Best Security System Companies in St. Louis (2026)

Short answer: The best security system companies St. Louis homeowners and businesses can hire in 2026 are local firms that run or closely control their own monitoring. Start with Barcom Security & Fire, a family-owned company founded in 1976 that runs a TMA Five Diamond central station at its Swansea headquarters and handles everything from $299 home alarm packages to access control and UL 2050 monitoring. ABF Security in Fenton, Philibert Security Systems in Webster Groves and Westco Security in Chesterfield are also strong picks. For commercial-only projects, look at M-CO Wiring and Streib Company.

This guide compares the security system companies St. Louis homeowners and businesses can call to install and monitor burglar alarms, cameras, video doorbells, smart locks, fire alarms and access control in the St. Louis area. We focused on locally owned firms with a real office in the bi-state metro and left out the national chains. Every company below had a working website and current contact information when we checked in October 2026.

Every fact on this page comes from the company’s own website or a public source, and we logged each one by URL. When a company publishes prices, certifications or license numbers, we report them as published. When it doesn’t, we don’t guess. Google ratings are shown as of the noted date (October 2026) and aren’t part of the ranking. This list is for general information only. Before you sign, confirm the company’s current licenses for your city or county, and read the monitoring contract, including its length, renewal and cancellation terms.

Security system companies St. Louis at a glance

How we ranked security system companies in St. Louis

• Monitoring you can check. We gave the most weight to companies that run their own central station or name the standards their monitoring meets, such as a UL listing or TMA (formerly CSAA) Five Diamond designation. A local, staffed monitoring center ranked above an unnamed third-party call center.
• Licensing and credentials. Alarm businesses working in St. Louis County need a county alarm business license, and Illinois requires a state private alarm contractor license. We noted companies that publish license numbers and industry certifications (ESA, NFPA, NICET) on their own sites.
• Install types and communication. We looked for companies that explain how a system talks to the monitoring center (cellular, radio, internet or landline) and whether they can install hardwired, wireless or hybrid systems.
• Video, smart home and access control. Most St. Louis buyers now want cameras, a video doorbell and smart locks in the same app as the alarm. Businesses often need card or mobile access control as well. We credited companies that offer all of it and integrate it.
• Residential vs. commercial fit. Some firms are built for homes, some for commercial projects with permits and inspections, and some do both. We noted the fit in each “Best for” line.
• Clear pricing and contracts. Companies that publish starting prices or explain lease, purchase and contract terms got the edge.
• Local presence. We favored locally owned firms with a street address in the St. Louis metro and spread the list across St. Louis County, St. Charles County and the Metro East.
• Google ratings. Where we show a Google rating, it is as of the noted date (October 2026), and it isn’t part of the ranking.

The best security system companies in St. Louis in 2026

1. Barcom Security & Fire

Best for: Homes and businesses that want one local company for alarms, cameras, fire and access control, with in-house monitoring.

Google rating: 4.8 stars from 201 reviews (as of October 2026)

John Bartle founded Barcom in 1976 to bring security to the St. Louis area. It is still family-owned: his son, Mark Bartle, now owns and leads the company, and Mark’s children work in the business. Barcom is headquartered at 923 N. Belt West in Swansea, Ill. (62226), just across the river in the Metro East, and has support offices in Marion and Springfield, Ill. It serves homes and businesses across the Greater St. Louis area, Missouri and Central and Southern Illinois. The BBB lists it as accredited since 2016.

Monitoring is the main reason Barcom ranks first. Its central station is a fortified monitoring center at the Swansea headquarters, so alarm signals go to Barcom’s own operators rather than to an outside call center. The station carries the TMA Five Diamond designation, which Barcom says fewer than 3% of monitoring stations hold. It is also listed for UL 2050, the Underwriters Laboratories standard for monitoring alarm systems that protect classified material at defense contractors and government sites. Barcom says it installs with union technicians.

• Home security: alarm systems, door locks, doorbell cameras, video surveillance, fire detection, fire and water detection, smart home automation and medical alert. Barcom advertises residential packages starting at $299 installed and says you can add a camera for as little as $200 installed. Systems can be controlled from the Virtual Keypad app.
• Business security: intrusion alarms, video surveillance (IP and analog) with motion analytics, access control with keycard, biometric and cloud-based management, panic buttons, intercom and paging, mass communication and mobile surveillance units.
• Fire and life safety: fire alarm design and installation, annual testing and inspections, sensitivity testing, elevator monitoring and CAD drawings for design-build projects.
• Who it suits: single-family homes, small businesses, warehouses and distribution centers, campuses, government buildings and new construction.

