A break-in on your block, a package snatched off the porch, a new place that came with a dead alarm panel. Ratings for a home security system in Chicago swing wider than you'd expect, from 4.3 up to a flawless 5.0 among the installers below, a gap of most of a full star that says something about how differently these companies actually run their jobs. Chicago Intercoms tops the list at 4.9 across 105 reviews, the strongest combination of score and track record here.
Short answer: Chicago Intercoms leads with a 4.9 rating across 105 reviews, the strongest mix of score and volume among the city's security installers. Alert Protective (4.3, 144 reviews) has the deepest review history, and Choice Home Protection holds a perfect 5.0 across 43 reviews. Expect professional monitoring to run roughly $20-$60 a month, with equipment and installation on top.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days
Chicago Intercoms
4.9★★★★★105 Google reviews
Chicago Intercoms designs and installs indoor and outdoor intercom, access control, and CCTV camera systems for homes and buildings across the city. The Milwaukee Avenue company handles door entry, security card readers, keypads, and surveillance, plus installation, repair, and upgrades of older systems. Its techs work with products from established manufacturers and cover both residential and commercial jobs. Long hours, 7am to 10pm every day, make it easy to reach.
What people praise
- Fast, responsive help, with one customer citing a tech on site within 10 minutes of calling
- Knowledgeable techs who offer options to fit a budget
- Available late, with a reviewer reporting help at 1:30am
- A solid range of products and monitoring solutions
Worth knowing
- One reviewer described a rushed, unhelpful service visit, so confirm the scope of your job up front
- Best known for intercoms and access control, so ask whether a whole-home alarm fits their core work
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown94% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Chicago Intercoms ranks first by pairing the top rating here, 4.9, with solid volume at 105 reviews. Best for access control, intercoms, and camera systems, especially in condo and apartment buildings.
📍2046 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk
Alert Protective, Inc.
4.3★★★★★144 Google reviews
Alert Protective is a Chicago-based security company that installs alarm systems, cameras, and access control for homes and businesses. Based on Cicero Avenue, it has served the Chicagoland area for decades and has joined forces with Forest Security to widen coverage into Wisconsin and Indiana. The company offers professional alarm installation, commercial video surveillance, and 24/7 monitoring. It's one of the longest-running names on this list.
What people praise
- Long-tenured customers, some over 30 years, praise competitive pricing
- Fast alarm response, with one reviewer citing a call within two minutes of a trigger
- Helpful phone support that walks you through minor fixes
Worth knowing
- Some reviewers report billing and cancellation friction, so keep records of your contract
- A few describe slow or multi-visit installations, worth confirming the timeline before you sign
- Reviews here are more mixed than the others, so read the recent ones closely
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown79% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Alert Protective ranks second on the strength of 144 reviews, the deepest record here, even though its 4.3 average trails the rest. It's a decades-old local option, best for buyers who value a long track record and price, and who read the fine print.
📍3833 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk
Choice Home Protection
5.0★★★★★43 Google reviews
Choice Home Protection sells alarm systems, doorbell cameras, smart locks, and 24/7 monitored security from its base on North Racine Avenue. It bundles smart automation, letting customers unlock doors, close the garage, and adjust the thermostat from an app, and it advertises a no-installation-fee trial on its smart doorbell and lock. The company is a licensed Illinois alarm contractor. Its focus is residential home security and automation.
What people praise
- Every one of its 43 reviews is five stars
- Reviewers call the pricing competitive and the equipment affordable to buy outright
- Techs described as patient and thorough, with next-day appointments reported
- Proactive follow-up calls to check the system is working
Worth knowing
- A newer, smaller review record than the top two, so it's earlier in building public volume
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Here's the honest read: Choice Home Protection holds a flawless 5.0, but we rank it third, not first, because that rating rests on 43 reviews against Chicago Intercoms' 105 and Alert's 144. A perfect score on fewer ratings is promising, but proven volume ranks higher in our method. Best for buyers who want an affordable, app-driven system.
📍2000 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews
VinTech Systems Inc
4.7★★★★★53 Google reviews
VinTech Systems is a Chicago security installer handling commercial and residential video surveillance, burglar alarm monitoring, access control, and maintenance from its Western Avenue location. The company runs a local monitoring station, installs keyless entry, and offers ongoing maintenance to keep systems working through Chicago weather. Reviewers point to long client relationships, some spanning a decade. It's a full-service installer that also takes on condo buildings and churches.
