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Plan | Monitoring fee | Google and Alexa compatible | Mobile control |
| Cove Basic | $19.99/mo.* |  No | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cove Plus | $29.99/mo.* |  Yes | Yes |
Price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Financing your equipment through a Cove Economy Plan adds $10 to your monthly fee.
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9 min read
Reviewed ByAlina BradfordRebecca helps you stay safe without the stress | Managing Editor | 12+ yrs in home + personal security | 30+ yrs in journalism | Expertise featured by NYT, PBS, Today Show, and more
Cove is the best home security system for customer service and it has great prices. Its DIY home security system features have evolved quickly, and so has Cove’s reputation for doing right by its customers.
While we wanted a few more smart home integrations, we were pleased with the ease of setup and equipment selection of the security system we tested.
60-day money-back guarantee
Lifetime warranty available
Hourly system checks
Cove LiveAssist through your system panel
Great customer reviews
Super easy installation 
Few camera options
Limited smart home compatibility Cove is one of the most affordable home security choices you’ll find. One of the company’s core values is to be economical, and on that point Cove delivers. There aren’t any contract requirements, and monthly monitoring is pretty cheap, even if you opt for the higher-priced Cove Plus Plan.
Cove monitoring costs $19.99 to $29.99 per month, or about the same as a weekly splurge at Starbucks—and for a lifetime warranty plus mobile access to your security system, we think it’s worth it.
You can control your equipment costs with Cove too. Most equipment is available à la carte, and you can get a basic setup (a hub, base, and a sensor) for around $300.
If you aren’t sure what you need to protect your abode sufficiently, Cove’s website has a simple quiz that will help you figure out where to start. It was super quick, and kinda fun.
Cove lets you pay for equipment upfront or over time. Financing is through a third-party lender named Affirm.
The main difference between Cove's monitoring plans is: the Cove Plus plan includes:
Lifetime equipment warranty: No worries about replacing equipment. If it breaks, Cove will fix it.
Alexa and Google Home voice control: You can use your smart home equipment to arm or disarm your system.
$5 per month equipment reward: Your account will save $5 per month to go toward a system upgrade in the future. This is the only security company we know of that does this.
All Cove home security packages come with these features:
24-hour battery backup: If the power goes out, you'll still have 24 hours of protection.
One-year equipment warranty: The basic plan covers your equipment repairs for one year.
Check out a high-level view of the features, technologies, monitoring options, equipment, and costs of home security systems in our essential guide.
Brand | Self-monitoring option | Monthly cost
 |
| Yes | $21.99/mo. | |
| No | $39.99/mo. | |
| No | $28.99/mo.* | |
| No | $19.99/mo. | |
| Yes | $25.99/mo. |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer. *ADT $28.99 for landline system only. Full ADT disclaimer
Cove is an economical, customizable home security system that delivers the basics and makes protecting your home super easy. Even though Cove has been the new kid on the block, the company has moved quickly to build out its home security offerings and expand both equipment and mobile app functions.
One thing we don’t like is that you have to jump through a few hoops to find out how much Cove costs. Cove used to require you to talk to a phone rep, but now you can take an online quiz for faster results.
Still, we prefer no-hassle online stores from companies like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint.
Cove doesn’t have contracts. But that’s not Cove’s only customer-first policy. Here's a few more.
Cove told us that they don't believe in holding customers up with the fine print. If you don't love your Cove security system, or your needs change, Cove is committed to letting you off the hook without a big runaround or a huge final bill.
You can try out the Cove security system risk-free for up to two months. If during that time you don’t think it’s a good fit for your home security needs, you can return your equipment and cancel your monitoring service without a penalty. Cove will give you a full refund, no questions asked.
We like that Cove offers a lifetime warranty for its equipment, but you can only get it with the higher-priced monitoring plan. If you get the cheaper plan, you still get a year's worth of coverage.
Cove isn’t the only home security company to wrap up a better warranty in a more costly plan. ADT does the same thing with its Quality Service Plan, which is only available with higher-end offerings.
