What Home Security Systems Work With Alexa?

I have an Alexa, and I also hope to someday have a nice home security system. So, I decided to research which home security systems work with Alexa.

So, what home security systems work with Alexa? Most security systems are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa systems. By enabling certain skills, Alexa can work with systems to provide home protection. An Alexa system can also be used for home security on its own in many ways.

Below, I’ve written about how to pair the devices, and then I’ve listed several different security systems and how they are compatible with certain Alexa devices. There are differences in how some of these work, but Alexa can definitely be a great help to further your home protection!

What to Know Before Getting Started

Amazon’s Alexa has come a long way from when it was first released several years ago. It used to only be enabled on Echo devices and then could only really be a glorified Siri with nice music capabilities.

Now, however, Alexa is compatible with almost any Amazon device and is used from things ranging from ordering groceries to protecting one’s home.

For any home security device that is compatible with Alexa, there are several things to do, and some things to be aware of as well. Any Alexa-enabled device can work with many home security system, be it an Echo, Echo Dot, or anything else.

Some are compatible with certain devices, and some with others, but that will be provided below.

The Echo Show and Spot devices can also show live-stream footage from the security camera to the devices’ screen, which is a nice feature.

“One of the benefits of using Alexa is that you will experience an increased level of security because when using the Alexa app you will have real-time access to your home security cameras, as well as being able to remotely access, monitor, and control your home security and home automation equipment and respond accordingly when necessary.”

-Safe Home

Once you choose a device and decide to pair it with your home security system, then you need to enable the appropriate skill on your Amazon Alexa app. Start by opening the app, going to settings on the top left and choosing settings, and then picking the one that fits your security system.

Then you will enable the skill and follow the directions that will enable you to link the skill from Alexa to the system. It will also give you the trigger phrases that you will need to speak to enable the device.

Pay attention to the specific trigger phrases it asks you to say. For most security systems, Alexa will make you say something along the lines of “Alexa, tell (System) to lock the doors,” or whatever task you want it to do.

You won’t be able to simply say “Alexa, lock the doors” with most systems. It’s a slight extra step, but if you can remember it, isn’t too difficult to do.

Also, Amazon just recently launched a new feature, called “Alexa Guard” that is compatible with current Echo and Echo dot devices and other Alexa-enabled devices such as Echo Snow, Echo Spot, Echo Input and Echo Plus.

This feature allows Alexa to listen for signs of trouble in your home while you are away, after saying “Alexa, I’m leaving,” and if it hears or senses anything amiss, it will send an alert to your phone.

This doesn’t call 911 or anyone, but it is nice to have. Some home security devices that are Alexa compatible may not be integrated with Alexa Guard yet but could be in the future.

What Devices Are Compatible?

Nowadays, pretty much every type of home security system works with Alexa, although there are some slight differences in the functionality. Provided is a list of many of the most popular home security systems and how exactly they will work when paired with an Alexa-enable device.

Abode

Abode home security systems can protect several areas of the house, depending on your personal needs. You can get packages that range from $199 to $639, and some of these come with a year-long plan.

You can also buy individual security accessories with prices ranging from $25 to $150.  Abode products include door and window sensors, smoke and water sensors, cameras and sirens.

Alexa works with Abode home security systems. The Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show devices are Abode compatible. By enabling the skill, a homeowner will just have to ask Alexa to arm Abode in home or away modes.

Abode requires a four-digit code to be spoken when paired with Alexa in order to help with security. Alexa can also answer questions such as “Alexa, is my front door open?” and “Alexa, is the window closed?” when paired with an Abode device.

ADT Pulse

ADT Pulse systems are compatible with the following Alexa devices: Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Show, and Echo Input. Enable the ADT Pulse skill on your Alexa device in order to use this.

With ADT Pulse, you can tell Alexa commands such as the following, “Alexa, arm ADT in away mode,” or “Alexa, disarm ADT.” You can also control lights, locks, and the thermostat through Alexa and your ADT pulse without having to specifically refer to Alexa when speaking.

ADT Pulse also requires a four-digit code to be spoken as well when paired with Alexa so that not just anyone can arm or disarm the device.

The ADT Pulse system is already compatible with the Alexa Guard feature as well. When Guard sends an alert to your phone, if you have ADT Pulse, you will be able to choose to forward that information to ADT monitoring professionals who can help decide if additional action should be taken.

