Frontpoint Home Security Review
Frontpoint is easy to set up and great for large homes, but its monitoring costs might turn some people away.
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Last Updated on Jun 10, 2025
What We Like
- Integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant: Using our voices alone, we controlled the Frontpoint security system and other connected devices.
- DIY installation: It only took us about an hour to set up Frontpoint.
- Great customer support: In our opinion, Frontpoint has some of the best customer support of any security company in the United States.
What We Don't Like
- Expensive monthly fees: While the Video-Only monitoring plan is reasonably priced, the mid and top-tier plans are quite expensive.
- Must call to negotiate plans. If a camera is part of your security bundle, Frontpoint automatically adds the top-tier monitoring plan. You must call if you want to get a lower-cost plan instead.
Bottom Line
Frontpoint makes it easy to protect your home, with customizable packages and a simple DIY setup. On top of that, Frontpoint offers some of the best customer service in the industry. As your guide to home security systems, we describe Frontpoint as a mid-tier home security system. But, does it provide more return on investment than a bargain system?We’ve been testing Frontpoint for some time now. As we said, the company always stands out for its customer service, in an industry where it’s often lacking. On top of that, Frontpoint sells quality equipment with solid smart home capabilities. Unfortunately, the company pushes you toward its top-tier plan and makes you haggle over the phone for a cheaper plan. Let’s get into all the pros and cons so you can figure out if Frontpoint is the right system for you.
>> Explore Your Options: Best Home Security Systems of 2025
Frontpoint’s Competition and How It Compares
While prices of Frontpoint’s packages and devices are very competitive, the equipment cost is offset by the monitoring fees. Frontpoint does offer a bare-bones monitoring service for $14.99 per month, but the $49.99 price tag for its Ultimate Monitoring plan is much higher than top-tier plans from other companies. For example, ADT’s top-tier service is only $39.99 per month. Of course, there’s more to a home security system than cost. You can see how Frontpoint does against our top picks in our comparison guides: Frontpoint vs ADT, Frontpoint vs SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint vs Vivint.
What’s Included with Frontpoint?
A home security system from Frontpoint provides a lot of flexibility and scalability. Although you’re probably not going to max out your Frontpoint system, the company claims you can have as many as 80 sensors and more than 200 smart home devices, making it one of our best large home security systems. Needless to say, you can start small and scale up your system to epic proportions.
If you’re shopping for your first home security system or looking to switch from an existing one, we suggest starting with a basic package. The cheapest package has an MSRP of nearly $390, but costs $69, and it includes:
- 1 hub
- 1 keypad
- 2 door/window sensors
- 1 set of yard sign and window decals
Pro Tip: That $69 package price is part of a “special” promotion – okay, not really. Frontpoint is always running a sale and we’ve never really seen it offer its packages at the value price. So, even if you see the website calling it a special deal that ends at midnight, don’t feel rushed. Instead, go through this review and find out if a Frontpoint system is really the best fit for you.
You can add a camera (and more) to this base package, but your cost goes up accordingly. For example, if you add an indoor camera, the price is $69, but if you add a floodlight camera, the price is $165. For this review, we tacked on even more equipment to rack up a bill over $700. For comparison, our Vivint package with almost the same components cost us nearly double – $1,250.
Still, $700 is a huge amount to pay upfront, so it made us happy to see a financing option. We’re currently four months into our $25+ per month, 36-month financing plan. As is the case with our ADT security system, we had to sign a 36-month contract and go through a credit check to get our Frontpoint equipment financed. Still not bad; at least Frontpoint’s equipment cost didn’t put a huge ding on our budget and we got really good equipment. Let’s talk about them next, starting with the hub.
FYI: Financing is a great way to lighten the financial burden of buying a home security system, but take note that it will require you to go through a credit check. If you can’t get approved, check out SimpliSafe. While you’ll have to pay upfront to sidestep the credit check, SimpliSafe is one of the most affordable security systems with frequent discounts up to 60-percent off.
Frontpoint Hub
Frontpoint isn’t winning product design awards with its hub, but it’s innovative at least. It has a separate hub and keypad setup, unlike the Alder system we tested that has a two-in-one hub and keypad.
