SimpliSafe’s prices are budget-friendly, but we recommend holding out for a sale, like the one that’s on now. All SimpliSafe packages are half price, and you get a $200 Visa gift card if you spend $300 or more. That’s easy to do when SimpliSafe has some must-have security devices for any home.
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To give you an idea of the savings, here’s a comparison of the regular price versus the sales price.
System Name Number of Pieces Regular Price Sale Price The Beacon 10 $729.90 $292 The Lighthouse 7 $479.93 $192 The Haven 14 $529.86 $212 The Knox 12 $489.87 $196 The Hearth 9 $409.91 $164 The Essentials 6 $279.94 $112 The Foundation 4 $249.96 $100SimpliSafe doesn’t offer as many equipment options as other companies, but they cover all the necessities. When it comes to SimpliSafe’s cameras, for example, choose between the SimpliSafe Wireless Indoor Camera, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera we tested, and the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell we reviewed. Everything you could need without any fluff.
We recommend starting with one of the equipment packages we mentioned above. They’re designed for different needs and home sizes. From there, you can add more devices. Of course, if you don’t see a package you like, you can always start with the base station and keypad and go from there.
Pro Tip: The blue light from the control hub is a little bright, so you might not want to install it in a room where it might disturb anyone’s sleep. Just something to keep in mind!
SimpliSafe offers free self-monitoring that includes real-time alerts and live camera footage. Storing videos requires the $10 a month plan. We recommend professional monitoring, and not just because of SimpliSafe’s latest deal. Our pick is the $31.99 per month Core plan. In addition to professional monitoring, it adds cellular backup, voice control, and Intruder Intervention.
With Intruder Intervention, SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents can access your Wireless Indoor Camera during active alerts. They’ll assess the situation, then use the camera’s two-way talk to guide you to safety or scare off intruders.
FYI: SimpliSafe also offers a Pro and Pro Plus plan, but they cost $49.99 and $79.99 per month, respectively. They add SimpliSafe’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection, which allows their agents to access your outdoor camera when it detects a potential threat. Then, they can take action as needed.
>> Find Out More: Best Self-Monitored Systems
SimpliSafe’s professional installation costs start at $125, but we recommend doing it yourself. It only took us 30 minutes to set up six devices and an outdoor camera. We didn’t even use tools for most of the equipment. They either plugged into an outlet or stuck to a wall.
Just a piece of advice, if you don’t plan on moving anytime soon, use the included screw mounts instead of the peel-and-stick adhesive to attach sensors to walls. While the adhesives hold up well, we’ve had a motion sensor fall to the ground a few months into testing. The screw mounts are more secure.
Living with SimpliSafe day-to-day was pretty much stress-free. We like how the keypad is easy to use, even if you’re not techie. It’s not a touch screen, and there are buttons dedicated to arming and disarming the system.
Alerts came in quickly, too. Text alerts are included in professional monitoring plans. They typically arrive within 5 to 10 seconds of a sensor being triggered. The same is true for app alerts, which are included in all plans (even the free, self-monitoring plan).
SimpliSafe does have its downsides, too. For example, the equipment selection is more limited compared to brands such as Vivint and ADT. We had to put an indoor camera in the garage because SimpliSafe doesn’t have a garage door sensor. If you’re in the market for solid equipment at affordable prices, though, SimpliSafe is the best option.
>> Compare: SimpliSafe Vs. ADT
We appreciate that Cove doesn’t force customers to buy pre-built packages, which might include things you don’t need. Instead, you’ll build out a system from scratch, starting with the only two components absolutely necessary – the hub and the touch screen keypad. Those are valued at $300, but are on sale for $90 during Cove’s ongoing Summer Sale (70 percent off).
You can add as many extra devices as you need, with discounts on nearly everything except hazard monitors and security cameras. Cove uses third-party cameras from Eufy, which might be why we’ve never seen them on sale. Still, it’s possible to build a comprehensive security system for under $200.