Why it’s #1: Barcom pairs a family-owned, 50-year local history with monitoring it runs itself, top-tier monitoring credentials, published starting prices for home systems, and a full commercial line that covers fire, video and access control. Phone: (618) 277-3344 (Swansea). Texts: (618) 514-4076.

https://barcomsecurity.com/

2. ABF Security (American Burglary & Fire)

Best for: Homeowners who want a hardwired system and a St. Louis monitoring center.

Google rating: 4.4 stars from 318 reviews (as of October 2026)

American Burglary & Fire, which goes by ABF Security, has protected St. Louis homes and businesses since 1978. It is locally owned, works out of 507 Rudder Road in Fenton (63026), and covers St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri plus Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties in Illinois. ABF says it uses its own employees for installations rather than subcontractors.

ABF has its own monitoring center in St. Louis, staffed by multiple people around the clock. Its emergency response team members are ESA certified, and the center is UL listed and holds the CSAA Five Diamond award. ABF also says its installers are skilled enough that it is one of the few St. Louis companies still offering quality hardwired systems. Hardwired sensors don’t depend on batteries, which many owners of older homes prefer.

• Residential: security and monitoring, fire and carbon monoxide alarms, surveillance cameras, interactive door locks, medical alert, lighting control, energy management, water and temperature alarms, and home theater and audio.
• Commercial: alarm monitoring, surveillance cameras, access control, fire alarms, mass notification, nurse call and clock systems, and new construction.
• Communication: ABF doesn’t recommend connecting a home alarm through VoIP or digital phone lines and offers its SafeNet radio or cellular units instead.
• Certifications listed: NICET, Exacqvision, DSX, Alarm.com and EST certified technicians, plus membership in the NFPA and the St. Louis Alarm Association.

Business owners can lease a security system or buy it outright. Phone: (636) 349-1090. Texts: (636) 747-1789.

https://abfsecurity.com/

3. Philibert Security Systems

Best for: Budget-minded homeowners who still want UL-listed monitoring.

Google rating: 4.0 stars from 4 reviews (as of October 2026)

Philibert Security Systems started in 1971, when 18-year-old founder Benjamin Philibert ran a one-man alarm company from his bedroom in Brentwood. More than 55 years later it is still locally owned and family operated, and it lists its address as 735 Marshall Avenue in Webster Groves (63119). It serves St. Louis City, St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties, and St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties in Illinois, where it says it is fully licensed.

Philibert publishes a monitoring price: standard residential monitoring starts at $21.95 a month. Every plan includes UL-listed central station monitoring, and higher tiers add smartphone app control, live camera viewing, video clip storage, access control integration and home automation. Add-ons include a 1080p video doorbell, 4K outdoor cameras, keypad smart locks, monitored smoke and CO detectors, and a cellular backup communicator that keeps signals flowing over LTE if your internet goes down.

On the commercial side, Philibert installs intrusion alarms, NFPA-compliant fire detection, card access and CCTV, and low-voltage wiring. It lists ESA and NBFAA membership and installs equipment from DSC, Bosch, Honeywell and other brands. Phone: (314) 962-2000.

https://philibertsecurity.com/

4. Westco Security & Technology Systems

Best for: West County homes that want security tied into whole-home automation.

Google rating: 4.9 stars from 105 reviews (as of October 2026)

Robert Farb founded Westco in 1983 as a burglar and fire alarm company. Ryan Cohen bought it in January 2024 as its second-generation family owner, and it acquired Custom Design & Installation a month later. Westco says it serves more than 6,000 customers from Metro St. Louis to the Lake of the Ozarks, from its office at 215 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. in Chesterfield (63005).

Westco stands out for integration. It has installed home automation since 2000 and lighting control and audio-video since 2003, and it works with Control4, Lutron and Alarm.com. With Control4, one scene can lock the doors, turn on landscape lights and arm the alarm, and a “Mockupancy” setting can make an empty house look lived-in. Businesses can choose on-site or cloud-hosted access control with smart ID cards, Bluetooth or biometric readers, plus commercial burglar alarms and HD video surveillance. The BBB lists Westco as accredited since 1993. Phone: (636) 519-0022.

https://www.westcosecurity.com/

5. ACF Alarm

Best for: North County homes and businesses that want a long-running local alarm company.