The hub is the most important component because it’s what ties the system together and links it to the monitoring center. This makes it a target for burglars when they break into a home. When a system has a two-in-one hub-and-keypad or control panel, it makes it easy for burglars to find their target. With Frontpoint, you can place the keypad near your door and keep the hub away from it.
FYI: It’s also worth pointing out that the Frontpoint Hub has built-in contingencies. On the off chance a burglar finds and smashes it, it has tamper-detection that would sound the siren and alert the authorities. The hub is also cellular-ready – it doesn’t need Wi-Fi to send alerts – and it has a 24-hour battery backup for power outages. We find that those are standard features for hubs, though, so they’re not only unique to Frontpoint.
Keypad
A keypad like the one from Frontpoint has been a home security staple for decades. If you’ve never used one, it’s quite simple: Enter your numerical passcode to arm or disarm the system. The keypad also has the standard panic alarm function you can use if you’re experiencing a break-in or emergency.
If we were to nitpick, it would be that Frontpoint’s keypad doesn’t offer the same functionality as a touch screen controller. When we’ve tested other systems, we use these panels to adjust the sensitivity of motion sensors, check out live feeds, and turn the lights down when we want to watch a movie. For Frontpoint, we had to use the app to perform these activities.
FYI: Unlike one of our other favorite DIY security systems, SimpliSafe, Frontpoint has a touchscreen panel. The only downside is that it costs $70 as an upgrade. Whenever we’re testing home security systems, we find ourselves using our smartphone app over a touchscreen panel. So you’ll have to decide if the extra cost is really worth it.
Don’t get us wrong, the Frontpoint app is great. But nothing beats the convenience of having a dedicated smart device controller near your front door. We recommend keeping an eye out for a sale on Frontpoint’s website. We’ve seen Frontpoint discount equipment by as much as 60 percent.
Pro Tip: Place the keypad within 100 feet of the hub. You can have multiple keypads in one location, and they can all connect to the hub wirelessly.
Door/ Window Sensor
Once you have the hub and keypad, the next step is to add sensors. Our $69 package included two of these door/window sensors, which we put on the front door and one of our street-facing windows. They detect opening and closing of doors, and will notify you and the monitoring center if your security system is armed.
Entry sensors are pretty simple, but they’re an effective way to protect your home’s entry points. That is, if you put up enough of them. We recommend placing entry sensors on every external door and window on the first floor of your house. It will work even on sliding glass doors, although if you want better aesthetics, you can opt for the recessed type. Instead of sticking to the door frame, recessed door sensors are bored into it and are essentially hidden from sight. Just note that you might have to break out the power drill to install it.
Motion Sensor
Motion sensors play a big part in home protection, but we much prefer them to have a low profile. Unfortunately, Frontpoint did not live up to that preference given the size of their motion sensors. It’s almost as big and bulky as the keypad. The shiny, white finish didn’t help either. It stood out against the beige backdrop.
However, it has a range of 30-by-35 feet, which is impressive. We put one in our living room, and it covered the entire space. The peripheral is 80 degrees, so you’ll want to put it on a corner wall.
Pro Tip: We recommend placing Frontpoint motion sensors at least seven to eight feet above the ground and tilted towards the floor. This will give you the best coverage, especially in larger rooms.
We should also note that Frontpoint made our list of the best security systems for pet owners thanks largely to the motion sensor. It can ignore pets up to 40 pounds, helpful for when we sat for a friend’s cuddly poodle.
Glass Break Sensor
The glass break sensor is a listening device trained to identify the sound of breaking glass. Not every home needs a glass break sensor, though. If you have window grilles, for example, you’re probably better off with motion sensors or window sensors. However, if you have sliding glass doors or sliding windows, this is a nice piece of equipment to have.
Frontpoint’s glass break sensor has a 20-foot detection range. So, if you have a lot of windows, you might need a few to cover all your bases. We recommend putting them in the same room as the doors and windows you’re monitoring. Walls and closed doors can muffle the sound, which means the glass break sensor might not detect it.
