Frontpoint Security System: Our 2025 Hands-On Review

How to Buy a Frontpoint Security System

Our $1,200+ Frontpoint equipment laid out on a desk.

You can order Frontpoint equipment online or over the phone. We recommend checking out the online shop first to see your equipment options. Frontpoint’s website offers transparent pricing. Selecting a device’s name also shows a brief description, which can help you better pick your security system components. You can even review Frontpoint’s contract on the checkout page — plus points for transparency.

That said, we suggest transacting over the phone by requesting a quote. If you shop online, the checkout page will show you only one monitoring option for $1.64 per day or $49.99 per month. That plan also comes with a three-year contract. Over the phone, you can request more affordable monitoring options — some with month-to-month contracts.

>> Learn More: The Best No-Contract Home Security Systems of 2025

Frontpoint’s Monitoring Contract

Testing the Frontpoint touch-screen controller after activating our monitoring service.

You may be open to go into a monitoring contract with Frontpoint as long as you know what you’re getting into. Home security contracts aren’t all that bad, because they also include terms that protect the user’s interest. For example, we’ve seen contracts that limit how much the company can increase the monthly fee (this is true for Frontpoint) or even lock the monitoring cost for the duration of the agreement.

No one wants to read an entire legal document, though, so we summarized Frontpoint’s most important contract details and compared them against those of ADT and Vivint.

The rest of Frontpoint’s contract explains legal liabilities, waivers, rights and interactions with the alarm company. This is helpful if you need to contact Frontpoint about cancelling your contract or getting warranty services. Remember to take notes and highlight items in your copy so you can easily explain things in your call or email.1

What Does Frontpoint Professional Monitoring Include?

Our Frontpoint touch-screen keypad next to some of the sensors it monitors and controls.

Frontpoint’s Ultimate Monitoring Plan — the default plan if you buy online — costs $49.99 per month before taxes. It includes almost every monitoring feature Frontpoint offers, such as:

• Cellular system communication
• 24/7 professional monitoring
• Phone, text, app and email alerts
• Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri integration
• Third-party smart-home compatibility
• Cloud storage (3,000 clips per month shared among all cameras in your system)
• Access to the Frontpoint app

Frontpoint’s base price is competitive with Vivint and not much more than ADT, especially when you realize that Frontpoint comes with smart home and security camera controls, which add up quickly with Vivint.

SimpliSafe, Cove and Ring Alarm, however, still have the edge on monthly costs, even when you choose the pricier plans with smart-home and camera integration. For example, you can get similar coverage from Ring with the Ring Home Standard plan ($9.99 per month) with professional monitoring add-on ($10 per month) for a total of $19.99 per month.

Frontpoint Service Add-Ons

Frontpoint’s Ultimate Professional Monitoring plan includes most features, but you can choose to pay extra for these three add-ons:

1. The In-App Personal Safety Button costs $4.99 per user per month. You can hold the button anywhere (not just at home) when you feel unsafe, and it will trigger an alarm response to your location when released.
2. The AI Deterrence camera add-on gives you 10 AI responses per compatible security camera per month for $4.99 monthly. The feature allows your camera to speak a custom or AI voice message to ask intruders to leave. (It’s essentially a smarter siren with a mix of neutral and extremely unfriendly voices.)
3. You can buy extra cloud video storage capacity beyond the 3,000 clips included with your plan.

Our Experience With Frontpoint Equipment

We bought a variety of Frontpoint equipment, including security cameras, security sensors and safety sensors.

To fully test Frontpoint, we ordered a custom package with 18 pieces of equipment and accessories. Our package totaled $1,825, but it dropped to just over $1,200 after discounts. Here’s everything we got and their MSRPs.

• 1 Display Hub+: $449.99
• 3 door or window sensors: $34.99 each ($104.97 total)
• 1 motion sensor: $69.99
• 1 garage door sensor: $44.99
• 1 flood sensor: $44.99
• 1 smoke and heat sensor: $69.99
• 1 carbon monoxide sensor: $89.99
• 1 indoor camera: $119.99
• 1 outdoor camera: $229.99
• 1 premium floodlight camera: $299.99
• 1 wireless doorbell camera: $299.98
• 1 smart chime: $59.99
• 1 yard sign: $0
• 3 window decals: $0

We tested most of Frontpoint’s sensors and cameras. The only ones we didn’t test were the smart lock, wired doorbell camera, glass-break sensor, indoor smart plug, outdoor smart plug and keychain remote.

