The Best Home Security Options in Austin, Texas

Best Overall
Point Security
Starting at  
$19.99
/mo.
Pro Bullet Several equipment options
Pro Bullet Free move with contract
Best Customer Service Hours
All Star Security
Starting at  
$14.99
/mo.
Pro Bullet No-contract option
Pro Bullet 24/7 customer service
Best Over-the-Phone Service
Granite Security Systems
Starting at  
$26.96
/mo.
Pro Bullet Emergency phone line
Pro Bullet Wonderful phone service
Best Home Automation
Central Security
Starting at  
$19.99
/mo.
Pro Bullet Custom smart home automation
Pro Bullet No-contract option
Best Customization
Bigstar Smart Home Security
Starting from 
$27.99
Pro Bullet Customization tool on website
Pro Bullet FAQ on website
We review only local Austin brands on this page. If you're looking for national companies, you can find them on our main best home security systems page.

Overview
From taco trucks to Lady Bird Lake to Eeyore’s annual birthday party, there’s lots to love about Austin. But Austinites like you know that Texas’s capital has its quirks. If the high crime rates make you nervous, you might want a home security system.

You might already buy local products and services to keep Austin weird. In that case, you’re in luck, because you’ve got security options beyond big brands like ADT Home Security. There are a bunch of local alarm companies for you to choose from.


Best home security in Austin


Compare Austin home security systems

Data effective 01/10/2020. Offers and availability subject to change.

*Granite Security Systems price doesn't include tax

Local vs. national security systems

Let’s do a high-level overview of the Austin home security scene.

Brand equipment

Some national companies make their equipment. That’s not feasible for local companies, which tend to buy security devices from generic, third-party brands. The clear favorite in Austin is Alarm.com, followed by 2GIG.

Customization

Most local security companies do customization to some degree. This might be because local brands have fewer customers, allowing them to focus more on each buyer. Either way, customization is more frequent on a local level than on a national scale, including in ATX.

Apps

Every provider we looked at for this review offers a smartphone app. Some offer this service for free, while others charge for it.

Smart home integration

Home automation capabilities vary across national home security companies. Similarly, they differ in ATX. We saw all kinds of local company offerings, from no apparent integration to completely custom integration at $50 an hour.

Local home security is always an option, but your needs may require something on a national level. If so, here’s a guide for you.

Best Home Security Systems
Frontpoint
Best Value
Our rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars4.5
SimpliSafe
Most Flexible
Our rating:
4.3 out of 5 stars4.3
Vivint
Best High-End System
Our rating:
4.2 out of 5 stars4.2
Ring
Best DIY
Our rating:
4.2 out of 5 stars4.2

Customer service

Local home security tends to be quirky. Small businesses sometimes do things that national companies can’t do in their larger-scale markets. This flexibility can provide extremely tailored service, but it can also create a frustrating experience.

Our encounter with Austin home security companies stood out, mostly in a bad way. More than one rep who spoke with us was impatient during our conversation, even borderline rude. Several also implied that they needed to do a home visit before they’d share even generalities about their services.

Home security companies should approach callers and emailers with a light touch.

Some folks look for home security following traumatic experiences that make them feel unsafe. They want their purchases to be as easy as possible; they don’t want rough treatment or excessive hoop-jumping. We think ATX home security companies should take this into consideration and approach callers and emailers with a light touch, not give them the third degree for whatever reason.

Customer service availability

Most local home security companies in ATX use regular business hours for customer service. This is inconvenient if you need service during the night time or on a weekend. It also makes it hard to get in touch with your home security company if you work during business hours.


Point Security: Best overall

With a low cellular price, a no-contract option, and some fantastic freebies, Point Security’s the best ATX option overall.

Point Security
Plans starting at 
$19.99
/mo.

    Point Security pros and cons

    Pros
    • Pro BulletLow cellular service price
    • Pro BulletNo-contract option
    • Pro BulletSeveral equipment options
    • Pro BulletFree equipment and activation with basic package
    • Pro BulletFree move with contract
    Cons
    • Con BulletLimited customer service hours
    • Con BulletBroken contact form

    Why we recommend Point Security

    Point Security’s cellular price is $29.99, including the app, with no additional price tiers. Add its no-contract option, its range of equipment, and its other potential freebies, and you’ve got yourself quite the deal.

    Price

    As we said, Point Security offers one $29.99 price point for one tier of service. This makes pricing straight to the point (ba-dum-ching!). That’s less true for other companies with several different tiers of features.

    Point Security monitoring
    Take Note

    Point Security uses Brinks, a well-known security and alarm monitoring services company.

