Frontpoint Home Security Review, Pros & Cons and Specs 2022

THE BOTTOM LINE for Frontpoint Home Security

FrontPoint Security System is easy to install and offers a useful range of security, home automation, and environmental components.

Frontpoint Home Security PROS

Easy to install

Lots of component choices

Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

No contract required

Frontpoint Home Security CONS

Doesn't support IFTTT

Pricey monthly plans

FRONTPOINT HOME SECURITY SPECS

Upfront Costs                                         Start at $253.44

Monthly Fees                                         Start at $44.99

Professional Installation Required         No

Monitoring Contract Required         No

Environmental Sensors                         Yes

Cellular Backup                                 Yes

Power Outage Backup                         Yes

Z-Wave/ZigBee                                 Yes

IFTTT Support                                 No

Voice Assistant Compatibility         Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

When we first reviewed FrontPoint's smart home security system in 2017, we were impressed by its easy installation method, responsive sensors, and diverse selection of components, but not by 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. You'll pay more for monitoring with cheaper DIY systems than SimpliSafe and Wyze, but you don't have to contract anymore.

Frontpoint plans and pricing

Until recently, when you bought a FrontPoint system, you had to stick to a one- or three-year monitoring plan, but that is no longer the case because you can now take advantage of a month-to-month monitoring plan. However, self-monitoring is no longer an option, and if you do not have a monitoring plan, you lose access to mobile apps and smart features such as home automation and voice control.

The FrontPoint Monitoring Plan will cost you $ 19.99 per month for the first three months and $ 44.99 per month thereafter. With 24/7 professional monitoring, you get a companion mobile app. Wireless and cellular connectivity; Alerts and notifications via email and text message; Location services; And accident and break protection. You get access to live and recorded video streaming for any installed cameras. Cloud storage up to 1,000 clips; Movement-driven warnings; And smart lighting and smart lock control. In addition, you now get FrontPoint ID Protect, which monitors your identity and finances online, with 24/7 identification experts available if needed. For comparison, SimpliSafe's interactive plan costs 24.99 per month and Blue charges $ 19.99 per month for its Pro Monitoring Plan via ADT.

You can build your own frontpoint system or choose one of three pre-configured packages. The Safe House package is the least expensive in the group and costs $ 99.99. It includes a hub and keypad, two door and window sensors, a motion sensor, a video door bell, a yard sign, and various door and window stickers. The bunker tire costs $ 443.74 and comes with a hub and keypad, three door and window sensors, a motion sensor, a video indoor bell, an indoor camera, a smoke and heat sensor, and signs and stickers. FrontPoint's top-end $ 558.52 Fortress package comes with hub and keypad, six door and window sensors, two motion sensors, a video indoor bell, an indoor camera, a smoke and heat sensor, and yard signs and stickers. ?

Frontpoint standalone components are valuable. For example, door and window sensors cost $ 23.09 and glass brake sensors cost $ 52.49. Additional motion sensors will return you $ 45.49 each, while smoke and heat sensors are also $ 45.59. For comparison, SimpliSafe charges $ 34.99 for its glass brake sensor and $ 29.99 for its motion sensor. Wise's Home Monitoring System offers the most affordable components: three packs of door and window sensors cost $ 19.99, motion sensors $ 7.99 each, and extra pads cost $ 24.98.

Sensors and cameras

The first version of the FrontPoint system used the touch screen panel as its main hub, but now uses a sleek desktop hub and keypad combination. However, you can buy the touch screen panel for 104.99. The glossy white hub has a curved top and measures 2.2 x 6.0 x 6.0 inches (HWD). Above it is an LED indicator that glows when the system is unarmed, red when in armway mode, yellow when in arm stay mode, and blue when there is a problem. The back panel has a LAN port for wired connectivity, power port, and reset button. Sound prompts from the speaker at the base of the device tell you the status of the system.

Inside are cellular, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and RF radios. A very sharp siren; And 24 hours backup battery. In addition to home security components, the center can control a number of home automation devices, including locks, thermostats, lights, and garage door controllers.

The keypad is white, shiny, and slightly curved. It measures 5.4 x 3.6 x 1.2 inches and has a 15-button keypad with 0-9 numbers. * And # Panic buttons; And unarmed, stay and distant armor buttons. Two AA batteries power the keypad. The LED glows blue when there is a problem with the system, while the low-battery LED glows yellow when the batteries need to be replaced.