What people praise
- Responsive from quote to install, with one customer citing a one-day job that beat the estimated lead time
- Long-term clients, several over 10 years, cite fair pricing
- The owner replies to reviews and addresses concerns
- Competitive estimates and service reviewers call top notch
Worth knowing
- One recent reviewer reported a missed appointment with no call, though the company responded and apologized publicly
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown89% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: VinTech ranks fourth on a 4.7 rating and 53 reviews, with the most recent review activity of the group. Best for buyers who want a small, hands-on installer for a home or a small building.
📍3725 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
#5🕑 Open 7 days
Security Doctors
4.7★★★★★50 Google reviews
Security Doctors is a Chicago security system supplier and installer that designs custom alarm and camera systems for homes, working with owners to plan coverage before anything goes on the wall. Reviewers repeatedly name Carlos, who walks properties to suggest camera placement and explains options rather than pushing a package. The company handles alarms, CCTV, and long-term support, with relationships that reviewers say stretch back nine years or more. It's a design-first, consultative installer.
What people praise
- A consultative approach, with techs who design a system around your specific home
- Professional, neat, respectful crews
- Strong long-term follow-up, even years after the install
- Reviewers describe fair, competitive quotes
Worth knowing
- A smaller shop, so book ahead for install windows
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown92% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Security Doctors ranks fifth on a 4.7 average across 50 reviews, effectively tied with VinTech on quality. Best for homeowners who want a tailored system and a single point of contact they can trust for years.
📍939 W North Ave Suit 750, Chicago, IL 60642
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Claim this spot › How we score these companies
Every number comes straight from public Google data. Rating is the live star average. Review volume is how many customers rated the company, ranked against its Chicago peers. Confidence weights the rating by that volume, so a perfect score on 43 reviews carries less than a 4.9 on 105. Recency tracks how lately people still leave reviews. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.
How much does a home security system cost in Chicago? (2026)
Price comes down to how many cameras and sensors you need, whether the system is wired or wireless, whether you want professional 24/7 monitoring or self-monitoring, and how long a contract you sign. Buying equipment outright costs more up front but skips a monthly lease, while bundled monitoring plans spread the cost. The ranges below are national figures, so treat them as a starting point and get a written quote for your home.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| Professional monitoring (monthly) | $20-$60 |
| Standard equipment package | $200-$600 |
| Professional installation | $100-$400 |
| Smart doorbell camera (device) | $100-$250 |
Ranges compiled July 2026 from Angi, HomeGuide, and SafeWise US home security pricing data. These are third-party averages, not quotes from the businesses on this page, so ask each company for its own written price.
Serving Chicago and the suburbs
These installers cover the city and out into Chicagoland: Chicago Intercoms and Choice Home Protection sit near Logan Square and Lincoln Park, VinTech on the North Side near North Center, Security Doctors around West Town, and Alert Protective on the Northwest Side with reach into the suburbs, Wisconsin, and Indiana. If you’re searching for a home security company near me from Lakeview, Wicker Park, the Loop, or a nearby suburb, at least one of these five covers your neighborhood.
What to ask before you hire a security company
- Can you show your Illinois alarm contractor licence and proof of insurance?
- How long is the contract, and what does it cost to cancel or move?
- Who runs the monitoring, and where is the monitoring center?
- Do I own the equipment outright, or is it leased?
- How do you handle false alarms and system-status failures?
- What warranty covers the equipment and the installation work?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. The rankings come from public Google data, the live rating and review volume for each company. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another company’s score or position.
How did you choose these five?
We compared the most-reviewed home security companies in Chicago and weighed each one’s live Google rating against its review volume and how recently people still review it. We analyzed public data, we did not hire or test any company ourselves.
Is a monitored system worth it over a self-monitored one?
Monitored systems bring a 24/7 center that can dispatch help when you can’t respond, which several reviewers here credit with fast callbacks. Self-monitoring is cheaper but puts every alert on you. Weigh the monthly cost against how quickly you’d want a real person in the loop.
Do I need a long contract?
Not always. Some companies here sell equipment outright or offer trials, while others tie monitoring to multi-year terms. Ask about contract length and cancellation before you sign, since a few reviewers flagged billing issues tied to long agreements.
How often is this page updated?
We last verified the ratings and review counts in July 2026 and refresh them as the public Google data changes.
The bottom line
For most Chicago homes, Chicago Intercoms is the safe default, the best blend of a top rating and real review volume, and strong on cameras and access control. If you want a custom, consultative build, Security Doctors and VinTech are close behind. Whoever you pick, confirm the contract length and who owns the equipment before the first camera goes up.
