Latest news with #Simplisafe
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Best home security system without subscription
Finding the best home security system without a subscription is a priority for many homeowners who don't want to be tied into ongoing fees after the initial purchase. Paying hundreds of pounds for a full home security system is often only part of the story, since many companies charge a monthly or annual fee to make use of every feature. These fees often cover the cost of cloud video storage, making your home security camera and video doorbell recordings available online. Some companies also lock extra functionality, like battery and cellular backup systems, or facial recognition powered by AI, behind a paywall. Security specialists like Simplisafe and Verisure use your monthly payment to fund professional monitoring services. But what if you don't want to pay a monthly subscription fee for your home security system? You'll miss out on some of the features mentioned above, but in return you get an alarm and home security system that works without any ongoing costs. There are several companies – including Eufy, Blink, Yale and TP-Link – that sell security systems with no monthly fee. They often make cloud storage available as an optional extra, but since video recordings are recorded locally, on the system itself, the subscription is exactly that: optional. Why pay for a home security subscription? Before we get to the options for best home security system without a subscription, it's worth reminding ourselves why some systems demand a monthly or annual fee to unlock full functionality. Ring is perhaps the best-known example, since even its simplest video doorbells and security cameras require a subscription to work properly. Without paying the fee, Ring's cameras and doorbells don't store any video footage. They still stream live to the Ring app – so you can see who's at the door when they press the button. But past events can't be accessed, so you won't be able to see what motion triggered your security camera while you were asleep. Ring's alarm kit also requires a subscription to enable its cellular and battery-backup systems, which keep the system online during a broadband outage or power cut. Other systems, like those from Simplisafe and Verisure, charge a fee for cloud video storage, as well as for access to their 24/7 professional monitoring services. This is where trained agents respond to your alarm, make contact with you, and, if necessary, call emergency services. Best home security systems without a subscription At the time of writing, in mid-2025, my favourite home security system without a subscription is made by Eufy. This is because Eufy's security cameras and video doorbells all record footage locally, either to the device's own integrated storage, a microSD card, or to the company's HomeBase, which acts as a central hub with expandable storage. Eufy's third-generation HomeBase also adds artificial intelligence to your compatible cameras and doorbell, which helps your security system recognise friendly faces (like your family members) and not alert you when they're spotted. Cloud storage is offered by Eufy, priced from £3.99 to £12.99 a month, but it's purely optional. All other features are included in the up-front price of the hardware. It's a similar case with Yale, whose security system also works without a subscription. The Yale Smart Alarm kit is simpler than some rivals, with a fairly basic smartphone app. But it comes from a trusted brand and, unlike most other systems, includes a wireless external siren for mounting on an outside wall. The system can be expanded with more sensors, motion detectors and cameras, and a key benefit is how the devices have a 1km (0.62 mile) wireless range – far greater than that of Yale's rivals. Like Eufy, Yale offers an optional subscription. Called Secure Plan, this costs £9 a month and adds cellular backup to the alarm system, where it uses the mobile phone network to stay online if your broadband goes off. The plan also unlocks a system where up to three emergency contacts receive an automated call when your alarm is triggered; although, they are not contacted by a human, as with professionally monitored systems. Subscribing opens up cloud storage for Yale's cameras, too, and enables an AI-powered system for differentiating between the motion of people, pets, vehicles and package deliveries. Granted, it's a good-value package (and you get six months' free with some purchases), but Yale's system uses local storage by default, so paying the fee isn't strictly necessary. Without it, you still have a fully functional security system. Blink is another security system that runs without a subscription, but here things work a little differently. Blink cameras on their own require a cloud storage subscription, since they don't save footage locally. However, this changes if you also buy the Blink Sync Module 2, which costs £40 (or is often bundled with cameras for a discount) and acts as a hub for connecting multiple cameras and a doorbell. It also has a microSD card slot, into which you can fit up to 256GB of local storage – and avoid paying the monthly fee for saving footage in the cloud. Blink plans start at just £2.50 a month and unlock extra