    Read our Brinks review

    You also don’t have to get a contract with Point Security if you buy your equipment up front. There’s normally a $199 activation fee; however, the basic package advertised on the Point Security site comes with free activation.

    Equipment

    Point Security has a plethora of brands at its disposal. Your system might have pieces from Qolsys, Alarm.com, 2GIG, or Interlogix.

    No matter who it’s made by, this is what a basic Bronze home security system includes:

    • Control panel with built-in cell unit
    • Door sensors
    • A motion detector

    With this package, the equipment is free, and so is the installation and activation. And if you need to customize your package, you can. You also have other preset options with more equipment: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

    Customer service

    Point Security’s customer service hours are a downer. Reps are available only during business hours, so if you work then, you’ll have to make a quick call on your way to lunch at Schlotzsky’s. You can’t save time by sending a message as the contact form on the website appears to be broken.

    If y’all have a Point Security contract and need to switch houses, you get a free move. And happily, your contract terms won’t start over at the new place.

    ASecureLife’s recommendation: Overall, we think Point Security is your best bet for a superior local home security experience.

    >>View Website


    All Star Security: Best customer service hours

    All Star Security has a variety of different package options, but its standout feature is the 24/7 customer service.

    All Star Security
    Plans starting at 
    $14.99
    /mo.

      All Star pros and cons

      Pros
      • Pro BulletLow cellular service price
      • Pro BulletNo-contract option
      • Pro Bullet24/7 customer service
      Cons
      • Con BulletUnpleasant representative

      Why we recommend All Star

      All Star Security has 24/7 customer service, something that’s hard to find in Austin home security. If you have a problem, day or night, you can reach out at your convenience.

      Price

      All Star’s pricing system is a bit complicated. Here’s how we’d describe it:

      • Monitoring starts at $14.99 per month for both landline and cellular systems.
      • Installing equipment for a new or prewired system costs $299.00.
      • If you want a cellular system, you must buy either a Datatel cell unit for $89.00 or an Alarm.com unit for $165.00.
      • For a system with smart home integration, monitoring is $29.99 a month.
      • Installing the smart home system equipment costs $349.00.
      • For an upgraded control panel, you pay an extra $80.00.
      Equipment

      All Star does either Qolsys or Alarm.com. A basic package from the website includes the following:

      • Control panel
      • Keypad
      • Three door/window sensors
      • A siren
      • A transformer
      • Two window decals
      • One yard sign
      Customer service

      We love that All Star has 24/7 service. Seriously, you never know when something might go wrong with your system. Quickly getting it back on board could be a matter of safety.

      We also like that All Star lets you cancel month-to-month service if you’re moving. You have to reach out about 30 days in advance, but other than that, it’s relatively painless.

      On the other hand, the rep who answered the phone was . . . less pleasant than he could have been. Could have been a fluke, but it doesn’t bode well for the customer service quality.

      ASecureLife’s recommendation: Want 24/7 service? All Star Security has you covered.

      >>View Website


      Granite Security Systems: Best over-the-phone service

      Granite Security Systems offers the best phone experience by far.

      Granite Security Systems
      Plans starting at 
      $26.96
      /mo.

        Price doesn't include tax.

        Granite pros and cons

        Pros
        • Pro BulletFlexible contract
        • Pro BulletEmergency phone line
        • Pro BulletWonderful phone service
        Cons
        • Con BulletContract required
        • Con BulletApp costs extra
        • Con BulletLimited official customer service hours

        Why we recommend Granite

        As we mentioned earlier in the review, the customer service reps in Austin didn’t impress us. But the Granite Security Systems rep was an exception. She was easy to talk to and genially answered each of our questions. This sample of how Granite treats customers over the phone makes this brand stand out in a drove of lukewarm phone reps.

        Price

        Granite’s prices start at $26.96 plus taxes for a month of landline monitoring. If you want cellular, that’s $36.96 each month before tax. You also pay $10.00 more each month for the app.

        If you’d like to get a headstart on your payments, you can do three months of landline monitoring for the reduced flat price of $75.00.

        Granite contracts
        Our Experience

        The rep told us that Granite’s contracts last for 36 months, but the brand is flexible based on each customer’s situation.

        Equipment

        Granite’s partial to Alarm.com, which seems to be the only brand the company uses. There wasn’t any basic package info for us to peruse, but the rep assured us that the offerings are highly customizable.

        Customer service

        While Granite operates in that weekday nine-to-five bracket, it also has an emergency phone line. That’s almost as good as 24/7 service. Sometimes it’s even better because the person on the other end immediately knows that it’s urgent.

        We can’t emphasize enough how much we appreciated the friendly customer rep. It was a big difference when held up against the tepid and even ornery reps we spoke to for this review.

