Best Home Security Systems That Work With Google Home

Our Experience Testing ADT

ADT doesn’t just work with Google Home; it has a full-on partnership with Google. ADT now offers Google Nest cameras with each plan, and the two companies have jointly designed a security system as well, the ADT Plus. ADT installers are now trained to optimize your ADT system’s connection to the Google Home platform. And if you use ADT’s mobile app, you get full Google Home functionality.

We’ve always preferred Google Nest Cams over ADT’s security camera range.

What does all of that mean? It means that your system’s capabilities are virtually endless. We invested in some of the best smart locks, then set our system up so all we needed to do was say, “Unlock the front door,” to make it happen. You can get even fancier by connecting your locks to other smart home products, like your ADT video doorbell (see more in our ADT video doorbell review). Then, operate the whole shebang from your phone.

With that said, no home security is perfect. There’s no getting around it: You’ll pay more with ADT than you might with some other companies. You can finance the equipment instead of paying for everything upfront. But this means signing up to an ADT contract, which has a minimum length of 36 months.

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Google Functions

Once you’ve paired your ADT system with Google Home, you can operate the entire system with your “Hey, Google” commands. Use your voice to pull up camera footage, adjust your thermostat, and control the locks on your doors. But the best feature is Trusted Neighbor, which is exclusive to ADT’s highest-tier professional monitoring plan. Trusted Neighbor leverages the Nest Cam’s Familiar Faces to disarm security systems and unlock doors for registered visitors. We use it for our dog walker so they can enter and exit with ease while we’re at work.

Installation

Traditionally, ADT always required customers to sign up for professional installation. While it can add up to $200 to your ADT bill, the professional installers know what they’re doing. So, they’ll set your system up right the first time. Nowadays, you can opt for a self-installed system and you’ll still get total Google Home integration.

Like the rest of ADT’s Google Nest range, the Floodlight Cam is easy to install.

Pricing

Beyond offering DIY installation, ADT has also brought down some of its prices. In the past, the price of an ADT system started at around $600. Now, you can get a DIY system, though, for as little as $389.96.

ADT has also recently lowered its monthly monitoring prices from a starting point of $45 per month to just $25 per month. There are also a decent amount of ADT deals and discounts to check out. The bottom line is that there’s really never been a better time to invest in our favorite home security system than right now.

>> Keep Reading: ADT review

Our Experience Testing Vivint

The heart of Vivint’s system is the touch screen hub. We set ours up like a CCTV monitor so we could keep track of what our dog was up to even while we were making dinner. We even used the two-way audio on the indoor camera to dissuade him from jumping on the couch. Vivint fully integrates with Google Home, making it easy to control the entire system from anywhere in our house.

Vivint’s equipment is state-of-the-art, which is why it requires professional installation.

Vivint’s indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras use AI to tell the difference between animals and people. That cuts down on false alarms, especially if you have a pet like we do. Plus, you get all the other standard features you’d expect in top-notch cameras, like two-way audio and 1080p HD resolution. The nice thing is that for all their sophistication, the outdoor cameras are rugged enough for most environments. It’s one of the reasons Vivint tops our list of the best outdoor security systems.

Google Functions

Like ADT, you can use Vivint and Google Home to arm your system, control lighting, change thermostat settings, and lock your doors. We liked being able to find out whether we’d remembered to lock our front door just by asking, “Hey, Google. Is the Vivint front door locked?” Even better, we liked being able to say, “Hey Google. Lock our front door,” when we found it was unlocked.

Installation

Since the equipment is so technologically advanced, it’s not as easy to install as the top three Vivint alternatives. But you’re better off with professional installation anyway. You can be sure that sensors and cameras will be perfectly positioned, and your friendly Vivint installer can troubleshoot your system for you. They’ll even integrate your system into Google Home.

Here’s Don, my Vivint technician, installing the Vivint Window Sensor

Pricing

All this technology costs a pretty penny. Systems can start from around $600. Add a $200 installation fee and at least $45 per month for monitoring, and the costs add up fast. On top of that, you’re locked into at least a 36-month Vivint contract. You’ll also need to talk to customer service for equipment prices, since Vivint doesn’t list them on the website.

Our Experience Testing Cove

Cove’s equipment is sometimes as much as half the price of competitors. Monitoring is also reasonable, at just $29.99 per month, you get all the bells and whistles, including full Google Home integration. Plus, Cove is the first system on this list that doesn’t require a monthly contract. But like ADT, installing security cameras requires signing up for the most expensive monitoring plan.

Cove’s cameras are smaller than Nest Cams, but they can pan and tilt to maximize coverage.

The first thing we noticed when reviewing Cove was how easy it is to get started. Our Cove system arrived preprogrammed, so it was ready to go out of the box. With 3M adhesives included, the whole thing took around 20 minutes. Testing the system took a little longer because we kept debating whether to mount our indoor camera on the wall or put it on an end table.

Cove’s equipment isn’t as high-tech as ADT or Vivint. Cove’s indoor cameras, for instance, don’t have any built-in AI. And the hub is a little clunky for our taste. But if you’re looking for an affordable home security system that still lets you work with Google Home, Cove may be the answer.

