2020’s Best Home Security Systems in St. Louis

Overview
Ah, St. Louis—the Gateway to the West. Whether you cheered when the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup last year or you are a proud member of the Cardinal Nation (or both!), we can all agree that living in St. Louis has some unique benefits and challenges. There are awesome things to do and see at Forest Park, The Loop, and of course, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (give the Clydesdales some love from me next time you visit), but keeping yourself and your property safe is less fun.

St. Louis has a much higher crime rate than the national average—99% of other US cities are safer than the STL.¹ The good news is that property crime in Missouri has declined in recent years; the bad news is that violent crime appears to be rising.² A home security system can protect you against intrusion and theft.

We searched the St. Louis area for local home alarm companies that offer professional alarm monitoring to give you our top recommendations.

Trying to decide between a big, national security company and a smaller, local security company? Each type of company has good things to offer. Here are some reasons to go local.

No matter how good a national brand is about customer service, it’s hard to beat being on a first-name basis with the owner of the company and the service technicians. Local companies are known for making sure each customer feels appreciated and respected, and we can’t help but love the quick responses and friendly reps.

>>Learn more: Looking for more information on national brands? Check out our picks for the best home security systems of 2020.

Gateway Alarm offers low monthly monitoring prices and gives customers several choices for contract lengths, including a no-contract option, which is perfect for students and others seeking short-term commitments.

Gateway Alarm has been operating in St. Louis since 1979. It is a family-owned company that provides professionally installed home security systems with local monitoring. Gateway Alarm has low prices and shorter contract lengths, including a no-contract option, making them our top choice for students and anyone who needs a shorter commitment.

Gateway Alarms offers several pricing levels depending on the type of monitoring and your contract lengths. Landline monitoring is available with a 24-month contract or a month-to-month contract. Upgrading to cellular monitoring (where all other features stay the same) is $10 more per month.

Cellular monitoring through Alarm.com costs only a little more per month and gives you remote access to your system through the smartphone app. It also allows you to add home automation devices and video monitoring to your system. Cellular monitoring requires a 12-month contract and there is no month-to-month option.

Gateway Alarm offers a free in-home security consultation, but any service calls made after the system is installed cost $85 per hour. In our experience, that's pretty pricey. Vivint, by comparison, charges almost half that—$45—for a service fee after the first 120 days.

We enjoyed every interaction we had with Gateway Alarm and were impressed with the customer service we received. Email responses were prompt and friendly, and we never felt pressured to buy anything. Additionally, Gateway Alarm was one of the very few home security companies we found that listed equipment and prices online. We love to see that kind of transparency and service.

Gateway Alarm offers a wide range of security and home automation equipment, but it's worth noting that their pricing can be much higher than many national companies.

• Door/window sensor: $33.75–$46.99
• Motion detector: $12.99
• Glass break detector: $94.50
• Keypad: $76.99 (wired) or $119.99 (wireless)
• Flood detector: $62.99
• Smoke detector: $83.99
• Smoke and heat detector: $101.99
• Carbon monoxide detector: $88.99
• Outdoor security camera: $186.99–$262.99
• Smart light bulb: $44.99
• Smart outlet: $52.99

Gateway Alarm also offers several equipment packages, all for the Cellular Alarm.com monitoring.

Additionally, Gateway Alarm offers a Ring Video Doorbell package for $575, which includes the setup and installation of one Ring Video Doorbell Pro and one Ring Floodlight security camera.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Gateway Alarm impressed us with the low monitoring prices, shorter contracts, and no-contract monitoring options. Add in the great customer service and quality equipment, and you’ve got our top recommendation for students and customers who need flexibility in their commitment.

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Butler Durrell Security has great customer service and lots of positive reviews online, plus 100% cellular monitoring and easy-to-relocate equipment.

Butler Durrell Security has provided professional alarm monitoring for both residential and commercial security systems in the St. Louis area since 1977. Butler Durrell focuses on providing personalized quality service to each client, and they have great customer reviews to show for it.

