Brinks Home Security Review

Our research on Brinks surfaced flexible equipment plans, easy installation, and responsive professional monitoring.
Most safety sensor options
Brinks
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
  • pro
    ASAPer quick alerts
  • pro
    Good customer service and response
  • pro
    No proprietary equipment
Katie McEntire
Jan 10, 2023
bullet5 min read

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

Recommended alternative to Brinks
SimpliSafe security
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Starts at
$19.99
/mo
  • pro
    No contracts
  • pro
    Live video feed available
  • pro
    Affordable monitoring
  • pro
    Great options for renters
  • con
    Basic smart home compatibility

Brinks Home Security offers average equipment with above-average monitoring services. But where it shines is its sensor options—you can monitor just about anything you can think of with Brinks.

Devices come from third-party vendors like Alarm.com, but the monitoring and support are all Brinks. If you’re an entry-level customer who’s primarily concerned with customer service and emergency response, read on to see if Brinks could work for you and your family.

pro
Pros
pro Many equipment options
pro Home automation for newcomers
pro Speedy alerts
con
Cons
con Lacks proprietary equipment
con Requires credit approval

Compare Brinks monthly costs

Monthly cost
Equipment cost
Contract length
Base equipment
Standout features
Smart Security Essential
$39.99
/mo
$199.00
36 months Control panel,
Motion detector,
Contact sensor (2)
Smart control panel
Smart Security Complete
$44.99
/mo
$349.00
36 months Control panel,
Motion detector,
Contact sensor (2),
Video doorbell
Doorbell camera
Smart Security Ultimate
$49.99
/mo
$699.00
36 months Control panel,
Motion detector,
Contact sensor (3),
Outdoor camera,
Video doorbell
Outdoor and doorbell cameras

Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Brinks Home Security pricing

Is Brinks right for you?

Brinks has three security monitoring packages: Smart Security Essential, Smart Security Complete, Smart Security Ultimate.

There is a significant difference in equipment costs between the Brinks Smart Security plans, but that extra money includes a video doorbell and outdoor camera. Monitoring is about $10 more per month for the video plan too, but it's about the same for other higher-tier security plans.

With the Smart Security Complete package, home automation features like mobile access, smart locks, light control, and a thermostat become available. Bigger competitors like ADT, Vivint and Frontpoint charge around the same for similar packages.

Brinks keeps its offerings straightforward—a great match for anyone new to home security who may be feeling overwhelmed by other options.

Its limited equipment packages and monthly monitoring costs are clear and easy to choose from. Just decide if you want video or not.

How Brinks Home Security stacks up

Brand
Best for
Monthly cost bullet
Starter equipment price
Contract required
Smart home compatibility bullet
Learn more
Read review
Best professional security$599.00No *Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
Best DIY security$245.00NoAmazon,
Google
Most trusted security brand$0.00YesAmazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
Budget pick$199.99NoAmazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
Quality DIY pick$129.00No Amazon,
Google,
Z-Wave
Most gadgets$99.99NoAmazon,
Google
Best sensors$199.99NoAmazon,
Google,
Apple
Best customer ratingQuote requiredNo *Amazon,
Google

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
Full ADT disclaimer

Brinks contract and warranty

When you opt for one of Brinks’s kits, you’ll need to go through a credit check and sign up for a three-year contract. Brinks offers a 30-day trial, but if you cancel after that you’ll have to pay the remainder of your agreement.

bullet
How long does Brinks’s warranty last?

Brinks has a two-year warranty. If something goes wrong within this time, you can get the equipment replaced.


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Brinks Home Security tech and equipment

Brinks’s equipment is average compared to other companies like Vivint and Frontpoint. Brinks keeps costs down by using tech from third parties like Alarm.com, but outsourcing equipment makes tech support and repairs difficult if something goes wrong.

DIY installation is easy with the sticky backing tape for the motion and contact sensors. They have adjustable sensitivity and will send alerts to your Brinks app when they sense activity.

The Smart Security Ultimate package comes with a doorbell and outdoor cameras that shoot in HD quality, send you alerts to the app, and have a two-way talk feature. Both Brinks cameras will be monitored by Brinks professionals too for extra security.

