How we research and rank home security gear

Every guide on Home Security Guide Australia follows the same process. We publish it so you can judge our picks for yourself.

1. We start with what Australians can actually buy

We only consider products stocked by Australian retailers, sold in Australian dollars, with Australian warranties. A product that is brilliant overseas but grey-imported here with no local support does not make the list.

2. We check the specifications that matter

For home security gear that means the numbers the maker publishes and a retailer repeats. For cameras and video doorbells: video resolution, where recordings are kept (a memory card, built-in storage, a home base or the maker's cloud), which features stop working without a paid plan and what that plan costs in Australian dollars on the maker's own page, how the device is powered (battery, solar panel or wired), the Wi-Fi band it needs (many only work on 2.4 GHz), whether a 4G model needs its own SIM card and data plan, and which smart home systems it works with. For smart locks: the door thickness and backset it is made for, the ways it unlocks (keypad, fingerprint, app, card or key), how many months the maker says the batteries last, what happens when they go flat, and whether it needs a separate bridge or hub for remote access.

3. We check certifications and Australian standards

Anything that runs on mains power should carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM). For locks we report an Australian Standard only when the maker or retailer names it for that product, such as AS 4145.2 for the Yale Unity screen door lock, and we treat US ANSI/BHMA grades as a US durability rating rather than an Australian one. A doorbell or camera that connects to mains wiring, or to a transformer that has to be installed in the switchboard, is electrical work for a licensed electrician in every state. We take subscription prices only from the maker's Australian page on the day we checked, and a claim that appears only in marketing copy, with no figure or test condition behind it, is treated as unverified.

4. We read owner reviews for patterns, not scores

Star ratings are easy to game. We look for repeated complaints and repeated praise across retailer reviews and owner forums, and we weight long-term ownership reports more heavily than first-week impressions.

5. We re-check prices

Prices in each guide are what we found at named Australian retailers on the date shown at the top of the guide. Prices change, and sales come and go, so always confirm on the retailer's site.

What we do not do

• We do not accept payment, free products or other consideration for inclusion or ranking.
• We do not write fake reviews or present opinions as tests we have not done. Where a pick is based on specifications and owner reports rather than our own hands-on use, the guide says so.
• We do not make health, safety or performance claims that the manufacturer's own documentation or a recognised certification does not support.