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Google Functions

Like ADT and Vivint, Cove lets you arm and disarm your system using your voice. You can also access footage and review event history. We viewed security camera footage on our Android tablet, which has a better view than our phone. It was easier to zoom in on smaller details and scrub through footage. However, aside from voice control, there’s not much else you can do with your Cove system via Google Home.

Installation

Cove’s default is self-installation. You can get professional installation if you need it, with prices starting from $129. But we recommend saving your money. Installing your own home security system with Cove is a lot easier than you think. You let Cove know what your home setup is when you order, and all the equipment comes preprogrammed. It can take a little more time to get Google Home connected, but that has more to do with talking to Google Home than it does with anything on Cove’s end.

Cove’s equipment is preprogrammed, so all we had to do was decide where to put our devices.

Pricing

Cove makes it easy to order only the equipment you need. You can build a system from the ground up, or answer a questionnaire about your living situation for device recommendations. All the equipment from Cove is low-priced, sometimes as much as half of what you’d pay with other companies. Cove’s outdoor camera, for instance, costs $129.99, about $70 less than the price of SimpliSafe’s outdoor camera. Or compare Cove’s entry sensor price to Ring’s. Cove’s charges $15. A comparable entry sensor from Ring Alarm costs $20.

Our Experience Testing Brinks

Brinks has been in business almost as long as ADT — over 100 years. But it hasn’t evolved with the times like ADT, as it still requires professional installation and a minimum 36-month professional monitoring contract.

>> Compare: ADT Vs. Brinks

As we mention in our Brinks review, for our money, Brinks has a couple of things going for it that ADT doesn’t. First, its equipment prices are more affordable. Second, you get all the advantages of Google Home integration with every plan. ADT requires you to invest in its most expensive plans if you want to control your system with your voice. But we will say the premium price of ADT does show in its quality of equipment and services. You also get cellular backup with every system and plan. That came in handy over the winter when we lost Wi-Fi and power for over 24 hours.

While we could unbox our Brinks equipment, we needed a professional to install it.

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Google Functions

If it comes with your Brinks home security system package, it works with Google Home. We could control all our components with voice commands and create routines so that multiple devices work together. One schedule we set up armed the system automatically after locking the doors in the morning. And there are plenty of other routines you can create to strengthen your home safety practices.

Installation

Brinks is another one of those companies that requires professional installation. As we’ve mentioned with other companies, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re looking to connect your system to Google Home. Our installation tech showed up early, was incredibly friendly, and answered all our questions. We should point out that Brinks doesn’t have quite enough techs to handle its volume, so our appointment was three days out from when we ordered.

Some of the Brinks equipment looks dated compared to Google Nest and other company’s products.

Pricing

Just make sure you really like Brinks before you invest. Its monitoring fees aren’t exactly the cheapest on the market, ranging from $40 to $50 per month depending on the system you purchase. Plus, as we mentioned, you’ll need to sign a 36-month contract.

But at least Brinks systems are personalized. The only issue is that you’ll have to speak with a sales representative to organize a system. That can mean fighting the hard sell. Brinks’ cheapest packages are around $360, which is at the low end of the market. The nice thing is that even that basic package comes with full Google Home functionality.

Our Experience Testing Scout

While Scout offers self-monitoring, you’ll still have to pay $10 per month plus another $3 per camera if you want to store footage. For that price, you’re really better off subscribing to Scout’s $20-per-month full-service professional monitoring plan. Still, we like having the option of self-monitoring when we need to tighten our belts.

Either way, you’ll get full Google functionality and cellular backup. And because Scout works with IFTTT, we were able to use Google Home to connect our security to all sorts of devices. For example, when our motion sensors detectors pick up unusual movement, our TV comes on, letting would-be home invaders know we’re home, even when we’re not.

Be warned: This isn’t a Vivint-style, sophisticated system. You won’t find any AI features with Scout. The company doesn’t even offer a dedicated outdoor camera, let alone a high-quality outdoor camera. But if you’re looking for affordable security with some nifty smart integration, Scout’s a pretty solid option.

Comparison Shopping: Best Self-Monitored Home Security Systems

Google Functions

While Scout systems connect to Google Home, we’re more impressed by its compatibility with other smart platforms and devices, like Yale, Hue, Z-Wave, and IFTTT. It used to integrate with Nest devices, but the partnership ended in 2019.

Google Home functionality is limited to voice controls. We could arm and disarm the system as well as get status updates, which is similar to Cove and Brinks.

Installation

Scout isn’t quite as simple as Cove to install. Most of the sensors are peel-and-stick, so that part wasn’t much of a problem. But the system didn’t come preprogrammed, and connecting all of the components to the hub took at least 30 minutes. We also ran into an issue with the indoor camera where it wouldn’t turn on until we accidentally twisted the lens a bit. Not sure what was going on there, but it cost us a little extra setup time.

Pricing

Scout equipment isn’t as cheap as Cove or SimpliSafe, but it’s certainly reasonably priced. Entry sensors, for instance, are around $20, right in line with the cost of Ring’s. You can save more if you’re willing to invest in a premade package.

In fact, Scout runs a pretty regular promotion that gives you the basic package for free when you sign up for a year of professional monitoring. And at just $20 per month, that year of professional monitoring doesn’t even cost much. Once the year is up, you can always switch to its self-monitoring plan at $10 per month, which gets you push alerts and the ability to live monitor your cameras.