We also noticed that Frontpoint doesn’t offer smart thermostats, which are available from both Vivint and ADT. Plus, those two other brands offer a wider selection of smart-home devices, such as smart plugs and lights. Check out our list of the best smart-home security systems if you’re looking for a security system that can help automate your home. ADT and Vivint topped that list.

Setting Up Our Frontpoint Home Security System

Our entire setup process hinged heavily on the Frontpoint app.

We started by downloading the Frontpoint app, which asked us to enter the activation code that came with our purchase. The entire activation process took less than five minutes.

After that, we jumped into our control panel setup. For our tests, we used the Display Hub+ (touch screen) panel. It has the same Wi-Fi, cellular connection and battery backup as the screenless Frontpoint Hub, but it comes with sleek touch-screen controls. You can manage most settings on the panel, but we found the Frontpoint app and web portal more convenient.

The Display Hub+ comes with a stand for easy placement on a table or shelf, but you can also buy a wall-mounting kit if you prefer a more permanent location. Wall mounting the panel takes a few minutes, while the table mount is as easy as plopping it on your shelf and plugging it in.

Installing the Frontpoint Sensors

Installing the Frontpoint control panel and sensors took less than 20 minutes.

Frontpoint preprograms every security sensor before shipping your order, which makes it easy to set up and install most of the security system. The only things you need to do are choose where to place your sensors and verify they’re working before installing them.

We mounted all the sensors using the included adhesive pads, and it took on average less than a minute per sensor. The only tool we needed was a ladder to reach high places for the motion sensor, glass-break sensor, smoke and heat sensor, carbon monoxide detector, and door and window sensors.

The motion, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors also have screws and anchors for more secure mounting. We recommend using the screws and anchors if you want a more permanent installation (i.e., if you see yourself living in the same house for at least three more years). Just note that marking and drilling the holes for the anchors will add time and tools required for the installation.

You can set up home automation for sensors to activate lights and cameras, but Frontpoint doesn’t allow you to adjust the sensitivity of each sensor. You can, however, assign different chimes and voice responses to each sensor to help you know when someone opens the back door.

An Issue With the Smart Chime

Setting up the Smart Chime was the hardest part of our Frontpoint installation.

As long as we’re talking about installation, we should mention the issues we had with the Smart Chime. The Smart Chime is primarily a wireless chime for the wireless doorbell camera, but it also doubles as a Wi-Fi access point to extend the range of your Frontpoint cameras. Basically, you connect it to Wi-Fi, and then connect your cameras to it. That’s why Frontpoint recommends setting up the Smart Chime before the security cameras.

Unfortunately, the instructions that came with the Smart Chime were unclear. We couldn’t see it on our Frontpoint app, even after we successfully connected our phone to the Smart Chime’s network. That’s when we decided to check out Frontpoint’s customer-support website. We followed the Smart Chime Master Guide, which was different from the manual we received.

The guide includes one crucial step missing from the physical manual. It says you have to “type in 192.168.173.1 into the URL bar of your mobile phone’s web browser to be directed to the Wi-Fi setup web page.” Once we did that, our Frontpoint app immediately recognized the device and we were able to finish our setup.

>> Related: The Best Home Security Systems With Doorbell Cameras

Setting Up the Frontpoint Security Cameras

The four Frontpoint security cameras we tested: premium floodlight camera (top middle), outdoor camera (right), indoor camera (bottom middle) and wireless doorbell camera (left).

Setting up our four Frontpoint cameras wasn’t as arduous as the Smart Chime, but all of them required a factory reset — none of the cameras connected on the first try. It was particularly inconvenient on the wireless doorbell camera, which takes a whopping 45 seconds to reset.

Also, forget about using the option for setting up multiple cameras on the Frontpoint app. It didn’t work for us. Instead, set up the cameras one by one. That way, you can make sure they are working properly.

>>Further Reading: How to Install Security Cameras

Although we didn’t install the cameras in permanent locations for our testing, the same instructions applied to our mounting blocks.

Depending on the amount of drilling, expect to spend 10 to 20 minutes mounting each camera. Installing wall-mounted cameras is simple, but we needed to drill several holes for screws on the wireless doorbell camera, outdoor camera and premium floodlight camera.

The indoor camera has a wall mount, but we prefer the built-in stand, which is perfect for placing the camera on a high shelf. The wireless doorbell camera’s mounting bracket comes with a wedge to adjust the view downward on some porches.

Beyond that, the main setup limitation is the power cord, which must reach a nearby outlet. You’ll need a larger drill bit if you want to run the power cable through an exterior wall, but you can also run the cable along the wall.

