Frontpoint Home Security offers three home security packages along with a bevy of equipment options. The company offers only one monitoring plan, which makes things easier. Installation is DIY and Frontpoint makes installation easy with its support team. Installation times can range between 30 and 60 minutes. Frontpoint has good compatibility with voice assistants, too. Discover more about Frontpoint to see if it’s right for you.
Pros
- No contract required
- Can give friends and family access
- Free video storage
Cons
- Has lower video quality
- Fewer packages available
- Live video streaming only available in Ultimate plan
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Frontpoint has excellent equipment options and integrates well with smart home devices through Z-Wave smart devices. Frontpoint partners with Alarm.com for equipment and offers a three-year equipment warranty. Frontpoint uses a cellular connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection, which means you can remain connected even during an internet outage. You can control everything with an app on your phone.
Frontpoint cameras capture video clips that get triggered by motion detection or its Video Analytics rules. Video Analytics distinguishes people, pets and vehicles to decrease false alarms. It can also connect with other smart home devices so if an event occurs, a light will turn on.
Frontpoint doesn’t require a contract and operates on a month-to-month basis to make canceling easier. The company also has a 30-day trial period where you can return the equipment without penalty.
Plans and Pricing
Frontpoint has three home security packages: The Starter Pack, The Home Shield and The Family Lookout. The Starter Pack costs $129, while The Home Shield starts at $269 and The Family Lookout costs $349. Frontpoint frequently runs sales so prices can vary. Professional monitoring comes with each plan and costs $49.88 a month.
Equipment
You can choose one of three Frontpoint equipment packages. You can also build your own home security system with Frontpoint, if you’d like to do that. Frontpoint has its hub and keypad available along with additional keypads and touchscreens. You can also add a keychain remote, wireless light control, smart door lock, outdoor smart plug, flood sensor, smoke and heat sensor, door and window sensor, motion sensor, glass break sensor, garage sensor, wireless doorbell camera, wired doorbell camera, indoor camera and an outdoor camera.
Frontpoint Package | Equipment Included | Upfront Cost | Price Per Month |
---|---|---|---|
The Starter Pack
| One Frontpoint hub and keypad, one door and window sensor, one motion sensor and one home defense kit (decals, stickers and yard sign)
| $129.00
| $10.75
|
The Home Shield
| One Frontpoint hub and keypad, one smoke and heat sensor, three door and window sensors, one flood sensor, one motion sensor, one indoor camera and one home defense kit
| $269.00
| $22.41
|
The Family Lookout
| One Frontpoint hub and keypad, one keychain remote, three door and window sensors, one doorbell camera (wired or wireless), one motion sensor, one indoor camera and one home defense kit
| $349.00
| $29.00
|
Installation
Frontpoint has DIY installation and a service team to help you over the phone. The equipment comes pre-programed and is ready to connect to the hub. Setup can take about an hour, which is longer than some systems. Frontpoint Is relatively easy to integrate with smart home assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Some reviews have noted some difficulty connecting with Apple Homekit and some third-party devices can require additional steps.
Monitoring Plans
Frontpoint has just one monitoring plan that costs $49.88 per month for professional monitoring.
Frontpoint Plan | The Starter Pack | The Home Shield | The Family Lookout |
---|---|---|---|
Price
| $129.00
| $269.00
| $349.00
|
Installation
| DIY
| DIY
| DIY
|
Mobile Access
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Entry, Smoke, and CO Detection
| No
| Yes
| Yes
|
Medical pendant support
| No
| No
| No
|
Professional 24/7 Monitoring
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Smart Home integration
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Video Surveillance
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
The Fine Print
Frontpoint has a 30-day trial period where you can try out the system and return it without any cost. Additionally, Frontpoint’s video quality is 720p, which might run a little lower than other companies.
Frontpoint Add-Ons
Frontpoint add-ons include:
- Hub
- Keypad
- Touchscreens
- Keychain remote
- Wireless light control
- Smart door lock
- Outdoor smart plug
- Flood sensor
- Smoke and heat sensor
- Door and window sensor
- Motion sensor
- Glass break sensor
- Garage sensor
- Wireless doorbell camera
- Wired doorbell camera
- Indoor camera
- Outdoor camera
Video Storage
Frontpoint captures video either through motion detection or through its Video Analytics. Motion-triggered events get recorded for 10 to 60 seconds, depending on the clip length setting. Video Analytics clips get captured for up to 30 seconds. Manually triggered clips capture 50 to 60 seconds or 20 to 30 seconds, depending on the video device.