The basic ADT Pulse package comes with 24/7 ADT monitoring services, which includes fire, flood, and carbon monoxide monitoring. It also comes with wireless door and window sensors, a backup power system, and a motion detector that is pet-sensitive.

This is $52.99 per month with a starting installation price of $99. You can also add on more equipment but that will cost more and could increase the installation price.

There is also an ADT Pulse + Home Control package, which comes with all of the features from the basic package but also includes an automated door lock, additional wireless keypad and, an automated small appliance control.

This package costs $58.99 per month, with the same price of $99 for installation and the ability to add on more equipment.

Alarm.com

Alarm.com creates a variety of home security and smart home products and then sells them through outside dealers. This means prices may vary, but typically, there is an initial fee of $100-$200 and then a monthly payment of $40-$60 for the length of a contract that you sign.

Any Alexa-enabled device also works with Alarm.com products. Like the others, with Alarm.com, you can say “Alexa, ask Alarm.com to…” and if it is something like unlocking the doors or opening the garage, it will have you use a four-digit pin.

With Alarm.com, you can also create “scenes” with your Alexa device. You can give it a list of commands and a trigger phrase, such as “Alexa, ask Alarm.com to Wake Up,” and that can automatically adjust the lighting, doors, and alarm settings, among other options, to your preference.

Guardian Protection Services

Guardian Protection Services comes with many of the same features as other security systems, including cameras, locks, and sensors. They have several different packaging options, and prices can vary depending on your home and your needs.

Typical pricing has an initial installation fee at around $99, $299, or $499 upfront, and then $35, $50, and $60 a month following installation.

This system is also compatible with any Alexa-enabled device. This can control anything except for entertainment systems. Unlike other companies, instead of requiring a four-digit pin, this company simply doesn’t allow for the system to be disarmed through Alexa, although it will do anything else with it.

Frontpoint

Frontpoint is a DIY wireless security/home automation system, and it can even be installed in less than 30 minutes. It does require a contract, however for 1 or 3 years, and rates of about $35-$50 dollars a month after at least $99 upfront.

Frontpoint works with any Alexa-enabled device. Frontpoint is known for excellent 24/7 security monitoring. As far as the security system and Alexa integration goes, it works much the same as the other options.

Honeywell Smart Home Security System

Honeywell has a system that uses its own voice assistant and is also compatible with Amazon Alexa. This device has a home base station that includes a camera and comes with facial and voice recognition capabilities. It can distinguish between animal sounds and the sounds of smoke alarms.

Honeywell sensors and other compatible devices such as motion sensors and access sensors that work for doors and windows, can be added to the home and paired with Alexa.

These come in packages starting from around $299 to $760 and there are also extra accessories of varying prices that can be bought in addition.

iSmartAlarm

iSmartAlarm is a system that comes in various types of packages with different amounts of devices. These packages range in prices from $150 to about $600, although sometimes they have deals that make these much cheaper. It does not require a contract or monthly fees.

Some of the devices include sensors that monitor rooms and doors and can trigger an alarm and send notifications. These can be contact or motion sensors. There are also cameras that can live-stream video from anywhere it is set up, and some can detect smoke and carbon monoxide.

Any Alexa-enabled device will work with an iSmartAlarm. Any of the devices will work with Alexa, and it can arm and disarm the home by saying something like “Alexa, tell iSmartAlarm to…” and it will do it. It also requires a four-digit code.

Nest

You can connect a Nest Thermostat any Alexa-enabled device as well. This is as easy as enabling the skill through the app and they can be paired up.

The Nest doorbell requires an Amazon Echo Spot or Show in order to work to its full capacity. If you have these devices, you will be able to see a live feed of the doorbell when the skill is enabled. There are also other Nest security products such as locks that can work with any Alexa-enabled device.

Nest comes with packages with prices from around $250 to $1400, and these can be broken down into monthly payments.

Ring

With Ring systems, doors can be locked and unlocked, armed and disarmed, and camera feeds can show live feeds of the doors. An Amazon Echo Spot or Show is required for anything with a camera, but any other Amazon Alexa-enabled device will work with the other Ring Systems.