Cove equipment is sleek, which means it’ll suit most decors. It has a nice heft to it, too. The touch-screen hub, for example, weighs a full three pounds. We live in an older home, so that’s too heavy to mount on our walls. So, we let our hub sit nicely on an end table in our living.
There’s a nice range of equipment as well. It includes indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras on top of all the standard home security sensors and some environmental sensors, too.
>> Also See: Video Doorbell Buying Guide
Like SimpliSafe, you can monitor your Cove system yourself for $10 per month. You’ll also get notification alerts and live streaming. We recommend choosing one of the professional monitoring plans, which start at $19.99 per month.
Both professional monitoring plans offer environmental monitoring, InstaText notifications, cellular backup, access to the app, and hourly automated check-ins. The $29.99-per-month plan adds smart features and camera support. We only recommend it if you buy cameras with your system.
>> More Options: Best Systems With Cellular Connections
We found that Cove’s lack of experience came with both pros and cons. The biggest benefit is the price. Their low prices make a full security system affordable. We bought an entry sensor for every door and window in our home, since they only cost $4.50 a piece. Check out our guide to window alarm sensors to find out if you need sensors for your windows.
The trade-off is that Cove’s devices are not state-of-the-art. The cameras we tested don’t offer facial recognition to reduce false alarms or burglar deterrent features. Plus, since they are made by Eufy, they only work in the Eufy app. We got a motion alert from the Cove app and had to switch to the Eufy app to check it out, which isn’t ideal.
Pro Tip: When you’re installing your security cameras, make sure they’re about 6 to 8 feet off of the ground. That’s the sweet spot for picking up activity, and it also makes it so would-be burglars can’t easily tear them down.
No question that ADT’s prices are more competitive than they were in the past. Entryway sensors that used to cost $30 to $50? They now cost only $20, roughly the same price as SimpliSafe’s door/window sensors. You can get motion sensors now for only $40, devices that used to cost $100.
Even better, ADT regularly offers huge discounts on their packages that compete with SimpliSafe’s sales. They regularly discount packages over 60 percent off, making their premium packages cost as much as their basic packages. If you DIY your install, you don’t need to sign a long-term contract either.
ADT offers some of the best equipment on the market, though it doesn’t necessarily offer a wide selection of devices. They offer every component we use to protect our home, though, and they’re some of the highest-quality versions we’ve tested.
As for cameras, those all come from Google Nest, one of the best manufacturers of security cameras, doorbell cameras, and smart home accessories. They also offer other smart home devices like thermostats. However, if you’re looking for niche equipment like garage door tilt sensors, you won’t find it through ADT.
ADT has always offered the best professional monitoring in the business. The company has a dozen monitoring centers across the country. They also use text-based alerts to speed up and streamline the alarm process. ADT’s SMART monitoring sends a group message to you and your chosen contacts, so everyone is informed and can verify or cancel alarms.
Unfortunately, ADT’s pricing is not as flexible as SimpliSafe. While prices start at $24.99 per month, systems with cameras require the top plan. For DIY installs it’s $39.99 per month and $49.99 per month for professionally installed systems. You do unlock some advanced features in these plans like facial recognition, activity zones, and Trusted Neighbor, which we’ll talk about in the next section.
Pro Tip: Like SimpliSafe, ADT actually provides customers with the option to self-monitor their system. We don’t really recommend this, but it can definitely help save money if you’re protecting your property on a budget.
We’ve been testing ADT for years, so we’re used to their white-glove professional installation. It was weird installing our ADT system ourselves, but the experience went off without a hitch. We followed the instructions on the app step-by-step and had our system up and running in about 30 minutes.
After finishing the install, it worked like any other ADT system we’ve tested in the past. Everything functioned in harmony; even the Google Nest Cams worked well with the ADT system. We particularly liked their Trusted Neighbor feature that automatically lets in particular guests using our Nest Video Doorbell’s facial recognition capabilities.
abode is cheaper than SimpliSafe, and that’s true across the board. For instance, abode’s cheapest camera costs just $60, $40 less than SimpliSafe’s cheapest offering. Their subscriptions are about 25 percent lower than SimpliSafe, too, including monitoring and cloud storage plans.