Google rating: 4.7 stars from 45 reviews (as of October 2026)

ACF Alarm has been in business since 1969. Its office is at 9021 Riverview Drive, Suite 200, in St. Louis (63137), in North St. Louis County, and it protects both homes and businesses. All alarm signals go to its UL-certified monitoring station near downtown St. Louis, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Customers can call the station to send test signals and can get alarm, trouble and opening-and-closing reports by email, which is useful for business owners who want to know when the store was armed.

ACF designs burglar alarms (door, overhead door and window contacts, motion and glass-break detectors), monitored fire alarms, access control with keypads, prox cards, key fobs and biometric readers, and video surveillance with DVR or NVR recording you can review from your phone. Through Alarm.com, homeowners can add video doorbells and smart locks. ACF offers a free risk assessment and discounts for front-line workers and people who serve. Its site lists Illinois Private Alarm Contractor license #127.001758. Office: (314) 869-8500, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

https://www.acfalarm.net/

6. Citywide Alarms

Best for: St. Charles County homes and businesses that want monitored, video-verified cameras.

Google rating: 4.8 stars from 128 reviews (as of October 2026)

Citywide Alarms is a family-owned company based at 965 Sycamore Drive in St. Charles (63304), with a second listed office on Forsyth Boulevard (63105). Its founders spent more than a decade in the security industry before opening it, and the company says several of its lead technicians have been with it for more than eight years. It designs, installs and monitors its own systems for homes, renters, businesses, churches and schools.

Citywide’s systems use a dedicated cellular connection, so they stay linked to the monitoring center if the phone line is cut, the internet drops or the power goes out. Backup batteries typically last 18 to 36 hours, depending on the system. Its “Smash & Crash” protection sends the alarm before a burglar can disable the panel, and an ambush code silently calls for police if someone forces you to disarm. For businesses, monitored cameras let trained agents watch live video, confirm what’s happening and cut down on false alarms. Citywide also installs video doorbells, smart locks, garage door control, access control, commercial fire alarms, medical alerts and 3M security window film. Phone: (314) 266-6760.

https://citywidealarms.com/

7. St. Louis Alarm Co.

Best for: Owners who want to buy their equipment outright, with no long-term contract.

Google rating: 5.0 stars from 81 reviews (as of October 2026)

St. Louis Alarm Co. is a veteran-owned local company, certified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business by the U.S. Small Business Administration, with more than 25 years of IT and security experience. It lists its office at 244 Indacom Drive in St. Peters (63376) and serves St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties.

The company is upfront about contracts. It doesn’t require long-term contracts or charge high termination fees, and it sells systems you own. Its lease-vs.-purchase guide points out that leased systems usually come with long-term contracts, typically three years, and a mandatory credit check. Its panels use a dedicated 4G LTE cellular connection, and it monitors through a UL-listed TMA Five Diamond central station with live operators around the clock. Every quote starts with a walk-through of the property and a written, line-item proposal. Beyond home alarms, cameras and smart home automation, it handles commercial video with license plate recognition, access control, cannabis business security and replacement of old copper (POTS) lines for elevators, fire panels and call boxes. Phone: (636) 942-5276.

https://stlalarmco.com/

8. M-CO Wiring

Best for: Schools, offices and industrial sites that need security, fire alarm and cabling from one contractor.

Google rating: 3.8 stars from 23 reviews (as of October 2026)

M-CO Wiring is a family-owned commercial low-voltage contractor, in business since 2003, at 140 Clarkson Executive Park in Ellisville (63011). It focuses on commercial work. It designs, installs and services intrusion detection, CCTV, access control, fire alarm and structured cabling for offices, schools, industrial sites, retail, municipal buildings and multi-tenant properties.

M-CO is a good fit when a project involves inspectors, permits and several overlapping systems. It handles fire alarm design support, permitting, inspection, testing and closeout documentation, and its site lists Missouri State Electrical Contractor license #2023046092 and NICET certification. It says it is licensed, bonded and insured in Missouri. Phone: (314) 473-5141.

https://www.mcowiring.com/

9. Streib Company

Best for: New construction and remodels that need electrical, security and smart-home work from one firm.

Google rating: 4.9 stars from 686 reviews (as of October 2026)

Streib Company is a family-owned electrical contractor at 9225 Watson Industrial Park in St. Louis (63126). Owner Tom Streib began his career in 1996, and his children, Jake and Sam, now work in the business. Streib serves residential, commercial and industrial customers across the St. Louis metro, including St. Charles and Chesterfield, and also has a Northwest Arkansas office.

