Amazon will soon launch Alexa Guard Plus, which expands the capabilities of Alexa Guard for $5 per month (or $50 per year). Pro-installed systems usually cost more, despite using equipment similar to that of DIY systems, typically come with long and often onerous contracts, and rely on the same monitoring companies that self-installed systems use, so they offer little advantage.

With a buy-in cost of $199 and professional monitoring available for just $10 per month, Ring Alarm stands out as a value pick -- but consistent privacy concerns about Ring's failure to protect user data and its controversial collaboration with police organizations stop us well short of recommending it. Get the most out of your Google Assistant speaker with these smart-home devices designed to work with it. In addition to basics like motion sensors, window sensors and door sensors, these kinds of professional installations will also promise to cut back on false alarms to the monitoring center and seamlessly integrate things like door locks, cameras, keypads, thermostats, carbon monoxide detectors and touchscreens. Paying for the equipment up front provides you with a lot of control over what you get, where you can put it, and how you use the service. $129 ($229 for a system with a doorbell camera), $47 ($67 for a system with a doorbell camera), First attempt wouldn't give a quote without a credit check, second attempt took 10 minutes, $99 installation fee (waived if bundled with TV and internet), $40 for first year, then $50 ($175 if bundled with TV and internet), $40 plus financed cost of devices (for a bare-bones setup, about $10 per month for 60 months), Black, red, white, blue, brass, satin nickel, midnight gray, bronze, Satin nickel, venetian (both finishes included with purchase), Satin nickel, venetian, satin black, pearl white, Hardwired or removable, rechargeable battery, Yes, free basic plan, plus 15-day storage for $3 per month and 30-day storage for $5 per month, Yes, free 3-hour image history; continuous recording starting at $5 per month, Motion, person, facial recognition (with Nest Aware). Adobe says the feature can be switched on and off at any time, a nod to the increasing demands for privacy and control over what data homeowners share. The SimpliSafe equipment is now in its third version, and both the app and hardware have a simpler and more stylish design. Best Black Friday 2020 deals: Big discounts on monitors, headphones, Apple Watch, Roku, Fitbit, more ... 8.5 Read full review. Monitoring starts at $15 per month, $25 per month to include mobile app controls and integration with Alexa. Ring makes a variety of popular video doorbells, but the company faces nagging privacy concerns over its controversial data-sharing collaborations with police organizations.

The siren can be configured to go off between 30 and 180 seconds of a triggering event. Many of the major home security systems now offer video doorbells of their own, and some offer compatibility with standalone video doorbells and keypads like these, too. One nice thing with Vivint: No contracts. SimpliSafe’s contact sensors for doors and windows are small enough to be camouflaged when installed on white trim; the motion sensor is noticeable but not an eyesore.

abode Review 2020: What To Know Before Buying Services. Some also track for unexpected motion or allow for two-way audio -- and we're seeing lots of new options that are capable of recognizing faces, too.

It does not include professional monitoring—unless you pay an additional fee for short-term three- or seven-day monitoring, or subscribe to the $20 Pro option, which adds 24/7 live monitoring and 30 days of video storage.