Abode - Best No-Contract Monitoring

Editors Rating:

8 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

• Equipment Costs Packages starting at $140
• Monitoring Options Professional and DIY
• Monthly Monitoring Costs $24.99 per month
• Contract Lengths Month-to-month or yearly
• Installation Options DIY or professional
• Smart Platform Integration Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

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abode Overview

abode is SimpliSafe’s closest competition on this list. It’s a DIY system with professional and self-monitoring monitoring options, but unlike our No. 2 pick, abode offers multiple systems focused heavily on home automation.

Besides the diversity of abode’s offerings, we liked that it has flexible monitoring plans. Basic self-monitoring is always free, but there’s also a premium self-monitoring option and an affordable professional monitoring plan. Best of all, all those subscriptions are contract-free. We’ve been able to switch between professional and self-monitoring as needed without any penalties or hidden fees.

>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. abode

Equipment

For any abode system, choosing a hub is always the first step. This part confused us at first, but we went with the most practical (but also most expensive) one: the Iota All-in-One hub. We call it practical because for just a few bucks more than the other hubs, we got one with a built-in camera and motion sensor. That’s good use of money and space.

After that, we built a system of sensors and cameras. Take note that abode offers only one choice for security cameras and another one for video doorbells. The camera works inside and outside the house, but we still think abode should have a dedicated outdoor camera.

>> Other Options: The Best Outdoor Security Cameras

Monitoring

Once we set up the DIY abode system, we were given the option to self-monitor for free, upgrade to a paid self-monitored plan, or buy a professional monitoring subscription. We recommend trying out each option since abode is one of the few companies that will let you do that, due to its being contract-free.

We started with free self-monitoring, which didn’t suit us because of its lack of access to home automation (one of the main selling points of abode). Next, we upgraded to the paid self-monitoring plan, which worked great at first. It gave us video recording options for our cameras plus automation through the CUE feature. However, it remained internet-reliant, so when our Wi-Fi cut out, our home was left unprotected for hours. That’s when we upgraded to the professional monitoring plan, which gave us cellular backup, 24/7 live monitoring, and priority customer support.

>> Check It Out: The Best Security Systems Without Monthly Fees

Cost

abode’s price is another strong selling point for the brand. The system is designed for scalability, since the hubs can handle up to 160 individual devices (60 more than the SimpliSafe base station). The compatible devices range from simple sensors to smart devices like smart lights. You can also pair your existing smart home equipment if it’s compatible with Zigbee or Z-Wave.

To encourage users to build out their systems, abode kept its pricing low — as low as $39.99 for the weatherproof Abode Cam 2 security camera. That’s almost on par with the Wyze Cam v3 we reviewed, one of the most affordable security cameras there is.

For monitoring, the premium self-monitoring plan costs $6.99 per month, but once you’re sure about it, we suggest going with a one-year subscription for $69.99 to save $14. The professional monitoring plan, on the other hand, costs $22.99 monthly, or $219.99 for one year (save over $50).

abode User Experience

Abode’s lack of a touchscreen panel could pose a problem for homeowners who prefer a physical keypad over an app to control their systems. But we must say, abode’s app is a game-changer. We liked the CUE feature in particular – abode’s built-in automation engine. It rivaled Vivint’s custom home automation rules. In fact, you could say it’s slightly better because it supports more integrations. It can control Z-Wave and Zigbee devices that are compatible with the abode Iota hub, while the Vivint hub supports only Z-Wave. You’d need a Zigbee bridge to pair Zigbee devices to Vivint, and even then, only smart lights will work.