Latest news with #RingAlarm
Gizmodo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Amazon Is Clearing Out the Ring Alarm 14-Piece Kit, It's Selling for Peanuts This Memorial Day
his Ring alarm kit is your strongest defense against break-ins. Home security is a top priority for any homeowner, but the high cost of professional monitoring and installation can often be a barrier. Traditional security systems with 24/7 surveillance can quickly add up, especially when you factor in monthly fees and long-term contracts. Fortunately, there's a smarter and more affordable way to protect your home: the Ring Alarm 14-Piece Kit. As of now, this whole house security system is available on Amazon for just $249, down from its normal price of $329, which is a 24% discount. This sale allows you to secure your whole home at a very decent price point, and with the Memorial Day sales in full swing, there has never been a better time to invest in having your mind at peace. See at Amazon Strong Protection at Lower Cost Ring Alarm kit (with 14 pieces) is specifically designed to offer strong protection for two to four-bedroom homes and is perfect for families, renters, or anyone who wishes to improve a security system. This kit is the most comprehensive in the Ring family of products, and it guarantees every point of entry and important location of your home to be secured. Inside the box, you'll find one Base Station, which acts as the central hub for your entire system. The Base Station connects all your sensors and devices, coordinating alerts and keeping your home protected around the clock. You also get two Keypads which are perfect for placing at your main entryways: These easy-to-use keypads allow you and your family to simply arm and disarm the system as you enter or leave without having to struggle with your phone every time you leave the house. The system also includes eight Contact Sensors which can be installed on doors and windows. These sensors can sense automatically if a door or window is open or closed and send you real-time notifications through the Ring app. Eight sensors allow you to cover all the most exposed areas in your home, such as front and back doors, and ground-floor windows. For added security, the kit features two Motion Detectors. These are perfect for hallways, lounges or any room where you want to monitor movement. They're smart enough to recognize people over pets so false alarms are reduced. The final piece of equipment in the kit is the Range Extender, which will ensure your entire system remains connected, even in bigger homes or houses with extremely thick walls that are often prone to blocking wireless signals. Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Ring Alarm system is the ease with which you can use it: You can monitor all your Ring devices via the easy-to-use Ring app, and you will get alerts in real-time if any sensor is triggered. It also integrates with Alexa so that you can arm and disarm your alarm by using voice commands, if you subscribe to Ring Home Plan. For even more peace of mind, Ring offers a 30-day free trial of their Home subscription which enables you to arm your system remotely, keeps your devices online in case your Wi-Fi goes out, and offers professional monitoring for emergency police, fire, or medical response. There are no hidden fees or long-term contracts such as the Ring Alarm Kit with conventional security systems. At just $249 while Amazon has it on sale, this deal is a rare opportunity to upgrade your security. See at Amazon
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Home Security Systems of 2025
A home security system may not seem necessary, but it keeps your house safe. It includes security cameras as well as smart doorbells and motion sensors. Choosing the best home security system can be overwhelming with so many options available. Our experts have tested systems from Ring, SimpliSafe, Arlo and more to help you make the choice. The difference between security systems and security cameras is that home security cameras are standalone devices that excel at video, motion detection and two-way audio, sometimes connecting to hubs for expansion. Security systems, on the other hand, primarily use door/window sensors, motion detectors and glass-break sensors that you arm or disarm, with cameras being optional rather than essential. We've tested systems for more than 180 hours and nothing beats SimpliSafe's starter kit as the top choice for the average homeowner. It's incredibly DIY friendly while also offering robust monitoring plans for those who want them. Our other options include kits for every kind of house. If you want a modular security kit you can easily build out over a couple of years, Vivint is your best choice. We also have an excellent self-install option with Ring Alarm -- which doesn't require a contract and has a relatively affordable subscription plan -- plus more picks for gifts, excellent existing smart home support and many other needs. We've tested the SimpliSafe system several times and most recently gave it a review score of 8.5 out of 10, one of our highest ratings for a home security system. If you're looking for home security -- without all the extra Wi-Fi and smart home integrations of the Ring Alarm kit -- SimpliSafe's easy-to-install, easy-to-use DIY system is a great option. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including equipment like security cameras and a very good mix of battery-powered motion detection sensors, all of which performed reliably well in our tests. Starter kits begin at $250 without sales (though right now several kits are on sale), or you can build a custom alarm system with the exact mix of devices you need. The security company's monitoring plans start at $10 a month, but you'll almost certainly want to spring for the $30-a-month professional monitoring service plan, which adds in things like 24/7 live guard protection, whole home monitoring, instant app alerts and faster response times. In all, it's one of the best choices for homeowners looking for their first smart home security kit as it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the frequent deals (currently 50% off for some first-time buyers) make it even better. See at SimpliSafe Vivint gives you a super-polished experience with third-party device integrations and it doesn't require a contract. The starter package includes only a touchscreen and a couple of sensors, but Vivint works well with voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa and supports a wide array of additional Vivint and third-party devices (see our full review for more). That's great news if you'd like to add a compatible smart garage door, video doorbell or security camera system, but on your terms and timing. You can also adjust your budget based on what you'd like to buy now and purchase later. Vivint is the only brand with this approach, but it has one of the best offerings to begin with a starter kit and build from there. With monthly monitoring ranging from $30 to $45 a month, it's more affordable than a subscription-like ADT and includes valuable extras like video storage. Unfortunately, these are some of the highest subscription costs on our list. It's becoming less and less common for security brands to charge so much for professional monitoring, but for these systems, if you want the pros to keep an eye on your home, you'll have to pay for it. See at Vivint Thanks to Abode's frequent deals, you can find home starter kits for as low as $100, one of the cheapest options on the market. We suggest going up a step and picking the $280 smart security kit, which adds a motion sensor to the package and expands smart home compatibility to Apple Home/Siri as well as Alexa and Google Assistant. We know it's not easy to find a home security system that works with the Apple Home app, especially at a low price, so Apple fans may be especially pleased. The tidy package is easy to manage once you've found a place for Abode's block hub, and DIYers will appreciate the no-tools installation design (which also makes this a great pick for renters). Even with its big discounts, Abode's system still has important features like battery backups. Abode also has deeply impressive third-party compatibility, supporting integrations with Nest, Yale, Philips Hue, Amazon Echos, Ecobee and more. If you already have smart devices, there's a good chance they'll be supported; check out the full list here. If you're looking for professional monitoring, Abode does offer it with both plans, the Pro plan also includes cellular backup. Plans start at $70 per year, but saves you significant money compared to the most expensive plan. See at Abode Ring offers some excellent home security packages for users who want to take everything into their own hands, from picking out add-ons to choosing just the right spot on the wall. This eight-piece starter kit provides four important sensors, a base station plus a keypad, a motion detector and a range extender for those worried about Wi-Fi. We also like the Pro version of this package, but the second-gen kit is a bit newer and doesn't force you to use the built-in router (we prefer picking out our own routers). Amazon's Ring devices include excellent Alexa support, and DIYers will like the largely intuitive management app (if you've set up any smart devices before, these app controls will come easily to you). In addition to direct controls and sensor notifications, users can also switch between home and away modes on the fly. If you decide to expand, almost any Ring product will be compatible including their security cameras and video doorbells, so it's easy to level up. Two final important notes about choosing Ring: First, in 2024, Ring officially changed its policy on allowing police to directly request user video footage. Now they listen to such requests only in case of a life-or-death emergency, similar to Google and other brands but a noted improvement from their previous stance. Second, while Ring is very DIY-friendly, professional monitoring does require the brand's top-tier subscription for $20 per month. That's lower than some of our other picks but still pricier than a cloud storage plan would be. See at Amazon Arlo's system, which performed very well in our tests, offers something different from most standard security kits: It uses an interesting type of all-in-one sensor that you can set to perform different tasks depending on where you want to put it. It can sensor motion or when a door is opened, monitor temperature, check for leaks and more. With five of them in this package, you can recruit the system to perform a variety of home duties at price lower than nearly any competitor. Arlo's plan