When and Where to Buy a Wireless Security System

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If you’re looking to buy a wireless security system for your home, you’ve probably noticed that the final price can range greatly. It all depends on the brand, features and where you shop.

I’ve looked at current ratings and prices across the web as well as the best deals posted at ClarkDeals.com since 2016 to sort it all out.

In this article, we’ll take a look at when and where you’ll find the best prices on a wireless security system. Keep reading for a closer look at the best places to find deals as well as the best, most affordable options available now. 

Table of Contents:

The Best Time and Place to Buy a Wireless Security System

Our team at ClarkDeals has been posting the best deals available from around the web since 2016. I looked back at over 60 home security system deals that we’ve posted since the beginning to see when and where we’ve found the best prices. 

You’ll find the best deals on wireless security systems at Amazon towards the beginning of the year, late summer to early fall and around Black Friday.

As far as which system to actually buy, we’ve found the most deals on the SimpliSafe, Ring and Arlo brands. 

I also looked at the highest-rated options according to Consumer Reports. The top rated and most affordable options include security systems from Ring, Abode, SimpliSafe and iSmartAlarm.

The Best Time and Place to Get Wireless Security System Deals

Like any big purchase, it’s smart to shop around for a while before deciding when and where to buy a wireless security system. 

At ClarkDeals, we’ve seen some of the best deals during Black Friday, especially at Amazon, Woot and eBay.

Let’s take a closer look at the months that we’ve posted deals on wireless security systems and the stores they’ve come from over the years.

When to Buy a Wireless Security System

Prices fluctuate throughout the year based on holidays, promotions, new inventory and general sales. That’s why it’s important to plan your purchase by watching the prices at a few different stores over time.

Here are the months that we’ve seen the most wireless security system deals available from around the web:

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The best time to buy a wireless security system by month: January, July, September, November

The Best Months to Buy a Security System

  1. November
  2. July
  3. January
  4. September

It’s no surprise that wireless security systems go on sale during Black Friday in November. You’ll most likely find the best deals beginning the week before Thanksgiving and lasting for about three weeks. 

If you miss Black Friday deals, you’ll also likely find price drops during the beginning of the year in January. As far as the rest of the year, you’ll find a surge of deals toward the end of summer and early fall.  

Since a lot of wireless security systems are available through Amazon, it’s easy to track their price history using Camelcamelcamel. I used this method to track the top most affordable wireless security system available now according to Consumer Reports: the 5-piece Ring Alarm Kit.

Price History of the Ring Alarm wireless security system at Amazon

According to Camelcamelcamel, $199.99 seems to be the typical price for this Ring alarm system. It went on sale during September and December last year, and on January 5, 2020, the price was at an all-time low of $139.

Where to Buy a Wireless Security System

While you’re likely to get a good deal at Amazon, several of the best wireless security systems are also available at multiple stores. For that reason, you may have to shop around to get the best price. 

Here’s where we’ve seen the best prices at ClarkDeals over the past few years:

Where to buy a wireless security system including Amazon, Woot, eBay, Best Buy and Costco

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The Best Places to Buy a Security System

  1. Amazon
  2. Woot
  3. eBay
  4. Best Buy
  5. Costco

As you can see, Amazon has posted the most deals on wireless security systems. Three of the top four recommended options from Consumer Reports are also available at Amazon right now. 

In addition to Amazon, we’ve seen great deals from Woot, eBay, Best Buy and Costco. I took a closer look at these top five places to buy a wireless security system to learn more about each store’s brands, return policies and best deals.

The Best Places to Buy a Wireless Security System

Based on what we’ve seen at ClarkDeals and the highest-rated wireless security systems at Consumer Reports, you’re most likely to get a great deal on a reliable system at Amazon. Still, comparison shopping is important to ensure you don’t miss out on a better price. 

Before you make your final purchase, be sure to use a tool like Google Shopping to quickly compare prices available across the web. Here’s what you’ll need to know before buying a wireless security system at Amazon, Woot, eBay, Best Buy or Costco:

Amazon

Webpage displaying wireless security systems available at Amazon

Amazon offers a huge selection of wireless security systems, including three of the top four highest-rated. You’ll find brands including Ring, Zmodo, Lorex, Fortress, Amcrest, SimpliSafe and more. 

Some of the best deals we’ve found over the years at Amazon were for Ring, Eufy, ADT, SimpliSafe and Arlo systems with prices as low as $60.

Most wireless security systems are eligible for free shipping at Amazon and many are eligible for free returns. Be sure to read the return and warranty information provided by the seller before making your purchase. Also, don’t forget to check the price history using Camelcamelcamel to avoid missing out on a lower price later in the year. 

Woot

Webpage displaying wireless security systems available at Woot

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Woot has also posted great deals on wireless security systems in the past. It’s a little more difficult to plan your purchase when shopping at Woot, as most of the deals are only available for 24-hours. For that reason, I recommend that you bookmark the electronics tab and check back often. 

We’ve posted deals from Woot for Ring, Arlo, SimpliSafe and Zmodo wireless security systems. We’ve seen prices as low as $50, though most have been around $120. You’ll most likely find the best prices on refurbished electronics.