features, like improved live streaming, video sharing, photo capture and cloud storage, but paying isn't a necessity like it is with Ring, the other Amazon-owned security company. The pros and cons of not paying for a home security subscription Pros: Avoid ongoing costs (which also often increase over time) You control your recordings; no uploading to third-party servers Reduced feeling of being locked into a product ecosystem Keeps things simple, avoiding superfluous features Cons: No professional monitoring Misses out on extra functionality Limits your hardware choices Removes cellular backup (where available) Is paying a home security system subscription worth it? This depends on your budget and your security requirements. If all you want is a video doorbell on the front door and a security camera keeping an eye on your garden or drive, you'll be fine installing the devices and having them save footage locally. This even works if you want to build a larger system – perhaps even a whole home security platform with cameras, door sensors, sirens and motion detectors – if your primary goal is to be alerted to motion, then have that motion recorded. In this scenario, a subscription for extra features might not be worth it to you, especially if you pick Eufy products that have their own on-board storage and artificial intelligence. Subscriptions become worthwhile if you want more than these basics. If you want cloud storage, then paying a subscription is the only option, since companies don't offer this service for free. Similarly, if you want cellular backup for your Yale system, AI smarts from Blink, video storage from Ring or professional monitoring from Simplisafe and Verisure, then a subscription could be worth it.
The Independent
10-04-2025
- The Independent
Yale Smart Alarm review: great service, average hardware
Yale Smart Alarm starter kit hardware This is a six-piece home alarm kit priced at £399.98. The kit includes two door/window contact sensors, a motion detector, a wireless keypad, an outdoor siren and a hub for connecting everything together. The kit also includes an Ethernet cable and a full set of screws, wall plugs and adhesive strips for wall-mounting each component. Unlike similar systems from Ring and Eufy, this kit from Yale includes a wireless, weather-resistant and battery-powered outdoor siren, with a glowing Yale logo and a speaker with a maximum loudness of 100 decibels. The hub also contains a speaker and acts as a second siren; it can be set to chime when a door is opened. Up to 100 accessories, like extra door/window sensors and motion detectors, can be connected to the one hub (compared to just 40 for the Yale Sync), and they'll work at a range of up to 1km (0.62 miles). This is five times the range of the Yale Sync system and about 6.5 times the range of Simplisafe, and means you can add sensors to outbuildings like a shed or garage, for example, or to a gate at the end of your garden. This alone could be enough for some homeowners to consider the Yale Smart Alarm over other systems. Devices connected to this alarm can be split into four areas. That way, if you're working in the garage or garden office you can disarm that building while leaving the rest of your home armed. Similarly, you can arm the garage and shed while the house is disarmed, or only arm the downstairs of your home when you're asleep upstairs. The hardware is mostly what you would expect from a kit like this. However, I would prefer to see screws or more robust (and easier to use) clips for holding the rear panels of each component in place. The panels are released by pushing a release clip with a tool like a small screwdriver. No such tool is included in the box, and it isn't possible to open them with your fingers; given you need to open each component to remove a cover from the pre-installed battery during the setup process, this is annoying. I also spotted a couple of examples where the hardware design is ill-conceived. The rear panel of the hub cannot be fitted when the power and Ethernet cables are routed to exit from the bottom, when wall-mounted the right way up. It's as if a pair of cut-out are missing, so it can't be installed in the way Yale's own video setup guide shows. I've demonstrated how the cables prevent the cover from closing in the photo below. The keypad is also poorly designed, as the buttons are illuminated around their edges, instead of through the numbers and icons themselves. This means the buttons cannot be read in low light, since only their circular outline is lit up, not the numbers and arm/disarm symbols. It's a design mishap that I'm amazed wasn't spotted and corrected during the development of this system, and isn't helped by how expensive it is compared to rivals like the circa-£150 Eufy Alarm kit or the equally-priced but much larger 11-piece Warwick kit from Simplisafe. Those failings aside, the Yale kit was at least easy to install. Also, unlike Eufy Alarm, the Yale hub has a battery that keeps your alarm system online if there's a power cut. You'll lose smartphone app access, since a power cut would disable your router, but the hub's battery means the alarm will continue to function and can be controlled with the keypad. Yale Smart Alarm starter kit software The Yale Home app is a big improvement