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Cove

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7.4

Overall Score

Average Project Cost: $17.99 - $27.99

Cove offers an affordable, user-friendly DIY security system with no long-term contracts and professional monitoring starting at just $17.99 per month. Their customizable equipment packages start at around $200, featuring a touchscreen control panel, door/window sensors, and optional indoor and outdoor cameras. The system is easy to install and offers smart home integration with Alexa and Google Assistant. Cove provides a one-year warranty on all equipment, which extends to a lifetime warranty with the Cove Plus Plan. While it lacks some advanced smart home features and self-monitoring options, Cove is a strong choice for budget-conscious homeowners seeking reliable security and flexibility.

Author: Kalicia Bateman

LAST UPDATED: October 23rd, 2024

Cove is a rapidly growing provider in the DIY home security market, known for offering affordable, easy-to-install security systems with professional monitoring. Since its founding in 2018, Cove has positioned itself as a user-friendly alternative to more traditional, complex home security systems. With no long-term contracts and competitive pricing, Cove appeals to budget-conscious homeowners who want effective security without the hassle of professional installation or high upfront costs. With nationwide coverage, Cove's aim is to protect every home in the United States.

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The Good

  • Affordable Equipment with No Contracts
  • Easy DIY Installation
  • Competitive Monitoring Plans
  • High-Quality, Customizable Equipment
  • Lifetime Warranty with Cove Plus Plan
  • Cove InstaText
  • 60-Day Risk-Free Trial
  • Cove Security App

Affordable Equipment with No Contracts

One of Cove’s main advantages is its affordable pricing structure, designed for those who want high-quality security without a significant financial commitment. The starter equipment package begins at around $200 and includes essential devices like a Cove Touch Alarm Panel, door/window sensors, and a motion detector. The package can be customized with additional equipment, such as cameras and smart home integrations, to meet the specific needs of each home. Unlike many competitors, Cove does not require long-term contracts; instead, customers pay a month-to-month monitoring fee with the flexibility to cancel at any time without penalties.

Easy DIY Installation

Cove is designed for do-it-yourself installation, making it a great option for homeowners who want a straightforward setup process. The installation requires no special tools, and Cove provides guided instructions through their setup wizard. Most users can complete the installation in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for those who prefer not to pay for professional installation or wait for a technician. The devices use a plug-and-play approach, and the system connects through a secure cellular connection, ensuring reliability even if Wi-Fi goes down.

Competitive Monitoring Plans

Cove offers two main professional monitoring plans—Cove Basic and Cove Plus—which provide 24/7 monitoring at competitive rates. The Cove Basic Plan starts at $17.99 per month, offering essential features like professional monitoring, cellular backup, and a one-year equipment warranty. The Cove Plus Plan, priced at $27.99 per month, includes additional benefits such as lifetime equipment warranty, smartphone control via the Cove app, Alexa and Google Assistant integration, and a $5 monthly credit toward equipment upgrades. These plans are among the most affordable in the industry, making Cove a budget-friendly option for those seeking professional monitoring without breaking the bank.

High-Quality, Customizable Equipment

Cove’s equipment is known for its sleek design and ease of use. Their core products include:

  • Cove Touch Alarm Panel: A user-friendly, touchscreen control panel that serves as the central hub for the system. It features two-way communication with the monitoring center for quick emergency response.
  • Indoor and Outdoor Cameras: Cove offers 1080p HD indoor cameras and weather-resistant outdoor cameras with night vision and two-way audio, providing clear video surveillance both indoors and outside the home.
  • Door/Window Sensors and Motion Detectors: These provide basic entry detection and cover common points of entry.
  • Flood, Smoke, and CO Detectors: Add-on sensors for extra protection against environmental hazards, making it possible to fully customize a system based on the specific needs of a home.

With no limit on the number of devices that can be added to a system, Cove allows users to scale their security setup as their needs change, providing flexibility for both small and large homes.

Lifetime Warranty with Cove Plus Plan:

Cove offers a lifetime equipment warranty to customers who subscribe to the Cove Plus Plan. This warranty covers all devices, ensuring free replacements for any defective equipment for as long as the monitoring service is active. Even without the Plus Plan, customers receive a one-year warranty on their equipment. This level of warranty coverage provides peace of mind, especially compared to many other DIY systems that only offer a limited one- or two-year warranty.

Cove InstaText

With Cove InstaText, you can get security notifications sent directly to your phone through a text message. Cove InstaText will alert you immediately if your motion detector, glass break sensor, video doorbell, or indoor camera records suspicious activity. You can then respond with the action you would like cove to take by responding “Send Help,” “Cancel,” or “Call me.”

60-Day Risk-Free Trial

Cove wants its customers to be 100% satisfied, so it offers a 60-day risk-free trial on all home security systems to test out their services. Customers can try out their system, and if they decide it’s not for them, they can send the system back for a full refund (including return shipping costs). Many security providers only offer a 30-day money-back guarantee or no money-back option at all, so this is great for consumers who want a worry-free trial period to decide if Cove's security system is right for them. 

Cove Security App

Cove offers a free app with its systems. It is available for Apple iOS and Android devices. Having a synched home security app allows consumers to monitor and control their security system from anywhere at any time and can alert them of any suspicious activity or disturbances in or around the home. Through the mobile app, customers receive the following:

  • 2-way voice communication
  • Free 7-day cloud storage for security footage
  • Recording capabilities
  • Motion detection video clips
  • Custom rules
  • The ability to add new users to the system

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The Bad

  • Limited Smart Home Integration
  • Higher Upfront Costs for Larger Systems
  • Limited Video Storage Without Premium Plan
  • No Self-Monitoring Option

Limited Smart Home Integration

While Cove offers basic smart home compatibility, it is not as robust as some competitors when it comes to integrating with other smart home ecosystems. It supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands, but it lacks deeper integration with smart home platforms like Apple HomeKit or the ability to control third-party smart lights and locks directly through its app. This might be a drawback for homeowners looking to fully integrate their security system with a broader smart home setup.