With this, you can say things like “Alexa, arm Ring,” or “Alexa, lock my front door,” and Ring will follow through with the proper action.

Ring can be bought in packages from $300 to $1000, or individual items of varying prices can be purchased according to personal needs.

Ring was also recently purchased by Amazon, which will be discussed more later on in this article.

Scout

Alexa-enabled devices also work with Scout Security Systems. Much like with iSmartAlarm systems, people choose packs and which devices they want to install, such as sensors and alarms.

Basic packages are about $300 dollars. You can also but a $9.99 personal monitoring plan or a $19.99 professional monitoring plan.

These devices will then be compatible with Alexa’s voice control functions.

With Scout, you can alert others as well as use the other main functions of most systems, by using commands such as “Alexa, tell Scout to send help!” or “Alexa, open Scout and start panic mode!”

This will alert people through Scout that there is an issue in the home.

SimpliSafe

Simplisafe is easy to install yourself and doesn’t come with long-term contracts or monthly fees. This system can be used as-is or it can be customized according to our personal needs.

Packages are around $230 to $530 and no monthly fee is required, but you can purchase a monitoring plan for $14.99 to $24.99.

Their equipment is portable and easy to use. It is also Alexa compatible. You can use commands such as “Alexa, tell SimpliSafe to turn on,” or “Alexa, tell SimpliSafe to lock up.”

Any type of regular security device can work with any Alexa-enable device, but something with a camera will require an Echo Show or Spot if you want to see the stream from the device, as it is with the other systems with cameras.

You can tell any Alexa device to turn the cameras on or off, however. Certain functions will also require a four-digit code as well for added security.

Vivint

Vivint is a higher-end security system that must be professionally installed, as it offers no DIY options. Prices for the packaging ranges from around $700 to about $1700, and installation can cost from around $49 to $199.

With the packages, they can be broken down to monthly payments with a contract. You can also buy a monitoring plan from $29 to $49.

Vivint security products and home automation products are compatible with Alexa. There are two separate skills, a ‘complete one’ that requires you to say “Alexa, ask Vivint to…” and a ‘basic’ one that doesn’t require the “ask Vivint” part but that works for fewer commands.

Vivint also doesn’t allow you to ask Alexa to unlock doors or to disarm the security as that is a risk since anyone could do it. They, therefore, don’t require a four-digit passcode for that.

Any Alexa-enabled device can connect to Vivint products, but an Echo Show or Spot is required for cameras in order to see the video feed.

Amazon

With the acquisition of Ring, Amazon has recently made its entrance into the security world. Now, you can get groceries delivered, and protect your home all through one company and service.

With Amazon, they require a one-time, professional set-up of their systems. The cheapest packages are about $240 and other packages go as high as $1000 or more and include an Echo Dot as well as a Ring Alarm system and other Amazon security products.

There are no monthly fees or contracts with Amazon, as it is a one-time, large installation fee.

Amazon also doesn’t have a 24/7 monitoring plan, although they have recently introduced Amazon Guard as a way to sort-of combat this. With Guard, you get alerts to your phone and then can decide yourself to take action or not.

You can’t do a DIY setup, but a professional will come in and do it for you. The system is completely wire-free, so the process isn’t too invasive or disruptive.

The nice thing about going through Amazon directly is that you won’t have to tell Alexa to go through a third-party. You’ll be able to simply tell Alexa your request directly. No more “Alexa, tell (system) to…” as you can just say “Alexa, arm the house,” and it will do it.

You can also create scenes that are triggered by certain catchphrases when using security with Amazon and Alexa. There are even a few internet jokes about this, but it can really be an effective tool for home security if planned out and done well.

Obviously, with Amazon itself as your security system provider, any Amazon Alexa-enabled device will work. Most system packages come with an Echo Dot, but you can connect any other device.

An Echo Show or Spot is still needed in order to see video from any of the cameras, although some video feeds may be accessible through the phone.

Why Get a Home Security System?

There are many reasons people may choose to get a security system from there home. Listed are some of these reasons you may want to consider.

