Frontpoint Home Security Review

What’s Included with Frontpoint?

Despite Frontpoint’s inflexible monitoring pricing, we can still say that Frontpoint offers some flexibility – or rather, scalability. Every Frontpoint system can have up to 80 sensors and over 200 smart home devices, making it a good security system for large homes. For comparison, SimpliSafe security systems can handle up to 100 devices and offer no smart home support besides Alexa and Google Home integrations.

Of course, you don’t need that many pieces of equipment. We recommend starting off with a base package that includes four to seven components. Use that as a foundation, and then add more components as you see fit.

The cheapest package costs $79 and includes:

• 1 hub
• 1 keypad
• 2 door/window sensors
• 1 set of yard sign and window decals

That bundle was what we used to build our Frontpoint system, but we also bought one of almost all available equipment. We ended up racking up a bill of more than $600. So while it’s technically possible to start your own Frontpoint system for less than $100, the actual total will ultimately depend on your equipment choice.

So, $600. That’s not bad compared to when we tested Vivint. Our Vivint package with almost the same components as our Frontpoint system cost us $1,200. But still, $600 is a lot to shell out at once, so we’re glad to see a financing option. You can pay off your Frontpoint system over 36 months. That’s roughly $20 per month in our case, in addition to the $49.99 monthly monitoring plan. Was it worth it? Let’s take a closer look at the equipment.

Frontpoint Hub

You’re probably more used to seeing security systems with a touch screen control panel, which functions both as a hub and controller for the entire system. See our Alder review for an example. Frontpoint took a different route, offering a hub you can tuck away in a corner and a separate keypad that goes near your home’s main entrance.

The main purpose of that is to protect the system from ‘crash and smash’ burglars who attempt to disengage security systems by tampering with the control panel. Since the hub is what reports emergencies to the monitoring center, keeping it out of sight and away from the front door is a wise move.

On top of that, Frontpoint built contingencies into the hub, like a 24-hour battery backup and cellular chip to keep it running during power and internet outages. The hub is also constantly sending a soft signal to the monitoring center that turns into an active alarm when something happens to the hub. We purposely let the battery backup run out to test this feature, and sure enough, we got a call from Frontpoint when the hub turned off.

We’re seeing more security systems take a similar approach with their hubs. You can see in our Cove review that their latest system works the same way. SimpliSafe always had a separate base station (hub) and a keypad. Even ADT, our top-rated security system, now offers a screenless hub with non-touch screen keypads – vastly different from the touch screen panel they had when we first reviewed ADT.

>> Check It Out: Our Hands-On SimpliSafe Review

Keypad

So what do we think about the Frontpoint’s non-touch screen keypad? Well, we commend its straightforwardness. This is something anyone can use, from tech-whiz teenagers to tech-averse seniors. The controls are simple – just key-in your passcode and select whether to disarm the system or arm its home or away mode. There’s even a panic alarm function you could trigger by simultaneously pressing the star and number sign keys.

Our one gripe is if you build a smart security system like we did, the numeric keypad doesn’t offer as controls as a touch screen controller. You can’t set the thermostat with it or control your lights, so we had to rely on the Frontpoint app. The good news is that unlike ADT and SimpliSafe, Frontpoint offers the option for a touchscreen keypad. The bad news? It costs $150.

We recommend getting the touch screen keypad if you’re building a smart home security system. The Frontpoint app is great, but nothing beats the convenience of having a dedicated smart device controller near your front door. And besides, Frontpoint equipment is almost always offered at a discount, sometimes as much as 50 percent.

Door/ Window Sensor

We placed these two-piece sensors on the frames of doors and windows and on the doors and windows themselves to see when they had been opened or closed. Installing and using these wireless contact sensors was a breeze. They come with adhesive backing, so we just stuck them to doors and windows and their respective frames.