Using Frontpoint Security Cameras

You can tie camera recordings to alarm modes so they record only when you arm the Frontpoint system or when an alert triggers.

Thankfully, using a Frontpoint camera is much easier than setting it up. Let’s run through a few features they share before highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Collectively, the 1080p HD maximum resolution of Frontpoint’s security cameras is unremarkable, but close to what you’ll find with most competitors. They all produced clear videos with little distortion.

Thanks to its 30-frames-per-second frame rate, we think the wireless doorbell camera’s recordings look best overall. The indoor camera, outdoor camera and premium floodlight camera, however, have a maximum frame rate of 10 frames per second. The resulting movement in videos is a little jittery, but it doesn’t affect the overall clarity.

The cameras also feature smart motion detection for people, vehicles and animals, but that’s a standard feature in modern security cameras. The same applies to the motion zone setting that triggers recordings and Perimeter Guard (flashing lights and sirens) when someone enters a custom zone, such as a sidewalk or doorway.

Video Storage

Frontpoint’s flexible video storage options are a nice perk.

For video storage, Frontpoint lets you store up to 3,000 clips per month with the Ultimate Monitoring plan. That number is shared by all your cameras, which wasn’t a problem with our four-camera setup. If you need more, though, you can buy additional cloud capacity as an add-on.

One unique thing about Frontpoint is that the indoor camera, outdoor camera and premium floodlight camera all support local storage on a microSD card in addition to cloud storage. That means you can save continuous video footage to fill in the gaps between motion-activated cloud recordings.

Most cameras for home security systems don’t include onboard storage, let alone support for microSD cards. Eufy (used by Cove), Google Nest (used by ADT), SimpliSafe and Ring, for example, use only cloud storage. Some Vivint cameras also work with microSD cards.

>> Read More: Our Review of Vivint Security Cameras

Indoor Camera

The indoor camera is very easy to use.

The indoor camera’s biggest strength is its easy setup and placement. The cord was even long enough to reach high shelves far from the power outlet. Other than that, it’s a bog-standard home security camera.

>> Other Options: The Best Indoor Security Cameras of 2025

Outdoor Camera

The outdoor camera showed a clear view of the courtyard outside our home.

We like the outdoor camera’s relatively compact design, metal case and weatherproofing. Its cord isn’t much longer than that of the indoor model, though, so you’ll need a nearby sheltered outlet outdoors if you don’t want to run the cable indoors.

Along with the premium floodlight camera, it can use Frontpoint’s new AI Deterrence voice messages. That costs extra, however, and it includes only 10 automated deterrence actions each month.

>> Other Options: The Best Outdoor Security Cameras of 2025

Premium Floodlight Camera

You can reposition the bright floodlights and camera to target specific areas in your yard.

Frontpoint’s premium floodlight camera is large and visually intimidating, especially if you create an automatic recording rule to illuminate unwelcome nighttime visitors. You can control the lights independently of the camera, making it easy to integrate into your smart-home automations. We like having the light turn on when opening a door for extra visibility at night.

>> Compare: Ring Floodlight Cam Review in 2025

Wireless Doorbell Camera

Because there’s no wiring to mess with, you can install it anywhere, like on a gate at the edge of your property.

The wireless doorbell camera requires occasional recharging, but it’s generally a better option for most people than the wired model. It requires the Smart Chime to work. It was a hassle to set up, but the Chime’s customizable tones and ability to boost Wi-Fi range are nice upgrades over an existing mechanical chime.

>> Other Options: The Best Video Doorbell Cameras of 2025

Frontpoint’s Professional Monitoring Response

Frontpoint’s hardware generally worked as expected, but that’s only half the equation. We were also interested in finding out how well Frontpoint responds to alarms, especially because the system requires professional monitoring to work. Not to spoil anything, but Frontpoint made our list of this year’s best monitored home security systems.

Dual-Path Monitoring

One thing we liked about Frontpoint is its use of dual-path communication — the main hub essentially communicates via Wi-Fi and cellular signals, whichever is available. If the Wi-Fi is down, it uses cellular signals to send alerts to the monitoring center; if there’s no cellular signal available, it uses Wi-Fi to generate alerts. It’s thanks to this dual-path technology that Frontpoint made our list of the best cellular security systems.

Response Times

Frontpoint has a 30-second entry delay by default. That means you have 30 seconds to disarm the system after triggering a sensor, such as when a door sensor is triggered after you enter the front door. That gives you time to cancel outgoing false alarms. You can increase the entry delay time to up to three minutes, but, in our opinion, 30 seconds is more than enough. Keep in mind that during those 30 seconds, Frontpoint won’t be notified.

