The Best IFTTT Security Systems
Find out which security systems work best with IFTTT.


- Lets you tie facial recognition to routines for specific visitors
- Cellular backup means routines work even if Wi-Fi goes out
- Works with a wide range of smart home devices

- abode’s own proprietary smart system, CUE, doubles IFTTT options
- Virtually unlimited possibilities when it comes to creating IFTTT routines
- Tie motion detectors to lights and televisions for extra break-in deterrents

- Multi-purpose sensors give you IFTTT control with less equipment
- Environmental sensors can activate thermostat controls if a room becomes too warm
- With 5,000 feet range, you can connect more devices
If you’ve explored IFTTT technology at all, you know how handy it can be for connecting the different digital aspects of your life, from YouTube to Excel to Spotify.
If you really want to supercharge your IFTTT use, though, you need a security system that works with IFTTT seamlessly. That way, you can create a log of every time your front door opens. You can set your garage door to close automatically once you’re inside your home. You can make sure your air conditioner shuts off every time you open a window. But which systems work the best with IFTTT? Read on to find out.
Numbers
Total security systems | 5 |
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Systems with free monitoring | 4 |
Systems with local storage | 4 |
Package price range | $40-$549 |
Monitoring price range | $5-$20 |
The Best IFTTT Security Systems of 2023
- Blue by ADT - Best IFTTT Security System Overall
- abode - Best IFTTT Security System With Daily Monitoring Plans
- Notion - Best IFTTT Security System for Large Homes
- Wyze Cam - Most Affordable IFTTT Security System
- Scout Alarm - Best IFTTT Security System With Free Storage
Comparison of the Best IFTTT Security Systems
System |
Blue by ADT
|
abode
|
Notion
|
Wyze Cam
|
Scout Alarm
|
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Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
Ratings | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.3/10 | 7.0/10 |
Package cost | $180-$300 | $232-$292 | $149-$279 | $40-$70 | $229-$549 |
Free self-monitoring option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No alerts without a paid plan |
Professional monitoring monthly price | $20 | $6-$20 | N/A | $5 | $10-$20 |
Minimum contract length | 1 month | 3 days | 1 month | 1 month | 1 month |
Cloud storage options | 24 hours free, or 30 days for $6 per month | 7 days for $0.20 a day, or 30 days for $0.66 a day | N/A | 12-second clips for free, 14 days for $1.25 per camera per month | 14 days for $2.99 per camera per month |
Local storage option | SD card support card | SD card support card | N/A | SD card support card | N/A |
Installation type | DIY | DIY or professional | DIY | DIY | DIY |
Smart platform integrations | IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave | IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave, HomeKit | IFTTT | IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant | IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant |
Read Review | Blue by ADT Review | abode Review | Notion Review | Wyze Cam Review | Scout Alarm Review |
Detailed List of the Best IFTTT Security Systems
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1. Blue by ADT - Best IFTTT Security System Overall
ADT has been in the home security business for more than 145 years and boasts over 6 million customers in the U.S.1 Blue by ADT (formerly LifeShield) is the company’s DIY home security offering, and it manages to combine the solid reliability we’ve come to associate with ADT with the flexibility of DIY. We got top-of-the-line equipment, including door sensors with a slim profile and a video doorbell with an 180-degree field of vision, all at affordable price points. Plus, we had tons of monitoring options.
What We Liked
- ADT’s trusted reputation
- Equipment quality
- Lot of monitoring options
- Easy DIY installation
What We Didn’t Like
- The professional monitoring costs aren’t the lowest on the market
- The mobile app is unreliable
- It doesn’t support Apple HomeKit
- The cameras don’t work with Google Assistant
High-Quality Equipment
We were impressed with all of Blue by ADT’s equipment. As a starting point, both its indoor and outdoor cameras had 1080p HD resolution, a 130-degree field of vision, and two-way audio. The cameras also allowed us to create custom motion-activated zones so we didn’t have to worry about neighbors triggering alerts just by walking past. Blue by ADT cameras also have facial recognition capabilities.
The Blue hub and sensors sported a sleek, slim design that fit perfectly with our décor. We also bought a video doorbell, which had a whopping 180-degree field of vision.
