- Controls smart home and security
- Available with all plans
ADT Control
- Voice control arms and disarms
- Live video feed keeps you informed
- Voice control arms and disarms
- Live video feed keeps you informed
- User-friendly interface
- Remote account management
Bottom line: Vivint Smart Home app delivers
The Vivint Smart Home app makes it easy to secure your home and control smart home features (like turning up the heat on the way home from the ski hill) from anywhere. Many home security system apps are compatible with smart home controls, but they usually require multiple apps to control everything.
With Vivint, you’ve got one app that does everything from arming your system to turning off the lights. And you don’t need to upgrade to a more expensive monitoring plan to get the app—Vivint includes it with every package.
- Control your home security and smart home devices in one place.
- Customize the alerts and notifications you receive.
- Use the mobile app with every Vivint monitoring plan—no upgrades required.
- Check live feed from security cameras no matter where you ar
Check out the best home security apps
Two types of security apps: Proprietary and Alarm.com
It seems like the only types of security system apps out there would be apps for Android and apps for iOS, but it gets a little more complicated. Here’s our guide to navigating the differences between proprietary and nonproprietary (Alarm.com) home security apps.
Proprietary home security apps
Proprietary apps are developed by security companies specifically for their own systems. Each company owns its app and is responsible for features, updates, bug fixes, and customer satisfaction.
App quality varies by company, but the benefit of a proprietary app is that it’s tailor-made for your system. Depending on the resources of your security company, app development can be slower than with a generic, industry-wide app.
Alarm.com apps
Many companies forgo developing their own app and partner with Alarm.com instead. Alarm.com is a home security industry leader for both security equipment and the technology that supports it—including mobile apps. The Alarm.com app is compatible with a number of security systems and generally receives high customer ratings.
The downside is that updates and new features are dependent on Alarm.com and not your home security company, so some things like compatibility with new smart home devices can be delayed.
Compare the best home security system apps
| Monitoring contract required |
| Available with all monitoring plans |
| Compatibility |
| Alarm.com |
| Learn more |
|
Best for smart security
|
Best for voice control
|
Best user interface
|
Best for video
|
| Vivint Smart Home | ADT Control app | Frontpoint Mobile | SimpliSafe app |
|
|
|
|
|
| Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
No X |
Yes ✓ |
| Yes ✓ |
No X |
Yes ✓ |
No X |
| iOS 11.0 or later Varies with Android device |
iOS 10.0 or later Android 4.4 and up |
iOS 10.0 or later Android 4.4 and up |
iOS 9.0 or later Android 4.3 and up |
| No X |
No X |
Yes ✓ |
No X |
| Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site |
Info current as of 08/24/2020. Offers and availability subject to change.
Top 4 home security mobile apps
- Vivint Smart Home app: Best for smart security
- ADT Control app: Best for voice control
- Frontpoint Mobile app: Best user interface
- SimpliSafe home security app: Best for sharing video
Other home security apps we considered
- Xfinity Home mobile app: Read review
- Cove Security app: Read review
Reviews: Best home security system apps
1. Vivint Smart Home app: Best smart security
You’ll need to have a customer account with Vivint to use its app, but once you do, get ready for a slew of home automation functions. Adjust the lights so they’re bright when you pull in the driveway, turn down the heat while you’re at the office during the day, or unlock the front door for your kids if they forget a key.
Our favorite feature is the built-in AI assistant (Sky) that learns your routines and habits to help you manage your smart home right from your smartphone.
Sky uses geolocation and your home’s sensors to tell if your house is empty or full of a bunch of teenagers. It automatically adjusts the climate control to make sure the heat isn’t blasting when you’re out for the day (or when a crew of kids is upping the indoor temperature). Vivint Sky helps you conserve energy and stay comfy.
Plus, you can set up rules to automatically lock up the house at 10:00 p.m. each night and get an alert if a door or window opens after that time. If you’ve got rambunctious kids looking to exert a little too much independence, this feature could be a lifesaver.
Pros
- Comes with all plans
- Has seamless smart home integration
- Uses built-in AI assistant to learn routines
- Provides 30 days of video storage with Video Playback upgrade
Cons
- Available only with Vivint home security system
- Requires upgrade for continuous video storage
What can you do with the Vivint Smart Home app?
- Activity feed
See what’s going on with detailed reports of all the day-to-day activity in your home. - Family plan
Create and manage personalized accounts for every member of the household. - Smart clips
Save 20-second clips of security camera video to review later—whether it’s someone suspicious at the door or your dog doing something adorable. - Vivint playback
Add this feature to your app to store up to 30 days of continuous video. - Custom actions
Set up rules and routines to make life easier. Automatically turn lights on or off at the same time each day or lock the doors after everyone’s tucked in for the night. - Sky AI assistant
Benefit from Vivint’s learning technology that tunes into your family’s routines to help keep your home energy efficient and comfortable.
2. ADT Control app: Best for voice control
The ADT Control app works with ADT home security systems and monitoring. It boasts a full lineup of home automation controls so you can remotely let the kids in after school or check to make sure you didn’t leave the coffee pot on.
We especially like the voice control options that come with the ADT Control app. It allows two-way talk and it works with Amazon Alexa. You can use voice control to arm and disarm your system—an option that isn’t always available from a security system app.
Unfortunately, the ADT Control app isn’t available with every ADT home security system. You can get the ADT Control app only with some of ADT’s pricier packages. But it does get high customer ratings in both the App Store and on Google Play, so the high price tag seems worth it to most users.