Keychain Remote
We always opt for a keychain remote whenever possible because they’re just so convenient to use. It can arm and disarm the security system with just a press of a button; no passwords required. Frontpoint’s keychain remote looks ordinary, but it has an insanely long battery life (five to eight years). It also has two additional functions we don’t normally see. It can be programmed to trigger a home automation routine (e.g. unlock your smart lock) and it can be used as a panic button. Whenever we get home from work, we disarm Frontpoint and unlock our door with the keychain remote. It’s that convenient.
Of course, since it doesn’t require verification, you should always be mindful of who you give out a keychain remote to, especially kids who might be a little less aware of the consequences of losing it. And if you do decide to give a family member a keychain remote, make sure to discuss with them how to keep it safe.
Frontpoint Video Doorbell
While Frontpoint doesn’t make their own video doorbell, we did review the SkyBell Slim Line Video Doorbell which works with their system. There were things we loved about the doorbell, but there were also some we didn’t like.
For example, while we appreciated its ruggedness (it works in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and fully wireless design, we didn’t like its low-resolution videos. At only 720p HD, it wasn’t the video quality we were looking for in a front door monitoring device. We also didn’t enjoy the bright light that came from the camera at night; we prefer cameras with infrared night vision.
Fortunately, the Skybell doorbell isn’t the only option. Frontpoint also offers a wired video doorbell from Alarm.com, a trusted manufacturer of home security equipment. The wired doorbell offers standard 1080p HD video quality, infrared night vision, and clear two-way audio. It also features a wide-angle field of view and improved daytime videos with HDR.
If you prefer a wireless doorbell camera, Frontpoint has one of those too. The features are almost identical to the wired option. Naturally, you’ll need to recharge the battery every six months or so. It also doesn’t work when temperatures drop below – 4 degrees, whereas the wired option will stay online when it’s down to – 58 degrees. But the wireless doorbell camera does come with 20 customizable tones. You have to pay for this separately with the wired one.
Regardless of which video doorbell you choose, you’ll get cloud video storage for up to 1,000 clips per month. Plus, you can access live streaming and two-way audio in the Frontpoint app. We used it to chat to our neighbor when they offered to collect a parcel for us when we weren’t home.
Yale Z-Wave Smart Lock
Another third-party item we bought with Frontpoint was a Z-Wave smart lock from Yale, a leading lock manufacturer. It was really convenient to be able to lock and unlock our doors remotely, whether that was as we got home from work or at night to make sure that everything was safe and secure.
The Yale Z-Wave smart lock also worked perfectly with Frontpoint’s geofencing feature. That was one of Frontpoint’s most unique features. In essence, the Frontpoint app on our phone constantly communicated our location with the hub. And then we got to set a virtual perimeter around our house so that when we enter or leave it, Fronpoint would trigger specific actions.
We programmed Frontpoint to lock our doors whenever we leave the geofenced area. (What can we say? We’re forgetful sometimes!) That way, we never have to wonder if we left the front door open. Not that we can’t lock/unlock the door remotely using the Frontpoint app, but it’s just more convenient to have the system do things for us automatically.
Indoor Camera
Finally, we got Frontpoint’s indoor camera, which fortunately had that clear, 1080p HD display we missed in the video doorbell, plus infrared night vision and two-way audio. The camera’s video quality was similar to video we’ve seen in Ring’s suite of cameras, all of which record in 1080p HD.
The black color made our camera way more hidden; most people who went into our house didn’t even notice it! Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t zoom in at all, and with a 113-degree field of view, it didn’t cover quite as much ground as we’d hoped.
Again, the camera had only motion detection, so we got a ton of false alarms, and the storage was the same free 1,000 clips. While we appreciated the camera’s video quality, audio, and night vision, it still fell a bit short of expectations when it came to AI.