Frontpoint sets limits on the number clips that can get uploaded to the cloud. Once you reach the limit, the oldest clips get deleted. A Frontpoint Doorbell Camera has a limit of 1,200 clips while an indoor, outdoor or premium indoor camera has a limit of 3,000 clips. You can also increase your limits by contacting Frontpoint.
Smartphone Controls and Smart Home Integration
Frontpoint connects to Yale smart locks, smart thermostats and smart plugs. Frontpoint offers its own smart thermostat and smart plugs. Frontpoint also integrates with Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Mobile App
Frontpoint has a mobile app that allows you to control your home security system from your phone. You can integrate smart home devices through the app which you can also control from your phone. The app allows you to monitor video and receive alerts when events occur.
How Frontpoint Home Security Stacks Up
Is Frontpoint the Right Home Security Company for You?
Frontpoint makes sense if you’re not a fan of contracts or if you rent because of the month-to-month billing. Frontpoint offers quality equipment to monitor your home and has tremendous compatibility with other smart home devices along with digital assistants. Frontpoint periodically offers deals on equipment to make it an affordable option. Frontpoint’s professional monitoring has a higher cost than other home security systems, but it also comes with each home security package that Frontpoint offers.
Frontpoint Comparisons
Methodology
To determine the best home security companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 19 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
Pricing (15%)
Pricing is an important factor when choosing among the best home security companies, which is why it accounts for 15% of the total ranking.
App Reviews (5%)
App reviews, similarly to overall customer ratings, can indicate the health of a home security company’s user experience for customers. Ratings from the App Store and Play Store were evaluated, and the higher the rating for a company, the more points that the company received.
Customer Reviews and Reputation (20%)
Customer ratings are a strong indicator of a company’s performance, making it 20% of the total ranking. The team evaluated customer ratings from platforms like the BBB, Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.
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Customer Support (14%)
Customer support options accounted for 14% of the total ranking, and include each company’s offerings (or lack thereof) of live chat, phone service, community forum, knowledge base and a blog.
Features and Smart Home Integration (10%)
Extra smart home features are a commodity in a time of homes adapting to smart home integration, which is why this category received 10% of the total ranking’s weight. The editorial team evaluated each home security company’s list of smart home integrations with platforms including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung, Apple Home Kit and more. A home security company’s warranty policy could be a major decision-maker for homeowners. The editorial team evaluated the warranty policies for each company as well as the length of each warranty.
Options and Equipment (20%)
A home security company’s offerings of equipment and package options is paramount when deciding how to approach your home’s security needs, which is why it makes up 20% of the total ranking. The team analyzed each company’s offerings of equipment including full professionally installed systems, wireless security options, cellular network cameras, night vision cameras, Wi-Fi security cameras, plug-in wired cameras, outdoor cameras, fire detection and smoke alarms, panic buttons, water leak detection, sirens and more.
Setup (5%)
Whether or not a home security company required a contract, and how long that contract is, made up 5% of our ranking. Our team also took into consideration if a company offered pro installation as part of this category.
Editorial Judgement Points (11%)
Additional editorial judgments were considered for various reasons, including points for special features and improving customer support experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Frontpoint security worth it?
Frontpoint security is worth it if you can handle DIY installation and some video storage limitations. You likely don’t need to store thousands of video clips, though. Frontpoint does not offer self-monitoring but it has excellent professional monitoring. The system runs on 4G LTE cellular as opposed to Wi-Fi, which can ensure a connection since an internet outage cannot disrupt this security system.
Can I use Frontpoint without a subscription?
No, Frontpoint requires a professional monitoring subscription. It’s a monthly fee of $49.98, which can turn some people away from Frontpoint if they want to save money on monitoring.
Can Frontpoint be hacked?
Frontpoint uses 256-bit AES encryption, the same encryption used by banks and the military. It’s unlikely Frontpoint can be hacked, however, anything connected to the internet has the possibility to get hacked.
What happens when you cancel Frontpoint?
You need to call Frontpoint to cancel service. A representative will guide you through the process. You might be required to pay additional fees or early termination fees, depending on what’s outlined in your contract.
How long do Frontpoint sensors last?
Frontpoint window and door sensors have a battery life of five years but the sensors typically last around 10 years themselves. Frontpoint equipment comes with a three-year warranty.
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