Brinks Home Security Review

Getting to Know Brinks

Brinks — named for their founder Perry Brinks — can trace its history in the home security space back to the 1800s. It wasn’t until the 1990s, though, that Brink’s Home Security came to be. They’ve also since dropped the apostrophe from their name while partnering with other security providers to offer customers higher tech features and solutions.

Throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, the company built serious momentum, with offerings that competed with ADT home security systems. Then — poof! — the brand seemed to vanish. After Broadview Security (formerly Brink’s Home Security) was acquired by ADT in 2010, the Brinks name fell off the map for nearly a decade. Fast forward to 2018, and Brinks Home Security made a notable comeback when MONI Smart Security rebranded under the Brinks name, re-establishing itself as a competitive player in the industry.

First Impressions

We appreciated that Brinks sells straightforward equipment bundles that are easy to use and customize.

What we didn’t love is that Brinks locks you into a multi-year contract. Most commitments run 36 months or longer, depending on the package and any active promotions. That’s a serious commitment. We had to find out whether Brinks is actually worth it for the long haul. Let’s see.

SafeHome.org Editor Andrew Garcia unboxing the Brinks Home Security system

The Brinks Experience

One of the first things we noticed about Brinks home security is the consultative approach baked into the buying process. It shows up immediately on the website. Unlike ADT, there’s no option to buy directly online. Instead, we worked with a sales rep who customized a package to fit our specific setup.

There’s something to like here. A consultative approach avoids the one-size-fits-all trap that hurts some competitors. But the lack of a self-serve option is a real limitation, especially since ADT, a direct rival, gives customers the choice of calling for a quote or buying online outright. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing going in.

Below is a breakdown of the packages Brinks offers, based on pricing from our recent hands-on testing. Pricing in your area may vary, but this should give a solid sense of what to expect cost-wise.

Brinks Home Security Packages and Pricing

Rather than rigid pre-set packages, Brinks builds your system directly with a sales rep, tailored to your home and budget. The company doesn’t advertise standardized packages online, but based on our customer experience and typical configurations, here’s a general sense of what to expect cost-wise.

These tiers give a solid sense of how Brinks structures its packages and what to expect at each price point. That said, since every configuration is tailored to the individual customer, your actual quote may look a bit different. It’s worth confirming current pricing and availability directly with a Brinks representative, since offers can shift.

Brinks runs on a fully customizable model, so working with a rep means handpicking exactly what you need, including security cameras, sensors, smart locks, and thermostats. A zero-percent APR financing option is also available to help spread out the cost.

Installation

Brinks offers free two-day shipping, so everything we needed to get set up arrived on the doorstep quickly. True to the company’s shift toward a more DIY-friendly model, installation was straightforward, taking about 30 minutes start to finish in our testing. Not quite as fast as SimpliSafe, but solidly in the same ballpark.

For anyone who’d rather skip the DIY route, Brinks lets you text or call customer care to schedule professional installation, which comes with a fee. Worth noting too that professional installation has historically been bundled into the Ultimate package, a nice perk if that’s the tier you’re leaning toward.

Testing Brinks

Once the devices are in place, the focus shifts to the equipment and monitoring service itself. Brinks sources much of its hardware from established manufacturers, so the devices feel high-quality and dependable, and they communicate well with each other and the central hub.

That integration matters more than it might seem. Testing each component individually only tells part of the story. The real measure of a security system is how well everything works together, and with Brinks, that communication held up seamlessly in our testing, which translates to better protection against break-ins, burglaries, and package theft.

SafeHome.org Editor Andrew Garcia evaluating the Brinks IQ 2.0 Control Panel

You’ll be able to arm and disarm the alarm and perform other commands using the Brinks Smart Hub — a sleek touch-screen control panel that serves as the nerve center of your system. You’ll also be able to control your system remotely with the Brinks app. The app is decent, but it doesn’t measure up to the Ring app or the ADT+ app. I don’t like its basic interface, especially considering how advanced a Brinks security system can be. That said, Brinks has continued to refine the Smart Hub experience, and it does represent a meaningful step forward from earlier control panel options.

During our testing, Brinks’ entry sensors and motion detectors were highly responsive. We didn’t experience any false alarms. When the alarm triggered, a Brinks monitoring agent contacted us to assess the situation. It gave us greater confidence in the system’s ability to protect against burglary and home invasions.

While we strongly recommend professional monitoring, we wish Brinks offered a free self-monitoring option. Most DIY systems, such as SimpliSafe, let customers use their equipment without monthly fees, but professionally installed systems like Brinks require a subscription. If you’re looking for self-monitoring, check out our guide to the best home security systems with no monthly fee.

The SkyBell doorbell camera delivers 1080p HD video quality, bringing it in line with most doorbell cameras on the market today. The outdoor security camera is a bit better, with improved image quality and ease of use. Brinks also offers an indoor 1080p HD camera.

Brinks Monitoring

Brinks home monitoring depends entirely on the size of the package you select. Generally speaking, though, it’ll run you between roughly $39.99 to $49.99 per month. For context, the industry average hovers around $25 to $50 per month, so Brinks sits at the higher end of that range.

Brinks home monitoring cost depends on the size of the package you select. Generally, it will run between roughly $39.99 to $49.99 per month. For context, the industry average hovers around $25 to $50 per month, so Brinks is at the higher end of that range.

All these features work together to protect your home from crooks and criminals. LiveVoice Assist connects you to a monitoring agent quickly and conveniently through the control panel during emergencies. ASAPer makes communication a bit easier despite the chaos an unexpected alarm might cause. And cloud storage keeps video evidence of events, which you can use in case of a break-in.

