Abode Security Review 2023 | Security.org (2023)

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a minimalist. Sure, I didn’t know the word at age five, but I’ve always gravitated towards solid colors, sleek designs, and anything that looks like it would be at home in the Apple store. That’s why I’m so excited to review abode’s new iota system. Founded in 2014 by a former ADT executive, abode disrupts traditional security companies in many ways. Their systems feature innovative design and they don’t force you into a monthly subscription plan or a long-term contract, unlike the subscriptions with ADT. Plus, they have every smart platform integration you can imagine and more. I loved abode’s Essentials Starter Kit, so I’m ready to see how iota stacks up.

abode iota Features

Editor's Rating

How Abode Compares

As a brand, abode offers a frills-free experience with DIY equipment, optional professional monitoring, and contract-free subscriptions. It’s actually very similar to SimpliSafe, one of our top security systems, and if you want, you can see how the two brands compare in our SimpliSafe vs abode comparison. When it comes to smart security, though, abode is pretty similar to ADT and Vivint, two other top security brands. That makes abode a very strong competitor to these top brands.

What’s in the abode iota System?

The basic iota system comes with an iota, a key fob, and a mini door/ window sensor. However, if you’re looking for more sensors, cameras, motion sensors, or smart home devices, abode has other add-on options on their website.

iota

The iota is your gateway, motion sensor, and security camera built into one. You can also use it to connect with devices using Z-wave or Zigbee, and you can control it with your voice via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Your iota will connect to your mobile app through Wi-Fi, so I hope your network is stable! Now let’s talk more about the camera

Video

The camera shoots in 1080p HD, the industry standard. I’m also satisfied with the camera’s field of view of 127 degrees. The only thing I’m slightly disappointed with is that the camera can’t zoom in at all. Overall, however, the iota has solid video quality.

Night Vision

As you can see, the camera has a pretty clear infrared night vision, as well. It’s not as sharp of a picture as you’d get from a 2K or 4K camera from Arlo, for instance, or from a Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro (though Vivint cameras are built for Vivint’s security packages exclusively and aren’t necessarily the best choice for folks on a budget).

Audio

I’m pleased to say that the iota has two-way audio, which will enable you to speak to whomever you’re recording. This is definitely a useful feature for scaring away intruders or just scaring your children for laughs. I consider it a must-have especially for outdoor cameras, as you never know when an unexpected or suspicious person might be lurking. As far as audio quality, you might encounter some signal interference, but that’s to be expected.

Storage

If you want local and cloud storage, you’re in luck— the iota comes with a slot for an SD card and cloud storage is available for three to 90 days, depending on what plan you choose (see the chart under professional monitoring below).

Smart Platform Integration

Are you ready? The iota integrates withGoogle Assistant, Amazon Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Nest, Philips Hue lightbulbs, ecobee, LIFX, Yale, Kwikset, Z-wave, First Alert, and IFTTT. That means that you can use your voice to command your iota through your smart home, or link it up with other connected devices for some convenient home automation. For example, you could have your Philips Hue lightbulbs turn on as soon as your iota starts recording. The possibilities are endless (not literally, as you get a maximum of 100 CUE home automations, but you know what I mean).

Artificial Intelligence

Unfortunately, the iota doesn’t have any artificial intelligence features. When it comes to home security cameras, A.I typically refers to person detection or facial recognition, giving the user highly specific notifications. Instead of just being notified when your camera detects movement, A.I cameras can tell you when a person has entered your living room, or even who that person is. The iota, on the other hand, will only give you a broad notification when it detects motion. If you’re interested in a camera with more A.I features, check out our review of the best indoor cameras for artificial intelligence.

Key Fob

If you’re looking to arm or disarm your security system in the easiest way possible, just click on your key fob. You can either put your system on home or away mode, standby, or you can press the panic button to activate an alarm. Key fobs are great if you have multiple people living in your home, as you can assign a key fob to each member. You can even customize your key fob’s buttons for easier access to your connected devices. For example, you could set one of the buttons to turn your living room lights off. Now you don’t even have to get off the couch to create a movie theater vibe while you watchRush Hour for the hundredth time! The fobs will work within a hundred-foot range of the iota, and have replaceable batteries. I recommend putting the key fob with your regular keys, as it has a keyhole for the occasion.

Mini Door/ Window Sensor

Your mini door/ window sensor will let you know when a door or window has been opened or closed. As you can see, these sensors are small so they won’t be an eyesore. With a battery life of up to four years, you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries often, plus, you get the advantage of wireless equipment— easy set up. You can use these sensors on any door type— all you need to do is peel and stick the sensor and its magnet.

Video Review

Want a virtual tour of abode’s security system? Check out this video review.

Installing the abode iota Security System

Setting up my iota security system took about 15 minutes. First, I placed the iota near my router and a power outlet, plugging it in. I also connected the iota and the router via an ethernet cable, then activated battery backup by shifting the tab on the bottom of the iota. Next, I downloaded the abode app and it walked me through the rest of the setup, inputting a six-digit activation code, pulling out the battery tab for the mini door and window sensor, then sticking it on the door frame (large part goes on the frame, smaller part goes on the door itself). Then I just had to name each device and I was done! Overall, the process was really straightforward and simple.

