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Are you thinking of making your house or apartment smarter with a home automation system? If so, you’re not alone. Home automation is becoming more and more popular as people look for ways to make their lives easier and more comfortable. And thankfully, there are now many great options available when it comes to smart home systems and devices.
Smart home technology enables people to remotely (and sometimes automatically) control various features and appliances in their home or apartment using a wireless internet connection. Most smart home systems include a “hub” or central command center in the house, and many smart devices can also be controlled by their corresponding mobile app. From there, you can turn on lights, configure automated settings, lock your door, or otherwise control your smart home in one place.
However, when your smart home devices are linked to a security company like ADT or Frontpoint , you can also manage your home security system and view stored video from your phone via a mobile app.
Smart home devices make life easier. You can get notifications and updates about what’s happening in your home while you’re away and watch live and recorded video footage to experience peace of mind knowing your home is safe and sound.
There are practical benefits of smart home devices, like coming home to a perfectly lit and climate-controlled house. Or conserving energy and saving on your electricity bill by turning off lights when you’re away from home longer than expected. Or unlocking your front door for the babysitter without leaving work.
The most popular smart home technology enables users to control security cameras, lights, thermostats, locks, and appliances from anywhere. The cost savings and convenience are unbeatable, which has many homeowners and renters seeking the best smart home devices.
With so many smart home devices available, you can build your smart home device-by-device by purchasing each appliance individually, but this means you’ll have different controls for each device as well. An alternative to buying each device individually is to purchase a home security system that includes the smart home features you want. This will allow you to centralize your smart home controls and will give you the added benefit of a safe and secure home.
The top smart security brands on the market today are Vivint, ADT, Ring, Frontpoint, and SimpliSafe. Each company offers a unique approach to home security with smart home devices that provide peace of mind, ease, and convenience.
When comparing smart security systems, you’ll need to consider the following:
• How the system is installed
• How you can control the system once it’s installed
• If the smart home features are included in the base security system package or if you’ll need to add them separately
• What integrations are supported by the company
• If the company offers proprietary products or only offers smart features through integrations
• What smart home devices the company offers
| Installation | Controls | Features included in base system? | Integrations | Proprietary Products | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivint | Professional | App, voice control, base system | No | Google Home, Amazon Echo | Both |
| ADT | Professional | App, voice control, base system | No | Google Home, Google Assistant, Zwave, Amazon Alexa | Yes |
| Ring | DIY | App, voice control | Yes | Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT | Both |
| Frontpoint | DIY | App, voice control, base system | No | Amazon Alexa | Yes |
| SimpliSafe | DIY | App, voice control, base system | Yes | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Watch | No |
ADT is a home security leader with over 140 years of experience helping families and individuals protect what they value most at home. Now, they’ve expanded their offerings to include smart home devices with handy automation features. With both professional and self-installation options, ADT smart home systems enable you to have remote access and control of everything from your lights to your garage door to your cameras and, of course, your security system.
Frontpoint is a hybrid home security system that provides the ease of DIY installation and the benefit of 24/7 professional monitoring. Frontpoint also offers a large selection of smart home devices to make home or apartment living more comfortable and convenient. Frontpoint’s security systems are highly customizable, and you can build your own from scratch to ensure you only purchase the smart home devices you want and need, including smart locks, lights, plugs, and more.
Ring became a well-known leader in smart home technology when they revolutionized the classic doorbell with the release of its first doorbell security camera in the early 2010’s. Now, they offer dozens of security products and smart home devices. What makes Ring unique is the ability to purchase smart products individually without buying a complete smart home system. With no-contract and self-monitoring options, Ring offers a budget-friendly approach to making your home or apartment “smart.”
Vivint is a professionally-installed home security system with robust smart home technology options that provide control, comfort, and convenience. Vivint has options to add smart devices to both the exterior and interior of your home and integrates with Google Home and Amazon Echo for voice control capability. Each Vivint smart home system comes with a 24/7 professional monitoring plan to increase your peace of mind while home or away.
SimpliSafe keeps home security simple by offering a core collection of security products and smart home devices that get the job done. If you’re looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use, DIY-friendly smart home system, SimpliSafe may provide what you need. With multiple wireless product options, SimpliSafe is also one of the more renter-friendly systems available.
From thermostats that can be controlled remotely to security cameras and alarm systems with live and recorded video footage, there are endless options when it comes to making your home or apartment smarter. Essentially, there are two categories of smart home devices that aid in providing comfort, security, and efficiency: exterior smart home devices and interior smart home devices.
| Video Doorbell | Smart Lock | Smart Lights | Smart Plugs | Smart Thermostat | Garage Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADT | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SimpliSafe | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Ring | Yes | With integration | Yes | Yes | With integration | With integration |
| Vivint | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frontpoint | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
A video doorbell camera lets you see who is at your front door from your mobile phone while you’re there or away. Some doorbell cameras also offer one-way or two-way audio capabilities, so you can talk with whoever is at your front door, even when you’re not home.