Even abode’s premium iota hub that enables their advanced home automation capabilities costs the same as SimpliSafe’s base station and keypad, which can only integrate with Alexa and Google Home for basic voice control.
All of abode’s equipment offers great value. It’s not the highest quality on the market, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. They offer a huge selection, too, including everything from glass break sensors and smart locks to security cameras and video doorbells.
Where abode’s equipment gets confusing is with their three hubs. There’s the Security Hub, Smart Security Hub, and Iota Hub. Each hub offers different levels of smart home capabilities, but we recommend the Iota for abode’s full suite of capabilities. It only costs $50 more than the other two hubs, too.
>> Find Out More: Best IFTTT Systems
If you’re looking for an affordable security system, avoiding a monthly fee is a major plus. abode’s free plan offers more capabilities than SimpliSafe and ADT. They include full access to their app and all their smart home integrations in their free plan. SimpliSafe and ADT lock app features and smart home integrations behind their subscriptions.
As for professional monitoring, abode keeps their prices low, as long as you’re willing to sign up for a year upfront. An annual plan brings their monitoring price down from $24.99 per month to $16.58. Or, for just cloud storage, they charge $7.99 per month or $6.25 when billed annually.
Did You Know? abode includes cloud storage with their professional monitoring plan. So, even though SimpliSafe’s monitoring starts at $21.99 per month, it’s a more apt comparison to look at their $31.99 plan that includes cloud storage as well when comparing them to abode.
>> Head-to-head: Abode vs. SimpliSafe
There’s no question that abode is affordable, but it’s intelligent, too. Their smart home capabilities are one of their main selling points, and, after testing it ourselves, we can see why. We integrated our system with all of our current smart home equipment thanks to their ZigBee and Z-Wave compatibility, which supports over 4,000 smart home devices.3
After integrating our equipment, we used abode’s CUE system to set up all of our home automation. Since their camera features AI that can differentiate between people, pets, and packages, we set an automation that turned on our porch light when there was a package at our doorstep to deter porch pirates.
>> Read About: Can Smart Lights Deter Burglars?
Pro Tip: If you’re going to be using a lot of smart home technology, you need to protect your home network from intruders as well. Smart home devices are notorious entry points for hackers to gain access to your valuable information.
We should point out that even though abode supports smart home integrations with their free plan, they require a subscription to access their CUE automation system. That said, the free plan still supports IFTTT, which is a similar open-source home automation system, keeping them on our list of the best no-monthly-fee security systems.
Not all Frontpoint pricing is available on the website, like the professional monitoring plans. The Ultimate Monitoring plan is $49.99 per month, which is more expensive than ADT and Vivint. There are two cheaper options, but they require calling Frontpoint to activate.
The equipment prices are available online, and are low. Bundles start at $69 after discounts. We haven’t even seen SimpliSafe or Cove drop prices that low during their best sales.
Frontpoint systems center around a proprietary hub that connects their equipment sourced from several manufacturers. Most of their equipment is made by Alarm.com but not all of it. For instance, their smart lock is made by Yale. Either way, Frontpoint sources some of the highest-quality equipment on the market. You’ll even find Yale on our roundup of the best smart locks.
>> Learn More: Frontpoint Home Security Camera Review, Cost & Pricing in
Frontpoint offers three monitoring plans on its website, but two of them require a call to subscribe. We called to inquire and learned the Video-Only Plan is $14.99 per month and is a self-monitoring option with live and recorded video included. The Interactive Plan is $44.99 per month and has professional monitoring for intrusion and hazards as well as home automation, but not much else.
We opted for the $49.99 per month Ultimate Monitoring Plan so we could test all of Frontpoint’s capabilities. If you don’t need security cameras, you can get by with the Interactive plan, although we’d say it’s pricey for a mid-tier plan. ADT charges as low as $29.99 for similar capabilities.
