Our top three Alexa-compatible home security systems do the best job of maximizing the perks of voice control—both for convenience and safety.
We also looked at some other top security brands, but they didn’t offer much more than the ability to ask Alexa if your security system is armed or disarmed. Here’s a quick look at our runners-up.
Vivint is compatible with two Amazon Alexa skills—the Complete skill and the Basic skill. Depending on which Vivint security system plan you have, you may or may not be able to use these skills.
The Complete skill lets you use voice control for smart home gadgets like door locks, smart lights, thermostats, and garage doors. But that control is limited.
You can turn lights on and off and adjust the temperature, but for security, all you can do is arm the system and lock the door. Vivint doesn’t let you disarm or unlock with Alexa.
And, as with most other Alexa-compatible systems, you have to tell Alexa to ask Vivint to do whatever you want done.
The Basic skill gives you even fewer options—but you don’t have to ask Alexa to “ask Vivint.” If you want straightforward lighting and thermostat control, you’re in luck. That’s all you can do with Alexa’s Basic skill for Vivint security systems.
Find out more about Vivint home security in our full review, and see how it stacks up to our favorite Alexa-compatible home security system.
ADT vs. Vivint Security
It’s easy to connect your Frontpoint security system to Alexa’s Frontpoint skill, but it doesn’t give you much extra control. Much like Vivint, Frontpoint’s primary compatibility with Alexa is related to control of smart home devices like smart lights, the garage door, smart locks, and your smart thermostat.
But you do get a few extras. With Alexa, you can arm your Frontpoint system and ask the status of your system. Plus, Frontpoint lets you access security cameras with Alexa. You can move cameras (pan and tilt) or ask the camera to record a clip.
We’ve seen Frontpoint add a lot of smart home upgrades to its offerings over the past couple of years, so we hope to see expanded voice control features in the future. But for now, all you get is pretty basic smart home control that’s available from Alexa all on its own—adding the Frontpoint system to Alexa doesn’t really give you anything new.
Get all the details about Frontpoint in our full review, and find out how it compares to our top Alexa security system.
ADT Security vs. Frontpoint