Lots of Monitoring Options
Our favorite aspect of Blue by ADT was how many different ways we could monitor our system. Of course, we believe in professional monitoring — why not let the experts keep an eye on our home? Blue offered us 24/7 professional monitoring from a network of call centers all over the country. That service included emergency alerts to us and to the authorities, as well as cellular backup, for $20 a month.
Had we wanted to save a little money, though, we could have self-monitored only for free. The system sends alerts and the app allows streaming, so we kept track of what was happening at home regardless of our professional monitoring plan.
FYI: Wi-Fi is a convenient means of connecting your security equipment, and it allows you to have a security system without a landline. However, this means that if your internet goes out, so does your security system. The best home security systems include cellular or landline backup so that you’re covered even if you lose your internet signal. For more information, check out our list of the best cellular home security systems.
Smart Integrations
We had no trouble using IFTTT to connect our Blue by ADT system to all sorts of other devices in our apartment. Just for fun, we used Blue’s facial recognition to trigger our stereo to play “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” every time one of our sisters came over.
The system worked just as well with other smart platforms, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Blue by ADT is also compatible with a wide range of smart products, including iRobot vacuums, Sonos speakers, Nest thermostats, and Philips Hue light bulbs.
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2. abode - Best IFTTT Security System With Daily Monitoring Plans
Abode offered us all the things we expect from a quality home security system: the choice of DIY or professional installation, quality equipment for affordable prices, self-monitoring options, and tons of smart home integrations. What makes abode special, though, are the unique features it offers. For one thing, its security and monitoring plans are priced by the day rather than the month. For another, it offers its own proprietary smart system, CUE, which stands for “custom engine.” Bottom line — we like it when companies innovate.
What We Liked
- Short-term monitoring contracts
- IFTTT and lots of other smart integrations, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit
- Simple DIY installation
- Free local storage option with SD card slot
What We Didn’t Like
- Poor customer service
- Relatively expensive equipment
- No zoom on cameras
- Frustrating return policy
Daily Monitoring Rates
Abode’s price structure is unique in the industry. Like its competitors, abode offers monthly and annual plans.
Features No plan Standard Plan Pro Plan Unlimited cameras No Yes Yes Notifications Yes Yes Yes Video storage No Yes Yes Timeline No Yes Yes Home automation Yes Yes Yes In-app panic alarms No Yes Yes Premium support No Yes Yes Person detection No Yes Yes Cellular backup No No Yes 24/7 professional monitoring No No Yes Free shipping (lower 48 states) No No Yes Access to deals and discounts No No Yes Homeowners insurance discounts No No Yes Price per day $0 $0.20 $0.66 Price per month $0 $6 $20 Price per year $0 $60 $100 for first year, $200 after that As you can see, abode also offers daily monitoring rates. One day of Standard Plan monitoring is 20 cents, and one day of the Pro Plan is 66 cents.
What’s so great about these daily options? When we signed up with adobe, we decided to save a little money by self-monitoring. When we went out of town for a three-day weekend, though, we wanted to add professional monitoring. We bought coverage for just three days for under $2.
CUE
Abode works well with IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, even Apple HomeKit. In addition, it’s compatible with products from Nest, Philips Hue, ecobee, Kwikset, LIFX, First Alert, and more. We were most impressed, though, by abode’s own smart platform, CUE.
CUE allowed us to set triggers and fine-tune them with conditions. For instance, we set the lights to turn on if we came home at night but not if we came home during the day. CUE also supports geofencing and sunrise and sunset triggers. When we combined CUE with IFTTT, we could make our home do almost anything we wanted. For example, our stereo plays celebratory music when we come through our apartment door, but only if our phone says we met our step goals for the day.
Easy Installation
Abode offers professional installation through HelloTech, and prices are reasonable, starting at $99. However, abode’s equipment is so simple to install that we did it ourselves. In fact, once we plugged the hub into the wall outlet and connected it to the router, the abode app guided us through the rest of the setup. We used the sticky pads that came with the system to hang sensors around our apartment, then we were done. The installation process took us 15 minutes from start to finish.
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3. Notion - Best IFTTT Security System for Large Homes
There’s something very reassuring about the simplicity of the Notion home security system. Individual packages include sensors, a bridge, and a mobile app — that’s it. We didn’t have to make choices about what equipment to buy. We didn’t have to worry about storage options. We didn’t have to spend a lot of time installing complicated components. Best of all, because Notion’s innovative sensors did so much, we still felt like we were totally secure from home invaders, fires, and flooding.
