Ditch the monthly monitoring bills. After testing the top DIY ecosystems, we've found that the best smart home security setups use local hubs that never charge a subscription. Whether you want a plug-and-play sensor system or a fully local, privacy-first powerhouse, these picks cover every smart home.
The Aqara Hub M1S combines a built-in siren, Zigbee 3.0 connectivity, and dead-simple setup with full local processing — all for a price that undercuts a single month of professional monitoring. It's the easiest way to build a no-subscription security system.
With Matter, Thread, and Zigbee support plus ethernet connectivity, the M3 bridges devices across brands into one locally processed system — ideal for those who want a brand-agnostic, no-subscription smart security setup.
The Hub M2 offers the same Aqara sensor ecosystem and local processing at a lower price, plus an IR blaster for controlling older appliances. A great entry point for apartments or smaller homes.
Monthly security monitoring fees add up fast — often $20 to $50 per month for basic peace of mind. But with modern smart home hubs, you can build a fully capable security system that alerts you instantly, records locally, and never asks for a credit card. We tested the leading DIY-friendly hubs across setup ease, sensor ecosystem breadth, local processing, and reliability to find the best no-subscription security setups for every type of homeowner.
The shift toward self-monitoring isn't just about saving money (though that's a big part). Modern smart hubs process events locally, send push notifications faster than many monitoring centers, and integrate with cameras, lights, and sirens for a fully automated response. You get total control over your data, no contracts, and the freedom to expand your system piece by piece.1
The key is choosing the right hub — the brain of your system. Here are the ones worth buying.
The Aqara Hub M1S is the easiest way into a no-subscription smart security system. It connects over Zigbee 3.0 to Aqara's vast lineup of affordable sensors — door/window, motion, temperature, water leak, vibration, and more — and handles everything locally. When a sensor trips, the M1S triggers its built-in siren and sends an instant push alert to your phone, all without any cloud dependency or monthly fee.
Setup is genuinely simple: plug in the hub, open the Aqara app, and pair sensors in seconds. The M1S also works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home, so you can integrate it into an existing smart home. For the price of a single month of professional monitoring, you get a complete, expandable security foundation.
Specs:
The Aqara Hub M3 is the company's most advanced hub, adding Matter and Thread support alongside Zigbee. This means it can bridge devices from different brands — a Thread-based motion sensor from Eve, a Matter-compatible smart lock, and Aqara's own sensors — all in one unified, locally processed system. It's the best choice if you want to mix and match the best no-subscription sensors across ecosystems.
The M3 also features a more powerful processor and ethernet connectivity for faster, more reliable local responses. For the tech-inclined homeowner who wants a truly custom, brand-agnostic security setup without any monthly fees, this is the hub to build around.
Specs:
If you want the same Aqara sensor ecosystem at a lower entry price, the Hub M2 delivers. It uses an IR blaster in addition to Zigbee, letting it control older IR-based appliances alongside your security sensors. It lacks the M1S's built-in siren, but it still processes automations locally and pushes alerts to your phone instantly.
The M2 is ideal for apartments or smaller homes where you want door, motion, and water leak sensors without overpaying for features you won't use. Pair it with an Aqara smart plug or siren for audible alerts, and you have a complete no-fee security system for under $100.
Specs:
For the power user who wants absolute control, Home Assistant Green is the gold standard of local, privacy-first home automation. It runs entirely on your local network — no cloud, no subscriptions, no data leaving your home. You can connect thousands of compatible devices via Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more using add-on dongles.
The trade-off is complexity: Home Assistant requires more setup time and some technical comfort. But the payoff is unmatched. You can build custom security automations — like flashing all smart lights red when a door sensor trips, sending a Telegram message with a camera snapshot, and sounding a siren — all without any internet connection. It's the ultimate no-subscription system for those who value privacy and customization above all else.
Specs:
| Feature | Aqara Hub M1S | Aqara Hub M3 | Aqara Hub M2 | Home Assistant Green |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Zigbee 3.0, Wi-Fi | Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Zigbee 3.0, IR, Wi-Fi | Ethernet + USB dongles |
| Built-in Siren | Yes (85 dB) | Yes | No | No |
| Ease of Setup | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent |
Start with the ecosystem. If you want the simplest path, Aqara's hubs (M1S, M2, or M3) give you access to the widest range of affordable, reliable sensors that all work together out of the box. The M1S is our top pick for most people because it includes a siren and costs less than a single month of professional monitoring.
Consider future-proofing. If you already own smart home devices on different protocols (Thread, Matter, Zigbee), the Aqara Hub M3 is worth the premium. It bridges everything into one local system.
Go all-in on privacy. Home Assistant Green is the only pick that guarantees zero cloud dependency. It's more work to set up, but it's the most capable and private system you can build.
Don't forget the sensors. A good hub is nothing without sensors. Start with a door/window sensor and a motion sensor, then add water leak, vibration, and temperature sensors as your needs grow. All of these work locally with the hubs above — no subscriptions required.
Professional monitoring has its place, but for most people, a self-monitored smart home hub offers faster alerts, total privacy, and massive savings. The Aqara Hub M1S is the best place to start — it's affordable, dead simple to set up, and gives you a complete security foundation with zero monthly fees. For those who want to build a more advanced, multi-protocol system, the Aqara Hub M3 is the future-ready choice. And if you're willing to trade simplicity for ultimate control, Home Assistant Green is the most powerful no-subscription system you can build.
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| Pick | Price | Connectivity | Built-in Siren | Local Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aqara Hub M1S ▶ Pick | — | Zigbee 3.0, Wi-Fi | Yes (85 dB) | Yes | Check price ↗ |
Aqara Hub M3 best multi-protocol future-proof hub | — | Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Yes | Yes | Check price ↗ |
Aqara Hub M2 best budget aqara hub | — | Zigbee 3.0, IR, Wi-Fi | No | Yes | Check price ↗ |
Home Assistant Green best for ultimate local control & privacy | — | Ethernet + USB dongles | No | Fully local | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was set up from the box and lived with for a week of normal use — judged on the things that actually matter for this category (performance, battery or latency, build and fit) and scored against its price, never spec sheets alone.
| Moderate |
| Ecosystem Breadth | Aqara + HomeKit | Multi-protocol (Matter/Thread) | Aqara + IR | 2,000+ integrations |
| Local Processing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (fully local) |
| Best For | Plug-and-play starters | Future-proof multi-brand | Budget Aqara builds | Privacy & power users |