Which Frontpoint Equipment To Buy
To help you decide which pieces of equipment to buy for your Frontpoint security system, here’s a simple table ranking the components we tested in terms of the security they provide, what they’re best used for, and whether they’re a must-have or unnecessary. We’re not going to include the Frontpoint Hub and keypad, as both are absolutely necessary for every Frontpoint system.
| Frontpoint equipment | Main area of focus | Must-have? |
|---|---|---|
| Door/window sensors | Securing entry points | Yes |
| Motion sensors | Indoor security; detecting intruders | Yes |
| Glass break sensor | Securing entry points made of glass (i.e. glass doors, windows, sliding doors) | Yes, if you have rooms with multiple glass entry points |
| Video doorbell | Securing front doors, porches, or front yards | Yes |
| Outdoor security cameras | Perimeter security and recording outdoor activity | Yes |
| Indoor security cameras | Indoor security, recording activity, and detecting intruders | No |
| Yale smart locks | Door security, remote control and automation | No |
Almost every Frontpoint device we tested is a must-have for overall home security and protection, but of course, there’s the cost to factor in. A complete home security system with all those components is going to cost you several hundred dollars on top of the $49 monthly fee that we’ll discuss below.
The great thing about Frontpoint, though, is that it’s easily scalable. You can start with the basics – we recommend entry sensors for your front door, a couple of motion sensors near possible entry points, and glass break sensors for rooms with multiple glass doors or windows. If you feel like you need more, you can always purchase additional components and install them yourself. We’ll get to the installation process later on.
Frontpoint Review: Video Edition
If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our video review below to see Frontpoint in action. You’ll also see some of its cool features, like voice control integration, at work.
Was Frontpoint Easy to Install?
Frontpoint is a wireless security system that you can install yourself. That means there are no installation fees. But is it easy to install?
First of all, Frontpoint puts a premium on customer service, and one of the things we liked was they had a support team in place to assist new customers in installing their systems. They were easy to reach, and they helped make sure we were installing and testing the system correctly.
All in all, it took us less than an hour to set up everything, including the Frontpoint security cameras and the video doorbell that we had bought. That’s not our record time — we had DIY systems that were up and running in 30 minutes or less — but it’s pretty good for a system as sophisticated as Frontpoint.
Overall, the setup was very simple, not requiring drilling or nails, and once the system was up, it worked without a hiccup. It was also easy to integrate it with voice assistants, allowing for remote control. You don’t need to be a security expert like us to install Frontpoint; it’s designed to be as painless as possible, with wireless, peel-and-stick sensors and pre-programmed devices. Out of the box, the sensors were ready to connect to the hub. We just pulled the battery tab to turn them on, and voila! That’s why Frontpoint is one of the best DIY home security systems.
That said, Frontpoint also works with third-party home automation devices, particularly those that use Z-Wave as their wireless standard. If you’re planning to integrate Z-Wave smart devices with Frontpoint, you may have to do a bit of research to learn how to pair the specific devices that you own. The pairing process is generally easy, but some third-party devices require additional steps.
How Frontpoint Fit Into Our Smart Home
Being as into our smart home as we are, we were very pleased to see that Frontpiont worked really well with Alexa1 and Google Assistant. Here’s how we commanded Frontpoint with each voice assistant.
Alexa
Using Alexa, we were able to arm and disarm our security system, check its status, and control connected devices like smart locks, smart thermostats, and smart lighting. We didn’t have quite as many automation options with Frontpoint as we did when we reviewed Vivint’s security system, as Vivint is a more robust system that can pair with a greater number of third-party devices like smart locks and smart speakers. But we were pleased that we could still use Alexa to record video with our Frontpoint indoor camera.
Google Assistant
Integrating Frontpoint with our Google ecosystem was a tad more arduous. After failing to find the Frontpoint action on Google, we finally figured out that we had to download the Alarm.com action instead, then log in with our Frontpoint credentials. From there, we could ask Google to tell Alarm.com to arm our system, check its status, and control smart lights, locks, and thermostats.
FYI: We’re big believers that AI could someday threaten us, but in the context of smart home and home security, we believe AI voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are the future. For other smart home recommendations, check out our list of the best smart home security systems that are even better than Frontpoint.
Was Frontpoint Easy to Use?
Once we got it up and running, our Frontpoint system worked well. We were alerted of any motion straight to our phones, and the monitoring team always responded quickly as well. While most of the components are made of plastic, they’re still hardy and durable. However, since Frontpoint is mostly wireless, most of its components come with adhesives that actually ripped the paint off some of our walls, particularly the keypad.
