iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
PCMag’s 2026 Readers’ Choice survey puts SimpliSafe first for home security system satisfaction, Wyze first for standalone cameras, Eufy first for video doorbells, and Kwikset first for smart locks. Ring led the outdoor cameras that are part of a home security system. These are reader satisfaction results for separate product categories—not a guarantee that any one brand suits every home.
PCMag’s survey was in the field from March 30 to August 2, 2026; its results article was published September 29, 2026. The findings can help narrow a shortlist, but they are not a model-by-model technical comparison. PCMag’s article does not establish the survey’s sample size, exact questions, or response weighting, and its scores should not be read as laboratory test results.
How common are home security devices?
PCMag reported figures from SafeHome.org’s latest home security market report indicating that 61% of U.S. households had at least one indoor or outdoor security camera, up from 52% in 2024. The same report, as described by PCMag, put video doorbell ownership at 48%, up from 45% in 2024, and home alarm system ownership at 30%, up from 28% two years earlier. SafeHome.org survey figures reported by PCMag also said 49% of households install alarm systems themselves, compared with 42% that have a professional installation.
Which home security systems scored highest?
SimpliSafe returned to the top of PCMag’s home security systems category after Ring led in 2024 and 2025. SimpliSafe earned 8.6 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, compared with Ring’s 8.2. Ring held a narrow 0.1-point advantage in reliability.
#1 Best Overall
- A great fit for 2-4 bedroom homes, this Alarm Kit includes one Base Station, two Keypads, eight Contact Sensors, two Motion Detectors, and one Range Extender.
- Includes an intuitive Keypad that can arm and disarm your Alarm and Contact Sensors that detect when doors or windows open.
- Choose the Ring Alarm Kit that fits your needs and detect even more with additional Alarm Sensors and accessories (sold separately) at any time.
- Receive mobile notifications when your system is triggered and monitor all your Ring devices all through the Ring app.
- More peace of mind. Subscribe to a compatible Ring Protect Plan (sold separately) to Arm your Alarm from anywhere, keep your system online if the Wi-Fi goes down, and more. Plus, get 24/7 Professional Monitoring for emergency police, fire and medical response, and more.
SimpliSafe scored at least 9.0 in monitoring trustworthiness, setup, ease of use, individual sensors, and smoke and CO₂ detection. PCMag said ADT trailed both SimpliSafe and Ring in every subcategory where it competed. Those findings point to different strengths within the system category: overall reader satisfaction favored SimpliSafe, while Ring had the slight reliability edge.
How did system cameras compare?
These results concern cameras that are part of a home security system, not standalone cameras. SimpliSafe was readers’ top choice for indoor system cameras, beating Ring in most subcategories; the two tied on likelihood to recommend.
Rank #2
- A great fit for 1-2 bedroom homes, this kit includes one base station, one keypad, four contact sensors, one motion detector, and one range extender.
- Includes an intuitive Keypad that can arm and disarm your Alarm and Contact Sensors that detect when doors or windows open.
- Choose the Ring Alarm Kit that fits your needs and detect even more with additional Alarm Sensors and accessories (sold separately) at any time.
- Receive mobile notifications when your system is triggered and monitor all your Ring devices all through the Ring app.
- More peace of mind. Subscribe to a compatible Ring Protect Plan (sold separately) to Arm your Alarm from anywhere, keep your system online if the Wi-Fi goes down, and more. Plus, get 24/7 Professional Monitoring for emergency police, fire and medical response, and more.
For outdoor cameras within home systems, Ring led in overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend. SimpliSafe led for video and picture quality, system cost, and ease of use. Ring’s reported satisfaction was 8.2, down from 9.0 the previous year. The category results show why “best camera” is too broad a conclusion: the leader changed with camera placement and the comparison measure.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Which standalone cameras led?
Wyze returned to the top of PCMag’s standalone indoor camera results for the first time in six years, ahead of Ring and Blink. Wyze scored 9.0 for likelihood to recommend, and 9.2 for both system cost and setup. PCMag also named Wyze the leader in standalone outdoor cameras; Eufy had a slight advantage over Wyze for setup in that comparison.
Rank #3
- Simple to set up. Seriously secure - Get ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the Base Station, download the SimpliSafe App, place your sensors, and start protecting your home. No wiring or drilling required. Or contact SimpliSafe directly if you need help installing your system.
- 1 FREE month of professional monitoring for fast police response when you need it most. With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. Starting at less than $1/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.
- Protection for entry points - Entry Sensors protect windows, doors, and cabinets and alert you when someone tries to enter. Customizable and can send Secret Alerts so you are quietly alerted if someone accesses private areas, without sounding an alarm.
- Blanket a whole room - Motion sensors detect motion within 35 feet, have a 90 degree field of view and get along great with pets under 60lbs. Perfect for full room coverage when placed in a corner.