Besides the classic door and window sensors, Frontpoint also sells recessed door sensors. Unlike the former, recessed door sensors are bored into the door and doorframe, so there are no visible signs of a sensor after the installation.

Motion Sensor

Motion sensors play a big part in home protection, but we much prefer them to have a low profile. Unfortunately, Frontpoint did not live up to that preferance given the size of their motion sensors. It’s almost as big and bulky as the keypad. The shiny, white finish didn’t help either. It stood out against the beige backdrop.

On the positive side, it covers a decent 30-by-35-foot range. That was more than wide enough for our living room. Keep in mind though that it has a narrow 80-degree peripheral, so the best placement would be in a corner wall, seven to eight feet above ground, and tilted slightly downwards.

We should also note that Frontpoint made our list of the best security systems for pet owners thanks largely to the motion sensor. It can ignore pets up to 40 pounds, helpful for when we sat for a friend’s cuddly poodle.

Glass Break Sensor

Not every intruder will be so polite as to open a door or window; rather, some will just smash through your glass, and for those instances, there’s the glass break sensor.

The glass break sensor is a listening device trained to identify the sound of breaking glass. Not every home needs a glass break sensor, though. If you have window grilles, for example, you’re probably better off with motion sensors or window sensors. However, if you have sliding glass doors or sliding windows, this is a nice piece of equipment to have.

Bear in mind though that a single glass break sensor can’t cover all your windows and glass doors. The one from Frontpoint has a 20-foot detection range, but we actually recommend placing it in the same room as the doors and windows you’re monitoring. Walls and closed doors can muffle the sound of breaking glass, so it might not be effective if it’s in a different room.

Keychain Remote

We always opt for a keychain remote whenever possible because they’re just so convenient to use. It can arm and disarm the security system with just a press of a button; no passwords required. Frontpoint’s keychain remote looks ordinary, but it has an insanely long battery life (five to eight years). It also has two additional functions we don’t normally see. It can be programmed to trigger a home automation routine (e.g. unlock your smart lock) and it can be used as a panic button. Whenever we get home from work, we disarm Frontpoint and unlock our door with the keychain remote. It’s that convenient.

Of course, since it doesn’t require verification, you should always be mindful of who you give out a keychain remote to, especially kids who might be a little less aware of the consequences of losing it. And if you do decide to give a family member a keychain remote, make sure to discuss with them how to keep it safe.

Frontpoint Video Doorbell

While Frontpoint doesn’t make their own video doorbell, we did review the SkyBell Slim Line Video Doorbell which works with their system. There were things we loved about the doorbell, but there were also some we didn’t like.

For example, while we appreciated its ruggedness (it works in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and fully wireless design, we didn’t like its low-resolution videos. At only 720p HD, it wasn’t the video quality we were looking for in a front door monitoring device. We also didn’t enjoy the bright light that came from the camera at night; we prefer cameras with infrared night vision.

Fortunately, the Skybell doorbell isn’t the only option. Frontpoint also offers a wired video doorbell from Alarm.com, a trusted manufacturer of home security equipment. The wired doorbell offers standard 1080p HD video quality, infrared night vision, and clear two-way audio. It also features a wide-angle field of view and improved daytime videos with HDR.

Those are all good things, of course, but unlike the SkyBell doorbell, the one from Alarm.com isn’t wireless. That means you’ll need to deal with wires and it can only work in homes with an existing doorbell wiring.

Whichever of the two doorbells you go with, Frontpoint offers cloud video storage for up to 1,000 clips per month. Live video and two-way audio are also accessible through the Frontpoint app, making monitoring the front door a breeze.

Yale Z-Wave Smart Lock

Another third-party item we bought with Frontpoint was a Z-Wave smart lock from Yale, a leading lock manufacturer. It was really convenient to be able to lock and unlock our doors remotely, whether that was as we got home from work or at night to make sure that everything was safe and secure.