over the seemingly forgotten-about Yale Alarm app used with the ageing Sync system. It's the same app that controls Yale's latest security cameras and Smart Video Doorbell, so if you already have those products the alarm can simply be added to your existing system. Adding each of the alarm's components to your system is just a case of scanning a QR code inside – although, as I referenced earlier, that means finding a small screwdriver or similar tool to prise the back off each accessory. With everything connected, the app has a simple user interface that is easy to use. All you'll really need are the big Disarmed, Away and Home buttons for tapping as required. Beyond that, the settings menu lets you adjust the siren volume, pick from a range of chimes made by the hub when a door or window opens, and create up to four security areas for your property – such as upstairs, downstairs, garage and whole home. You'll want to work through all of the settings carefully, as many useful functions are disabled by default. Keypad Force Arm is one such example, which when enabled lets you set the alarm while your door is open. To me at least, opening the front door then arming the alarm via the keypad feels more natural than leaving, closing the door, then reaching for my phone to set the alarm. It's also possible to set an alarm schedule, if that's helpful for you, and to enable location-based alerts. These send a notification to your phone if you leave the area of your home without arming the alarm. Unlike Eufy Alarm, it isn't possible to have the system automatically arm when you get to the end of the street. Guests can be added to the Yale app, so you can add your partner and give them access to the app and their own alarm code. This system is compatible with several of the most common smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit. With the Yale kit added to your system, you can use your voice assistant of choice to arm or disarm the alarm. More interesting is how the alarm also works with Philips Hue smart lighting. The setup process in the Yale app is quick and easy, and once connected to your Hue account your lighting will flash green when the alarm is armed, yellow when disarmed, and red when triggered. Yale Smart Alarm subscription plans and monitoring explained Yale's subscription and monitoring options vary by country. Here in the UK there are three tiers to pick from. The first is called Alarm Plan and costs £5 a month, with your first month free. This enables the hub's cellular backup system, where it will connect to the mobile phone network if it loses connection with your router, ensuring your alarm stays online. The second option is called Secure Plan and costs £9 a month. This includes cellular backup, plus cloud storage for compatible Yale security cameras and video doorbells. It also enables a feature where you or your emergency contacts will be contacted by an automated phone call from Yale when your alarm is triggered. This is similar to what Ring Alarm offers in the UK as part of its £7.99 subscription. Lastly, for £36 a month Yale offers a plan called Secure Pro. This unlocks professional alarm monitoring with emergency call out, along with cloud video recording and cellular backup. This represents a significant upgrade and positions Yale as a close rival to Simplisafe, where a human responds to your alarm, checks the situation and seeks to make contact with you and the emergency services. It's a comprehensive take on home security, but the price difference between Yale at £36 and Simplisafe at £27.99 shouldn't be overlooked. Picking between the two will come down to the ongoing cost, but also which hardware offering you prefer. The verdict: Yale Smart Alarm This is a good alarm system, but one partly let down by middling hardware. The door/window sensor and motion detector are both fine, and I like how an external siren is included in the box. But Yale has dropped the ball with both the hub and the keypad. The former can't be wall-mounted in the way Yale suggests, since the cables have nowhere to exit from the bottom on the unit, and the keypad buttons can't be read at night because of how they are illuminated. I also have concerns with the fragility of the awkward plastic tabs used to release the battery covers of each component. The Yale Smart Alarm Starter Kit is still a good product, if not a great one, and is much improved over the aging Yale Sync system. It is easy to set up and use, with a good smartphone app that is intuitive and reliable, while also working with other Yale products, like cameras, locks and doorbells. If you already own any of those products, this kit is the obvious way to build up a more comprehensive home alarm system.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- The Independent
Best home security system 2025, tried and tested