What We Liked
- Multifunctional sensors
- Simple DIY installation
- Wide bridge range that covers large homes
- Affordable packages
What We Didn’t Like
- No cameras
- No Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit integrations
- No cellular backup
- No professional monitoring
Simple Packages
We think Notion is a great choice for anyone interested in no-fuss home security. Packages had only three types of components: sensors, a bridge, and a mobile app. All we had to decide was how many sensors. That made figuring Notion’s pricing a breeze too. We got a bridge for $59 and could add as few or as many sensors as we wanted for $39 each.
Multipurpose Sensors
The reason Notion can get away with providing so few components is that its sensors perform multiple functions. Most security systems provide sensors that serve a single purpose: glass-break sensors, door sensors, motion sensors, etc. Each Notion sensor, on the other hand, monitors the temperature, acceleration, sound, water, and orientation.
A single device alerted us when the front door opened and when our water heater sprang a leak. In addition, the bridge that connected these devices and communicated with our mobile app had a range of 5,000 feet. Our apartment isn’t quite that big — we wish! That range would certainly be a benefit for anyone with a large home, though. Check out our complete list of the best security systems for large homes.
IFTTT
We had no problems using IFTTT with our Notion home security system. However, Notion doesn’t work with a lot of smart platforms, such as Alexa and Google Assistant. As the company puts it, “Notion does not offer any actions that can be performed in the system if it were integrated with Echo” or Google Home. No actions, of course, means no voice commands. That may turn off some potential customers. However, we found that IFTTT did everything we needed. We set up our system so that the lights came on anytime we got up in the night. And when our kitchen started to heat up while we were making dinner, it triggered our air conditioning to kick in.
The More You Know: IFTTT stands for If This, Then That. It is a free method of connecting any devices, programs, and apps, regardless of the platform they use. Once you’ve connected these devices, programs, and apps, you can create routines in which one event triggers others2.
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4. Wyze Cam - Most Affordable IFTTT Security System
Few home security companies can compete with Wyze in price. Wyze offers affordable equipment and monitoring plans. Affordable doesn’t mean cheap, though. We discovered that Wyze equipment is dependable and that the cameras have some great features, like activity zones and eight times zoom. Best of all, Wyze worked great with IFTTT, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Wyze also offers its own line of smart home devices, including thermostats, vacuums, lamps, smart lights, and sprinkler controllers. Low prices and quality equipment is our favorite combination.
What We Liked
- Affordable equipment
- Low-priced monitoring
- Free storage options
- Line of smart home devices
What We Didn’t Like
- No integration with Apple HomeKit
- No professional installation
- Limited customer service
- AI (like person and pet detection) only available with monitoring plan
Free Storage Options
Wyze offered us not just one but two kinds of free video storage. First, the cameras have SD card slots, so we had local storage if we wanted it. In addition, we could record clips up to 12 seconds long and store them in the cloud for up to 14 days. This was long enough to transfer those clips from the cloud to our laptop’s hard drive. Finally, Wyze also offered us two weeks’ worth of unlimited cloud recording for just $1.25 per camera per month. Ultimately, this variety of free and low-cost recording makes Wyze a great choice for anyone looking to self-monitor.
Features Cam Basic Plan Cam Plus Plan Event video length 12 seconds Unlimited Cooldown period 5 minutes No cooldown period Motion-triggered alerts Yes Yes 2x and 4x fast-forwarding Yes Yes Person detection Yes Yes Package detection No Yes Vehicle detection No Yes Pet detection No Yes Price per camera per month $0 $1.25 Affordable Monitoring
We may have mentioned this already, but we’re fans of professional monitoring services. We can’t be available to deal with camera alerts all the time, so we prefer to leave the monitoring to the experts. That’s why we were excited to discover that Wyze has partnered with Noonlight to provide 24/7 monitoring for just $5 a month. We’ve yet to find a better price on the market than that.