        Finally, while we couldn’t get specific details, Granite’s security systems can be moved to a new home if needed.

        ASecureLife’s recommendation: Call Granite Security Systems for a delightful phone experience.

        >>View Website


        Central Security: Best home automation

        Austin’s Central Security does custom home automation at $50 per hr.

        Central Security
        Plans starting at 
        $19.99
        /mo.

          Central pros and cons

          Pros
          • Pro BulletAffordable custom smart home automation
          • Pro BulletNo-contract option
          • Pro Bullet90-day cancellation policy
          • Pro BulletHelpful website
          Cons
          • Con BulletLTE services only

          Why we recommend Central

          Central Security’s prices aren’t bad at all, and this brand has a no-contract option and some customer service hours on weekends. But the ability to get custom home automation at just $50 an hour is what really sets this one apart.

          From San Antonio to Austin
          Protip

          If you’ve read our San Antonio review, you might remember that Central Security is our top option in San Antonio. But because Central’s Austin offerings aren’t the same as the San Antonio offerings and because the Austin market’s a bit different, Central ranks lower in ATX.

          Price

          Your LTE system service starts at $19.99 a month for monitoring from UCC. If you don’t have reliable cell service, though, it’s $29.99. You can also commit to a year of service in advance and pay $220.00 for all 12 months. Either way, you’ll spend $100 on your basic equipment package.

          As we said, smart home integration with Central is $50 an hour. Instead of splurging on a queso dinner or yoga classes, smarten up your home without the trouble of self-installing.

          Equipment

          While we didn’t learn what comes in the $100 package, we can tell you that Central Security uses DSC equipment in its systems.

          Customer service

          Central mostly does the ole nine-to-five humdrum, but it also has six welcome hours of customer service availability on Saturdays. That’s plenty of time to call, whether you do it before braving the day’s traffic or after lunching at Salt Lick BBQ.

          The website is a bit of an eyesore, though it does provide some helpful information. And if you email the address on the site, you’ll likely get a response. We did, which thrilled us. Sometimes email’s just easier than phone calls.

          While Central has a 90-day cancellation policy, if you want to move without canceling, you should be able to if you give the brand a week’s notice.

          ASecureLife’s recommendation: Been eyeing smart home technology? Get a customized setup and a security system with Central Security.

          >>View Website


          Bigstar Smart Home Security: Best customization

          With Bigstar Smart Home Security, you can be more involved with the customization process and hopefully skip the home visit.

          Bigstar Smart Home Security
          Plans starting at 
          $27.99
          /mo.

            Bigstar pros and cons

            Pros
            • Pro BulletCustomization tool on website
            • Pro BulletFAQ on website
            • Pro BulletNo-contract option
            Cons
            • Con BulletLimited customer service hours

            Why we recommend Bigstar

            Bigstar shows that it cares by providing a customization tool and an FAQ on its website. Theoretically, you can use these resources to choose the best package without scheduling a home visit. That’s a nice change from other local companies.

            Home visits
            Our Experience

            Some brands weren’t interested in speaking to us over the phone. They jumped right to asking if they could visit our residence. We didn’t love this. We understand that it’s helpful in customization, but we feel like having a salesperson in our home without knowing more would pressure us to make a premature decision.

            Price

            We used the customization tool to create a basic package, which costs $27.99 each month to monitor. It was unclear whether you have to pay for the equipment separately or if it’s included with monitoring.

            Bigstar doesn’t require contracts.
            Equipment

            Bigstar uses a variety of brands, including Alarm.com and Qolsys. The custom home security package we created has the following:

            • Control panel
            • Motion and camera sensors
            • Three door/window sensors
            • Backup battery
            Customer service

            While the Bigstar customization tool didn’t fully function for us, we were charmed by the convenience of the idea. Way to make customizing easy!

            The customer service hours are pretty limited for this one, just like with Point Security. But Bigstar does have an advantage in that its service hours end slightly after regular business hours, so you can catch a rep on your way out of work.

            Speaking of catching a rep, we weren’t able to. That meant we couldn’t find out some info, such as Bigstar’s moving policy, which lowered our rating of the customer service.

            ASecureLife’s recommendation: Tired of brands that brag about their customization but don’t deliver? Try Bigstar Smart Home Security.

            >>View Website


            How we chose

            We don’t take home security rankings lightly. To make the best possible recommendations, we pull the top 20 companies from review resources like Angie’s List and Yelp. We then look at company websites and do additional research to whittle down our list to the top five.

            If a company didn’t make it on our list, then either it didn’t have enough buzz to make the top 20 or it didn’t meet our expectations for the top five. For instance, we eliminated Camm Security Inc., TriStar Security Services, and 512 Austin Locksmith fairly quickly because they don’t offer burglar alarm systems.