is necessary if you want something like professional monitoring or 24/7 emergency response, but you can still get a certain level of functionality for free. It also works very well with devices like the Arlo Doorbell and Arlo's new fob for quickly disarming the system. This is an excellent kit for DIYers who already know what they want out of a home security system but also want the freedom to make changes in the future. See at Amazon When choosing a home security system for your home, you may be tempted to start by deciding between a DIY setup or one that is professionally installed and monitored. When you consider the equipment, installation, monitoring options and other features you want, you'll probably reach a DIY-versus-pro system decision along the way. Here are some more parameters to consider when shopping around for home security systems: Do you just need to keep watch over your entryways? A good video doorbell for your front door and an outdoor camera covering the back may be all you need; easy to install and monitor yourself. If you want to keep closer tabs on your home inside and out with 24/7 monitoring and quick access to emergency response services, you'll want a more robust system. DIY and professional brands offer home security bundles with most, if not all, of the equipment you'd need to get started and the ability to add single devices as needed. Most home security devices are compatible with Alexa and Google Home smart hubs, but if you prefer Apple HomeKit or another smart home ecosystem, you may have to do a bit more shopping and comparing to find a system compatible with your existing smart home devices. Don't fret over compatibility too much as Matter is making it easier to connect previously non-compatible devices (although it hasn't quite come for security cameras yet). Keep in mind all that equipment will need to be installed. While there isn't much to installing a security camera or even a wired video doorbell, whole-home systems can be a bit more demanding to install and set up. Some are DIY-friendly and use adhesive to position devices without leaving permanent marks, but not all systems do this. If you'd rather leave that to an expert and have them walk you through how to use the system, a professional home security service may be the way to go. Virtually all home security systems allow for self-monitoring, likely via an app on your phone. They'll also send you push notifications when there's an event, such as when a package is delivered to your doorstep. Consider whether you want to be in charge of all the monitoring or if you'd like some support. A professional system will come with 24/7 monitoring, but you may be able to add professional monitoring to your DIY system for a fee, depending on the brand you choose. More advanced features, such as facial recognition, glass break sensors and communication with emergency services may not be available from all manufacturers and devices. Consider the level of monitoring you want, and who you want to do it, along with the emergency response options, when choosing a home security system. We listed "cost" last here for a reason. A complete home security system will likely cost you at least a couple of hundred bucks, so be prepared for that. There's the potential to spend lots more on equipment, or a lot less. Also, keep in mind that the size of the system greatly affects the cost. Starter systems like many we listed here typically cost between $150 and $300, and allow you to add other compatible devices over time. Larger systems with 10 devices or more will cost at least several hundred dollars and can go up to $1,000 or more, depending on the tech that's included. Ongoing costs can carry a bit more weight when choosing the best security system. Expect ongoing monthly fees from a professional service and possibly a contract to lock you into those fees for a year or two (although we favored picks without a required contract). Signing a contract may not be ideal, but it may also come with free equipment or installation and lower upfront costs. If you're comfortable with self-monitoring, DIY systems may not come with any ongoing costs. Monthly subscriptions (without a contract) for cloud storage, enhanced features and possibly even professional monitoring are typically an option with DIY systems, often for lower monthly fees than professional services. Always look for a brand that's going to keep your data safe and has a good track record of security, encryption and protection against data breaches. That's not always easy -- many security companies have had issues in the past with breaches, privacy violations or even employees spying through home security cameras. We look at a company's current practices, track record and how they've been improving in the past few years when making recommendations. SimpliSafe is consistently one of the standout performers when it comes to security, which is one reason they earned a top spot on our list. While Ring has had missteps in the past, it's improved in recent years and has even retracted its policy on providing police with video footage, so we feel comfortable recommending Ring at this time. Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of any home security products. In short, when it comes to the best home security systems, we pay special attention to the user experience, the promised features, reliability and overall value, along with a few other elements. We do the testing in a real home environment over at least a full week. This includes testing sensors at common access points, seeing how systems arm and disarm, and finding out how voice controls and smart device integration work with the app. Along the way, we keep a careful eye on durability and design quality so we avoid recommending any shoddy products. To read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security systems and services. Three trends in particular interest us when it comes to the latest home security developments: Continuing Matter support: As Matter and Thread continue to spread through the smart home, more and more security systems are adopting the new standards, which improve security and allow for more flexible control of systems. It's a slow process, partly because these brands have their own platforms for system management and partly because Matter has taken a long time to release protocols for key parts of home security like video cameras. But it's coming, and Matter support is now something people should be looking for in home security systems. More face recognition: From SimpliSafe to Google Nest and ADT's Trusted Neighbor, more security systems are adopting face recognition as a way to manage access. That means that users can add a profile of faces and let video doorbells or home cameras recognize faces and respond accordingly -- through customized alerts, or by unlocking a smart lock for certain people. Privacy concerns remain about using face profiles, especially outside your family members, but this technology is here to stay and expanding. New integrations and new systems: Long-term brands have begun reviving their product lines with sleeker, faster products. ADT, for example, has released ADT Plus with a new platform and product line, sporting more integrations with Google Nest devices than ever before. SimpliSafe has launched a new guard program that takes more advantage of human and face recognition when using professional monitoring. Brands that aren't launching new versions of their systems are in danger of falling behind the times. Besides the systems above, we've tested many of the top competitors, including Abode Iota, Frontpoint, Kangaroo, Cove and ADT. DIY systems Frontpoint, Cove and Kangaroo all had features to recommend them. Frontpoint's system is reliable, and its hardware is reasonably priced, but its $45 monthly monitoring fee is too expensive. Kangaroo, by contrast, is incredibly wallet-friendly, but its doorbell camera is terrible. Cove Home Security, despite reasonable hardware prices, fell to an overly restrictive subscription model that doesn't allow for self-monitoring or app access without significant monthly fees. ADT, one of the biggest brands we've tested, was broadly disappointing. It's too expensive, requires a contract and the app is clunky. We've also tested AT&T Digital Life, although we've removed the system from consideration since the company stopped installing it for new customers. As for Wyze, we appreciate its excellent budget home security offerings, but we're holding off on recommending it at this time. Wyze has been struggling with frequent security vulnerabilities in recent years, a problem it doesn't seem to have under control. If we see signs that Wyze is making strides in privacy and security, we'll consider its newest systems for our list. Contracts are sometimes required for professional home monitoring or to qualify for free equipment, so service from home security providers like ADT, Vivint and Xfinity may include one. It's usually possible to avoid contracts if you pay upfront and other home security companies like Ring, SimpliSafe and Wyze offer DIY home security solutions that never require one. Arlo and Nest cameras are our top picks for the best home security cameras, but the best one for your home depends on your needs. Be sure to consider price, Wi-Fi connectivity, indoor/outdoor functionality and compatibility with other smart home devices and security services when choosing. Some home security systems come with professional installation, so you can rely on the company to install and set up your system. Others, including many DIY systems, may require self-installation and setup. These systems should come with detailed instructions and are often easy to set up. In most cases, you can simply place or mount the devices where desired, then connect them to your Wi-Fi and other smart home devices (if compatible) via an app. In a home security context, there are two ways to look at "wired" vs. "wireless." The first is power; home security systems require electricity to operate. In that context, a wired system would be one with devices that plug into power and rely on your home's electricity. A fair number of current-gen systems use wireless, battery-powered sensors and battery backups for the base stations that will keep the setup running if the power goes out. You can think of those systems as "wireless" as far as electricity is concerned. There's a second way to look at wired vs. wireless. It concerns connectivity. Every home security system needs to be able to notify you when there's a problem and alert the authorities when there's an emergency. It used to be that systems would notify you with the sound of the alarm and contact