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The warranty from Cove is the better deal—and when we asked Cove representatives how much hassle you have to go through to get a new door sensor if yours putters out, they said, “None.” Cove simply sends you a replacement, no questions asked.
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We've testing the new Cove security system.
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise.
Cove recently introduced a new version of its home security system, which answers several customer requests. We're just starting testing, so we have yet to confirm real-world performance. Still, we met with Cove recently to learn what makes this security system better than the old one.
From what we've seen, it's a considerable improvement with many promising features. After testing, we'll add more detail, but here's a quick rundown of Cove's new features.
This system now uses a separate hub and touchscreen alarm panel, meaning you can add more touchscreens throughout your home—up to four total. You can put a screen by each entrance, or even upstairs near bedrooms for easy access before you sleep.
The Cove Hub connects over the internet with a cellular backup, which makes the system more useful in locations without dependable cell service. Cove told us that the system could run entirely over cellular if an internet connection isn't available. Previously, Cove used only a cellular connection, so it's nice to have the redundancy and reliability of an internet connection.
Cove also streamlined and improved the setup process, which runs on the alarm panel. We like the new options to skip steps and return to the Installation Wizard later if you don't have enough time to install everything in a single session.
Cove's new hub also comes with Z-Wave support. Smart home compatibility is one of our biggest complaints with the previous Cove security system, so adding Z-Wave is a step in the right direction.
We're still unsure exactly how Cove will use Z-Wave, but smart locks, smart thermostats, lights, and a smart garage door opener would greatly make Cove more competitive with brands like SimpliSafe, Frontpoint, and Wyze.
Beyond the hub and alarm panel, Cove's adding a few new devices: a siren, Eufy Outdoor Camera, and Eufy Doorbell Camera. The siren is a welcome addition that can deter intruders with a piercing screech.
As for the Eufy cameras, their battery power sources and video quality are a big improvement over Cove's other offerings. For now, these are plain Eufy cameras you use with the Eufy app, but Cove plans to integrate them with the Cove Connect app soon.
A new Cove app—Cove Connect—comes bundled with the new Cove security system. It seeks to improve the Cove experience substantially with a new user interface and better home automation controls. The older Cove Security app hasn't seen an update since 2021—we commonly see complaints about how clunky and unreliable it is.
Image: Cove
Cove isn’t the most technologically advanced home security system, but it provides plenty of reliable equipment, including cameras, to get the job done:
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Product | Best for | Price | Video resolution | Field of view | Power source | Weatherproof | Learn more |
| For outdoors | $199.99 | 1920p (2K) | 135º | Battery, solar | Yes | View on Cove's site | |
| For indoors | $99.00 | 1080p | 110º | Wired | No | View on Cove's site | |
| Battery doorbell | $99.99 | 1080p | 160º | Battery | Yes | View on Cove's site | |
| Wired doorbell | $189.00 | 1080p | 180º | Wired | Yes | View on Cove's site |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Yes, the Cove touch alarm panel includes an 84-decibel siren.
Many home security systems tout preprogrammed security equipment that’s easy to install, but Cove’s is the easiest one I’ve seen. And it talks to you—when you name a sensor (e.g. back door), you’ll hear “back door” every time it’s activated. We like that the only option isn’t a deafening and difficult-to-stop siren. We’ve tangled with those in the past (Ring), and it can be stressful.
We think having eyes on the outside of your home is vital to keeping your property, people, and pets safe. The Cove system offers an outdoor security cameras through a partnership with Eufy—one of our favorite wireless camera brands. You can also get a Eufy video doorbell through Cove.
Head on over to our How to Install Cove page for a step-by-step text and video walkthrough. Spoiler alert: it's easy!
Image: Vanessa Sigman, SafeWise
We’re impressed with the simplicity of Cove’s installation and setup process. All the components of your security system come preconfigured. You can even name them when you order so your son’s bedroom window sensor will come ready to be installed in his room.
If you make a naming mistake or decide to move a sensor to a different place, it’s easy to give it a new name using the control panel. But we found it easiest to plan placement before installation so you only have to name things once.
