When we first reviewed Frontpoint’s smart home security system back in 2017, we were impressed with its easy installation procedure, responsive sensors, and varied selection of components, but not with its contract requirements and pricing. Since then, Frontpoint has updated its hub and added some new package names and options. It still offers a wealth of security and home automation components, too. We appreciate that Frontpoint no longer requires a long-term contract for monitoring, but the SimpliSafe Home Security System is even more affordable and flexible and thus remains our Editors’ Choice winner for DIY security systems. Frontpoint Plans and PricingIn the past, you had to commit to a one- or three-year monitoring plan when you purchased a Frontpoint system, but that is no longer the case as you can now take advantage of a month-to-month monitoring plan. However, self-monitoring is no longer an option, and if you don’t have a monitoring plan, you lose access to the mobile app and smart features such as home automation and voice control.
Frontpoint’s monitoring plans start at $24.99 per month and can go as high as $49.99 per month depending on which package you choose. The $24.99 per month Interactive plan offers 24/7 professional monitoring and lets you control the system and manage your account using the mobile app or web console. The $29.99 Ultimate plan gives you everything from the Interactive plan as well as home automation and video control. The full-blown $49.99 plan adds features such as crash and smash protection, cellular connectivity, and cloud storage for recorded video. For comparison, SimpliSafe charges $20 per month for 24/7 professional monitoring and allows for basic app control without a subscription. You can build your own Frontpoint system or choose one of three preconfigured systems. The Starter Pack is the least expensive of the bunch. It has a retail price of $542 but can be had for as low as $79 if you commit to a three-year contract. It contains a hub and keypad, three door and window sensors, an indoor camera, a yard sign, and various door and window stickers. The Premier Home Security System has a retail price of $772 and goes for $169 with a three-year contract. It comes with the hub, a keypad, three door and window sensors, a doorbell camera, a touch-screen control panel, and assorted signs and stickers. Finally, the $1,352 Ultimate Home Security System, which goes for $419 with a three-year contract, includes the hub, a keypad, a touch-screen panel, five door/window sensors, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, a flood sensor, an indoor camera, a doorbell camera, a smart lock, and yard sign and stickers.
Frontpoint’s standalone components are on the pricey side. For example, door and window sensors go for $34.99 each and the glass break sensor is $74.99. Additional motion sensors will set you back $69.99 each, while the flood sensors are $44.99. For comparison, SimpliSafe charges $14.99 apiece for entry sensors, $39.99 for its glass break sensor, $34.99 for its motion sensor, and $19.99 for a water sensor that can detect and alert you of leaks and floods.
(Credit: Frontpoint)
Sensors and CamerasThe earlier version of the Frontpoint system used a touch-screen panel as its main hub, but it now uses a sleek desktop hub and keypad combination. You can, however, purchase a touch-screen panel for $149.99. The glossy white hub has a curved top and measures 2.2 by 6.0 by 6.0 inches (HWD). It has an LED indicator on the top that glows green when the system is disarmed, red when it is in Arm Away mode, yellow when it is in Arm Stay mode, and blue when there is an issue. The back panel houses a LAN port for wired connectivity, a power port, and a reset button. Voice prompts from a speaker in the device’s base tell you the status of the system.Inside are cellular, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and RF radios; a very loud siren; and a 24-hour backup battery. In addition to home security components, the hub can control numerous home automation devices, including locks, thermostats, lights, and garage door controllers.The keypad is white, glossy, and slightly curved. It measures 5.4 by 3.6 by 1.2 inches and has a 15-button keypad with numbers 0 through 9; * and # panic buttons; and Disarm, Stay, and Away arming buttons. Two AA batteries power the keypad. A trouble LED glows blue when there is a system issue, and a low-battery LED glows yellow when the batteries need to be replaced.All of the sensors come pre-paired to the hub and use double-sided tape for easy installation. The door and window sensors are relatively thin (1.8 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches) and run on a CR1632 battery rated to last up to six years. The motion sensor is 4.5 by 2.5 by 2.0 inches and runs on a single CR123A battery. It has a range of 40 feet with a 90-degree field of view. The glass-break sensor measures 3.1 by 4.2 by 1.2 inches, uses two CR123A batteries, and can detect the sound of broken glass up to 20 feet away. Frontpoint offers an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and two video doorbell cameras (wired and wireless). The indoor camera ($119.99) offers 1080p resolution, a 110-degree field of view, two-way audio, and motion detection. The outdoor camera ($2299.99) has a 1080p sensor, a 180-degree field of view, and offers motion detection and two-way talk. The wired doorbell goes for $199.99 while the wireless doorbell will set you back $299.98.Web and Mobile AppsAlarm.com powers both the Frontpoint mobile app (for Android and iOS) and the web portal. Both let you arm and disarm the system, view camera and doorbell video (live and recorded), run scenes, enable notifications, and configure alarm set reminders. The mobile app opens to a home screen that displays the name of your home and a selection of scenes that will put the system into an armed or disarmed state with the touch of a button. You can also run scenes using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands, but the Frontpoint components don’t work with IFTTT applets.The home screen also has tabs for all installed cameras and doorbells. Simply tap the camera tab to view a live stream with buttons to initiate full-screen viewing and two-way audio. At the very bottom of the home screen is a weather widget.You can add users and manage notifications in the mobile app, but the web portal offers additional settings that let you schedule when you receive notifications for specific sensors, create automations that will have certain events trigger recordings, and view a history of all activities.
