Sunday, October 1st
2023 Home Security System Reviews
Wyze
- $99.99/year for home monitoring
- Expandable up to 100 sensors
- DIY installation
Wyze is a relatively new company that was founded in 2017 by four former Amazon employees, Yun Zhang, Dave Crosby, Dongsheng Song, and Elana Fishman. The company started with a single product, a low-cost smart home camera, which quickly gained popularity due to its affordability and ease of use.
Making smart home technology accessible
The company's mission is to make smart home technology accessible and affordable to everyone, regardless of their budget. Wyze achieves this by using a direct-to-consumer business model and keeping its profit margins low. Since its start, Wyze expanded its product lineup to include other smart home devices, including the Wyze Home Security System. The company likes to promote its system as "superior performance, no contracts, cheaper than Netflix" .
Easy on your wallet and very expandable
At first glance, the Wyze Home Security System is a budget-friendly option that provides basic home security features at an affordable price. The system includes a hub, sensors, and a keypad, which are easy to install and operate. The Wyze system is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for voice control and integration with other smart home devices. Another feature that gets people's attention is the fact that this system can expand to include up to 100 sensors.
The hub is the brains of the system
The Wyze hub acts as the central control unit of the system and connects to your home Wi-Fi network. The hub communicates with the sensors and keypad to provide alerts and notifications to your phone via the Wyze app. The app is user-friendly and provides a live stream of your cameras and alerts for any activity detected by the sensors.
Sensors can be customized
The Wyze sensors are small, battery-powered devices that detect motion and can be placed on doors and windows. When the sensors detect motion, they send an alert to the Wyze hub, which triggers an alert on your phone. The sensors have a range of up to 300 feet and can be customized to trigger different actions, such as turning on lights or activating sirens.
Keypad is pretty basic
The Wyze keypad allows you to arm and disarm your system using a four-digit code. The keypad also has a panic button that triggers an alarm when pressed, notifying you and triggering an alert on your phone.
Where's the sales team or support reps?
Unfortunately, right out the gate, Wyze dropped the ball: at the time of this review, their home security systems were marked as "not available" and we were invited to submit our email to be notified when they were back in stock. Curious, we turned to Wyze's live chat, only to find a bot that couldn't tell us when that might be. Clicking the button to "contact support" , all we got was an email: no toll-free number and definitely no live agent on the other end of the chat. Not exactly an auspicious beginning for a company that wants us to trust with our home security needs.
These systems have been "out of stock" for over a year
That seemed to be due to the fact that the main product in the Wyze system, the Sense Hub, was itself out of stock. The site allowed us to place an order for monitoring, sensors, literally anything else in the Wyze inventory - just not the "brains" of the entire operation. And, even more disturbing, it was the exact same thing over a year ago: the Sense Hub was unavailable.
Terrible reputation
That's okay, because this home security system's reputation won't exactly have you waiting with bated breath hoping that it will come back in stock soon: the company has an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, with 110 complaints filed there over the last year. It doesn't get any better no matter where you look, from Trustpilot to Wyze's own Facebook page: customers rant about not being able to get a refund even when equipment arrives broken, cameras constantly going offline, false alarms, you name it. It's challenging finding any homeowner with praise for their Wyze home security system.
Avoid Wyze home security systems
It's probably just as well that the Wyze hub is out of stock, because there's just no reason to waste your time or money with this home security system. Being affordable is great if you actually deliver a service of any kind, and too many customers are left feeling less-than-secure with Wyze for us to be able to recommend it even a little. You can find a great deal on a top-notch home security system among the higher-ranked providers in our review, so don't bother looking at Wyze.
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The 14 Best Home Security Systems
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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