Aegis Annie

Prices checked October 20, 2026. All prices are in US dollars and exclude tax and shipping unless noted. SimpliSafe runs frequent promotions, so confirm the final price at checkout. Gadget Sentinel did not hands-on test SimpliSafe for this article. Every test observation is attributed to the outlet that made it. Affiliate disclosure: some links on

Prices and plan terms were checked on October 20, 2026 on the official pages linked below, plus independent reviews where noted, before tax. Promotions change often. Gadget Sentinel did not hands-on test either system for this article, so every test observation is attributed to the outlet that ran it. Affiliate disclosure: some links on Gadget

Prices and policies checked October 20, 2026 on the official pages linked below, plus independent reviews where noted. Promotions change often, so confirm before you buy. Gadget Sentinel may earn a commission if you buy through links on this site, at no cost to you. We did not hands-on test either system for this article.

Prices verified October 14, 2026 on Ring.com (US). Excludes tax. Ring can change prices at any time. Affiliate disclosure: Gadget Sentinel may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our pricing analysis or recommendations. How much does Ring Alarm cost in

The short answer: the real difference between DIY and professional home security systems is who installs the equipment and who is on the hook for support. Monitoring is a separate choice. A DIY system is equipment you buy, place, and set up yourself, usually with an app. A professional system is designed, installed, and tested