
It takes about 10 minutes to set up. When we tested the built in siren, it was one of the loudest, making it hard for intruders to ignore. There's a 10 hour backup battery that keeps your system functional when the power goes out. Another thing that makes abode so easy to use is its ability to talk to devices from Nest and Amazon, as well as Z Wave and ZigBee devices. You can also link your abode system to other smart home devices via the IFTTT online task automation service. abode's one year warranty isn't robust, but it’s typical of DIY smart home systems. Read the full review
Best Premium SystemNest Secure$199 View at The Home Depot$227View at AmazonRecommended Retailer$299View at Best Buy?While it’s not as easy to install and use as Scout Alarm, Nest Secure has an intuitive setup process and is one of the best DIY security systems if you already have more than a few of Nest’s smart home devices in your home. Likewise, we found that using the system wasn’t as simple as abode, but is still better than the majority of systems we tested. Nest’s two year warranty is one of the best in our comparison. The main drawback behind Nest Secure is that it’s more expensive than other systems we tested at $400. If you
want professional monitoring, Nest Secure has a partnership with Brinks Home Security that offers no contract $29/month and three year contract $19/month options.
I only signed up for it because they offered it for $10 a month with my TV and Internet package for a one
year contract.

We look at activity feeds and the organization of the mobile app to see what information an app gives you when an alarm goes off and if the alert gives you instant info. The top performers in this test were abode and Scout Alarm, with Nest Secure and SimpliSafe tying for third place. During installation tests, we make sure the manual or mobile app can get you through the
setup process without contacting the company. We also look at whether the equipment in each system's starter kit requires additional tools such as screwdrivers and batteries. Finally, we time how long it takes to set up each component. We found Scout Alarm, SimpliSafe and abode
easier to set up than most other DIY security systems.