authorities via a wired connection to your phone line. Now, most current-gen systems can also notify users of issues with a push alert on their phones. Some will use an internet connection to contact professionals during an emergency. Even then, we'd still consider the system "wired" if you can stop it from operating by cutting your home's internet signal. That's why many systems include built-in cellular connectivity as a backup. Even if the Wi-Fi goes out (or if a tech-savvy intruder disables it), a system like that will still be able to notify you and the authorities of an emergency by way of that cellular connection. Systems like those are "wireless" in the connectivity sense, and if they double down with a battery backup as well, then they're as wireless as home security gets. Some security systems offer all-in-one devices that are meant to be placed in a central location where they can watch everything, although we hesitate to recommend them compared to a whole security system. First, security cameras have come a long way (including two-way audio, motion sensors, audio detection, and smart alerts), so even advanced standalone devices like the Canary Pro offer little that a new security camera doesn't have. You may as well get a home security camera that's compatible with your current system and has the benefits of both. Second, all-in-one devices have motion detectors but they're very poor at monitoring access points like doors or windows, which is where home security systems really shine. We will give a nod to Arlo's interesting all-in-one sensor that detects a whole assortment of household issues, which could save you some money if you're using an Arlo system.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- The Independent
Ring Alarm home security system review: smart, simple and Alexa-ready
Ring Alarm hardware The small Ring Alarm kit reviewed here has a retail price of £219, but sometimes falls as low as £129. It includes a base station, a keypad, one door/window contact sensor, one motion detector, a range extender and a set of Ring-branded stickers to ward off would-be burglars. There is no dedicated siren, but instead both the base station and the keypad contain a speaker. This chimes to let you know the system is active, and sounds a loud alarm when the system is triggered. Ring sells a wall-mountable outdoor siren separately, although it is included with some larger Ring Alarm kits. Installation is easy, and there are video tutorials for every component in the Ring app. The process starts with plugging in the base station and connecting it to your WiFi network and Ring account. After that, just pull out the plastic tabs of each component; this powers them on and sees them automatically connect to your system. You can then assign each device to a room or area of your home (hallway, kitchen, front door, etc) and give them a name (like Hallway Motion Sensor). While the base station uses WiFi (or Ethernet, if your router is within easy reach), to connect to the internet and the Ring app of your phone, everything else connects to the base station using Z-Wave. This is a wireless technology created specifically for smart home devices. The included range extender helps keep every component connected to the base station, and might need relocating to a different wall socket as you grow your Ring Alarm system. Both the base station and keypad have batteries. For the former this acts as a backup (alongside a cellular connection to the phone network) in case of a home power outage. For the keypad this means it can be positioned anywhere in the home, and only plugged in for occasional recharging. Both can be wall-mounted with the included screws and wall plugs. The keypad can be used to arm or disarm the system, by entering your user-defined passcode, and there are dedicated buttons for sounded specific alarm sounds, such as in the event of a fire, a break-in or a medical emergency. Ideally you'll want to buy Ring's external siren to be sure these alarms are heard outside your property. The contact sensor uses a magnet to tell when its two halves are close by or separated. Like the contact sensors of many other security systems, they simply stick to a door or window, then tell the alarm when it is open or closed. They work when up to 2.5cm apart, so should fit on just about any door or window frame. The motion detector also sticks into place, and is designed to fit high up (ideally at 2.3 metres) in the corner of a room or hallway. Each component feels well made, and I had no issues getting everything set up. Ring Alarm software Ring Alarm uses the same smartphone app as its video doorbells and security cameras, handily putting everything in one place and combining them to create a single, cohesive home security system. The app includes clear, concise instructions for setting up every Ring Alarm device. It also took care of a software update that my base station required, and in all the installation process took about 30 minutes. After that, I had a fully functional system, along with a free 30-day trial of the premium tier of Ring Home. Arming the alarm system is done either via the keypad, or by tapping an icon in the Ring app. You then have a set amount of time to leave before the alarm is armed; this time can be adjusted between zero and 180 seconds in the app. The same is true for