We think Frontpoint is the best security system for renters, but keep in mind that your Frontpoint equipment could damage your walls. If that’s a dealbreaker, check out our best apartment security systems for six other DIY options.
Frontpoint’s Security Packages and Monthly Monitoring Plans
Frontpoint offers some of the most customizable equipment packages on the market. Not only can you create a custom package or add equipment to one of Frontpoint’s ready-made packages, but you can also add equipment to an existing Frontpoint system without hassle thanks to its DIY setup.
If you’re only getting started, though, Frontpoint offers two packages that you can use as foundation for your custom security system: the Essential Home Security System and Total Home Security System.
Each of those packages include a Frontpoint Hub and a keypad, and they also come with varying numbers and types of components. We’ve made this table to show you what each package includes, as well as their total cost.
| Packages | Essential Home Security System | Total Home Security System |
|---|---|---|
| Total price (with promo) | $69 | $329 |
| Monthly price (with promo over 36 months) | $3.19 per month | $8.68 per month |
| Frontpoint Hub | 1 | 1 |
| Keypad | 1 | 1 |
| Door and window sensors | 2 | 3 |
| Motion sensors | 0 | 1 |
| Smoke and heat sensor | 0 | 1 |
| Indoor camera | 0 | 1 |
| Video doorbell | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 0 | Either 2 indoor cameras, 2 outdoor cameras, or 1 indoor + 1 outdoor camera |
Once you have a foundation, you can build out your system by adding components. Frontpoint offers a great number of options — we counted 22 different pieces of equipment — from security and hazard sensors to security cameras and smart home equipment.
We recommend mapping your house out before proceeding to the part where you select additional components, and make sure you get all the sensors and cameras you need. For example, it’s a good idea to place an entry sensor on every first-floor door and window.
Of course, you can always order additional hardware from Frontpoint if it turns out that you need more, but buying everything you need upfront means you’ll get a significant discount for all of your components. For instance, the outdoor camera which normally costs $229 is now only $126.50 thanks to the discount. Don’t miss out on this chance to save!
Monitoring and Fees Breakdown for Frontpoint
If your system includes a security camera, professional monitoring is required, and the overall cost of a Frontpoint system can be significantly affected by it. Frontpoint automatically bundles its $49.99 per-month Ultimate plan when you buy a camera, but you can call to discuss lower tier options, including the $14.99 per month Video-Only plan and the $45.99 per month Interactive Monitoring plan. If you want to know how the cost of Frontpoint’s monitoring stacks up, we recommend checking out our SimpliSafe pricing breakdown and our guide to Cove’s pricing.
Back to Frontpoint. The Ultimate and Interactive Monitoring plans are best for people who want a smart security system, with smartphone access, app alerts, home automation, live feed streaming, and cloud video storage. On top of that, every Frontpoint system is 100-percent cellular, meaning Frontpoint can protect your home during internet and power outages, thanks to the hub’s battery backup.
Check out this breakdown of Frontpoint’s features below:
| Ultimate | Interactive Monitoring | Video-Only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 per month | $45.99 per month | $14.99 per month |
| Professional Monitoring | Yes | Yes | No |
| Home Automation | Yes | Yes | No |
| Email & Text Notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Hourly System Checks | Yes | Yes | No |
| Video Analytics | Yes | No | Yes |
| Crash & Smash Safety Feature | Yes | Yes | No |
Frontpoint’s Customer Support
When we needed help with our Frontpoint system, we could check out their online help center,2 call support, email support, or fill out an online form. In researching, installing, and testing the Frontpoint security system, our team of experts contacted Frontpoint twice over email and didn’t receive a response either time, which was disappointing, obviously.
However, we found that phone support was excellent, with knowledgeable representatives happy to answer our questions. This really came in handy during installation! Despite the poor email support, Frontpoint has some of the best phone support we’ve seen from a security company.
The Frontpoint App
When we weren’t home, it was easy to use the Frontpoint app to arm and disarm our system, livestream footage, speak through two-way audio, control connected devices, and receive notifications. Watch our video review to see us using the app, which, overall, we’d say was pretty well designed and bug-free.
