wireless alarm systems for the home
One downside to Scout Alarm is that you must pay a monthly fee $9. 99 to use the system, but this fee pays for built in cellular backup, which is often more expensive with other DIY home security systems. There's no contract so you can cancel service if you don't need it. You can also upgrade a Scout Alarm system to include professional monitoring $19. 99/month, so you can get extra protection when you're unable to monitor your home yourself. This system is the easiest to install as it walks you through every step of the setup process in the
mobile app, taking about 10 minutes to install. Scout Alarm works with the smart home platforms from Amazon, Nest and IFTTT. When we tested Scout's siren, it wasn't as loud as other security alarms we tested, but it is loud enough that other sounds in your home shouldn’t drown it out. Scout's one year warranty isn't very long compared to the three year warranties from competitors, and the company doesn't sell any security cameras for the system. Read the full reviewBest ValueIris by Lowe's Check WalmartCheck Amazon?Most affordable professional monitoringComprehensive smart home compatibilityComprehensive equipment
selectionCellular backup requires extra purchaseSome features require monthly feeOne year warrantyIris by Lowe's is the best value among DIY home security systems because it combines a capable system with the lowest prices we've seen. It's not as easy to set up and use as Scout Alarm and abode, but it works well enough for self monitoring your home as well as for professional monitoring.
You can also link your abode system to other smart home devices via the IFTTT online task automation service. abode's one year warranty isn't robust, but it’s typical of DIY smart home systems. Read the full reviewBest Premium SystemNest Secure$199 View at The Home Depot$227View at AmazonRecommended Retailer$299View at Best Buy?While it’s not as easy to install and use as Scout Alarm, Nest Secure has an intuitive setup process and is one of the best DIY security systems if you already have more than a few of Nest’s smart home devices in your home. Likewise, we found that using the system wasn’t as simple as abode, but is still better than the majority of systems we tested. Nest’s two year warranty is one of the best in our comparison. The main drawback behind Nest Secure is that it’s more expensive than other systems we tested at $400.