Nest Secure Review: Alarm System, Camera System, Sensors, Outdoor, Indoor, Monitoring, vs SimpliSafe, And More
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Nest (popular for its smart home thermostats and carbon monoxide detectors) previously offered a home security system called Nest Secure. While the full system was discontinued in October 2020, you can still buy Nest doorbells and cameras and create your own self-monitoring system. Learn more in our review of Nest.
Summary
Nest is more expensive than some of its competitors, but it’s a dependable system. We’re disappointed that it only has a single monitoring station, which is a key reason it’s not a top pick for us. Our experts recommend at least two monitoring stations to help keep you protected in case one experiences down time.
Overall Score
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Customer Service
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Technology
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Overall Value
Pros
- Stylish design
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Professional monitoring is optional
- Self-installation No-contract option available Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home
Cons
- More expensive than competitors
- Not compatible with as many devices as competitors
- Only one monitoring station (run by Brinks)
- You must pay 100% of the contract, even if you cancel
Consumer Reviews
This is the aggregate score of reader reviews we’ve received. Have a good or bad experience with Nest products? Feel free to leave your own review in the comments. Please note that only ratings with valid review content will be published and counted.
11 Key Features
- Live streaming records up to 1080p HD video to a computer, tablet, or smartphone
- Two-way audio communication with built-in microphone and speaker
- On/Off programming to coordinate with your schedule
- Mobile apps send push notifications of motion detection and intelligent alerts (familiar faces, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, glass breaking) with a subscription plan
- 24/7 continuous recording
- Infrared LEDs for night vision
- Weatherproof (outdoor camera and doorbell)
- 135-degree field of view, 6x zoom, and the ability to enhance features in the live video feed
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices and syncs with Nest Learning Thermostat and Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
- Available in multiple color options: snow, fog, linen, and sand with a maple wood base
- Easy to install
Pricing
Compare Google Nest and Doorbell cameras on Amazon (while supplies last).
Self-Monitoring Plans
If you want storage options, you’ll need to buy one of two subscription plans: Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus. Nest Aware offers event-based history, meaning it saves video clips of sound or motion events for up to 30 days. Nest Aware Plus gets you event video history plus 10 days of 24/7 video coverage with continuous video recording.
| Nest Aware | Nest Aware Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly/Annual Price | $6/$60 | $12/$120 |
| Event video history |  (30 days) | (60 days) |
| 24/7 video history | (up to 10 days) | |
| E911 | | |
| Intelligent alerts | | |
Both plans have e911 and intelligent alerts. E911 will connect you to the 911 call center closest to your home, no matter where you’re located at the time of the call (normally, if you dial 911 from your cellphone, your call is routed to the 911 center closest to your phone’s location). Intelligent alerts give you the option to recognize familiar faces in your video. It also has a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and glass break detection.
Consumer Feedback
Praise
This device was super easy to install and works perfectly. Very user friendly.
Cbake88, Best Buy 5/22/2020
If you have Nest Cameras it will turn them all of them on and start recording when the alarm goes off. Exceptional integration with other Nest products and you can use a Starling to connect it to Apple Home.
Jonny, Best Buy 5/19/2020
Complaints
Disappointed that it only works with google home and not with the google nest app like the rest of my cameras
Davidg, Best Buy 3/24/2023
Really disappointed in this camera. Every few days the live feature stops working. It still records video, but it will not allow a live view. Only way to fix is a full factory reset. Google support is abysmal and takes hours to get to any substantive advice after verifying your identify six ways to Sunday.
Daniel, Best Buy 01/24/2023
How To Install Nest Camera (Video)
See how easy it is to set up your Nest indoor wired camera.
About Nest Secure & Its History
Nest Labs was initially founded in 2010 by two former Apple engineers, Matt Rogers, and Tony Fadell. The first product released was the Nest Learning Thermostat. In 2014, Google purchased Nest Labs for $3.2 billion, and in 2017 it launched Nest Secure. In October 2020, they discontinued Nest Secure, but they are committed to providing support to their existing customers.
How Does Nest Compare?
If you want a sleek-looking way to keep an eye on things in and outside your home and don’t need professional monitoring or any fancy alarms or entryway sensors (on doors and windows), the Nest family of products could be a good fit for you. You can read about Nest’s competition in our home alarm company reviews.