Smart home security FAQs How do smart home security systems work? Unlike traditional systems, smart home security kits are wireless and connect to your smartphone via an internet connection. Such kits usually consist of a base station which connects to your router, either with Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable, then connects to dozens of wireless accessories like motion detectors, door/window sensors, sirens, keypads, cameras and more. Most kits also come with a wireless keypad for arming and disarming the alarm, although this can also be done via a smartphone app and, often, by speaking to a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some systems can be configured to turn on and off based on the location of your smartphone, and that of anyone you live with. When triggered by a break-in or movement, these alarms alert you via the smartphone app. Some also make an automated phone call to your or whoever is on your emergency contacts list. Some systems offer professional monitoring for a monthly fee, where service agents respond to your alarm, use the cameras (with your prior permission) to see what's going on, and even call the emergency services if required. Should I install it myself or get professional help? In practically every case, smart home alarm systems can be installed without professional help. Most simply connect to your router, then use wireless technology and battery power to function, leaving you to fit the various sensors and detectors to your walls, doors and windows either with the included screws or adhesive pads. Some external devices, like sirens and security cameras, might require a ladder and a power drill to mount them onto an outside wall. But that's about as difficult as these installations get. Once installed, the systems are usually set up and configured via a smartphone app. Are home security systems worth the money? It's hard to put a price on securing your home against burglars. Hardware costs are generally quite similar between brands, although naturally the larger the system, the more devices included and therefore the more you'll have to pay. What's arguably more important is the cost of an ongoing subscription. Most smart alarm systems offer extra features via a monthly or annual subscription, including cloud storage for video camera recordings and enhanced functionality. Professional monitoring also comes as part of a subscription, but few alarm systems offer this service in the UK. For example, Ring and Eufy both offer professional monitoring (for a fee) in the US, but they don't offer it in the UK. If you want professional monitoring in the UK, Simplisafe is one of your best options, and our current favourite smart home alarm system. What are the key features to look out for? Almost all systems get the basics right, by including a base station, motion detectors, door/window sensors, a keypad for arming and disarming, and a smartphone app. Beyond that, features to look out for are battery and cellular backup systems for the base station; with those, it will keep working for a limited time (usually 12 to 24 hours), even if your internet goes off and there's a power cut. Another useful feature is smart home connectivity. If you already have some smart home devices, like security cameras or a video doorbell, it might be worth buying an alarm system from the same ecosystem, like Eufy, or which works with the same smart home platform, like Alexa or Apple HomeKit. The biggest optional extra is professional monitoring, which sees an agent remotely check your home when the alarm is triggered and even call the emergency services on your behalf. The verdict: Best smart home security system Simplisafe is our favourite smart home security system. It is very easy to set up and install, and there's a wide range of optional extras to build a whole-home system. But what helps this system stand out from its rivals is the option to pay for professional monitoring. Since Ring and Eufy don't offer this service in the UK, it's something that puts Simplisafe at the top of our list. If you don't need professional monitoring, then check out Ring and Eufy. Both offer excellent alarm kits that connect to their wider smart home systems comprising security cameras, video doorbells and more. We especially like how Eufy records footage locally, thus avoiding the cloud storage fees imposed by Ring.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- The Independent
Best smart home security systems 2025, tried and tested
Smart home security FAQs How do smart home security systems work? Unlike traditional systems, smart home security kits are wireless and connect to your smartphone via an internet connection. Such kits usually consist of a base station which connects to your router, either with Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable, then connects to dozens of wireless accessories like motion detectors, door/window sensors, sirens, keypads, cameras and more. Most kits also come with a wireless keypad for arming and disarming the alarm, although this can also be done via a smartphone app and, often, by speaking to a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some systems can be configured to turn on and off based on the location of your smartphone, and that of anyone you live with. When triggered by a break-in or movement, these alarms alert you via the smartphone app. Some also make an automated phone call to your or whoever is on your emergency contacts list. Some systems offer professional monitoring for a monthly fee, where service agents respond to your alarm, use the cameras (with your prior permission) to see what's going on, and even call the emergency services if required. Should I install