Butler Durrell Security offers only one monitoring price: cellular monitoring at $44.95 per month with a 36-month contract. Remote access to your system through the smartphone app costs an additional $4.95 per month, but you can turn that off if you decide you don’t want mobile access. These prices are higher than the prices offered by Gateway Alarm, but they are comparable to prices from national brands like Frontpoint and Vivint.

The base home security system package is $549 and includes a control panel with a backup battery, one keypad, one siren, three door sensors, one motion detector, and a cellular communicator. That price includes the installation of all the equipment as well. Additional items can be added à la carte as needed.

Customer service is one area where Butler Durrell really shines. Because it is a small company, customers get to know the owners as well as the technicians, and vice versa. Every interaction we had with the company was courteous and helpful; it felt like our questions were a priority to the people we talked to even though we weren’t current customers.

Butler Durrell Security also performs annual inspections of each system to make sure it’s working at no extra cost to the customer. If you are looking for an excellent, one-on-one home security experience, this is our top recommendation.

Unlike some national brands, when you pay for the equipment from Butler Durrell, you own the system. All of the equipment is easy to move with you, though there is a reinstallation fee.

The list of available equipment is not as extensive as for other companies, but Butler Durrell has all the basics covered, though their prices are higher than the industry norm. Some of the available equipment includes:

• Window sensors: $55
• Key fob: $50
• Smoke detector: $120
• Carbon monoxide detector: $130
• Touchscreen keypad (upgraded from a standard keypad): $75

Butler Durrell also has water sensors, temperature monitors, and home automation devices (thermostats, door locks, garage door control, lighting) that can be added to any system.

Butler Durrell also monitors existing home security systems with the purchase of a cellular transmitter ($125 including installation).

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Butler Durrell Security offers a positive customer service experience, as indicated by their many positive online reviews. We wish remote access didn’t cost extra and their equipment prices were lower, but we appreciate the streamlined security options and outstanding customer service.

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Erker Security Systems is one of the most highly reviewed home security companies in St. Louis. They offer short contracts, good customer service, and home alarm systems tailored to each individual customer.

When we researched local home security companies in the St. Louis region, we found the most positive reviews for Erker Security Systems. Customers love the individual home security systems, as well as the short contract lengths and great customer service.

Erker Security Systems offers both landline and cellular monitoring at good prices. Remote access costs an extra $6 per month, but the total price is still less than you would pay with some other companies (including national brands).

Contracts are only for 12 months, which is different from the majority of both local and national security alarm companies. We love to see those prices for a short contract, as it gives customers more flexibility and lessens the chance that you’ll need to cancel your contract.

Erker Security Systems doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, they make sure all customers receive individual assistance and a customized security system. As a result, they have tons of positive online reviews, and we were quite impressed with the service we received as well. Our emails and phone calls were returned within 48 hours, once even after normal work hours. We were disappointed with the lack of useful information on the website, however.

Because Erker Security Systems customizes each system to your home, we weren’t able to get pricing for individual pieces of equipment. A basic alarm system (which includes a control panel, keypad, siren, door sensors, and motion detectors) costs around $450 to $700, including the installation fee.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Erker Security Systems creates customized home security systems and offers year-to-year contracts. They put the focus on the customer’s needs, and that’s reflected in the number of positive reviews they have.

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Although PASS Security’s prices are higher, they offer remote access to your security system with every plan, as well as 100% cellular monitoring and a lifetime warranty on equipment.

If you want to be able to check on your home security system from your smartphone, PASS Security is our choice for you. With 100% cellular monitoring, the mobile app is included with every monitoring plan at no extra cost.

Although the pricing is not a dealbreaker, it is higher than pricing from most of the competition.
PASS Security provides cellular monitoring starting at $38 per month with a 36-month contract. That monitoring plan gives you remote access to your system from your cell phone, but the cost goes up with additional services.