The Yale Z-Wave smart lock also worked perfectly with Frontpoint’s geofencing feature. That was one of Frontpoint’s most unique features. In essence, the Frontpoint app on our phone constantly communicated our location with the hub. And then we got to set a virtual perimeter around our house so that when we enter or leave it, Fronpoint would trigger specific actions.

We programmed Frontpoint to lock our doors whenever we leave the geofenced area. (What can we say? We’re forgetful sometimes!) That way, we never have to wonder if we left the front door open. Not that we can’t lock/unlock the door remotely using the Frontpoint app, but it’s just more convenient to have the system do things for us automatically.

Indoor Camera

Finally, we got Frontpoint’s indoor camera, which fortunately had that clear, 1080p HD display we missed in the video doorbell, plus infrared night vision and two-way audio. The camera’s video quality was similar to video we’ve seen in Ring’s suite of cameras, all of which record in 1080p HD.

This made our camera way more hidden; most people who went into our house didn’t even notice it! Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t zoom in at all, and with a 113-degree field of view, it didn’t cover quite as much ground as we’d hoped.

Again, the camera had only motion detection, so we got a ton of false alarms, and the storage was the same free 1,000 clips. While we appreciated the camera’s video quality, audio, and night vision, it still fell a bit short of expectations when it came to AI.

Which Frontpoint Equipment To Buy

To help you decide which pieces of equipment to buy for your Frontpoint security system, here’s a simple table ranking the components we tested in terms of the security they provide, what they’re best used for, and whether they’re a must-have or unecessary. We’re not going to include the Frontpoint Hub and keypad, as both are absolutely necessary for every Frontpoint system.

Almost every Frontpoint device we tested is a must-have for overall home security and protection, but of course, there’s the cost to factor in. A complete home security system with all those components is going to cost you several hundred dollars on top of the $49 monthly fee that we’ll discuss below.

The great thing about Frontpoint, though, is that it’s easily scalable. You can start with the basics – we recommend entry sensors for your front door, a couple of motion sensors near possible entry points, and glass break sensors for rooms with multiple glass doors or windows. If you feel like you need more, you can always purchase additional components and install them yourself. We’ll get to the installation process later on.

Frontpoint Review: Video Edition

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our video review below to see Frontpoint in action. You’ll also see some of its cool features, like voice control integration, at work.

Was Frontpoint Easy to Install?

Frontpoint is a wireless security system that you can install yourself. That means there are no installation fees. But is it easy to install?

First of all, Frontpoint puts a premium on customer service, and one of the things we liked was they had a support team in place to assist new customers in installing their systems. They were easy to reach, and they helped make sure we were installing and testing the system correctly.

All in all, it took us less than an hour to set up everything, including the Frontpoint security cameras and the video doorbell that we had bought. That’s not our record time — we had DIY systems that were up and running in 30 minutes or less — but it’s pretty good for a system as sophisticated as Frontpoint.

Overall, the setup was very simple, not requiring drilling or nails, and once the system was up, it worked without a hiccup. It was also easy to integrate it with voice assistants, allowing for remote control. You don’t need to be a security expert like us to install Frontpoint; it’s designed to be as painless as possible, with wireless, peel-and-stick sensors and pre-programmed devices. Out of the box, the sensors were ready to connect to the hub. We just pulled the battery tab to turn them on, and voila! That’s why Frontpoint is one of the best DIY home security systems.

That said, Frontpoint also works with third-party home automation devices, particularly those that use Z-Wave as their wireless standard. If you’re planning to integrate Z-Wave smart devices with Frontpoint, you may have to do a bit of research to learn how to pair the specific devices that you own. The pairing process is generally easy, but some third-party devices require additional steps.

How Frontpoint Fit Into Our Smart Home

Being as into our smart home as we are, we were very pleased to see that Frontpiont worked really well with Alexa1 and Google Assistant. Here’s how we commanded Frontpoint with each voice assistant.