when you return home, with the alarm either triggering immediately, or after up to 180 seconds. You are best setting this to 30 seconds, or however long it generally takes you to disarm the system once the door has been opened. It's also possible to adjust how the system works when in Home mode. Between Disarmed and Away, Home can be used to set certain aspects of the alarm when you are in the property. That way, you can have an alarm sound if a certain door is opened, for example, while the motion detectors ignore you walking between rooms. This could also work well at night, with the alarm configured to only trigger if movement is detected downstairs. It's also possible to create a schedule, which could be useful if you are always away from home at the same times every day. When the alarm is triggered, you are notified via an app notification and an email from Ring. The alarm is then switched off from either the app, or by entering your passcode on the keypad. Ring Alarm smart home features Since Amazon owns Ring, this alarm integrates well with the Alexa smart home ecosystem. The voice assistant can be used to set the alarm, check its status, and disarm it by stating your passcode. It also works with Alexa Routines, so you can create a routine where saying 'Alexa, goodnight' arms the alarm. This routine could be configured to control other smart home devices too, such as lighting, door locks and plugs. Ring devices do not have native support for Google Home or Apple HomeKit, but some workarounds are possible using third-party automation systems. In reality though, if you want your security to work with a smart home system that isn't Alexa, you're best looking for an alternative to Ring. Ring subscription plans and monitoring explained Ring products have less functionality if you don't pay for a subscription. That said, while its doorbells and cameras don't save video without paying, and are therefore somewhat useless, Ring Alarm still works as a basic intruder deterrent. The siren will still sound if someone enters when the alarm is armed, and you'll be notified via a smartphone app. You can arm and disarm the system using the keypad, but this cannot be done from the app unless you pay for a subscription. Ring Alarm subscriptions in the UK start at £7.99 a month or £79.99 for a year. Pay this, and you unlock a range of features. These include a cellular backup, where the alarm switches to a mobile phone network connection whenever your home internet goes offline, or the base station disconnects from your router. Paying also unlocks the ability to arm and disarm via the app, whether you are at home or anywhere in the world, and creates a 60-day timeline of events in the app, so you can see exactly what happened and when. Crucially, paying for a Ring Alarm subscription unlocks a feature called Alarm Calls. With that set up and enabled, Ring will place an automated phone call to your emergency contacts. Ideally you set yourself up as the first contact, followed by people like your partner, neighbour etc. Ring will work through the list until someone answers. However, it is important to note that a human does not make this phone call. Unlike some other alarm systems, like Simplisafe, this is a very basic form of monitoring, and it cannot be used to alert the emergency services. Ring offers such a service in the US, but not in the UK (at the time of writing in early 2025). I tried out the Alarm Calls function. The call came through to my phone about five seconds after the alarm was triggered, and an automated voice told me what had happened. It included details about the address and what exactly had caused the alarm, which in this instance was motion detected in the hallway. If I hadn't answered, the system would have moved to the next emergency contact. Meanwhile, the alarm was blaring from both the base station and the keypad, the Ring app had buzzed my phone, and I'd received an automated email. This all works well, and I'd like to think a burglar would leave the moment the alarm sounded (plus they'd be captured on video if I had Ring cameras and a doorbell installed). But it lacks the reassurance of a human-monitored system like Simplisafe. Although that system costs much more – up to £27.99 a month compared to £7.99 for Ring – for some homeowners it'll be worth the premium. The verdict: Ring Alarm home security system If you already own a Ring doorbell or security camera, adding a Ring Alarm system to your home is a no-brainer. It is very easy to install, connects seamlessly with your existing system, and provides an extra layer of security. I like how Ring offers a small kit for apartment owners or renters, but which can then be expanded to work with houses of practically any size. I also like how Ring's subscription service, which can feel expensive if only used with a single doorbell, adds features to the alarm system for no extra cost. So if you're already paying £7.99 for the Standard tier, you'll unlock the Alarm Calls and cellular backup features at no extra cost. All that's missing is professional monitoring. Ring's approach of making automated phone calls is still useful, especially if this leads to a neighbour checking on your property while you're away. But if you want anything more proactive, and a monitoring system that can call the emergency services, you'll have to look elsewhere.
