Thursday, May 22nd
2025 Home Security System Reviews
Frontpoint
- "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
- Basic security system for just $129 plus monitoring ($49.99/month)
- Buy equipment upfront or get monthly financing
- 30-day risk-free trial
- 3-year system warranty
- 3-year contract
For many years, Frontpoint was our top choice for home security systems. As the first company to provide DIY equipment installation combined with professional monitoring, it's no wonder that it quickly made its mark in the industry.
Choose a security package
Frontpoint offers three pre-built packages for you to choose from:
- The Starter Pack: priced at just $129 for the equipment, this package includes one Frontpoint hub and keypad, one door/window sensor, one motion sensor, and one "Home Defense Kit” (a yard sign, three window decals, and one door sticker).
- The Home Shield: pay $269 to get the Frontpoint hub and keypad, three door/window sensors, one motion sensor, one indoor camera, one smoke/heat sensor, and one flood sensor.
- The Family Lookout: Frontpoint's most comprehensive package costs just $349. It has all of the components of The Home Shield and adds a keychain remote and a doorbell camera (wireless or wired).
Those packages weren't quite as impressive as the last time: previous kits came with more equipment and were usually priced a little more favorably. For example, all three sets included a video doorbell, but now it's only standard with The Family Lookout. But, you can always build your own system from scratch or add equipment a la carte before you check out (or later down the road).
Customize or extend your home security system
Frontpoint is highly praised for its flexibility in allowing customers to integrate a variety of home automation equipment, including components from third-party sellers and brands. You can create a customized security system by browsing through Frontpoint's offerings and considering what you already have, such as a Nest thermostat or other smart home devices.
Wide range of available equipment
It's hard to find any type of home security equipment that Frontpoint doesn't offer. Their dropdown categories include a wide range of options such as Home Automation, Accessories, Cameras, Intrusion, Best Sellers, and Hazard Sensors. While you may not find dozens of choices in each category, Frontpoint allows you to easily incorporate equipment from other retailers, such as most Z-Wave home automation gear. Additionally, Frontpoint often has discounts available ranging from 20%-40% on their offerings. (Those prices we mentioned earlier reflect a promo of 40% off at the time of this evaluation.)
Monitoring isn't cheap
Be aware that Frontpoint's monitoring fees are relatively high, starting at $49.99 per month. While you can only have up to four cameras on the system, you can add as many other components as you need. Frontpoint offers a $5/month discount for customers who choose automatic payments from their checking or savings account.
Comes with ID protection
Among the home security providers we evaluated, Frontpoint is the only one that offers identity theft protection as part of its monitoring fees. The service is called ID Protect, and it's provided by Allstate. If you're already paying $20 or more a month for a similar service like LifeLock, you might consider switching to Frontpoint's ID Protect as a way to offset their higher-than-most monitoring fees.
Not no-contract anymore
Frontpoint was our #1 choice for home security for many years. Why not now? A few things have changed since our last evaluation, and not for the better. First, the home security company's reputation with the Better Bureau went down from an "A+” to an "A”: not exactly something to lose sleep over, but it got us wondering if there was anything we needed to look into among the 270+ complaints filed with the BBB in the previous year. Sure enough, we started seeing multiple references to "three-year contract”, "hard to cancel”, and so on. Wait, what? One of our reasons for highly recommending Frontpoint for home security previously was a lack of a contract.
3-year contract and stiff cancellation fees
Digging in a little further, we opened up the PDF of Terms and Conditions in the Subscriber Agreement, found just before clicking to pay for a home security system (and not openly on the Frontpoint website as far as we could see). And there it was: "This agreement is non-cancellable for an initial term of 36 months, except for the 30-day risk-free trial period... after the 30-day trial period, any early termination will be subject to an early termination fee equal to 80% of all money due... for the remaining term of this agreement.” *gulp* That's not quite so user-friendly anymore, is it?
