Side by side on monitoring, contracts, installation, cameras and smart-home support.
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Brinks
65
SCORE
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Northstar Home
69
SCORE
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|---|---|---|
| Setup | ||
| Build your own package | ✗ | ✓ |
| Lowest Base Cost (Approx.) | 199 | — |
| Lowest Monthly Fees | $39.99/mo | From $39.99 |
| No Contract Options | ✗ | ✗ |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | No |
| Warranty | 2 Years | Lifetime |
| DIY Installation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Professional Installation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Professional Installation Cost (approx) | Free | From $99 |
| Landline Needed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Wireless System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monitoring | ||
| 24/7 professional monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| self monitoring | ✗ | ✗ |
| Main Monitoring Form | Cellular | Cellular |
| Video Surveillance | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Backup Form Of Monitoring | Battery | Battery |
| Video resolution | 2K | 1080p |
| Real-Time Video Streaming | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Video Storage | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Video Storage Duration | 30 days | 90 days |
| Two-way Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Camera | ||
| Outdoor Camera | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Indoor Cameras | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Doorbell Camera | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Night Vision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarms and Sensors | ||
| Remote arm/disarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Siren | ✓ | ✓ |
| Max Alarm Volume | 85 dB | — |
| Motion sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Door/window sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart Thermostat | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Health Monitoring | No | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Flood Detector | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| Smoke Detector | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| CO Detector | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| Smart Locks | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Glass break sensors | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Power Outage backup | ✓ | ✓ |
| Battery Backup | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pet-friendly sensors | Yes - upgrade/add-on | yes - package unsure |
| Compatibility | ||
| Home automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple Homekit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Google Home | ✓ | ✗ |
| Google Assistant | Yes | — |
| Google Nest | No | — |
| Z-Wave | ✓ | ✓ |
| ZigBee | No | — |
| App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Base hub | ✓ | ✓ |
| Touchscreen Panel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event Alert notifications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Panic button | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart Plugs | Yes - upgrade/add-on | yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Geo-fencing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event history / timeline | ✓ | ✓ |
| Key Fob | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| Signs and Stickers | Add-on | Yes |