FYI: You can use the app to set up routines for your notifications. That way your won’t be buzzing all night from cats and raccoons walking into the path of your security cameras.
Even though, in some ways, Frontpoint charges more than most companies on this list, we find that they consistently deliver good value. For instance, their home automation options compete with the likes of Vivint, but they charge less than half the price for equipment. We particularly like their geofencing capabilities that alert us if we leave our front door unlocked after leaving our home’s perimeter.
Want more information on perimeter intrusion detection system? Feel free to contact us.
Brinks doesn’t look like much of a discount system – on paper. Its cheapest packages, for instance, cost around $360. That’s not exactly Vivint territory, but it’s more than ADT charges these days for its lowest-priced packages. The company runs frequent sales, though, and that can save you big. If you time things right, for example, you can sometimes get a Brinks camera for 50 percent off when you purchase another camera at full price. Plus, Brinks offers professional installation for free. You won’t find a deal like that with Vivint or ADT.
It’s worth pointing out as well that Brinks offers some solidly built, sophisticated equipment. Affordability isn’t always about the bottom line. Value matters too, and you get a lot for your money with this company. For instance, every Brinks device integrates with both Alexa and Google Home, so you can control everything with a voice command or two. The touchpad hub includes its own SD card that records video anytime anyone tampers with the system. Even if someone should manage to take down your hub, you’ve got a record of exactly what happened.
We used to knock Brinks when the company didn’t offer its own video doorbell. That changed in the last year. And when the company decided to produce its own model, it made sure to do it right. This doorbell lets you set up virtual zones so you decide what triggers the motion detection. It comes with intelligent notifications that can tell the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. And it’s compatible with smart home devices. We connected ours to our front room lights so that any time someone stepped foot on our front porch it looked like we were home, even when we weren’t.
Brinks offers two monitoring plans, the Home Complete and the Home Complete with Video. Of course, that means you can’t self-monitor, but we always recommend professional monitoring anyway. You can never tell when you’re going to be too busy to respond to an alert. As an added bonus, both plans also include cellular backup. Even if your Wi-Fi should go down, you can be sure your system will keep working.
>>Check Out: Brinks vs. ADT
Like Vivint, Brinks requires calling and speaking to someone about your needs. Our Brinks representative tailored a system for us based on our home layout and security requirements. Next, we scheduled an installation. The good news is that Brinks didn’t charge us for this service. The bad news is we had to commit to a three-year monitoring contract.
As part of the installation, the technician demonstrated voice control with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. We used it to arm and disarm the system when our hands were full and unlock the smart lock to let guests in. The smart features were more impressive than SimpliSafe, but not on the same level as Vivint or ADT.
While both brands started in the s, Brinks and ADT serve different security needs. We like that ADT is more user-friendly and compatible with the Nest Cam range. Brinks equipment range is limited, although we do like that it has a touch-screen panel, something ADT lacks.
ADT also has 12 monitoring centers across the country that back each other up. Brinks offers backup servers and generators, but this doesn’t match ADT’s physical redundancies. Brinks also requires you to use the Alarm.com app, while ADT has its own app. It’s not a dealbreaker, but these differences explain Brinks’ more budget-friendly pricing.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Basics
This video explains basic intrusion detection system functionality and components based on a residential application. However, intrusion detection systems can be as simple and small or complex and large as necessary to accommodate large buildings or even campuses.
Intrusion Detection System Considerations
When making a choice for your intrusion detection system (IDS) application, several factors need to be considered:
Points are connections to the intrusion detection control panel that are commonly connected to windows, doors, motion detectors, etc. These sensors can be bundled together on one connection point or can be connected on separate points for very specific identification when an alarm occurs.
Areas are regions within a building or space. These regions may be rooms, areas, or even data closets or equipment racks. One intrusion detection system control panel can control multiple areas simultaneously, thus allowing an organization to secure specific parts of their facility independently.
Quantities and Locations of Sensors
Door Contacts
A door alarm sensor is a magnetic device which triggers an intrusion detection alarm control panel when a door is open or closed. It comes in two parts, a magnet and a switch. The magnet is secured to the door, and the switch is connected to a wire running back to the control panel.