Low-Cost Equipment
Finally, Wyze also keeps its prices down. This is what you get in the Wyze Core Starter Kit:
- Hub
- Keypad
- Two entry sensors
- Motion sensor
- Leak sensor and probe
- Two decals
All that equipment costs only $80, and when we signed up for professional monitoring, Wyze cut that price in half. We added an indoor camera with infrared night vision for just $33. Learn more in our review of the Wyze Cam.
Wyze also offers great smart home devices, so we decided to get a couple of these just for fun. For $32, we bought a Wyze scale to keep track of our weight. We couldn’t resist the Wyze cordless vacuum for $120 either. Best of all, this equipment all worked with IFTTT. Our dog hates the vacuum, so we connected it to his doggie door. Now he can always escape when we decide to do a little housecleaning.
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5. Scout Alarm - Best IFTTT Security System With Free Storage
What we liked most about Scout was just how many choices we had. First, Scout let us build our own security system from scratch. We got to choose exactly which components were right for us. Then we got to choose which smart home platform to work with. Scout integrates with a plethora of platforms and devices, from IFTTT to Alexa. Finally, with a 60-day money-back guarantee and flexible monitoring cancellation policies, Scout gave us plenty of time to decide whether we liked the system or not.
What We Liked
- Free storage
- Customizable packages
- Responsive customer service
- Affordable hardware
What We Didn’t Like
- No local storage options
- No alerts without a paid plan
- No outdoor camera
- Lack of features like two-way audio
Customization
One of the things we liked best about Scout was just how easy it was to build our own system. Scout offers packages, which it calls Scout Packs, starting at $229. As the company says on its website, though, “one size doesn’t fit all.” We have a small Brooklyn apartment. With Scout, we started with a hub for $120 and added only the components we needed.
It was also easy to customize a Scout system by connecting it to other smart devices. The Scout system integrates well with Alexa and Google Assistant, and we used it with IFTTT as well. We connected the system with our Kwikset Z-Wave locks so we could use our mobile app to let the dog-sitter in when we were out of town, for example.
Award-Winning Customer Service
We don’t always highlight a company’s customer service when we review it, but Scout’s customer service is just that good. For one thing, it gave us multiple good options for getting support. We watched a couple of video tutorials and checked out the online FAQs and community forum. Phone help is available 24/7, and the company provides email responses.
When we had trouble with our camera’s video feed, we decided to use Scout’s online response form. With most companies, it can be hours or days before someone responds. We had an answer from Scout in under 30 minutes. It was fast, it was polite, and it solved the problem.
The Scout App
The Scout app is the heart of the system. It let us arm and disarm the system and control all our equipment. We could also stream video and check recent monitoring activity. We were a little disappointed, though, that Scout didn’t send us real-time alerts unless we paid for one of its monthly monitoring plans. Still, we found the app incredibly responsive. During setup, it even prompted us to check our motion detectors’ sensitivity.
Methodology
We take our jobs seriously, so before we compile any of our “best” lists, we scrutinize each and every home security system out there. Here’s a quick rundown of what we looked for when testing the best IFTTT home security systems.
Smart Home Integrations
All the security systems on this list are fully compatible with IFTTT. However, we also considered whether the systems work with other smart platforms, such as Amazon and Google, as well as third-party IoT devices from companies like Yale and ecobee.
Equipment
The first thing we do with any home security system, of course, is unbox it and take it for a spin. We want to know just how well all the equipment works. While every company includes different components in its packages, they tend to include some combination of these items:
- Door sensors
- Window sensors
- Motion sensors
- Security cameras
- Hubs
- Video doorbells
- Smart locks
- Panic buttons
- Garage door sensors
- Glass-break sensors
- Keypads
- Key fob remotes
We’re also interested in the features of these components. Here are some examples.
- Cameras: The best home security cameras have industry-standard 1080p HD resolution, at least a 120-degree field of vision, zoom capabilities, and two-way audio. For outdoor cameras, we prefer ratings of at least IP65, which means they are dust-tight and can withstand low-pressure water jets. We pay attention to whether cameras have SD card slots or cloud storage options. Companies receive bonus points for cameras that offer custom activity zones and person detection.
- Wireless components: When equipment is wireless, we consider whether it needs a battery and, if so, how long its batteries last. The best wireless systems may use either solar power or rechargeable batteries. Interested in a wired system instead? Check out our best hardwired home security systems.
