Frontpoint Review

Friday, August 12th

2022 DIY Home Security Company Reviews

Frontpoint

• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
• Basic security system for just $99 plus monitoring
• Buy equipment upfront or get monthly financing
• 30-day risk-free trial
• 3-year system warranty
• No contract required

There's no shortage of competition in the DIY home security system marketplace, and yet Frontpoint has led the pack for over 10 years. In fact, they were the first company to make it possible for customers to get professional monitoring with do-it-yourself equipment installation.

You choose the equipment

Frontpoint gets high marks for allowing customers to integrate a wide range of home automation equipment - even components purchased through third-party sellers and brands instead of directly from the Frontpoint store. You can easily create a bespoke home security system as you browse what Frontpoint sells (and keeping in mind what you may already have, like a Nest thermostat or other smart home gear).

3 starter kits to choose from

If you feel more comfortable starting with a preselected package, there are three to consider:

• The Safehouse: priced at just $99 for the equipment, this package includes one Frontpoint hub and keypad, two door/window sensors, one motion sensor, and one doorbell camera.
• The Bunker: pay monthly through financing (starting at $15.34/month) or pay $475.44 in full to get the Frontpoint hub and keypad, three door/window sensors, one motion sensor, one indoor camera, one smoke/heat sensor, and one doorbell camera.
• The Fortress: Frontpoint's most comprehensive package costs just under $600 when paying in full (or starting at about $20/month with financing). It has all of the components of The Bunker but doubles the door/window sensors to six and gives you an extra motion sensor.

No shortage of options

Is there a type of DIY home security equipment that Frontpoint doesn't offer? We had a hard time finding anything missing. You'll see ample choices in the dropdown categories, which include Home Automation, Accessories, Cameras, Intrusion, Best Sellers, and Hazard Sensors. You aren't going to find dozens of choices in each of those categories, but keep in mind what we said about being able to incorporate equipment from other retailers (like most Z-Wave home automation gear). On what Frontpoint does offer, there's almost always a discount in place too - we've seen savings ranging from 20-35% every time we've visited the site.

Monitoring can be a little pricey

You should prepare yourself for the fact that Frontpoint's monitoring fees are on the high end at $49.99 per month. You're limited to up to four cameras (but, honestly, few systems have more than that), yet there's no limit on the rest of your system: incorporate as many features as you like. Plus, when we chatted with a representative on the Frontpoint site, we found out that customers who have their payments automatically debited from their checking or savings will get a $5/month discount on those monitoring fees.

No required contracts here

Frontpoint proudly advertises that there are no contracts needed to use their service - so you might be taken aback when you go to check out and see the monitoring plan described as "three years" . Don't worry: we confirmed with Frontpoint support that it refers to your rate lock. In other words, your monitoring fees are guaranteed to be the same for three full years. You can still cancel at any time, and if you're within the first 30 days of your service you're eligible for a refund on your equipment if your DIY home security system isn't meeting your expectations.

ID theft protection is a bonus

Frontpoint is the only home security provider in our evaluation that includes identity theft protection with your monitoring costs. Known as ID Protect, the service is backed by Allstate and could be a suitable replacement for any other plans you may already be paying for (like LifeLock). If you're spending $20 or more a month for such coverage and cancel it in favor of Frontpoint's service, you can think of it as a discount off those higher-than-average monitoring fees.

Can 10,000 satisfied clients be wrong?

Like many providers of DIY home security systems, Frontpoint has an "A+" and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Even better, more than 10,000 people - 90% of all reviewers - have given this service a 4- or 5-star rating. That's even more compelling when you realize that many homeowners have protected their property with Frontpoint for ten years or longer. We did see a slight trend in recent reviews that mentioned issues with reaching support to handle equipment or billing problems, but those are still few and far between - and that wouldn't interfere with these systems' overall ability to keep you safe.

First place for DIY home security systems

Frontpoint has been a name to rely on for home security systems for many consecutive years. You won't spend an arm and a leg to set up your home's protection, you're covered by a 30-day refund policy and no-contract service, and your home security can include as much automation as you like. Frontpoint is the ideal provider of DIY home security systems, and once again they've earned our strongest recommendation.