Its Streib Systems division handles intrusion alarms, surveillance, access control and fire alarms, along with ERCES/BDA systems (in-building radio coverage for first responders). Streib Media covers smart automation, lighting and climate control, and other divisions handle electrical work and whole-home and commercial generators. It’s a sensible choice when you’d rather have one contractor run the wiring, power and security on a build. Phone: (314) 487-7474.

https://www.streibco.com/

10. Avalarm Security

Best for: South City and close-in County homeowners who want a small, owner-run alarm company.

Avalarm Security (AV Alarm) is a family-owned St. Louis alarm company that says it has served St. Louis and nearby cities for about 30 years, with more than 27 years in the security and communications industry. It says it is licensed, bonded and insured and technically certified by the Electronic Security Association. Unusually, it publishes its license numbers on its site: Missouri State LC1362910, St. Louis City CC#679 and St. Louis County C-1534. It lists its address as 7217 Watson Road, Unit 190644 (63119).

Avalarm offers professionally installed and monitored home security, smart home security and an integrated commercial system you can run from one mobile app, with 24/7 alarm monitoring, intrusion detection, access control and video, and temperature monitoring. Consultations are free and in person. Phone: (314) 288-0090.

https://www.avalarmsecurity.com/

How to choose a security system company in St. Louis

Check local licensing first

Licensing in the St. Louis area depends on where the work is done. In St. Louis County, any business that sells, leases, installs, maintains, services or repairs alarm systems needs an Alarm Business License under Chapter 720 of the county’s revised ordinances. The application goes through the Department of Revenue in Clayton, comes with a $415 application fee, and is referred to the police for annual background checks. In the City of St. Louis, alarm installers need a Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License, and companies that provide monitoring also need a communications permit from the Building Division. Some municipalities, such as Crestwood, have their own alarm system rules too.

Across the river, Illinois requires a private alarm contractor license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Licensees need qualifying industry experience, a state exam, fingerprints and at least $1 million in general liability insurance. Ask for license numbers before you sign, and verify them with IDFPR’s online lookup or the issuing county or city office. A company that publishes its license numbers, as Avalarm, ACF Alarm and M-CO Wiring do, makes that easy.

Understand who actually monitors your alarm

When an alarm goes off, the signal goes to a central station whose operators call you and dispatch police or fire. Ask three questions: Who runs the station? Where is it? What standards does it meet? Barcom, ABF and ACF run their own stations in the area. A UL listing means the station is inspected and audited each year. TMA Five Diamond status means the station commits to things like trained, certified operators, third-party inspections and reducing false dispatches. Some insurers discount premiums for monitored systems, so ask your carrier which certificate it needs. ABF, for example, has a request form for monitoring certificates.

Pick the right communication path

Many older St. Louis alarms still dial out over a copper phone line, and St. Louis Alarm Co. notes that carriers are phasing out copper lines and raising prices. Most companies on this list now connect systems by cellular, with internet or radio as an option. ABF advises against connecting a home alarm over VoIP or digital phone lines, because a power or internet outage can cut it off from the monitoring center. Citywide’s panels use a dedicated cellular connection, and Philibert sells a cellular backup communicator as an add-on. Businesses with elevator phones, fire panels or call boxes on copper lines should plan for replacement. St. Louis Alarm Co. and Barcom both handle those systems.

Hardwired, wireless or hybrid?

Wireless sensors install quickly and work well in finished homes. Hardwired sensors don’t need batteries and suit new construction, basements and big commercial buildings. Most companies can combine the two. If you have an older hardwired panel, ask whether the company can reuse the wiring and contacts with a new panel instead of replacing everything. If you’re building or remodeling, have the low-voltage wiring run before the drywall goes up. Streib, M-CO and Westco all work on new construction.

Cameras, video doorbells and smart locks

Ask whether cameras, the doorbell, locks and the alarm all run in one app, where video is stored (cloud, an on-site recorder, or both) and for how long, and whether any monitoring agent can view live video when an alarm trips. Citywide Alarms notes that when agents verify events on video, it cuts unnecessary emergency calls and helps you avoid false-alarm fines. For businesses, card or mobile access control replaces keys and keeps an audit log of who came in and when. Ask whether the system is cloud-hosted or on-site, and who owns the data.

Homes vs. businesses

A commercial system can usually handle many more zones, split a building into partitions armed separately, alert you if the alarm isn’t set on schedule, and monitor server-room or freezer temperatures. Fire alarms are a different matter: whether a building needs one depends on its use, size and local code, and new fire alarm installs usually need permits and plan reviews. Get the fire alarm contractor involved early on any build-out.