Pros
- Voice control with Alexa
- Geo-fencing services for security, climate, and privacy
- Live video monitoring (available on phone, tablet, TV, Apple Watch)
Cons
- Connection issues
- Required upgrade to pricey system
What can you do with the ADT Control app?
- Voice control
Use Amazon Alexa to arm and disarm your system, dim the lights, or turn up the heat. - Alerts
Receive text/email alerts when a window/door is opened or when the status of your system changes (e.g., from armed to disarmed). - Video monitoring
Watch live footage or store video clips to review later. - Apple Watch integration
View camera footage, control alarms, and set automation schedules on your Apple Watch. - Smart home control
Turn lights on and off, change the thermostat, or see if you left a small appliance on in your rush out the door. - Custom automation
Set up schedules for everyday life or program a vacation mode.
3. Frontpoint Mobile app: Best user interface
Frontpoint is the only security company on our list that uses Alarm.com technology for its mobile app. But Frontpoint has put in a lot of time to customize the app to best serve its customers. A great example of this is the company’s DIY installation guidance. Frontpoint was one of the first home security companies to automate installation through a mobile app.
Recently the Frontpoint app got a facelift, and users are raving about the simple, intuitive interface. The navigation menu is easy to follow, and the company has given more power to the individual user.
It used to take a call to customer service to change user settings, update login information, and make other standard changes. With the latest app update, those calls are no longer necessary—which is great news if you hate having to make phone calls (like me).
Pros
- Easy navigation and setup
- Live video feed
- User-controlled account management
Cons
- Upgraded monitoring plan required
- Delays after motion detection
What can you do with the Frontpiont Mobile app?
- System setup
Follow the prompts for quick, easy setup of your Frontpoint security system. - Notifications
Get real-time alerts via text, email, or push notifications. - Video
Check in on your home, kids, or pets with live video or recorded clips. - Smart home control
Turn up the heat, dim the lights, or unlock the front door from your office or a ski slope. - Account management
Edit users, link multiple systems to a single login, and increase app security with extra features like two-factor authentication. No more need to call customer service for these housekeeping issues.
4. SimpliSafe Home Security app: Best for sharing video
SimpliSafe has taken the home security world by storm, and its proprietary mobile app is one reason why. Just like every other part of a SimpliSafe security system, the app is easy to navigate and intuitive for the user.
But that doesn’t mean SimpliSafe skips all the bells and whistles. The latest app update lets you share video from your SimpliCam or Video Doorbell Pro on social media. We like this feature because we pick up more antics from our kids and pets than from potential intruders. Plus, all the best videos happen when the kiddos or puppies think we’re not watching.
But there are some quirks in the latest update that are frustrating—users complain of Push notifications that won’t turn off and restrictions that let only one user receive alerts.
We are frustrated, though, that you can’t use the SimpliSafe app unless you opt for the company’s more expensive monitoring plan. This is an industry trend, but it feels extra-stingy from a security brand that emphasizes its wireless prowess and budget-friendly prices.
Pros
- Intuitive design
- Video sharing options
- Fire, CO, and flood alerts
Cons
- Pricey upgrade required
- Notification glitches with latest update
What can you do with the SimpliSafe Home Security app?
- Alerts
In addition to the usual notifications, you get updates about fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, and water leaks. - Event log
See who’s coming and going from your home. This is a great way to keep tabs on dog walkers and other household helpers. - Smart home control
Incorporate third-party smart home devices like Amazon Alexa, August door locks, Google Home, and the Nest thermostat. - Video
View live or recorded video, and share clips with friends and family on social media.
New or updated security apps
Blue by ADT
Blue is ADT’s new DIY security system, and you get the mobile app for free. If some things look familiar to you, it might be because Blue by ADT used to be LifeShield Security.
After ADT acquired LifeShield, it updated and rebranded the system. In fact, you’ll still see “LifeShield Security” right under Blue by ADT in the App Store.
Here’s a look at what you can do with the Blue by ADT mobile app:
- Arm and disarm the security system
- Check security camera footage
- Get real-time push notifications
- Use two-way talk with doorbell camera
- Receive familiar face alerts
- Access a crime map of your area
Abode
Abode gave its app a complete overhaul. You get free access to the Abode mobile app when you buy an Abode smart security system or Abode Iota all-in-one security camera.
On top of a slick new user interface, here are other features of the Abode mobile app:
- Remote arming and disarming
- Live video feeds
- Unified dashboard for smart home and security functions
- Full administrative access (no more need to log into the web app)
- Single-touch quick actions to control automations for smart lights, smart door locks, smart garage door opener, etc.
ADT Pulse app
This one is an oldie but a goody. Pulse was ADT’s first mobile app for smart home automation and control.
Now that ADT launched Control, ADT Pulse is a legacy app that’s still fully supported and functional for existing ADT Pulse customers.
Even though you can’t get the Pulse app as a new ADT customer, here are a few highlights for current Pulse users:
- Arm and disarm security system
- Control smart home devices
- Access from your smartphone, tablet, or smart watch
- Lock and unlock doors
- Review and organize activity logs
- View and archive live camera footage, snapshots, and video clips
Conclusion
When it comes to apps that give you remote control of your home security system, it’s important to determine your needs.
- For homes with children: If you have children who walk home from school, you’ll probably want a video doorbell camera with live streaming and two-way communication that lets you check in so you know they got home safe.
- For families with fur babies: If you like to check in on your pets, live security camera screening is something that will help you keep an eye on them.
- For smart home aficionados: If you want to be able to control your lights and thermostat while you’re away, look for a plan and technology with home automation capabilities.
If you’re ready to purchase or upgrade your system, read more about top home security providers to find the best match for your lifestyle.
More resources to keep your home safe
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