over the first year, but presents a solid offering with a low monthly cost.The company is also rightly proud of its LiveTalk feature, which enables monitoring staff to speak directly to burglars and scare them off. ADT Police ResponsePrice: £599, then £32.99 per month for 3 years (£994.88 for 1st year)CameraSensorsSirenExtrasTrustpilot score (/5)N/A1 entry sensor,3 motion detectors100dB4 key fobs,1 decoy siren4.5You can place your trust in ADT, without worrying that this 146-year-old company will lead you astray. If you become one of the firm’s 237,000 customers, you’ll be in safe hands.Unfortunately, the price for this peace of mind is steep, with installation fees taking the overall cost of this system to £1,787 across three years.ADT also offers the Keyholder Response package, which is considerably cheaper but doesn’t include the monitoring centre calling the police – an instant deal-breaker. SimpliSafe StarterPrice: £278.96, then £12.99 per month (1st year: £434.84)SimpliSafe’s starter package is the ideal budget option: reliable, up-to-date hardware with a cheap monthly contract that you can cancel at any time.It’s perfect for those who live in a one-bedroom flat that’s not on the ground floor – and if you live in a bigger place, you can use it as a trial run. If you enjoy it, add more sensors. If not, send it back within 60 days for a full refund.If you stick with it, every year after the first one will only cost £155.88 – or 43p per day. What kind of monitored alarm system should I get?It’s difficult to choose a home security system. A good rule of thumb is that the bigger your home, the more sensors you’ll need.All monitored networks will come with at least one camera or image-capturing motion detector, so don’t worry about that.Your home will have unique needs, but generally, this is how many motion and entry sensors you should look at purchasing, depending on your home size.Home typeSensorsOne-bedroom non-ground floor flat1 motion detector,1 entry sensorOne-bedroom ground floor flat1 motion detector,2 entry sensorsTwo-bedroom house6 motion detectors,2 entry sensorsThree-bedroom house8 motion detectors,2 entry sensors Monitored alarm systems monthly cost and installationPrices vary wildly when it comes to monitored alarm systems.They range from SimpliSafe’s £278.96 Starter pack to ADT Police Response, which costs just shy of £1,000 over the first year.Different companies will offer different add-ons and gadgets, from AMCO’s LiveTalk to Verisure’s ZeroVision fog, but the main variable is the number of motion detectors and entry sensors.Focus on how many of those you need, choose a reliable company that doesn’t drain your bank balance, and you’ll stay within your budget. Monitored vs unmonitored alarm systemsMonitoredUnmonitoredTrained professionals watch over your homeLess expensiveThe safety of your home and loved ones isn’t all on your shouldersMore freedom to decide what kind of system you wantHelps you to avoid experiencing one of the 300,000 annual burglaries in the UKEmergency services will always be called, in any scenarioGenerally more technologically advanced Pros and cons of monitored alarm systems ✔ Pros: Better protection – you’ll have a team of paid guardian angels watching over you Monitoring staff can scare off burglars who’ve broken in The police, ambulance, and/or fire brigade will be called when a crisis is confirmed Fewer false alarms More cutting-edge security gear X Cons: Can be much more expensive May never be needed SummaryThe best monitored alarm system is the SimpliSafe Bamburgh – and by this point, you should know whether it’s the right deal for you, or whether you’d rather go for a package from Verisure, AMCO, or ADT.Paying for monitoring can be expensive, but if the worst happens, you’ll want to be as protected as possible – and a team of trained security experts can help keep you safe.You’re ready to compare quotes from home security experts in your area. Just complete this form to take a big step towards feeling safer. Josh Jackman Senior Writer @josh_jackman Josh has written about eco-friendly home improvements and climate change for the past three years. His work has featured on the front page of the Financial Times; he’s been interviewed by BBC Radio; and he was the resident expert in BT’s smart home tech initiative.