If you don’t disarm the system during the entry delay period, the triggered sensor sends an active alarm. That’s when Frontpoint’s monitoring center is notified, triggering an alarm response that goes like this:

• You receive app and text alerts about the alarm. You can confirm or cancel the alarm via text or the app, but to cancel, you’ll need to provide your security passcode.
• Frontpoint attempts to reach out to your emergency contacts via a phone call. You can also confirm or cancel the alarm during the call. The security password will be required.
• If none of the emergency contacts answer, if the wrong password is given or if you request dispatch, Frontpoint contacts the appropriate emergency-response service.

In our experience, the entire process takes an average of 20 to 30 seconds after the initial entry delay period. That is pretty good, and still within the 60-second industry average. Of course, you can speed up the process by responding immediately to the text or app alert. Doing so will bypass the phone alert and immediately have Frontpoint dispatch help to your address.

Alarm Verification

Frontpoint’s monitoring center uses security cameras to verify and score alarms in order to speed up police response.

We also discovered that Frontpoint uses video verification to potentially speed up alarm response. They follow the Alarm Validation Scoring Standard (AVS-01) from the Monitoring Association. That standard sets an alarm level score for each alarm event. The highest levels — 3 and 4 — mean there’s a confirmed threat to property (e.g. burglary in progress) and confirmed threat to life (e.g. home invasion), respectively.2

Following a standard like the AVS-01 makes the flow of information between monitoring centers and law enforcement smoother during real emergencies. Several well-respected names in home security are already using AVS-01, including ADT, SimpliSafe and RapidResponse (Frontpoint’s monitoring partner).

>> Compare: ADT vs. SimpliSafe

Our Frontpoint App Experience

Aside from the few issues we had setting up our cameras, the Frontpoint app is easy to use with a layout that makes sense.

Like Frontpoint security systems, the app home screen is customizable. As you can see above, our arm/disarm option is front and center for easy access. We also preprogrammed phone numbers for the fire department and ambulance, just in case.

The Scenes section gives us easy access to home automation features. Pressing the home button disarms the security system, unlocks the smart lock on the front door and double-checks our garage door is closed. The sleep sequence switches off our smart lights, locks all doors and confirms the windows closed via entry sensors.

Frontpoint also lets you add third-party smart-home devices to automations, including those using the Z-Wave smart home protocol, but only those listed in its Third-Party Compatible Products Guide. The smart home automations cover the basics, with time-, event- and location-based triggers in addition to the manual controls. The automation rules work well with Alexa and Siri.

The Frontpoint app can do more than automations. You can check your video feed, review events and adjust settings for every device connected to your system. We also set up a geofence. When we leave the house in a rush, we forget to arm the system. Now Frontpoint alerts us when we’re outside the geofence. Instead of turning back, we arm it in the app.

Frontpoint Customer Service

We tested all of Frontpoint’s contact methods. We emailed them, filled out an online form and used web chat. It took a little longer than we would have liked for an email response, but the web chat responses were fast and friendly.

Calling Frontpoint is the best way to get questions answered. We spoke to two different consultants on separate occasions when we had an issue with connecting our camera to the Wi-Fi. The support from both Frontpoint representatives was excellent and they managed to solve our problem quickly and efficiently.

Final Thoughts on Frontpoint

The Frontpoint security system is a solid low- to midpriced option for most homeowners and worth considering for folks who aren’t interested in Vivint or ADT home security. This is especially true when you buy Frontpoint gear during one of the brand’s regular sales. The three-year contract for this DIY home security system can’t beat the month-to-month options from SimpliSafe though.

On the equipment front, Frontpoint’s compatibility with a relatively large number of smart-home devices gives it an edge over SimpliSafe’s weaker smart-home offerings and holds strong against most other competitors. Even though the setup process for Frontpoint security cameras didn’t go as smoothly as we hoped, the cameras are straightforward to learn for most people.

If you’re a renter, your best bet is to go with a month-to-month contract option, which may be harder to get with Frontpoint than with rival brands such as SimpliSafe and Cove. The three-year contract option, however, is probably better for homeowners who are comfortable committing long term.

Our Methodology

Our team of security experts leverages years of experience to provide our readers with reviews that accurately represent how security systems perform in real-world settings. Essentially, we test security systems in our own homes. We follow each security provider’s ordering and setup process like a typical homeowner.

After installation, we spend a week or two learning each system’s features, quirks and drawbacks. In addition to using a system during our everyday schedule, we simulate alarms, test sensors and evaluate security cameras to see how these line up with our experiences on other security systems.

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