Alexa

Using Alexa, we were able to arm and disarm our security system, check its status, and control connected devices like smart locks, smart thermostats, and smart lighting. We didn’t have quite as many automation options with Frontpoint as we did when we reviewed Vivint’s security system, as Vivint is a more robust system that can pair with a greater number of third-party devices like smart locks and smart speakers. But we were pleased that we could still use Alexa to record video with our Frontpoint indoor camera.

Google Assistant

Integrating Frontpoint with our Google ecosystem was a tad more arduous. After failing to find the Frontpoint action on Google, we finally figured out that we had to download the Alarm.com action instead, then log in with our Frontpoint credentials. From there, we could ask Google to tell Alarm.com to arm our system, check its status, and control smart lights, locks, and thermostats.

Frontpoint’s Security Packages and Monthly Monitoring Plans

Frontpoint offers some of the most customizable equipment packages on the market. Not only can you create a custom package or add equipment to one of Frontpoint’s ready-made packages, but you can also add equipment to an existing Frontpoint system without hassle thanks to its DIY setup.

If you’re only getting started, though, Frontpoint offers three packages that you can use as foundation for your custom security system: The Starter Pack, The Home Shield, and The Family Lookout.

Each of those three packages include a Frontpoint Hub and a keypad, and they also come with varying numbers and types of components. We’ve made this table to show you what each package includes, as well as their total cost and their monthly cost should you decide to finance them. Take note that everything is 25-percent off right now.

Once you have a foundation, you can build out your system by adding components. Frontpoint offers a great number of options — we counted 22 different pieces of equipment — from security and hazard sensors to security cameras and smart home equipment.

We recommend mapping your house out before proceeding to the part where you select additional components, and make sure you get all the sensors and cameras you need. For example, it’s a good idea to place an entry sensor on every first-floor door and window.

Of course, you can always order additional hardware from Frontpoint if it turns out that you need more, but buying everything you need upfront means you’ll get the 25-percent discount for all of your components. For instance, the outdoor camera which normally costs $200 is now only $149.99 thanks to the discount. Don’t miss out on this chance to save!

Monitoring and Fees Breakdown for Frontpoint

Professional monitoring is required with a Frontpoint system, and the catch is, there’s only one Frontpoint monitoring plan and it costs $49.99 per month. Whether you’re a renter with just a couple of entry sensors and motion sensors or living in a mansion with dozens of Frontpoint devices, you’ll pay $49.99 per month.

It’s not off-the-charts expensive (we’ve seen companies charge $60 per month), but it’s a bit unfair for those looking for something simple and affordable. If that’s you, there are other options like SimpliSafe and Cove. You can read our SimpliSafe pricing breakdown and our guide to Cove’s pricing for more details.

Back to Frontpoint. Its simplified single-plan structure works best for those looking for an affordable smart security system, as its best features include smartphone access, app alerts, home automation, live feed streaming, and cloud video storage. Having all those for $49.99 per month is a steal. Not to mention, every Frontpoint system is 100-percent cellular, meaning they don’t need internet access to operate. Even during power outages, Frontpoint can protect your home thanks to the hub’s battery backup.

Check out this breakdown of Frontpoint’s features below:

Frontpoint’s Customer Support

When we needed help with our Frontpoint system, we could check out their online help center,2 call support, email support, or fill out an online form. In researching, installing, and testing the Frontpoint security system, our team of experts contacted Frontpoint twice over email and didn’t receive a response either time, which was disappointing, obviously.

However, we found that phone support was excellent, with knowledgeable representatives happy to answer our questions. This really came in handy during installation! Despite the poor email support, Frontpoint has some of the best phone support we’ve seen from a security company.

The Frontpoint App

When we weren’t home, it was easy to use the Frontpoint app to arm and disarm our system, livestream footage, speak through two-way audio, control connected devices, and receive notifications. Watch our video review to see us using the app, which, overall, we’d say was pretty well designed and bug-free.