Professional Monitoring with abode

Who among us can say that we’re available 100% of the time? If you can, you’re probably a hermit crab or maybe just a highly anti-social human being. I digress. My point is, most of us aren’t around to deal with a home security emergency 24/7. That’s where professional monitoring comes in.

How monitoring works

With abode, you can either monitor your system yourself through your mobile app or sign up for professional monitoring. That means that a team of people will be monitoring your system 24/7 for alerts and issues. If you do have a security or environmental emergency, the team can contact the proper emergency services for you. With abode’s Pro plan, you can pay as little as $20 per month for 24/7 monitoring, which is cheaper than the majority of security systems on the market. A package from ADT, for example, could end up costing users $60 per month for professional monitoring, so abode could be an excellent pick if you’re on a tight budget. Let’s see how abode does professional monitoring and whether or not it’s right for you.

Options

abode Customer Support

Customer support tends to be pretty standard across security companies in terms of features. Whether it’s FAQ’s, a frustrating phone call, or an online form, companies usually give all their customer support options to all of their customers. But abode does things very differently.

How abode’s Customer Support Works

Like most security companies, abode offers email and online support along with phone support. In my experience, getting in touch with abode was straightforward. The company provided a phone number displayed prominently on its home page. It’s not too different from the customer support I experienced when I tested Frontpoint, another popular security system that I rated highly for customer service. Frontpoint offers one plan, with a flat monthly fee (not including equipment) of $49.99 that covers 24/7 professional monitoring and 24/7 customer support.

Abode, on the other hand, has two plans, one for self-monitoring and one for professional monitoring. Both happen to offer, among other things, 24/7 support from a dedicated customer service team (read: live humans). I liked knowing that no matter which plan I chose with abode, I got the same level of customer service and direct access to a live agent. Now let’s see what abode customers have to say about the company’s support.

The abode App

If a smart security system exists but there’s no app for it, does it really exist at all? Frankly, the answer is no. I want to talk about the abode app— its features and of course, how customers feel about it.

Features

On the abode app, you’ll be able to livestream footage, control up to 160 connected devices, create up to 100 CUE home automations, add user accounts, and receive notifications.

Reviews

Let’s be honest: iPhone users and Android users are about as different as the Capulets and the Montagues. To find out what both camps thought, I looked at reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores, respectively.

Apple Store

The abode app’s rating has improved recently, going from a 2.5 to a 3.8 rating. In general, we found it easy to control our system and integrate it with other smart platforms on our iPhones.

Google Store

Android users liked the abode app, giving it a 3.3 rating. That’s not as high as the ADT reviews, which average 4.8, but it’s decent. Many of the reviews were a perfect five stars, although a few people mentioned that the app drained their phones’ batteries.

Recap of the abode iota Security System

Want to learn more? Check out our best DIY home security systems, or feel free to contact us. We’d love to answer your questions!

FAQ

Now, no review is complete without answering some of the frequently asked questions about the product, abode. Let's have at it.

• Do you need a landline to use the abode iota security system?

  You don’t need a landline to use the abode iota security system, but you’ll need an internet connection if you want to self-monitor it. The abode iota system sends alerts through the internet. However, if you spring for the $20 per month Pro plan, you’ll get cellular backup. With cellular backup, the abode iota system will continue to send alerts to you and the monitoring center, protecting your home when your internet or power is down.

• Can you use an abode security system without paying monthly fees?

  You can use an abode security system without paying monthly fees. With the Basic plan, which is free, you’ll get push notifications of alerts via the abode mobile app and full use of abode’s smart platform integrations. However, we recommend getting 24/7 monitoring with the Pro plan for $20 per month. The Pro plan adds a lot of value, such as professional monitoring, cellular backup, geofencing, and 30 days of cloud video storage for your abode cameras.

  	Basic	Standard	Pro
  Monthly price	$0	$6	$20
  Annual price	$0	$60	$100
  Professional monitoring	No	No	Yes
  Cellular backup	No	No	Yes
  Smart platform integrations	Yes	Yes	Yes
  CUE home automation	No	Yes	Yes
  Cloud storage length	No	7 days	30 days
  Unlimited users	No	Yes	Yes
  App push notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Email alerts	No	Yes	Yes

• Does abode require a monitoring contract?

  Abode does require a monitoring contract if you go with the $20 per month Pro plan with professional monitoring or $6 per month self-monitoring plan, but the contract is month-to-month. That means you can cancel the subscription anytime without facing hefty penalties. However, abode also offers annual plans that reflect discounts up to $140 compared to the monthly plans. If you choose an annual plan, you can cancel without facing penalties, but you won’t get a prorated refund.

  (Video) abode vs Ring Alarm Security System Review

  	Standard	Pro
  Monthly subscription	$6	$20
  First-year annual subscription	$60	$100
  Second-year annual subscription	$60	$180

• Can you install the abode security system yourself?

  You can install the abode security system yourself. Based on our experience, DIY installation of abode takes only about 15 minutes, and the abode mobile app will guide you through the entire process. However, if you’re uncomfortable installing abode yourself, you can request professional installation. Installation rates start at $99 for abode iota starter kits, but there are additional charges for additional components.