(Credit: Frontpoint/PCMag)
Installing and Using the Frontpoint Security SystemInstalling the Frontpoint system was easy in testing, but plan on spending between one to two hours from start to finish. I received an email from Frontpoint with a Get Started button that initiated the process. I entered my phone number and followed the on-screen instructions to unpack the hub and place it in a central point in my home.Next, I unpacked the keypad and placed it in a location where I could get to it easily when entering and exiting my home. I confirmed my address and contact numbers, then entered a password for the web portal, at which point the hub glowed green and displayed a green key icon. I hit Next and the hub was connected within a few seconds. I entered a new Master Code (used to arm and disarm the system) and was given the option to add user codes now or later. Next, I configured the hub to use my home Wi-Fi as a backup to cellular.It was then time to install the sensors, so I followed the instructions to unpack the door and window sensors. Since they’re already paired at the factory, all I had to do was name each one, test them, and install them using the included double-sided tape. Installing the motion sensor was just as easy. Once I completed the sensor installation, the system was active.To install the video doorbell, I shut down the breaker that supplies power to my doorbell wiring, removed my old doorbell, and wired up the new one. After I restored the power, I opened the app, tapped Doorbell Camera in the menu, and then Add Doorbell Camera. I confirmed that the doorbell button was flashing green and red, gave the doorbell a name, and connected to it using my phone’s Wi-Fi settings. I returned to the app, selected my home Wi-Fi SSID, entered my password, and after a 45-second wait, the doorbell was connected and the installation was complete.
(Credit: Frontpoint/PCMag)
The Frontpoint system performed well in testing. All of the sensors responded instantly when triggered, while I received push and email notifications immediately. The internal siren is very loud and reacted instantly when a sensor was triggered while in Away mode. Live and recorded video from the doorbell looked crisp and the doorbell’s motion sensor worked correctly. Visitor notifications arrived quickly when the doorbell was pressed and when the camera detected motion.The system always followed my automations to have a camera record video whenever a sensor was triggered or when there was an alarm event, and the motion sensor never failed to respond to movement. I appreciate the Arming Reminder feature, which always sent a push notification when the system was unarmed at a specific time of day. Alexa voice commands also worked as advertised. I had no trouble arming and disarming the system or running scenes using my voice.Good Home Security for a High PriceWith the Frontpoint security system, you get everything you need to protect your home from intrusions, as well as smoke and fire events. It’s completely customizable and expandable, and like any good DIY system, it’s easy to install, responsive, and remotely operable. Frontpoint no longer requires a long-term monitoring contract, but if you want to take full advantage of the mobile app, mobile alerts, video storage, and home automation capabilities, you still have to subscribe to a monthly plan. If Frontpoint’s pricing is prohibitive, SimpliSafe charges less for components, and lets you monitor everything remotely with (or without) an affordable monthly plan, remaining our Editors’ Choice.
Cons
Doesn’t support IFTTT
Expensive monthly plans
The Bottom Line
The Frontpoint security system is costly but offers a valuable range of security, home automation, and environmental components.
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