Read the contract before you sign

• How long is the monitoring term, and does it renew automatically?
• Do you own the equipment, or is it leased? Leases often run about three years and require a credit check.
• Is the panel proprietary, or can another company monitor it later?
• What does cancellation cost, and what happens if you sell the house?
• Who installs: employees or subcontractors?
• Are monthly prices, equipment costs and any activation fees in writing?

If a salesperson signs you up at your door, the FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule generally lets you cancel a sale of $25 or more made at your home until midnight of the third business day after the sale.

Red flags

• Door-to-door sellers who pressure you to sign the same day.
• No license number, street address or named monitoring station.
• A quote given over the phone without anyone walking the property.
• Proprietary equipment that no other company can monitor or service.
• A price that isn’t in writing before installation starts.

Bottom line: Of the security system companies St. Louis homes and businesses can choose from, start with Barcom Security & Fire for in-house Five Diamond monitoring, published home-system pricing and full commercial coverage. ABF Security and Philibert Security Systems are long-running local alternatives, and Westco is the pick for whole-home automation. Commercial projects with permits and inspections should talk to M-CO Wiring or Streib Company.

Looking for more St. Louis guides? See our best HVAC contractors in St. Louis and best roofers in St. Louis lists, or browse more industry guides from Insite Advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best security system company in St. Louis?

Barcom Security & Fire is our top pick for 2026. The family-owned company, founded in 1976, runs a TMA Five Diamond central station at its Swansea headquarters, is listed for UL 2050 monitoring, advertises home packages starting at $299 installed, and installs commercial fire alarms, video surveillance and access control. ABF Security, Philibert Security Systems and Westco Security are also strong local choices.

Do alarm companies need a license in St. Louis County?

Yes. Under Chapter 720 of the St. Louis County revised ordinances, businesses that sell, lease, install, maintain, service or repair alarm systems need a county Alarm Business License. The application carries a $415 nonrefundable fee and is referred to the police for annual background checks. The City of St. Louis requires a Graduated Business License, plus a communications permit for monitoring companies, and Illinois licenses private alarm contractors through IDFPR.

How much does home security monitoring cost in St. Louis?

It depends on the equipment and the monitoring plan. Among companies that publish prices, Philibert Security Systems lists standard residential monitoring from $21.95 a month, and Barcom Security & Fire advertises residential packages starting at $299 installed, with added cameras from $200 installed. Most other companies quote after walking the property, so ask for a written, itemized proposal.

Should I buy or lease my security system?

Buying costs more upfront but usually less over time, and you can switch monitoring companies later if the equipment isn’t proprietary. St. Louis Alarm Co. notes that leased systems typically come with long-term contracts, often three years, and a credit check. Ask any company who owns the equipment, how long the contract runs and what it costs to cancel.

Will my alarm work if the power or internet goes out?

A professionally installed system has a backup battery. ABF Security says it can power a system for up to 24 hours, depending on its size, and Citywide Alarms says backup batteries typically last 18 to 36 hours. Signals still need a path to the monitoring center, so choose a cellular or radio communicator. ABF doesn’t recommend connecting a home alarm through VoIP or digital phone lines.

What does TMA Five Diamond or UL-listed monitoring mean?

A UL-listed central station is inspected and audited each year by Underwriters Laboratories. TMA Five Diamond is a designation for monitoring centers whose dispatchers are all trained and certified, that accept random inspections by a nationally recognized testing lab, and that commit to reducing false dispatches. Barcom, ABF Security and St. Louis Alarm Co. all cite Five Diamond monitoring.

How often should I test my alarm system?

ABF Security recommends testing your system once a month. Call your monitoring center first so it can put your account in test mode, then arm the system and trip each sensor. If a signal doesn’t come through, schedule service.

Can I cancel a security system contract I signed at home?

Often, yes. The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule generally lets you cancel a sale of $25 or more made at your home until midnight of the third business day after the sale. Read the contract for its own cancellation and renewal terms, and send any cancellation in writing.

Which St. Louis companies handle commercial access control and fire alarms?

Barcom Security & Fire, ABF Security, Westco Security, Philibert Security Systems, ACF Alarm, M-CO Wiring and Streib Company all install access control for businesses. For fire alarm design, permitting and inspections on larger projects, Barcom, M-CO Wiring and Streib Company list fire alarm and life safety work among their core services.