All the sensors in the safe house package are pre-connected to the hub and use double-sided tape for easy installation. Door and window sensors are relatively thin (1.8 x 0.7 x 0.3 inches) and run on a six-year CR1632 battery. The motion sensor is 4.5 by 2.5 by 2.0 inches and runs on the same CR123A battery. It has a range of 40 feet with a 90 degree field of view. The glass brake sensor measures 3.1 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches, uses two CR123A batteries, and can detect the sound of broken glass up to 20 feet away. The smoke and heat sensor is round and measures 4.7 by 1.8 inches. It also runs on two CR123A batteries.

FrontPoint offers two indoor cameras (standard and premium), an outdoor camera, and a video indoor bell camera. The indoor camera ($ 69.99) is wireless, offering 1080p resolution, 110-degree field of view, two-way audio, and motion detection. The premium indoor camera ($ 139.99) features a 1080p sensor, 180 degree field of view, and Bluetooth speaker. Outdoor Camera ($ 139.99) has IP65 weather resistant rating. It captures video at 1080p, has a 117-degree field of view, and connects to 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

The Front Point Door Bell ($ 132.99) is actually a slim Sky Bell model measuring 4.8 x 1.4 x 1.1 inches. It has 720p resolution, offers 180 degree field of view, features 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi radios, connects speaker and microphone for two-way audio, and plays a motion sensor.

Web and mobile apps

Alarm.com powers both the FrontPoint mobile app (for Android and iOS) and the web portal. They both allow you to arm and disarm the system. Watch Camera and Indoor Bell Video (Live and Recorded) Running scenes Enable notifications; And set alarm set reminders. The mobile app opens on a home screen that displays your home name and a selection of scenes that will put the system armed or unarmed at the touch of a button. You can also run scenes using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands, but Frontpoint components do not work with IFTTT applets.

The home screen also has tabs for all installed cameras and doorbells. Just tap the Camera tab to watch the full screen and live stream with the buttons to start two-way audio. Just below the home screen is the weather widget.

You can add users to the mobile app and manage notifications, but the web portal offers additional settings that allow you to schedule notifications for specific sensors, create automations that Activate the recording of some events, and view the history of all activities.

Installing and using the FrontPoint Security System

Installing the FrontPoint Safe House system was easy to test, but plan to spend between one and two hours from start to finish. I received an email with a button starting from the front point that started the process. I entered my phone number and followed the on-screen instructions to open the hub and place it in the center of my house.

After that, I opened the keypad and placed it in a place where I could easily reach it as I entered and exited my home. I confirmed my address and contact numbers, then entered the password for the web portal, at which point the hub turned green and a green key icon appeared. I hit Next and the hub connected in a few seconds. I entered a new master code (used to arm and disarm the system) and I was given the option to add user codes sooner or later. Next, I configured Hub to use my home Wi-Fi as a backup in cellular.

It was time to install the sensors, so I followed the instructions to open the door and window sensors. Since they are already attached to the factory, I just had to name each one, test them, and install them using the included double-sided tape. The motion sensor was just as easy to install. Once I have completed the installation of the sensor, the system is activated.

To install the video doorbell, I turned off the breaker that supplies power to my doorbell wiring, removed my old doorbell, and wired the SkyBell doorbell. After restoring power, I opened the app, tapped the doorbell camera in the menu, and then added the doorbell camera. I confirmed that the doorbell button is 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 waiting 45 seconds, the doorbell rang and the installation was complete.

The front point system performed well in the test. All sensors responded immediately when triggered, while I received immediate push and email notifications. The internal siren is very loud and responds immediately when the sensor is triggered in Away mode. The live and recorded video from the doorbell sounded crisp, and the doorbell's motion sensor worked just fine. When the doorbell rang and the camera detected movement, visitor information quickly arrived.

The system always follows my automation to record the camera whenever a sensor is triggered or an alarm occurs. Motion sensors have never failed to respond to movement. I appreciate the Arming Reminder feature, which always sends a push notification when the system is unarmed at certain times of the day. Alexa Voice Commands also served as an advertisement. I have no problem arming and disarming the system or playing scenes using my voice.

Good, but precious

With a frontpoint security system, you get everything you need to protect your home from intrusion as well as smoke and fire. In addition, you get a doorbell camera that lets you see who's on your doorstep without opening the door. It's fully customizable and scalable, and like any good DIY system, it's easy to install, responsive, and can be run remotely.

FrontPoint no longer requires a long-term surveillance agreement, but if you want to take full advantage of the capabilities of the mobile app, mobile alerts, video storage, and home automation, you can still subscribe to its expensive monthly plan. Have to do. If FrontPoint monthly charges are prohibited, then SimpliSafe or Wyze (the winner of both editors' choices) DIY systems are good warnings. They each offer full-time and non-contractual monthly monitoring options, while their components and monitoring plans are reasonably priced.