Higher Upfront Costs for Larger Systems

Although Cove's starter packages are affordable, the upfront costs can rise if you need a larger number of sensors or additional cameras to cover a bigger home. For example, adding extra cameras or specialty sensors like a flood detector can increase the initial cost to over $400. While this is still competitive for a DIY system, it may be a consideration for those on a tight budget who need extensive coverage.

Limited Video Storage Without Premium Plan

Cove’s indoor and outdoor cameras are reliable and offer clear video quality, but their cloud storage is only included with the Cove Plus Plan. Basic plan users will need to upgrade to access video storage and playback features, which could be a downside for those who want to monitor camera footage without opting for the more expensive plan. With the Cove Plus Plan, users get 30 days of video storage, but this additional cost may not suit everyone’s needs.

No Self-Monitoring Option

Cove does not offer a self-monitoring option, which means that customers must subscribe to one of their professional monitoring plans to use the system. This may be a drawback for those who are looking for a completely self-managed system or want to avoid monthly fees altogether. For those who prefer professional monitoring for peace of mind, this won’t be an issue, but it limits flexibility compared to some other DIY systems on the market.

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The Bottom Line

Cove is an excellent option for homeowners seeking a flexible, user-friendly, and affordable DIY home security solution. With no contracts, low monthly monitoring fees starting at $17.99, and a range of high-quality equipment, Cove provides solid value for those who want professional monitoring without a long-term commitment. The easy DIY installation and the ability to customize the system to fit different home sizes make it a convenient choice. While it lacks some advanced smart home integrations and requires a subscription for cloud video storage, the competitive pricing and strong warranty options—especially the lifetime warranty with the Plus Plan—make Cove a strong contender in the DIY home security market. If you’re looking for a reliable security system with flexibility and affordability, Cove Home Security is worth considering.

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Cove Frequently Asked Questions

How does the 60-day, money-back guarantee work?

Cove wants all its customers to love its system, and the company understands that it may take time to try it out. Cove is confident that you’ll enjoy the increased peace of mind and added protection for your home and loved ones. If for some reason the company's system does not live up to your expectations within 60 days, send it back for a full refund. Cove will provide a complete refund of service and equipment charges, as long as you notify the company no later than 60 days following your date of purchase (the “60-Day Refund Period”). You must also ship the product(s) you want to return no later than the "60-Day Refund Period." The purchased products need to be returned with all the components of the original purchase in good working condition. Please review the company's refund policy for more information.  Cove wants to always take care of its customers. If you have an extenuating circumstance, the company will do its best to work it out.

How do I choose my equipment?

Cove offers three levels of protection to accommodate its customers' unique needs:   Level 1 — Basic Protection Cove suggests you order sensors for your exterior doors and the main areas of your home. You accomplish this by using door sensors, motion sensors, and/or glass breaks. This level of protection is a great starting point, and everyone can afford it. Remember, you can always order more sensors later and add to your protection over time.  Level 2 — Intermediate Protection Purchase sensors for all your exterior doors and the main areas of your home. Cove suggests covering all ground-level windows with window sensors or glass breaks detectors for windows that don't open. The company also encourage considering flood sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, medical pendants, and fire detectors for additional safety. These sensors can help prevent damages and tragedies that could otherwise be life-altering. Keep in mind, some home insurance companies offer additional discounts for monitoring fire and flood in your home.   Level 3 — Advanced Protection Cover every entry point (doors and windows on all levels) to the home with at least one sensor. Sometimes having more than one sensor covering a vulnerable entry point can help act as a redundancy. For example, sliding glass doors can either be forced open (door sensor would protect this) or shattered (glass break sensor would protect this). Purchase motion sensors for all the main areas of your home. Include all life safety sensors and make sure you have at least one Smoke/Heat/Freeze sensor per level (floor) of the home.

What is Cove InstaText?

Cove InstaText is a revolutionary way to notify you and those you trust if an alarm is triggered.  When Cove's monitoring station receives an alarm from your system, InstaText is the first means of communication. InstaTex will send you a text message with a link where you can either dismiss the alarm or dispatch emergency responders. If Cove does not get a response in 15 seconds, it will attempt to reach you through the panel and via phone call. If you confirm your emergency, dispatchers will be contacted immediately. If you dismiss the emergency, you will be asked for your password.  You have the option to add emergency contacts when you set up your system. Your emergency contacts will also be contacted via InstaText if your alarm goes off. You can edit or add emergency contacts at any time by emailing Cove's support team.

What are the Cove App Features?

In your hand you hold the heart of the Cove monitoring system, giving you access to your panel from anywhere in the world. Cove mobile app features include the following: Arm & Disarm Silent Arm Notifications Bypass sensors Manage users Check system status remotely

What are Cove's Monitoring Plans?

You can choose between two of Cove’s monitoring plans, Cove Basic and Cove Plus, for 24/7 alarm monitoring with no contracts (yes, you can cancel anytime). It’s like a big security blanket for your home.  Cove Basic 24/7 Live Alarm Monitoring Environmental Monitoring TripleTouchTM Communications Cove InstaTextTM Cove LiveAssistTM Smash and Grab Protection 100% Cellular Connection Hourly Automated System Check 24 Hour Battery Backup 1-Year Equipment Warranty Cove Plus Everything included in Cove Basic PLUS Lifetime Equipment Warranty Smartphone Control Alexa and Google Home Voice Control $5 per Month Equipment Reward Lifetime Monitoring Rate-Lock Guarantee