The top smart home technology providers offer options for doorbell cameras:
Lock and unlock your front door from virtually anywhere by switching out your door locks for smart locks. Some smart locks also come with a keypad and unique keycode for key-free entry if you lock yourself out or need to let someone in who doesn’t have a key. The top smart home technology providers make your life easier with options for smart locks:
Exterior security cameras help you keep an eye on your property without being home. With video-recording and playback capabilities, you can review footage and identify any suspicious activity around your home. The top smart home technology providers offer wired and wireless outdoor security cameras:
Outdoor smart lights use motion sensors to detect and shine a light on movement outside your home. You can also hook up smart lights to your other smart devices to control them from your phone while you’re home or away. The top smart home technology providers have options for automated outdoor lighting:
You can turn nearly any small outdoor appliance into a smart appliance with outdoor smart plugs. Insert a smart plug into your existing outlet and control outdoor lighting, sprinkler systems, garden accessories, and more from your phone. Two of the top smart home technology providers offer outdoor plugs that work in any weather:
Did you forget to close the garage door this morning? If you aren’t 100% sure, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Don’t drive home to check – with a smart garage door opener you can control your garage door from wherever you are! Two of the top smart home technology providers have smart garage door controllers:
The best smart home systems works with other smart devices to bring even more convenience and control to your home or apartment. Smart speakers from Google Nest and Amazon Alexa add voice control to all your smart home devices. Use your voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant- enabled smart speakers to control your compatible smart home devices.
Indoor smart lights make it easy to adjust brightness, set timers, and turn your indoor lights on and off from your phone. The top smart home technology providers enable you to connect your light controls to your mobile device:
Replace your thermostat with a smart thermostat to save money and increase comfort in your home or apartment. With a smart thermostat, you can adjust the temperature from anywhere, create schedules to automate your heating and air, and save money by adjusting the temperature when you’re not home. The top smart home technology providers have smart thermostats with remote control capabilities:
Indoor smart plugs make it easy to control lights and other small appliances, like fans or space heaters, from the convenience of your phone. The following smart home technology providers have smart plug solutions:
Indoor security cameras are helpful when you’re away from home because you can watch live video, check on your kids or pets, or review recorded footage to ensure nothing goes awry. Indoor cameras are also valuable when you’re home. The top smart home technology providers offer wireless and wired indoor security cameras:
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Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $38.99/mo. without QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $935.76) and minimum installation amount of $599 for professionally installed systems OR month-to-month monitoring contract for ADT Self Setup systems starting at $24.99 without QSP (one month minimum) and minimum purchase amount of $194.98. Professional monitoring required for ADT to notify emergency contacts or services on your behalf. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment and services selected. For reactivations of professionally installed systems, a $99 test and inspect fee applies . Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the monthly service charges due for the balance of the initial contract term. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty and is available for additional fee. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Professionally installed system remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. For Self-Setup Systems, cancel by calling 888-392-2039 or by following the instructions in your order confirmation email. To avoid contract termination charges, cancellation must occur no later than 30 days after the contract date. Contract termination charges may be applied for cancellation after the initial 30-day period. Equipment must be fully removed and returned before a refund will be processed. Any shipping costs previously paid are non-refundable. Google and Nest Doorbell are trademarks of Google LLC. Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi. Minimum OS requirements are available at g.co/home/req. iOS is a trademark of Cisco and is used under license. Google Nest products and services featured are designed to make life easier and to build a helpful home and were not designed specifically for life-sustaining or safety-critical use cases. These products and services are compatible with the ADT Self Setup System, and depend upon working internet, Wi-Fi, and, in some cases, the service availability from ADT and/or Google. To learn more, please visit http://g.co/nest/TOS.
Money-back guarantee only applies after ADT has made attempts to resolve a system-related issue and has not been able to resolve that issue within the first six (6) months of your original activation. ADT Money-Back Guarantee is not transferable. Equipment must be returned before a refund will be processed. Conditions preventing normal system operation cannot be caused by the customer. For professionally installed systems only.
Customer may receive reimbursement of up to five hundred dollars ($500) of Customer’s homeowner’s insurance deductible (if any) if, and only if, ALL requirements for Theft Protection Guarantee are met to ADT’s reasonable satisfaction. Customer must request reimbursement within 60 days of property loss. Request must be mailed to ADT and include: Theft Protection Guarantee certificate signed by Customer, a letter from Customer requesting reimbursement, a copy of the police report, and a copy of the accepted insurance claim. ADT reserves the right to reject any application for reimbursement that does not comply with all of the requirements. For professionally installed systems only.