            We talk more about other contenders in the Other Brands We Considered section.


            Other brands we considered

            By definition, we can’t include every notable ATX home security company in the top five. Here are brands that we didn’t pick but still deserve some attention.

            Other brands we considered
            Texas Security & Surveillance Inc
            Dyezz Surveillance and Alarm
            Longhorn Smart Home Solutions
            A Watchful Eye, Inc.
            Blue Line Security

            Texas Security & Surveillance Inc

            Texas Security just barely fell short of our top five. Besides selling security systems, Texas Security also monitors previously existing ones. It’s also the place to go for landline services. This brand charges $14.95 a month for landline monitoring and $39.95 for cellular. In the end, the limited customer service hours and required contract pushed this one aside.

            Dyezz Surveillance and Alarm

            Dyezz was also one of our top finalists. Its landline option costs just $15.95 a month, a stellar deal. Ultimately we bumped it down because the cellular options are pricey. You can pay $44.95 a month for your cellular system, or you can buy the whole thing up front for $680 and do $29.99 a month in monitoring fees.

            Longhorn Smart Home Solutions

            Longhorn’s priced well at $29 per month, and it has convenient 24/7 customer service hours. This service considers itself a “boutique” security company with a no-contract option and customizable solutions.

            While Longhorn’s offerings intrigue us, it’s a newer company with a less established track record. Its rep also sounded pretty annoyed when we reached out, making us less than enthusiastic about the brand’s customer service skills. We decided to pass on this one.

            A Watchful Eye, Inc.

            A Watchful Eye is an average option. Its pricing is a little higher than ideal. You can’t access the app unless you pay $45 for monitoring, and Watchful Eye has limited customer service hours and cellular systems only. But it doesn’t require contracts, so we kept it in the running for a while.

            We ultimately dropped it because we found it a bit, erm, creepy. The logo’s a staring eye, and there’s an image of a sleeping child on the website.

            Blue Line Security

            We noticed that a bunch of people are searching for this company, so we included it in our top 20. Our initial research suggested that Blue Line runs a bit more expensive than the average ATX home security company. But we didn’t get a response to our email or phone call, so we’re not able to say much more about this one.

            Other security companies


            Austin FAQs

            Is it safe to live in Austin, Texas?

            It depends. Austin’s crime index is 11, meaning it’s safer than 11% of US cities.¹ That’s not horrible, but it could be better.

            Crime downtown is a bigger concern than crime overall. In October 2019, the Austin Police Department stated that crime in downtown ATX is up.² The spike shows 15% for the violent crime rate and 18% for the property crime rate.³

            Luckily, there are things you can do to protect yourself, especially if you live downtown. Getting a security system is one of those things.

            Do I need an alarm permit in Austin?

            Yes. Both homes and businesses require a permit to use an alarm system in ATX.⁴ Each time the police respond to an alarm at a nonpermitted location, they issue a $220 fine.

            Do I need security camera systems, automated smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other extras?

            In our opinion, there are very few situations in which security cameras or home automation devices are 100% required. A comprehensive alarm system adequately covers many security needs.

            At the same time, though, there are benefits to getting extra equipment. Sometimes it’s just nice to have the greater comfort that comes with more security devices. So if you’re thinking about expanding your system, we’d encourage it.

            There are benefits to getting extra security equipment.

            If you’re looking for cameras, here’s a guide to the best home security cameras. We also have guides to the following:

            Plus we have a resource about the best home automation devices.

            Does my home security company need to be licensed, bonded, and insured?

            In Texas, home security companies need licenses.⁵ Read these guidelines to learn more about licensing requirements.

            We’re less sure about bonds and insurance; we couldn’t find any laws or statutes that specifically say yea or nay.

            Can I get a discount on my homeowners insurance for having home security?

            Most of the time, yes. For clear information for your specific homeowners policy, talk with your insurance provider.


            Our recommendation

            When it comes to Austin home security, here are our recommendations.

            • Point Security: Point Security is our overall best option.
            • All Star Security: If calling during regular customer service hours is a drag, All Star Security has 24/7 availability.
            • Granite Security Systems: Granite Security Systems stands out for helpful and pleasant phone service.
            • Central Security: Automate your home with Central Security’s custom offerings.
            • Bigstar Smart Home Security: Take the first step in customization without even speaking to a rep with Bigstar Home Security.

            If none of these tickles your fancy, you can always try our review of the best security systems. It gives helpful information about services like Vivint and ADT Home Security. Otherwise, happy security hunting, and keep Austin weird!