The doorbell camera is one of our favorite features—you can watch packages being delivered and kids arriving home, and you can catch any shady characters in action.

We like the ASAPer group chat feature (even though most of Brinks's tech doesn’t turn our heads). Found in the Brinks app, ASAPer creates a type of chat room for everyone on a customized list. If an alarm goes off, get in touch with your spouse, professional monitoring, and kids all at once to make sure everyone’s okay. It allows you to cancel false alarms and connect with emergency responders right from your phone.

Check out our Brinks equipment guide to learn more.

bullet
Nest Secure discontinued

Google discontinued the Nest Secure security system in late 2020. Monitoring service through Brinks will be phased out on Dec. 31, 2023.

What's in the box

brinks security system components on a table

Choosing a Brinks security equipment package is straightforward.

Brinks' basic security package, Smart Security Essential, comes with the following pieces of equipment:

  • IQ 2.0 Control Panel
  • Motion sensor
  • Two entry sensors
  • Yard sign and stickers

Brinks Home Security installation

All of Brinks’s Alarm.com equipment is self-installed, but if you want help from a pro, you can get assistance for an extra fee.

Professional installation makes sense for more complex setups like an outdoor camera or the video doorbell, but you can handle most of the job yourself. Like many other self-install systems, you just need to peel the backing from your sensors and place them throughout your home.

Brinks Home Security customer service

Brinks Home Security was rated Best Home Security in a satisfaction study from J.D. Power and Associates and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. But we saw mixed reviews from customer ratings on BBB, Trustpilot, and Consumer Affairs.

The worst comments we saw reported long hold times on the phone, confusing contracts, and faulty equipment with no repair in sight. The best, on the other hand, spoke of helpful customer reps and supportive service.

That said, customer service is different from professional monitoring. The ASAPer feature in the Brinks app will alert you, your contacts, and the monitoring professionals in as little as 30 seconds of any issues in your home. The monitoring pros are there to walk you through any situation you might encounter, from fires and break-ins to floods and carbon monoxide leaks.

bullet
Protect America is now part of Brinks

As of July 2020, all Protect America customer accounts were transferred to Brinks.

Is Brinks right for you?

Overall, Brinks sits right in the middle of the market for professionally monitored, self-installed systems. But it’s much more affordable than ADT and Frontpoint for home automation devices. Like ADT, you’ll need to sign a contract if you opt for Brinks’ Smart Security packages.

Brinks equipment works, and it offers a huge range of sensors, but you’ll pay a lot up front for Alarm.com devices.

The best thing about Brinks was the quick response times from their highly trained monitoring techs. It’s helpful to have a calm voice in a stressful situation and they do just that. While the tech and pricing aren’t stellar from Brinks, the monitoring certainly is.

Brinks FAQ

Brinks packages come with a 30-day trial that allows returns within the first month. But Brinks’s Alarm.com equipment comes with a contract, so you’ll have to pay out the remaining balance if you decide to drop Brinks or go for another security system.

Any time the alarm on your Brinks system activates, the monitoring professionals know about it. Once they see the alarm, you and your emergency contacts will receive a notification, phone call, text alert, or email. Through the ASAPer group chat, you can call off the alarm and claim it as a false alarm if nothing is wrong.

Yes. Self-installed systems like Brinks are easy to move from home to home, making them great for renters. Remove your system from your old home and install it again in your new place. Once everything is set up, call the professionals at the monitoring center to share your new location.

Yes, Brinks bought Protect America. 

All Protect America accounts transitioned to Brinks accounts on July 9, 2020. See Brinks' Protect America acquisition FAQ for more information.

How we reviewed Brinks Home Security

Image: Brinks

To get an accurate picture of Brinks’s pricing, equipment, and more, we did a lot of research. We dug through online forums and customer review sites. We compared Brinks to similar security companies and services like ADT, Frontpoint, and Vivint. For more information on our testing processes and standards, read our full methodology.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

*Google, Google Nest Secure, Google Home, Google Nest Protect, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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