Frontpoint vs. Competitors
We gave you a quick glimpse of how Frontpoint compares to other security systems earlier, but now that we’ve explained pretty much everything you need to know about Frontpoint, here’s a more objective and detailed look at how it compares to other industry giants.
| Features | Frontpoint | ADT | SimpliSafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| System installation | DIY or professional | Professional | DIY or professional |
| Professional monitoring | Required | Required | Optional |
| System cost | $69 and up | $349 and up | $245 and up |
| Monthly monitoring fee | $14.99 – $49.99 | $29.99 – $39.99 | $21.99 – $79.99 (DIY monitoring available for free) |
| Security cameras | Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras (self-branded) | Self-branded indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras and Google Nest cameras | Self-branded indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras |
| Home automation | Advanced home automation | Advanced home automation | Basic integrations with home automation products |
Find out how Frontpoint compares to other home security systems
For a closer look at how Frontpoint performs, we compared it with other popular home security systems.
Our Frontpoint Research and Data
The following is the data and research conducted for this review by our industry-experts. Learn More.
Encryption
| In Transit | Yes |
|---|---|
| At rest? | Yes |
| All network communications and capabilities? | Yes |
Security Updates
| Automatic, regular software/firmware updates? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Product available to use during updates? | Yes |
Passwords
| Mandatory password? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Two-Factor authentication? | Yes |
| Multi-Factor authentication? | Yes |
Vulnerability Management
| Point of contact for reporting vulnerabilities? | |
|---|---|
| Bug bounty program? | No |
Privacy Policy
| Link | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|
| Specific to device? | No |
| Readable? | Moderate |
| What data they log | Contact information like name, email address, mailing address, phone number, billing information, username, account number, password, equipment purchases, system status, IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, operating system |
| What data they don’t log | Not expressly stated |
| Can you delete your data? | Yes |
| Third-party sharing policies | Yes |
Surveillance
| Log camera device/ app footage | No |
|---|---|
| Log microphone device/ app | No |
| Location tracking device/ app | No |
Parental Controls
| Available? | No |
|---|
Company History
| History of Breaches or Security Issues? | No |
|---|---|
| Action Taken? | Not applicable |
Additional Security Features
| Privacy Shutter | Yes |
|---|---|
| Privacy Zone | Yes |
Is Frontpoint Worth It?
Frontpoint is definitely a good buy, especially if it has everything you need. Having tested the system ourselves, we can say that Frontpoint offers some of the most comprehensive equipment packages around at great prices. While we don’t think the $69 entry-level package is enough for most homes, Frontpoint makes it easy to build a custom security system for homes of any size. It also has great customer support that can help you every step of the way.
It doesn’t have the best-looking sensors though, and security cameras from Frontpoint aren’t exactly standouts. Plus, that $49.99 per month monitoring fee is a bit much if you’re looking for just a basic security system. Frontpoint is great for many homes, but it’s clearly not for everybody.
Frontpoint FAQs
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How much does Frontpoint cost per month?
Frontpoint costs $49.99 a month on the Ultimate Plan. This plan gives users 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup, notifications, remote control, live streaming, cloud storage, night vision, control of lights and locks, and more.
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Is Frontpoint a good security system?
Frontpoint is a good security system. Although it’s not the most affordable option around, Frontpoint provides home security you can trust, with 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup to boot. However, users who want to self-monitor their security system and avoid monthly fees should look elsewhere.
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Which is better, SimpliSafe vs. Frontpoint?
In testing out SimpliSafe and Frontpoint, we recommend SimpliSafe over Frontpoint because of its more affordable professional monitoring options at $21.99 per month, as opposed to Frontpoint’s $49.99; it also offers the option to self-monitor, plus it’s a simpler installation. However, Frontpoint does have better customer support and a higher-rated app.
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Amazon. (2020). Frontpoint Alexa Skill.
amazon.com/Frontpoint/dp/B01N0W6HIE -
Frontpoint. (2020). Frontpoint Support.
support.frontpointsecurity.com/hc/en-us