  • Home Location- If you live in a house or apartment or other building in an area that perhaps has high crime rates, or is at risk environmentally from floods, fires, or other dangers, it may be a good idea to consider a home security system. Many of these can give alerts to break-ins and other suspicious activity in the home, as well as alerts for fires, floods, CO, and other in-home environmental dangers.
  • Can Save Money- While it does cost money initially, and perhaps monthly, being warned of a fire or CO or another potential disaster, such as water on the floor could possibly help you react fast enough to stop the problem early and save money. My family home had a basement that we were rarely in and that often flooded in heavy rainstorms and we had no security systems in place. Perhaps if we’d had one, we could have caught the problem earlier and saved money on repairs.
  • Can Save Lives- this one is a given, but if a disaster is bad enough, it can alert you and help you to know to get out and save yours and your family’s lives. Some systems also alert the authorities so that they can be there to assist in the case of a fire or a break-in.
  • Can Ease Anxiety and Fear- Anxiety is a medical condition that doesn’t have a complete cure. However, being able to see who is at the door when it rings from elsewhere in the house or being able to check on camera feeds while away from home can really aid in easing the mind and reassuring you that things are okay. If you worry that you left something somewhere, or on, you can check the camera feeds and stress less during the day. It can also help if you have young kids and want to know that they have protection in case of emergencies.
  • Help With Insurance- Along with saving money by catching things early, having a smart home security system can help reduce insurance expenses. Some insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners with security systems because they help minimize risks, can prevent damage, and they demonstrate that you are a responsible homeowner.

Whatever the reason, a home security system is a good idea to consider. And as most are Alexa-enabled now, they can be easy to work and figure out.

With Alexa, you won’t have to remember if you did every little thing in securing your home, as you can just ask it if the door is locked, or if the house is armed, and follow through from there if it is not.

As technology continues to increase, there will likely be more and more ways to secure your home and make your living experience easier. Alexa is a step in the direction toward that future and to a more secure home.

How to Choose What’s Right for You

We’ve seen that all of these security systems can work with Alexa, which makes it nice when you plan on integrating a system you may already have. But if you don’t have one, and want to choose, how would you go about doing that?

Provided is a table that compares some of these and their capabilities so that you can make a decision based on your own life and circumstances.

There are many other aspects of these systems that can and should be compared, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll just focus on the main things. Differences like what come in individual packages and with each product will be touched on in another article.

System
Price Range

Monthly
Fee


Contract


DIY
Option

Monitoring
Service
Abode$199-$639NoNoYesYes, $10
or $30 a
month
ADT Pulse$53-$59, $99
installation
fee
YesYesYesYes,
included
with
payments
Alarm.com$100 at leastYes, $40-$50YesYesYes, prices
vary
Guardian Protection Services$99-$499Yes, $35-$60YesYesYes, prices
vary
Frontpoint$99 upfrontYes, $35-50YesYesYes, prices
vary
Honeywell$299-$760NoNoYesNo
iSmartAlarm$150-$600NoNoYesNo
Nest $250-$1400PossibleNoYesYes, $19 or
$29/m
Ring$300-$1000Yes, per itemNoYesYes, $10/m
Scout$300-$800PossibleNoYesYes, $10 or
$20/m
SimpliSafe$250-$530NoNoYesYes, $15 or
$25/m
Vivint$700-$1700YesYesNoYes, $50
Amazon$240-$1000NoNoNoNo

There are definitely factors to consider when you look into getting a security system. Do you want to install it yourself or have a professional do it? Do you want a monitoring service as well? How long do you plan on being in the home?

Whatever security system you decide to go with, the good thing is that it will probably work with Amazon’s Alexa. Technology has come far these days, which means your security can be as easy as saying “Alexa.”

Related Questions:

Can Echo Show be used as a security camera? An Echo show cannot be used as a security camera on its own, but it can be used to show footage of an already-installed security camera. If you have one, you can set them up together and follow whatever instructions are necessary, and you can see a live feed on your Echo Show.

Is Amazon Echo a Security Risk? Amazon does its best to maintain security and privacy are protected. However, there is still the possibility of it being hacked, as with any piece of software and technology. This likelihood is slim, however.

Luke Miller

Luke Miller is a writer, real estate professional, rental property investor, and home renovation enthusiast based in Phoenix, Arizona. He grew up in Iowa in a self-sufficient household where he learned the skills to do everything from plumbing, drywall, to basic handyman repair for everyday problems. He enjoys sharing his vast experience and his continuous learning with fellow DIY enthusiasts.

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