Brinks Add-Ons and Upgrades

Brinks Home Security offers an extensive lineup of add-ons and upgrades. During our testing, we found the equipment durable and reliable. You can add any of these items to your equipment package:

• Door and Window Sensor – Add additional sensors to your home security system for $29 apiece, which is a great deal.
• Motion Detector – Cover more rooms and entryways with add-on motion detectors at $59 each. (These are designed to recognize and ignore pets under 40 pounds.)
• HD Indoor Camera – You can set up extra indoor cameras inside your home for $199 per camera. (This is a bit pricey compared to the industry average.)
• IQ Smoke Detector – Protect your home and family against fires with the Brinks IQ Smoke Detector for $89.
• Smart Home Automation – Your Brinks alarm system serves as your hub for 119 different smart home devices that integrate with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple, and other home automation platforms.
• Other Emergency Devices – Brinks also sells fire ($99), flood ($49), and glass-break detectors ($79), so you can be prepared for any disaster.

While Brinks offers solid equipment options, we found its camera lineup is a mixed bag. Some models are priced higher relative to their features and real-world performance. If you’re drawn to Brinks for their core security equipment, it’s worth comparing their camera offerings against third-party alternatives that might deliver more bang for your buck.

Our Brinks Home Security Test Equipment

Brinks Features and Tech

Brinks Home Security focuses on practical, affordable solutions rather than cutting-edge technology, making it ideal for budget-conscious homeowners wanting professional monitoring. If you prefer the latest equipment, check out Vivint home security packages. Despite its streamlined approach, Brinks delivers several useful features that enhance everyday home security.

Smartphone Controls

The Brinks security app lets you arm, disarm, and tap into your live video streams using your smartphone or other mobile device.4 This feature performed well for me, but I’d like to see a more user-friendly design.

On the bright side, just having an app improves a security system tremendously. Security apps let you control and monitor your system from anywhere, so even if you’re away, you can use it to protect your home. Specifically with the Brinks app, I was able to check camera live footage and use two-way talk to speak with visitors. If there were a burglary, that feature could have served as a great crime-stopper.

Cloud Video Storage

Brinks’ upper-tier plans include cloud video storage, letting you save recorded clips and footage for later review or use as evidence. Cloud storage typically runs an extra $5 to $10 per month at competing companies, so having it bundled into select Brinks plans is a genuine perk. While recorded video won’t stop a break-in in real time, having that footage on hand can be valuable — whether you’re working with local law enforcement or filing an insurance claim after the fact.

Brinks IQ 2.0 Control Panel

Brinks IQ 2.0 Control Panel features an LCD touch-screen for a streamlined look and user-friendly operation. It gave me greater control over my system than I typically get from a push-button panel. And the Brinks panel doubles as a smart home hub, seamlessly connecting all the smart devices in the house into one central unit.

30-Day Guarantee

While their warranty isn’t exactly a feature, it’s certainly worth mentioning here. All Brinks equipment comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. This assurance allows you to test- drive their system for a full month to ensure it’s right for you. If you find it’s not the best fit, simply return it for a full refund. It’s worth noting that while a 30-day guarantee has become fairly common in the industry, plenty of companies still skip it altogether — so the fact that Brinks includes it is a small but meaningful win for buyers who aren’t sure if they’re ready to commit.

Brinks Specs

Brinks Customer Service Experience

Quality customer service makes all the difference, and Brinks excels here. They offer ASAPer and LiveVoice assist, ensuring highly trained emergency personnel are always available. Traditional customer support channels are staffed by Brinks security experts.

Phone support connects you directly with their dedicated care team, and you can even text in your questions — a convenient touch you don’t see everywhere. Every time we reached out, the experience was solid and consistent. Staff were friendly and genuinely helpful, even when we threw some trickier questions their way.

For website contact, a ticketing system is available. Extensive self-service resources answer most basic issues. There’s also a Brinks online community where you can connect with other users to ask questions and share solutions.

Brinks customer support options including phone, text, and online community

On the customer satisfaction front, Brinks Home holds a B rating with the Better Business Bureau, which reflects the company’s active engagement with customer complaints spanning billing, tech support, and general inquiries. It’s not a perfect score, but it shows they’re in the conversation and working to resolve issues rather than ignoring them.

The Last Word

Overall, we found Brinks to be a solid system for the money, especially with sleek, modern touchscreen controls. It’s user-friendly, monitoring was reliable, and response times were fast.

If we were doing it again, we’d likely go with the Smart Security Complete package to keep equipment costs down without sacrificing too much. Between the broad customization options, smart home integrations, and flexible financing, Brinks delivers real value for homeowners who want a professionally monitored setup without a lot of DIY hassle.

That said, consider the long-term contract requirement. Some users complain Brinks isn’t flexible enough with three-year contracts and strict cancellation policies. But if you need home protection long-term (and who doesn’t?), this established security leader makes sense. All in all, it’s a solid system we recommend.

Our Methodology: How We Test Security Systems

We’re dedicated to providing unbiased reviews, and our team identifies brands offering dependable, high-quality security equipment and monitoring services. Our process begins with extensive research, meticulously gathering and comparing information on various systems.

Once we identify reliable systems, we purchase and install them in our homes for hands-on testing. We conduct extensive feature testing and assess each system’s strengths and weaknesses in protecting our homes and families. We even simulate burglaries, home invasions, and package theft scenarios to evaluate breach detection.

Testing typically lasts at least a week, though we often keep systems up to a month to understand long-term use. Then we write first-hand accounts covering ease of use, performance, features, customer service, pricing, and more.