Wireless Alarm Sensors
Using wireless technology can be advantageous when deploying alarm sensors in places where getting a wire can be difficult or simply impossible.
Wireless Sensor Types:
Motion Detectors
Common considerations and applications for motion detector selection include:
Using high performance motion detectors can decrease installation time, save money, and reduce or eliminate nuisance alarms.
Panoramic Ceiling Mounted Motion Detectors for Large Areas
Wall mounted motion detectors are normally used to monitor the interior spaces of small rooms. Mounting a motion detector in the corner of a room allows you to take advantage of the wedge-shaped detection pattern put out by a typical motion detector to get the maximum useful coverage.
Request to Exit Detectors
Building codes are written to help balance security, safety, and standard operations . That is, the ability of building owners to keep unauthorized people out while enabling people within the building to exit quickly and easily in case of a fire.
Many door designs use mechanical means to open a door in case of emergency. However, this can be difficult to accomplish with a magnetic lock (maglock) as part of the design. That’s why life safety codes and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) will require at least one, and sometimes two, methods to guarantee that building occupants can evacuate quickly in case of emergency. This concept, making it easy to leave a building in case of emergency, is called free egress.
Seismic and Shock Detectors
Seismic detectors look for vibration like that caused by a saw or drill. Lots of people rely on big, heavy, metal boxes to keep their valuables in. Of course, we’re talking about safes and vaults. The problem is that safes don’t keep people out, it just slows them down.
For extremely high value targets, you’ll sometimes get intruders tunneling through walls or floors to get to a safe. An alarm and a lock on a door doesn’t help if the bad guy doesn’t use the door. Once they’re in the room with the safe, they can cut, drill, blast, or just remove the safe to work on it somewhere else.
Outdoor Sensors
Using outdoor-specific technology can be advantageous in an effort to push perimeter detection farther from a building.
Keypads
Multiple keypads can be used at a single facility. This is the common user interface for an intrusion detection system. Location of keypads as well as functionality and aesthetics of keypads is important to consider.
Custom Function Advantages
Custom functions can make daily operations more efficient. They can also speed up processes that would otherwise need to be done manually during an emergency situation such as an emergency alert or lock down at a school or business. These functions can be considered when evaluating an organization's emergency response plan.
More About Bosch Custom Functions
Central Station Monitoring
Using a 3rd party central station to monitor intrusion detection alarms can ensure that all alarms are reacted to appropriately and that the business leadership, police, and other agencies respond quickly.
Intrusion Detection and Fire Alarm Combined
Bosch G series panels including the BG and BG are UL listed for commercial fire applications. Until recently, using a single alarm control panel was subject to approval by the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), which meant in practice that very few installations used the same panel for fire and intrusion. The code was changed in the NFPA update, and as a result, an increasing number of new installations are now combo installations.
Intrusion Detection with Video Analytics for Intelligent Alarming
There's an innovative way to add intelligence of your intrusion detection alarm system that allows you to detect very specific behaviors well before or much more specifically than any motion detector or door contact can. This is one of the most unique, no-additional-license-required features of Bosch intrusion alarm control panels, and probably one of the least utilized features.
Intrusion Panel with Integrated IP Video
IP Camera Integration Application Note
Tips for Integrating Bosch Alarm Panels with Bosch IP Cameras
Integration of Video Management and Intrusion Detection
One of the most talked about features is the integration of the Bosch intrusion detection panels into the Bosch VMS platform as well as directly to Bosch IP cameras. The video and intrusion system integration allows for all types of alarm conditions to be viewed within the Bosch VMS platform using the Divar IP appliance or the Bosch VMS software platform.
Alarm Monitoring Services
B-Series Intrusion Alarm Panel Capabilities
The Differences Between G Series and B Series
Documentation
More about G Series Alarm Panels
More about B Series Alarm Panels
More about detectors
Tips for IT pro's about intrusion alarms
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