Side by side on monitoring, contracts, installation, cameras and smart-home support.
|
Guardian Protection
80
SCORE
|
Northstar Home
69
SCORE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Setup | ||
| Build your own package | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lowest Base Cost (Approx.) | 199 | — |
| Lowest Monthly Fees | $44.99/mo | From $39.99 |
| No Contract Options | ✓ | ✗ |
| Money-Back Guarantee | ✗ | ✗ |
| Warranty | 5 Years | Lifetime |
| DIY Installation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Professional Installation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Professional Installation Cost (approx) | From $99 | 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 | Yes | Battery |
| Video resolution | 1080p | 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 | 60 days | 90 days |
| Two-way Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Camera | ||
| Outdoor Camera | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Indoor Cameras | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Doorbell Camera | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Night Vision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarms and Sensors | ||
| Remote arm/disarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Siren | ✓ | ✓ |
| Max Alarm Volume | 110db | — |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| CO Detector | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart Locks | Yes - upgrade/add-on | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Glass break sensors | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Power Outage backup | ✓ | ✓ |
| Battery Backup | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pet-friendly sensors | Upgrade / Add-on | yes - package unsure |
| Compatibility | ||
| Home automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple Homekit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes - upgrade/add-on |
| Google Home | ✓ | ✗ |
| Google Assistant | No | — |
| Google Nest | Yes | — |
| Z-Wave | ✓ | ✓ |
| ZigBee | Yes | — |
| 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 - package unsure | Yes |
| Signs and Stickers | yes - package unsure | Yes |