Finally, we like companies that offer lots of options. At a minimum, we should be able to choose from several packages. We like it even better if we can build our own system from scratch or add to it over time.
Monitoring
We advocate for professional monitoring. Professional monitoring means someone’s keeping an eye on our house for us 24/7. The person (or people) will contact us and emergency services if anything should happen. However, as we mentioned above, our favorite companies offer us the option to self-monitor. Self-monitoring means the system will send us alerts when something triggers a camera or sensor and let us livestream video so we know exactly what’s going on.
Installation
There are two types of installation. Professional installation means the company sends workers to our home to set up the equipment for us. Usually, professional installation carries a fee.
The other type of installation is DIY. DIY, as the name implies, means we install the equipment ourselves. In general, we prefer DIY over professional home security installation. You can also check out our list of the best DIY home security systems.
Costs
Home security systems have three main costs: equipment, installation, and monitoring.
- Equipment costs: As this list demonstrates, costs can vary widely between companies. While Wyze charges as little as $40 for its most basic package, abode charges $232. That price can depend on many factors, including what and how many components are in the package and the quality of those components. In general, we like home security systems with basic packages that cost $100 to $200.
- Installation costs: DIY installation, of course, costs nothing. That’s one reason we prefer this installation option. If a company offers professional installation, however, we believe the price should begin somewhere around $100.
- Monitoring costs: Here again, self-monitoring should be free, with sensor and camera alerts as well as livestreaming options included. We like it when companies offer affordable storage options as well. Prices for 24/7 monitoring vary, but in general, we look for plans that cost no more than $60 per month.
Mobile Apps
We evaluate each security system’s app on usability and functionality. We like intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces. We also expect apps to send us real-time alerts and allow us to view live footage and to turn the system on and off remotely.
Company Background
We place high value on safety and security, which is why we investigate every company’s privacy policy and history. That’s also why we put together a complete guide to privacy. We prefer the systems on our lists to limit the data they collect about us. We don’t like it when companies sell data to third-party vendors, and we want to see records free of security breaches.
Recap
IFTTT has over 20 million users. That number is likely to grow exponentially over the next several years, since IFTTT also claims 200,000 developers3. Luckily, there are some great home security systems that take advantage of this technology.
FAQs
We could talk all day about this stuff. In fact, we’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions about the best IFTTT home security systems below.
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What is IFTTT in home security?
IFTTT in home security means that your system should be compatible with the IFTTT platform. IFTTT allows devices and programs to communicate with one another, no matter what company makes them. A home security system that integrates with IFTTT should allow you to connect your security components to other programs and devices. For example, with an IFTTT applet, you might be able to post security camera footage directly to YouTube or set your security system to arm itself automatically anytime the authorities issue an emergency broadcast alert in your neighborhood.
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What is the best DIY home security system?
The best DIY home security system is SimpliSafe. Other good DIY systems include Cove, abode, Frontpoint, and Deep Sentinel.
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How secure is IFTTT?
IFTTT is secure if you are creating your own applets and recipes. The company itself hasn’t had any security issues in the past, and it doesn’t sell information to third parties. The problem is that most users prefer to download preexisting applets and recipes rather than create their own. In fact, IFTTT’s website notes that over 200,000 developers work in IFTTT. What IFTTT doesn’t say is that it cannot verify the safety of any of those developers’ applets. One FTC report from 2017 found that 50 percent of these applets and recipes either leak private information, allow outside information to corrupt them, or both. Therefore, IFTTT can be a safe platform if you exercise proper caution by making your own applets and recipes.
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What is IFTTT used for?
IFTTT is used to connect devices and programs so they can work together, no matter what company manufactured them. IFTTT stands for “if this, then that,” which refers to setting digital conditions so that one event triggers other events. For example, you might program your smart alarm clock so that when it goes off, your smart coffee maker begins making coffee. IFTTT has potentially unlimited uses, such as having milk delivered to your house when your refrigerator notices you’re running low, or having your teenager’s phone call you every time they raise the window in their room to sneak out.
ADT. (2021). ADT is Committed to Your Home and Business Security.
adt.com/about-adtIFTTT. (2021). What is IFTTT?.
help.ifttt.com/hc/en-us/articles/115010325748-What-is-IFTTT-IFTTT. (2021). Find the right plan.
ifttt.com/plans