Cove - Most Affordable DIY System
Product Specs
- Equipment Costs Must customize package
- Monitoring Options Professional
- Monthly Monitoring Costs Starting at $17.99 per month
- Contract Lengths No contract required
- Installation Options DIY
- Smart Platform Integration Alexa and Google Home
Cove Overview
A security system doesn’t have to be expensive to be good; we’ve seen that many times today, but none compares to Cove’s affordability. We’ll go more into the details of that later on. All we will say for now is that we got a comprehensive security system for less than $300. That’s hard to beat.
Cove is a DIY system that requires professional monitoring. In that regard, it’s similar to Alder and — as you’ll see after this — Frontpoint. We think Cove is a better option for renters than homeowners, though, due to its limited equipment. Nonetheless, it’s the best option available if you want a reliable security system without breaking the bank.
>> Other Options: Affordable Home Security Systems
What We Like
- Frequent deals and discounts (up to 60 percent off at times)
- Easy DIY setup
- Simple touch screen control panel
- Industry-lowest monitoring rates
What We Don’t Like
- Limited equipment options
- Professional monitoring is required (but no contract)
- No home automation equipment available
- New app; still has bugs to iron out
Equipment
We noticed that Cove’s equipment is exactly the same as Alder’s, from the control panel to the eufy cameras. In fact, we didn’t bother buying cameras from Cove because we already tested the same cameras from Alder. That’s kind of a normal thing in the industry though. Many brands offer equipment from the same suppliers. Very few actually do their own research and development, like SimpliSafe and Vivint. So Cove seemingly “copying” Alder’s equipment wasn’t a dealbreaker to us.
What’s more important is that Cove can protect homes. It offers enough types of sensors to detect security and safety threats.
Monitoring
Cove requires a professional monitoring subscription, but the service is contract-free. What that means is you can cancel your monitoring anytime without penalties. Just bear in mind that Cove won’t work without service. It’s not a self-monitored security system, unlike SimpliSafe.
Cove’s monitoring offers 24/7 live monitoring, cellular backup, and security camera access. We went for the cheaper option, Cove Basic, because we didn’t buy any cameras. But if your system comes with security cameras, be sure to buy Cove Plus. It costs $10 more per month than Cove Basic but includes video verification and cloud video storage.
>> Learn More: The Best Contract-Free Home Security Systems and Services
Cost
Cove’s biggest selling point is the low cost of its equipment and monitoring. Basic costs $17.99 per month, while Plus costs $27.99. Cove’s pricing is $2 cheaper than the SimpliSafe plans and offers similar features.
As for the equipment, while we had to pay for it upfront, we got a massive discount. Cove packages were at 60 percent off at the time of our purchase, so we got a security system that originally cost over $500 for only $260. We suggest timing your purchase to get a deal as good as ours. Cove runs monthly deals that range from 20 to 65 percent off.
Even on a regular day, you won’t spend much on equipment. Door sensors cost $15 each, compared to ADT’s door sensors, which cost $50 each. Motion sensors cost $30 from Cove; ADT’s cost $100. Just from those examples, we can see that Cove is around three times more affordable than the competition, even without discounts.
Cove User Experience
Given they have the same equipment, Cove gave us the same level of usability as Alder. Alder’s app gave us slightly more customizability, but Cove stood out for its uniquely low monthly fees. Since we didn’t get any cameras from Cove, we paid only $17.99 per month for security and fire monitoring. No other top-tier security system we tested offers professional monitoring at that price point. The only one that comes close is SimpliSafe’s $19.99 Standard plan. Because it’s so cheap to use, we believe Cove is a top option for folks who want a monitored security system for a fraction of its usual cost.