About Alabama
Alabama has higher rates of crime than the national average; however, it varies between types of crime.
For example, violent crimes are about equal to the national average of 4 per 1,000 residents, but property crime rates are higher than average at 36 per 1,000 (national average is 29).
Since Alabama is a sparsely populated state the number of crimes per square mile is less than half of the national average.
Alabama is known for being at the center of the civil rights movement through the middle of the 20th century.
With events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as being home to some of the largest KKK groups in the country Alabama is synonymous with race relations.
Given the political climate and importance of the state in regards to civil rights it should be noted that Alabama’s hate crime index is vastly better than the national average, meaning it has a much lower number of hate crimes per capita.
Finding the Best Home Security Systems in Alabama
The top three home security companies in Alabama are Vivint Smart Home, Google Nest, and Abode.
Vivint Smart Home is #1 overall in the nation for home security and provides excellent smart home integrations as well.
Both Abode and Google Nest provide the option for DIY or Professional Installation while Vivint Smart Home requires a professional to install your equipment.
While there are many home security companies in Alabama, we look specifically for those that address the unique needs of local residents and can best fulfill the safety requirements for each household.
Those needs include:
- Cost
- Installation Process
- Contract Length
See All Alabama Home Security Companies
Home Security Cost in Alabama
Alabama residents will likely care more about the cost of home security than the quality of each company’s smart home technology.
However, cost can be a tricky thing to predict in home security; we’ll run through each of the contributing factors to home security cost in Alabama.
First, there’s the monthly monitoring fee. Monthly monitoring fees can range from around $20 - $60.
The best home security companies will likely charge around $30/month for their basic home security package.
However, much depends on the extra fees. Be aware of cancellation fees, upfront fees, and installation fees.
The reason Vivint Smart Home is ranked #1 isn’t because of a low monthly fee (it’s monthly fees are pretty average). Vivint Smart Home let’s customers choose between no upfront fees or no contract (no contracts means no early termination fees).
Make sure you weigh the immediate need for home security against the number of upfront fees that can really begin to stack up with some of the lower-ranked home security companies.
Additionally, the more devices you have, the more it will become necessary to have an interconnected system. With larger home security systems, you will likely want to have an app from which you can control the entire system in one place.
All of this smart home technology will cost even more, but it’s definitely a worthwhile investment in your home comfort.
Home Security Installation in Alabama
All Alabama residents will need to decide between DIY installation and professional installation.
The decision isn’t a difficult one — would you rather pay $100 or so for an expert to come to your house and install your system or would you like to give it a try yourself?
If you have a large house, you’ll likely want a professional to help you out (large houses mean large, complex security systems).
DIY home security is a better idea for renters or those living in small houses.
Home Security Contracts in Alabama
The longer the home security contract you get, the more likely you’ll have a lower upfront fee.
For example, with Vivint Smart Home you can get a month-to-month contract (lowest in the industry) if you pay for all of your equipment upfront. Alternatively, you can sign up for a 36-month contract and not have to worry about paying for your equipment upfront.
The choice is up to you, but most negative home security reviews refer to cancellation fees and long contracts as the reason for their displeasure.
We recommend that you take advantage of shorter contracts if you have the option.