In testing, our smoke detector fell and one contact sensor peeled some paint. Before you stick all your sensors in place, select placement, make sure they fit where you want them to, and wipe down the surface with a little rubbing alcohol to get the best grip. A little preparation beforehand means you only have to place them once.
The control panel is the heart of the Cove home security system—it walks you through setup and tests each sensor to make sure they’re working correctly. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you set up a window or door sensor the right way, so we like that Cove’s audio confirmation leaves no doubt.
Don't want to set Cove up yourself? You can call their customer service line for troubleshooting help, or pay $129 for professional installation.
Cove’s smart home offerings are fairly scant. The system is focused first on providing security, and home automation features is a lower priority. The system currently works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but other smart home options, like smart locks and climate control, are limited. Right now you can integrate a Nest thermostat or August smart door lock with your Cove security system.
Cove told us that expanded smart home compatibility is coming. We’re eager to see how that impacts the company’s home automation offerings.
No, Cove doesn't work with Ring Alarm or Ring video doorbells.
No, Cove doesn't use Z-Wave.
Although Cove is newer to the scene, the company has already garnered a hefty collection of positive customer reviews. In our experience with the company, it’s been friendly, responsive, and eager to please. You can tell that the people who created Cove and work for the company enjoy what they do and believe in their product. Cove currently has a Trustpilot rating of 4.1 stars out of 5, Excellent.
Despite overall praise, we did notice that some Cove customers weren't too happy with the mobile app or Cove's lack of attention to their complaints. Most of the 1-star Cove reviews mention issues logging into the Cove app. Several said it was difficult to get in touch with Cove customer service to resolve the issue.
Info current as of publish date.
Almost. When we compiled our list of the highest rated home security systems, we placed SimpliSafe above Cove. Read our in-depth comparison of Cove vs. SimpliSafe for more information about their similarities and differences.
It's possible for a Cove security system to be hacked, but so can virtually all home security systems if you don't take some basic precautions.
Learn more with our guides:
It depends. Most Cove home security equipment uses a cellular connection. Some equipment, like the Wi-Fi door sensor and outdoor camera, do need a Wi-Fi connection.
Here's what you need to know about security systems and internet outages.
Cove Smart, LLC was incorporated on March 8, 2018.
Right now, you can use the Cove mobile app to remotely arm and disarm your system using a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
You can also check your system’s status, bypass sensors, and add or delete user accounts. To save you from constantly checking your alarm system’s status, the app sends text and email alerts when the system is either triggered or disarmed.
Cove is currently in the process of further development on the app and we’re excited to see more smart home control and options.
Yes. Cove is a good match for both homeowners and renters. And if you move, all you need to do is pack up your Cove security equipment (along with everything else) and let them know your new address.
Changing your address with Cove is essential to make sure the monitoring center knows where to send help if you need it.
Because Cove puts together each security system to your specifications, it may take four to six days for your system to be delivered.
The company strives to get all orders out within one day of ordering, but sometimes it may take a day or two to assemble your security system and get it in the mail.
Yes. Like many other home security companies, Cove provides you with a certificate that you can present to your insurance company for a discount on your premium.
To get your certificate, your system has to be installed and activated. Details on discounts vary by insurance company, so be sure to talk to your agent for specifics.
Image: SafeWise
For our Cove home security review, we got in touch with them to find out more. Cove came out and met with us to explain who they are, why they do what they do, and what makes their DIY security system stand out from the rest. (We’ve met with the company multiple times since our initial testing).
We got to meet the founder of the company, hear from sales and marketing, and grill the tech team about Cove equipment, its features, and how they’re improving the mobile app.
Plus, we got to try out Cove’s equipment. We ran a system through the setup process and tested all the sensors to see how they worked. We also pored over online customer reviews, read other expert reviews, and compared Cove to other DIY security systems.
Find out more about our process on our methodology page.
During our Cove home security review, we were pretty excited to see Cove doing well in the DIY home security arena. It’s a young company, but they’re doing many things right—especially regarding how Cove treats customers.
If you want a customizable home security system that’s easy for you to install on your own and doesn’t lock you into a contract, we think Cove is a solid choice.
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.
†Google, Google Nest Secure, Google Home, Google Nest Protect, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
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