Standalone cameras are a different comparison from cameras included in a security system. Before choosing one, check the specific model’s storage options, alert features, compatibility, and any recurring fees. PCMag’s survey article does not provide a complete model-level comparison of those details.
Which smart locks and deadbolts won?
Kwikset won PCMag’s smart locks and deadbolts category for the first time, scoring 8.8 for reliability and ease of use. Schlage had reported scores only for overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend, and trailed Kwikset on both. The survey results do not settle which entry method—such as a keypad, app, or fingerprint reader—is right for a particular household.
Rank #4
- Like-New Ring Alarm 8-piece kit is refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device. Like-New Amazon devices may be packaged in generic Amazon-branded boxes.
- A great fit for 1-2 bedroom homes, this kit includes one base station, one keypad, four contact sensors, one motion detector, and one range extender.
- Includes an intuitive Keypad that can arm and disarm your Alarm and Contact Sensors that detect when doors or windows open.
- Choose the Ring Alarm Kit that fits your needs and detect even more with additional Alarm Sensors and accessories (sold separately) at any time.
- Receive mobile notifications when your system is triggered and monitor all your Ring devices all through the Ring app.
PCMag home security products editor Angela Moscaritolo said of the Kwikset Halo Touch, “I can see why people love Kwikset,” and added, “I love how the Halo Touch blends traditional design with modern features like a convenient fingerprint scanner. In our testing, the fingerprint scanner worked without a hitch, and the app made it easy to set up temporary user schedules.” These are her product comments, distinct from the reader survey scores.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Which video doorbell scored highest?
Eufy won the video doorbell category for the second consecutive year. Its overall satisfaction score was 8.8, compared with Ring’s 7.9. Eufy scored 9.1 for video and picture quality and 9.0 for reliability. PCMag reported that Ring had 5.75 times as many survey users as Eufy, yet had never won the category since PCMag began including doorbells in 2020. The article does not establish that this difference in respondent counts explains the scores.
Best Value
- Outdoor 4 is our most affordable wireless smart security camera yet, offering up to two-year battery life for around-the-clock peace of mind. Local storage not included with Sync Module Core.
- See and speak from the Blink app — Experience 1080p HD live view, infrared night vision, and crisp two-way audio.
- Two-year battery life — Set up in minutes and get up to two years of power with the included AA Energizer lithium batteries and a Blink Sync Module Core.
- Enhanced motion detection — Be alerted to motion faster from your smartphone with dual-zone, enhanced motion detection.
- Person detection — Get alerts when a person is detected with embedded computer vision (CV) as part of an optional Blink Subscription Plan (sold separately).
Moscaritolo described Eufy’s battery-powered E340 as “a reasonably priced, highly rated pick for doorstep monitoring that lets you avoid recurring subscription fees to access recorded video and smart detection features.” This is her assessment, not a verified current price or a guarantee that every Eufy model or service arrangement has the same terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you check before choosing?
Survey satisfaction is a useful starting point, but the category winner is not automatically the best fit for your home. Compare the actual model and setup against the way you plan to use it.
- Installation: Decide whether you want to install equipment yourself or pay for professional installation; the reported household figures show both approaches are common.
- Monitoring: For an alarm system, check what monitoring is available and whether it is optional or tied to a recurring plan. PCMag’s survey scores do not spell out every plan’s terms.
- Ongoing costs: Confirm current equipment pricing, fees, cloud storage terms, and which features remain available without a subscription. Do not assume a survey score answers these questions.
- Compatibility: Check whether the selected camera, lock, doorbell, alarm hub, and preferred smart-home assistant work together. PCMag Senior Writer Andrew Gebhart said: “It’s an excellent time to dive into DIY smart home security. We’re past the wild unpredictability of early adopter days, and most categories have several reliable brands to pick from that do the job well. Even better, those brands tend to work together and with your preferred digital assistant, so you can mix and match and still end up with an interoperable system.” Treat that as his perspective, not a compatibility guarantee for particular devices.
- Privacy and storage: Review where video is stored, how long it is retained, who can access it, and whether local storage is supported by the exact camera you are considering.
- Lock access: If choosing a smart lock, verify supported entry methods, temporary-user controls, and fit with your door and household routines.
PCMag Editor-in-Chief Wendy Sheehan Donnell said, “More than a decade ago, SimpliSafe blazed the trail in DIY smart home security, building a high-quality system that prioritizes ease of use and versatility.” Donnell also said, “Best of all, you’re never locked into a pricey subscription. In 2026, SimpliSafe is still the leader in our lab testing and racks up impressive satisfaction scores with our readers.” The subscription and lab-testing assessments are hers; the Readers’ Choice survey alone does not establish terms for every plan or reproduce the lab methods.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