it myself or get professional help? In practically every case, smart home alarm systems can be installed without professional help. Most simply connect to your router, then use wireless technology and battery power to function, leaving you to fit the various sensors and detectors to your walls, doors and windows either with the included screws or adhesive pads. Some external devices, like sirens and security cameras, might require a ladder and a power drill to mount them onto an outside wall. But that's about as difficult as these installations get. Once installed, the systems are usually set up and configured via a smartphone app. Are home security systems worth the money? It's hard to put a price on securing your home against burglars. Hardware costs are generally quite similar between brands, although naturally the larger the system, the more devices included and therefore the more you'll have to pay. What's arguably more important is the cost of an ongoing subscription. Most smart alarm systems offer extra features via a monthly or annual subscription, including cloud storage for video camera recordings and enhanced functionality. Professional monitoring also comes as part of a subscription, but few alarm systems offer this service in the UK. For example, Ring and Eufy both offer professional monitoring (for a fee) in the US, but they don't offer it in the UK. If you want professional monitoring in the UK, Simplisafe is one of your best options, and our current favourite smart home alarm system. What are the key features to look out for? Almost all systems get the basics right, by including a base station, motion detectors, door/window sensors, a keypad for arming and disarming, and a smartphone app. Beyond that, features to look out for are battery and cellular backup systems for the base station; with those, it will keep working for a limited time (usually 12 to 24 hours), even if your internet goes off and there's a power cut. Another useful feature is smart home connectivity. If you already have some smart home devices, like security cameras or a video doorbell, it might be worth buying an alarm system from the same ecosystem, like Eufy, or which works with the same smart home platform, like Alexa or Apple HomeKit. The biggest optional extra is professional monitoring, which sees an agent remotely check your home when the alarm is triggered and even call the emergency services on your behalf. Simplisafe is our favourite smart home security system. It is very easy to set up and install, and there's a wide range of optional extras to build a whole-home system. But what helps this system stand out from its rivals is the option to pay for professional monitoring. Since Ring and Eufy don't offer this service in the UK, it's something that puts Simplisafe at the top of our list. If you don't need professional monitoring, then check out Ring and Eufy. Both offer excellent alarm kits that connect to their wider smart home systems comprising security cameras, video doorbells and more. We especially like how Eufy records footage locally, thus avoiding the cloud storage fees imposed by Ring.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- The Independent
Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm kit review: a good, basic alarm but lacking smarts
Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm hardware Priced at £269.99, this six-piece kit is one of Yale's smaller home alarm systems. Others include more than a dozen components, but perform in the same basic way, and it's easy to purchase additional accessories to increase your system at a later date. Unlike many other home alarm systems, such as those from Ring, Simplisafe and Eufy, this Yale kit comes with an outdoor siren. Battery powered and fully wireless, the 104-decibel siren means your neighbours and passers-by are more likely to notice your alarm, although you'll likely need a stepladder and a drill to mount it properly. That said, this is a DIY system, with the door/window sensor and motion detectors giving the option of wall-mounting with screws or adhesive strips, all of which are included in the box. The keypad is wireless and can be wall-mounted if you prefer, and the mains-powered smart hub connects to your internet router with an included Ethernet cable. I'd prefer to use Wi-Fi, since I've run out of power sockets next to my router, but I appreciate the extra stability of a wired connection. The components all look good and feel well made, although I wish the keypad had a display to show the status of the alarm. Even just a set of LED lights would help indicate whether the alarm is armed, part-armed or disabled. Instead, you have to listen out for any beeps coming from the hub to understand what's happening. The keypad, along with the door/window sensors and motion detectors, are powered by replaceable batteries. A hardware detail I like is how both the door/window contact sensor and the siren have tamper alarms. These use a spring on the rear which pushes against whatever surface the product is mounted to, so when it is removed, and the spring uncoils, you are alerted via the app and an automated email. Yale says up to 40 accessories can be connected to a single hub, and they operate at a range of up to 200 metres. This will vary depending on the layout of your home, but should give plenty of headroom for even the largest of installations. Installing the kit took about 30 minutes, excluding the outdoor siren. It's a relatively simple process, but the instructions aren't as clear as systems from rivals like Ring and Simplisafe. Products belonging to Yale's Smart system, including its latest cameras and video doorbell, as well as the Smart Alarm, use a different app and a more streamlined process. The older Sync Alarm kit tested here uses the clunkier Yale Alarm app – more on which in the next section. Yale offers a professional installation service for £280 – more than the cost of the kit itself – but most buyers won't need this. Even the outdoor siren is simple enough to fit, as long as you have a drill and a ladder. Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm software It is important to understand that this system works with the older Yale Smart Living Alarm app, and not the newer Yale Home app. Having previously used, and enjoyed, Yale's latest Smart products and app, the older Yale Alarm app was a a little underwhelming. The app is stable and the interface is uncluttered, but whereas Yale's newer app impresses with its use of simple, clear language and zero jargon, the Alarm app falls short. The app assigns default names like PIR 1 and PIR 2 to the motion detectors, KP1 to the keypad and BX1 to the siren – all of which are best changed to something more logical. Unclear and overly technical language is a common problem across the app. I saw several notifications stating 'Locked Out of Front door' when the app meant the door sensor's tamper sensor had been triggered. There was also an inbox containing seven-year-old messages about system updates, but with no way to delete them. Since even the newest messages date from 2019, anyone buying this kit today, in 2025, is going to feel like Yale forgot about this app long ago. In better news, the app allows for FaceID to add an extra layer of security, and the large icons of the dashboard make it very easy to arm or disarm the alarm. There's also the option to 'part arm' the system, but configuring this isn't the work of a moment. Yale has drawn up a chart and a key to help explain the four states – burglar, home omit, home access and entry zone – and how a sensor responds in each state. It's all logical enough, but is screaming out for a slicker solution and, ideally, a new copywriter. I also spotted a few typing errors in the app, and in some cases the app's explanation for what a function does was hard to understand. I couldn't find any explanation of what a feature called Supervision is, apart from a sentence where Yale suggests you leave it disabled. A useful feature is geo-notifications, where the app uses your smartphone location to remind you to set the alarm if you leave without doing so. Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm smart home features This system works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. I tried it with the former and, with the right Alexa skill installed, it's possible to arm and disarm the alarm with a voice command to a nearby Amazon Echo smart speaker. In the interests of security, you need to state your four-digit passcode when disarming the system. Some users won't find this useful, but if you ever return home carrying shopping and/or children it's handy to turn the alarm off with your voice instead of via the keypad or app. I'd hoped to connect the alarm to my Philips Hue smart lighting system too. But, despite this being advertised as a feature of the Yale Sync alarm, I repeatedly encountered a 'Connection Error' message from Yale's website, stating there had been a 'bad response from Yale Smart Living Alarm server.' I'm not the only one having problems with this app. It has a score of just 2.1 stars from over 400 ratings on the iOS App Store. It's a shame, because the hardware is good and with its newer Home app Yale has proved it can produce good software. Clearly, bringing the older app up to scratch isn't a priority. Yale subscription plans and monitoring explained There are no subscription fees with this system, so it's simply a case of buying it, setting it all up, and that's that. You'll have full functionality for life. However ,Yale does offer a range of subscription plans, including one with live professional monitoring provided by Securitas, with its other products, including the Smart Alarm kit. The verdict: Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm The Yale Sync works well as a simple home alarm system. It is quick to set up, the hardware feels premium, and the inclusion of an external siren and two motion detectors makes it feel like good value compared to alternatives from rivals like Ring and Eufy. However, it's too easy to get confused by Yale's many apps, products and ecosystems. This kit is good enough when reviewed in isolation, despite the app's shortcomings, but it doesn't integrate with Yale's latest 'Smart' products, like the video doorbell I recently reviewed. The Sync kit also doesn't work with the newer Yale Home app. Those looking for a Yale alarm with more functionality, and better compatibility with its latest security cameras and app, should look at the pricier Yale Smart Alarm Starter Kit instead.