Video monitoring for up to four cameras is an additional $8 per month. Adding Z-Wave home automation devices to your system is another $8 per month. And adding a doorbell camera is an extra $4 per month. If you add all of these extra services, your monthly fee will be around $58 per month, which is on the high end, even for national brands like ADT.

The installation fee is higher as well at $199, where many brands are close to $99.

We felt like PASS Security had good customer service, though the sales agent we worked with was a little more pushy and less up-front than the agents at the other companies we talked to. We did like that the PASS Security website had several services for customers, including homeowners needing an insurance certificate request for a discount on homeowners insurance.

A standard security system comes with touchscreen control panel, cellular communicator, backup battery, three door/window sensors, and one motion detector. And, of course, the smartphone app, giving you remote access to your system from anywhere.

Prices for the equipment vary depending on how many items you have and where they are installed in your home.

• Door/window sensor
• Motion detector
• Glass break detector
• Fire detector
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Flood/water sensor
• Water shut-off devices
• Freeze sensor
• Smart security cameras
• Smart door locks
• Doorbell camera
• Garage door controller
• Smart thermostat
• Smart lighting controls
• Video recorder (30-day storage)

We liked that PASS Security offers so many environmental sensors for protection against fires and floods. Neighborhoods in both North City and South City were affected by arsonists in 2019, so having a smoke and heat detector is important to protect your home.³

ASecureLife’s recommendation: PASS Security offers a smartphone app with every contract, making it our top choice for remote access. We also like their lifetime warranty on equipment and range of environmental sensors.

>>View Plans

In order to give you the best results, we researched and reached out to 17 different security companies that are located in and/or service the St. Louis area. We evaluated each one on pricing, customer service, equipment, contract lengths, and types of available monitoring and balanced the pros and cons of each category to give you this list. We highlighted only those companies that prioritize home security with professional alarm monitoring and compared them to national brands like Vivint and ADT.

Here are some other local St. Louis security providers that didn’t make our top rankings but are worth mentioning.

Monthly monitoring rates range from around $35 to $45 per month and vary based on how many interactive services (like remote access, geofencing, video monitoring, and smartphone alerts) and how much equipment you choose. You can also lower your monthly payments by paying more up front for the equipment. Citywide Alarms works with each customer to customize the system so they do not offer equipment packages. Each contract is 36 months and installation starts at $99.

Citywide Alarms narrowly missed a spot on our list because there are no shorter contract length options and the mobile app is not available with every monitoring plan. Plus, we were a little less than impressed with the customer service we received as we made inquiries. These things combined to drop Citywide Alarms down. However, if the focus on both home security and automation fits what you’re looking for, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Philibert Security Systems offers both residential and commercial home security systems at good prices. A wireless security system starts at around $350 and goes up from there depending on what equipment you add. Hardwired systems are also available, and landline monitoring costs $19.95 per month. Cellular monitoring starts at $29.95 per month.

Philibert Security Systems offers a good range of basic security equipment and environmental sensors.

• Motion detectors
• Door/window sensors
• Glad break detectors
• Sirens
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke and heat detectors
• Key fobs
• Thermostats
• Wireless communicators

Overall, Philibert Security Systems are just less robust than many of the other companies we reviewed. We also had a hard time getting ahold of anyone to answer our questions. However, the company has been around since 1971 and offers free in-home consultations, so it’s definitely worth considering.

We want you to feel safe where you live, and we know from experience that a home security system can help with that. St. Louis has so much to offer, including some great security companies that will help you build and personalize an alarm system that is right for you.

• For great prices and flexible contracts, our choice is Gateway Alarm.
• For quality customer care and attention, reach out to Butler Durrell Security.
• For a fully customized home security system, we recommend Erker Security Systems.
• For mobile access from your cell phone, check out PASS Security.

1. Neighborhood Scout, "St. Louis, MO Crime Rates"
2. Politifact, "Missouri's Crime Is High, but That's Not the Full Story"
3. KMOV News, "Reward Offered for Info Leading to an Arrest in Multiple North City Arsons"; KTVI News, "Bomb and Arson Investigating South St. Louis Fire"