Almost nothing but one-star ratings recently
It gets worse. Frontpoint has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with nearly 10,000 five-star ratings alone. However, it looks like the overwhelming majority of those high ratings were given to Frontpoint years and years ago. Scroll through the ratings from the last few months and you'll see a sea of red representing reviews with the lowest possible score. Clients rant about trying to cancel multiple times, being billed well after cancellation, having trouble reaching a live support agent when there's an issue, the list goes on and on.
30-day trial still in place
The only reason we haven't dropped Frontpoint completely to the bottom of the pile is the 30-day risk-free trial. At least you still have the opportunity to see for yourself how the security system works in your home - but we're not exactly confident that you can expect an easy-peasy refund process if you decide that it's not the right setup for you.
Fall from the top
Frontpoint used to be the logical choice for home security systems: affordable, easy to use, great customer service, and no contracts. None of those seem to apply now. While there are far worse options out there, it's disappointing when an amazing service drops the way Frontpoint has. Unless something changes for the better and Frontpoint goes back to its older business model, you'll probably be happier with one of the higher-ranked home security providers in our review.
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Which Home Security System is the Best?
Home security systems have become increasingly popular in recent years, as people seek to protect their homes and families from potential threats. With a wide variety of options available on the market, choosing the right system for your needs can be overwhelming. We can help you take the stress out of the decision-making process and ultimately select a home security setup that's perfect wherever you live.
Let's get started. As you already know, a home security system is a network of electronic devices designed to secure your home against theft, vandalism, and other possible dangers. A typical system may include sensors, cameras, alarms, and monitoring services.
Home Security System FAQ
Continued from above...
Sensors are the backbone of a home security system. They detect any unusual activity in and around your home and alert the system. The most common types of sensors are door and window sensors, motion sensors, and glass-break sensors. Door and window sensors are placed on the frames of doors and windows and detect any movement when the doors or windows are opened or closed. Motion sensors detect movement within a room, while glass-break sensors detect the sound of breaking glass. Pretty self-explanatory.
Cameras are an essential component of many home security systems. They provide visual evidence of any unusual activity around your home and can help identify intruders. Most cameras are connected to the internet, allowing you to view the footage remotely from your phone or computer.
Alarms are designed to alert you and your neighbors to any potential threats. When a sensor is triggered, the alarm will sound, and a notification will be sent to your phone or monitoring service. These companies monitor your home security system 24/7, and if a sensor is triggered, they will usually contact you to verify whether there is a genuine threat. If they are unable to reach you, they will contact the authorities on your behalf.
Now that you have a solid understanding of the basics of any home security system, what other factors might have an impact on your decision? Here are some criteria to consider:
- Professional install vs. DIY. Professionally-installed systems are designed for those who want a more comprehensive setup, often including cameras, sensors, alarms, and monitoring services. The professional install makes these systems more expensive than DIY systems but provide a higher level of security. DIY systems are designed for those who want affordability and are willing to install and maintain their home security system.
- Cost. Will you pay upfront for the service and/or equipment? What monthly fees are involved? Contracts can often range from 3-5 years, but not every home security system requires one.
- Portability of service. Can you take your home security system with you if you move, either by taking the equipment itself or transferring your contract and having a new install?
- Cancellation. What happens if you decide you don't need a home security system anymore? Many providers have hefty cancellation fees, especially if you signed a lengthy contract in exchange for no upfront equipment costs.
- Trial period. The best home security providers give you a grace period to see how the system works. After all, there's a pretty steep learning curve involved, and you want to make sure your system gives you the coverage and peace of mind you're paying for.
- Satisfaction guarantee/refund policy. Can you get your money back if you don't like how your security system works once it's installed?
- Customer feedback. What do other homeowners have to say about the home security system? Is the customer service team responsive? How often does the system register false alarms?
Top Consumer Reviews brings you the ultimate guide to the best home security systems on the market today. Our comprehensive review and ranking system is designed to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision and protect your loved ones both now and in the future.
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