abode
- Apple HomeKit Compatibility
- easy setup
- Perfect for the apartment or dorm
- Up-front equipment prices are high
- Not ideal for large homes
- cancellation charge
Abode is another great option in the DIY home security market. This system is primarily designed for smaller homes or apartments, making them slightly less suitable for larger homes. Still, with advanced smart home compatibility, a one-year warranty, and affordable monthly monitoring fees, there’s a lot to like.
The Basic plan is free, but only offers live video feeds without any recording. The Standard package for $6 per month adds 10 days of video recording. The $21.99 per month Pro package adds a lot of value with professional monitoring and cellular backup. You can also add professional monitoring for three or seven day periods on demand. It’s perfect for when you’re going out for a while but otherwise spend most of your day at home.
The upfront cost is mostly in line with the others on this list, starting around $250 for a basic package and up to $350 for a full-featured package. However, there is a $35 cancellation fee if you return your system. Most other competitors do not charge this fee.
Blue by ADT
- Prestigious ADT brand name
- DIY installation
- no contract
- Expensive Add-ons
- Disappointing Mobile App
ADT Security is one of the best-known names in traditional home security systems. In an effort to compete with the new era of budget, self-installed smart home security, ADT introduced its Blue sub-brand. They have a single monthly plan for $19.99 per month, which comes with 24/7 professional monitoring, mobile app access, two-way audio, and 60 days of video storage. The free plan doesn’t include Pro monitoring and only keeps your video footage for 24 hours.
The Build Your Own package of hardware starts at $109, but that can quickly climb to $300 or more when you start adding more cameras, sensors, or smart doorbells. The Blue Buy ADT app is a one-stop-shop for everything related to your home security system, but some users have expressed frustration that it doesn’t always get the job done right. A recent update has addressed many of these problems, but the last thing you want is for your home security system to go haywire when you need it most.
The Blu has some smart home compatibility, but the best features, including security automation, are reserved for ADT’s more expensive Pulse plan.