The Amazon-owned company offers free shipping for Prime members, so if you do make your purchase at Woot, be sure to sign in for the most savings. 

eBay

Webpage displaying wireless security systems available at eBay

A few of the deals that we’ve posted have come from eBay. Here, you’re more likely to find a great price on individual wireless security cameras. In the past, we’ve seen cameras as low as $45, while security systems range between $100 and $150. 

eBay makes it easy to search by price, condition, the number of cameras included and more. We’ve found great deals here on SimpliSafe and Amcrest systems, but you’ll find more than 30 brands available.

Before you make your purchase at eBay, be sure to check the seller’s ratings and read customer reviews of the product. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the seller’s return policies as well as included warranties. These vary from product to product. 

Best Buy

Webpage displaying wireless security systems available at Best Buy

Best Buy has offered great deals in the past in the $150-$300 price range, especially for Arlo, Ring and SimpliSafe wireless security systems. Right now, you’ll find the highly-rated SimpliSafe Protect home security system available for the lowest price at Best Buy.

Nearly all of the wireless security systems available at Best Buy are eligible for free shipping. You can also order online and choose free in-store pickup where available to get it the same day. 

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Most products are eligible for returns or exchanges at Best Buy within 15 days of purchase, which means you’ll have time to make sure that the system you buy is the right fit for your home. 

Costco

Webpage displaying wireless security systems available at Costco

Last but not least, Costco is a great place to shop for a wireless security system. We’ve seen individual wireless cameras available for as low as $80 in addition to full security systems from $140 to $280. 

You can choose from more than 50 security systems at Costco, including kits from Ring, Arlo, Lorex and more. Shipping is included online. 

Costco’s return policy makes this one of the best places to buy a wireless security system for your home. You can take it back at any time for nearly any reason with Costco’s risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee.

The Best Cheap Wireless Security Systems

Buying a wireless security system for your home is going to be an investment initially. Some systems also offer or require a professional monitoring service for an additional monthly fee. 

In the past, ClarkDeals has posted deals as low as $20 on individual wireless security cameras all the way up to $300 on 13-piece home security systems.

According to Consumer Reports, the most affordable, highest-rated wireless security systems range from $100 to $270. Out of the 12 wireless security systems that Consumer Reports ranked, here are the top four most affordable options available now:

The Top Cheap Wireless Security Systems

  1. Ring Alarm Kit 5-Piece Home Security System
  2. Abode Essentials Starter Kit
  3. SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01
  4. iSmartAlarm Preferred Home Security Package iSA3

I researched each of these wireless security systems to find out why customers recommend them, what comes with each purchase and how much you can expect to pay for professional monitoring.

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Ring Alarm Kit 5-Piece Home Security System

Ring Alarm 5-piece

Price: $199 at Amazon
Monitoring: Optional, $10/month

At the time of writing, the Ring Alarm 5-piece kit is the second-highest-rated home security system according to Consumer Reports. It scores only one point below the highest-rated security system and costs $200 less. 

Money expert Clark Howard recently purchased a Ring security system after finding positive reviews and the cheapest professional monitoring services. Ring systems have excellent scores when it comes to ease of setup, and Clark put these ratings to the test. You can watch him install a Ring security system here!

The 5-piece kit comes with a base station, contact sensor, motion detector, keypad and range extender. Ring offers optional 24/7 professional monitoring for $10/month or $100/year. You’ll likely find it for under $200 at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, BuyBuy Baby, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Office Depot, Target and True Value Hardware.

Abode Essentials Starter Kit

Adobe Essentials Starter Kit

Price: $199 at Amazon
Monitoring: Optional, $20/month

The Abode Essentials Starter Kit is the next-highest-rated wireless security system. According to Consumer Reports, it has excellent ratings for security essentials and motion detection. It scores “very good” for all other categories including ease of setup, ease of use and video quality. 

The starter kit includes a gateway, a mini door/window sensor, a motion sensor and a remote key fob. You can choose to add professional monitoring for $20/month or $200/year with no long-term contracts, though it is optional. 

SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01

SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01

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Price: $269.99 at Best Buy
Monitoring: Required, $14.99/month

The SimpliSafe Essentials SS3-01 home security system also scores high ratings from Consumer Reports. Its ease of setup, motion detection and video quality are all considered to be excellent. The system also maintains an average rating of 4.8 stars from over 2,000 reviews at Best Buy.

The system includes a base station, keypad, four entry sensors and a motion sensor. Unlike the other wireless security systems so far, professional monitoring is required to receive alerts. Be sure to take this recurring cost into account before making your final decision. 

iSmartAlarm Preferred Home Security Package iSA3

iSmartAlarm Preferred Home Security Package iSA3

Price: $152 at Amazon
Monitoring: No professional monitoring

The iSmartAlarm Preferred Home Security Package iSA3 has excellent ratings for security essentials and motion detection from Consumer Reports, though it has limited Smart home add-on ability. Still, it’s compatible with Alexa and apps on iOS or Android.

This set comes with a CubeOne Hub, two window/door sensors, a motion sensor, two remote tags and two sensor stickers for a yard or window. The system is self-monitored only, which means there are no additional monthly fees. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, you’ll likely find the best prices on a wireless security system at Amazon. Other places to check include Woot, eBay, Best Buy and Costco

When it comes to the best time to buy, waiting for Black Friday will most likely pay off. You’ll also likely find price drops during the beginning of the year, late summer and early fall

Be sure to keep an eye out for great prices on Ring, Abode, SimpliSafe and Arlo brands. These are highly-rated products that you can typically find on sale or for a discount. 

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Where have you seen the best deals on a wireless security system? Let us know in the comments below!

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