Side by side on monitoring, contracts, installation, cameras and smart-home support.
|
Fort Knox Security
80
SCORE
|
Northstar Home
69
SCORE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Setup | ||
| Build your own package | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lowest Monthly Fees | $15.95 a month | From $39.99 |
| No Contract Options | ✓ | ✗ |
| Money-Back Guarantee | Undisclosed | No |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Lifetime |
| DIY Installation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Professional Installation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Professional Installation Cost (approx) | Undisclosed | From $99 |
| Landline Needed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Wireless System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monitoring | ||
| 24/7 professional monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Main Monitoring Form | cellular technology | Cellular |
| Video Surveillance | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Backup Form Of Monitoring | yes | Battery |
| Real-Time Video Streaming | Yes (basic package) | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Video Storage | Yes (package unknown) | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Video Storage Duration | 30 to 90 days | 90 days |
| Two-way Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| self monitoring | — | No |
| Video resolution | — | 1080p |
| Camera | ||
| Outdoor Camera | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Indoor Cameras | 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 | Yes - package unsure | Yes |
| Motion sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Door/window sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart Thermostat | yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Health Monitoring | yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Flood Detector | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smoke Detector | yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| CO Detector | yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| Smart Locks | Upgrade / Add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Glass break sensors | Upgrade / Add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Power Outage backup | yes - package unsure | Yes |
| Pet-friendly sensors | Yes (under 50lbs) | yes - package unsure |
| Battery Backup | — | Yes |
| Compatibility | ||
| Home automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Alexa | No | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Google Assistant | Yes | — |
| Z-Wave | ✓ | ✓ |
| ZigBee | No | — |
| App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple Homekit | — | Yes |
| Google Home | — | No |
| Features | ||
| Base hub | ✓ | ✓ |
| Touchscreen Panel | Add-on/upgrade | Yes |
| Event Alert notifications | yes - package unsure | Yes |
| Panic button | yes - package unsure | Yes |
| Smart Plugs | No | yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Geo-fencing | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes |
| Event history / timeline | no | Yes |
| Key Fob | Add-on | Yes |
| Signs and Stickers | yes - package unsure | Yes |