Let’s talk more about it in this Frontpoint security review. The only downside to the monitoring? The cost. Frontpoint makes Vivint (the sticker-shock champion) look like a deal. All of Vivints plans cost less than Frontpoint! But with everything Frontpoint is offering, at least your dollar’s hard at work. But Frontpoint does offset those costs in some ways. It often runs sales for its smallest package, the Starter Pack. That means you’ll probably see a steep discount. Once you’ve bought your equipment, you need to pay for Frontpoint monthly monitoring to use it. That’ll cost you about $40 to $60 a month. We won’t lie–those are some of the most expensive monitoring plans in home security. But you get lots of features for the cost, including Frontpoint ID Protect, which Frontpoint says is worth $24.99 a month. Either way, some customers would probably appreciate the option of losing the ID theft protection and just paying half the monitoring cost. Since you install everything yourself, you skip any installation fees. And Frontpoint doesn’t charge any activation fees either, which we love. (Those fees always seem like such a racket.) Plus, since Frontpoint doesn’t do contracts anymore, you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees. The Safehouse is a super deal at its current $99 price tag. The other packages? Not so much. Some of Frontpoint’s equipment appears to be unique stuff you can get only with Frontpoint, while some of it is generic items from Alarm.com and other providers. Honestly, we think everything should be state of the art and super special at these prices. Still, the generic stuff gets the job done.
Hub Touchscreen Keypad Door/window sensor Motion sensor Glass break sensor Garage door tilt sensor Smoke and heat sensor Carbon monoxide sensor Flood sensor Keychain remote Panic pendant Smart door lock Outdoor smart plug Wireless light control (smart plug) Smart thermostat Indoor camera Premium indoor camera Outdoor camera Doorbell camera Yard sign Window decal Door sticker
Cellular backup. If your Frontpoint Hub experiences an interruption in its cell service, it can use your Wi-Fi as a backup if you’ve opted in to that feature. Backup battery. Your Frontpoint system will continue running for 24 hours after a power loss. Crash and Smash™ protection. If someone breaks into your house and tries to smash your blaring security system, they can’t. Well, they can–it’s not indestructible–but it won’t do them any good. The abrupt signal loss will trigger a break-in alert at Frontpoint’s monitoring centers. Data encryption. Frontpoint cameras use 256-bit AES encryption to prevent unwanted actors from accessing your clips.¹
A panic pendant is a valuable precaution if you believe you’re in immediate danger (like you have a stalker or are receiving death threats), but the main use for this portable button is as a medical alert. If you’re prone to seizures, falls, heart attacks, or any other health issues where you’ll need immediate help, you might want to look into one of these.
Indoor camera Premium indoor camera Outdoor camera Video doorbell camera
That’s a feature we’ve only ever seen from Vivint’s indoor camera before, so it’s pretty cool that Frontpoint has it on board. It gives your kids an easy way to reach you without a landline telephone. Frontpoint has three of the top smart home integrations:
Turning lights on and off Setting your thermostat Closing your garage door Locking your smart locks Recording camera clips Arming your security system
That’s not to say that the Frontpoint app doesn’t have its uses. The app has a geofencing feature where, if you take your phone out of a preset range, it’ll ask you if you want to set the alarm. That’s a super helpful feature, especially if you’re forgetful. Frontpoint’s app also comes preloaded with “scenes.” These time- and event-based smart home chains will take care of multiple things at once. For instance, your Away scene will arm your system, and you can also add other actions to it, like turning off the lights and locking the door. You can also create completely custom scenes. Happily, like Pinocchio, Frontpoint’s got no strings. There are no wires and minimal plugs, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get it set up. The sensors even arrive already connected to the hub to save you time. The reps work hard to resolve issues and are pretty receptive to customer feedback, even about little things. For example, Frontpoint told us that when customers complained that Frontpoint’s hub light was too bright, Frontpoint released a software update that fixed it. Frontpoint also has some of the best scores we’ve seen on Trustpilot² and an excellent grade from the BBB.³ But in recent times, we’ve seen a little bit of a downturn. More customers are complaining about how difficult it is to cancel Frontpoint’s month-to-month service. We’re disappointed to hear this but optimistic that Frontpoint will listen to its buyers and remedy the cancellation process soon. Frontpoint security solutions are expensive compared to other companies (especially DIY companies). The system and monitoring are way more expensive than Ring Alarm and SimpliSafe. However, the system has home automation features more comparable to Vivint. Frontpoint also has a better customer service reputation than most of its competitors.
Pricing: Frontpoint costs a ton, but there are some definite perks with that cost, like identity theft protection and free doorbell cameras. Equipment: Frontpoint equipment is expensive and not the most unique we’ve tried, but there’s a lot of it to cover different security and smart home needs. Home automation: You get a lot of automation from your Frontpoint home security system. It’s compatible with Google, Alexa, and Z-Wave and has some cool built-in features. Installation: You’ll install the Frontpoint system yourself, but it’s pretty straightforward. Customer experience: Frontpoint’s customer experience is legendary because of how it listens to and implements feedback, although you might run into some difficulties when canceling your service.
If the dispatch isn’t canceled and the police arrive, you’ll be responsible for any fines they may charge. What Is Home Security Monitoring? Best DIY Home Security Systems Best Home Security Systems
