About Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Home Security Award
Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Home Security Award reveals the home security brand that delivers the best consumer satisfaction to its customers.
We ask Kiwi households to rate their satisfaction with their choice of home security brand by Overall Satisfaction, as well as important criteria such as Ease of Use, Features & Functionality, Performance & Reliability and Value for Money.
Numbers crunched by Canstar’s researchers:
- 562 Customers Surveyed
- 23 Brands Assessed
- 5 Brands Shortlisted
- 1 Award Winner
The best home security in NZ
The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
1. Eufy
As the winner of Canstar's Home Security Award three years in a row, it's clear that Eufy and its range of home security systems are a hit with Kiwi consumers. Eufy is the only brand in this year's award to earn 5 Stars for Overall Satisfaction. It's a rating it achieves in a further four categories, including Features & Functionality, Connectivity, Value for Money and Video Quality.
Eufy is a US-based company that produces smart-home devices, including security devices, lighting and robotic vacuum cleaners. It's part of the Anker company, a large Chinese electronics manufacturer.
Its range of security products includes indoor and outdoor security cameras and floodlight cameras, alarm systems, smart locks and video doorbells, all accessible through the Eufy app.
Its wireless, weather-proof video cameras are easy to install, link easily to wi-fi and can operate for months on a full charge, eliminating the need for a mains power supply. Solar camera options overcome the need for charging entirely.
When paired with a HomeBase station, Eufy camera systems can use face-recognition technology to ignore the activity of family and friends and can integrate with Amazon Alexa/Google Home. Plus the HomeBase allows you to record and access your security footage without the need to pay a monthly subscription for cloud storage.
2. Ring
Amazon-owned Ring has become a dominant force in home security. Best known for pioneering the smart doorbell, Ring now offers smart security cameras, as well as a range of doorbell options.
Its outdoor cameras come in a range of battery, plug-in and hardwired models, featuring HD video capture, motion detection and spotlight/floodlight and two-way talk options. Ring’s indoor and outdoor cameras are available singularly or in multipacks.
All Ring products can be accessed and controlled through the Ring app, although online storage of footage is only available through the Ring Protect subscription service, from NZ$4.95 per month ($49.95/year).
3. Swann
Swann was founded in Australia and pioneered DIY set-up home security systems. Its range encompasses simple indoor cameras and outdoor driveway sensors, through to full home security systems featuring 4K HD vision, infrared night vision and thermal imaging.
Swan’s products are compatible with the Swann Security app and can be found in most good electrical retail chains throughout NZ.
4. TP-Link
TP-Link is best known for its internet routers and smart home gadgets. However, it does also produce a range of low-price indoor and outdoor security cameras. These can be linked to your own smart home network, plus they come with their own app, providing motion alerts and vision/audio to your smart phone.
5. Arlo
American security company Arlo offers home security products similar to those from Eufy and Ring. These include smart doorbells, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and floodlit cameras, which can be controlled and accessed through a smart phone app.
While standalone Arlo products feature live video and chat and motion notifications, customisable smart activity zones, advanced motion detection (vehicles/animals) and event/video history is only accessible via an Arlo Secure Plan subscription, from NZ$6.67 per month ($80.04/year).
Other home security brands
Not all home security brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are some more home security brands to check out before booking a trip.
- ADT Security
- Chubb
- Kogan
- Xaiomi
ADT Security
Unlike the other home security brands in this year's award ratings that sell products that require DIY installation, ADT Security delivers the full home security package. This involves the installation of a security system designed specifically for your home and security needs, plus permanent monitoring.
As such, ADT Security only offers security packages that combine with its subscription services, providing 24/7 monitoring by an NZ-based security team.
Chubb
Much like ADT Security, Chubb doesn't sell stand-alone security tech. Instead, it installs full home security packages, plus offers the option for 24/7 monitoring. Its basic home security systems are more like conventional burglar alarm systems, featuring motion sensors. Video cameras and app-based functionality are optional extras.
Kogan
Kogan is an Australian online shopping giant that built its name retailing quality own-brand electronic goods. Kogan's range of security products covers outdoor/indoor security cameras and smart door locks and doorbells. Basic cameras retail for as low as $60, and are still compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, plus the Kogan SmarterHome app.
Xaiomi
Xaiomi started as a mobile phone company in China just 12 years ago, and has quickly grown into an international brand producing a wide range of electronic consumer goods.
As part of its smart home range of products, it sells indoor video cameras and motion and window sensors. Its inexpensive cameras provide HD vision and two-way talk and motion alerts through the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home App. Cloud storage subscriptions for video footage are also available.
Choosing the right home security products for you
As part of our home security awards research, we ask consumers to rate the main factors that contribute to their overall satisfaction with their purchases.
And although Features & Functionality and Performance & Reliability (19%) rank as most important, Connectivity and Value for Money are not far behind (17%).
Given the importance of clear vision when it comes to home security, it’s surprising that Video Quality (11%) ranks the least important factor – although this is probably because most home security cameras deliver clear, high-definition video footage.
Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey say are the main things they considered when rating their home security choices:
- Features & Functionality: 19%
- Performance & Reliability: 19%
- Connectivity: 17%
- Value for Money: 17%
- Ease of Use: 16%
- Video Quality: 11%
