You might recognize the name Brinks
from the side of armored trucks,
but it's also a home security system.
Today, we're going to see
how this home security brand
stacks up against other favorites
like ADT and SimpliSafe
and dig into how Brinks does
in four key areas:
up-front cost,
monthly monitoring fees,
contracts,
and equipment.
Plus, we'll reveal our favorite thing about Brinks
in each of those areas.
And you can read every detail about Brinks
in our comprehensive review
on SafeWise.com.
Brink's prices lineup
with other DIY home security systems out there.
You have three basic packages to pick from,
and they range in price
from $200 on up to $700.
Package prices go up
when you add extras like a video doorbell
or an outside security cam.
You can also add on other security equipment,
like a Kwikset smart lock
or a flood sensor,
but of course that will impact your final price.
Unlike some other DIY security systems,
(I see you SimpliSafe),
Brinks makes it easy
to finance your equipment costs
over the term of your monitoring contract.
Now, that means
that your up-front costs could drop
from $200 or $700
to less than $100,
because you'll be spreading out the cost
of your equipment over three years,
that equipment costs will be added
on top of your monthly monitoring fee.
Our favorite thing about Brinks' up-front pricing
is that they only offer
three basic equipment packages.
This makes choosing a system simple and stress-free.
If you don't want the hassle
of customizing your home security system
with à la carte equipment options,
all you have to decide with Brinks
is whether you want cameras or not.
Brinks continues to keep it simple,
when it comes to paying for monthly monitoring.
All Brinks home security systems come
with monthly monitoring.
So there's no option to monitor the system
on your own through the app.
So that means that when you choose Brinks,
you're automatically opting to have trained pros
keep an eye on your home
and security sensors 24/7.
If something comes up,
the monitoring center will contact you
to make sure it's not a false alarm
and then call for help.
Brinks only offers three main monitoring plans.
Their basic monitoring,
which means there are no video
or cameras involved, is $40 a month.
If you have a video doorbell,
your price goes up to $45 a month.
And then when you add a video doorbell
and an outdoor security cam,
you're gonna top out at $50 per month.
Now, it's definitely not the cheapest monitoring out there,
but it's not the most expensive either.
To see where Brinks lands,
let's see how the monitoring cost shakes out
next to ADT and SimpliSafe.
SimpliSafe monitoring ranges
from $15 to $25 a month.
ADT goes from $,28
to $63 a month
and Brinks is right there in the middle
at $40 to $50 per month.
It's also worth noting
that the average pro monitoring fee
among all the systems that we test
and review is about $32 per month.
What makes Brinks' seemingly high monitoring costs worth it
is that you get everything you could want with each tier.
There's nothing held back.
Whether you're paying $40
or $50 a month,
you're going to get cellular backups,
full mobile app access,
email and text alerts,
smart home integration and control,
and video monitoring
and notifications
when you have cameras
in your security setup.
In contrast, you don't get any app
or smart home controls
with entry-level monitoring
from SimpliSafe or ADT,
but it's hard not to notice
that Brinks' most expensive plan is twice the cost
of SimpliSafe's highest plan.
This is a little bonus tidbit
that might make you happy
if you're one of the lucky few
who happened to get a Nest Secure alarm system
before Google pulled the plug.
Brinks still offers pro monitoring support
for Nest Secure.
It's $30 a month flat rate,
and there's no contract required.
Speaking of contracts,
this is where Brinks strongly diverges
from most other DIY home security companies.
Contracts are mandatory
and they last for three full years.
Plus, the worst news of all is that
if you want to cancel,
you're gonna be on the hook
for 100% of the remaining time left
on that contract.
So, basically you're gonna pay
for three years of Brinks,
whether you use it or not.
Now, it's hard to have a favorite thing
when it comes to mandatory contracts,
but the plus side with Brinks is that
it makes it easy to finance
that equipment over three years,
if you don't want to buy it up front.
But you're going to be subject to a credit check.
And you're probably gonna be paying some interest.
Now, to continue our comparison
with ADT and SimpliSafe.
There are no contracts
with SimplSafe,
and ADT also has a three-year contract
just like Brinks.
But the cancellation fee
with ADT is only 75%
of the remaining contract.
Not 100%.
Now, Brink's equipment is very standard
for any home security company.
It uses third-party equipment
through Alarm.com,
which is the same as many other home security brands.
So, that means that your equipment will be reliable.
It's going to be functional,
but it's definitely not going to be sexy.
That said, you can pick
from three preset equipment packages.
The Smart Security Essential starts at $200,
and that includes the basics:
a control panel,
one motion detector,
and two contact sensors
for door or windows.
Next is Smart Security Complete,
that one lands at $350,
and you get everything
that's in the essentials package,
plus a video doorbell cam.
And finally,
there's the Smart Security Ultimate plan for $700.
Now, this you get everything in the complete package,
plus one extra contact sensor
and an outdoor security cam.
And if you have more than two
or three ground level doors and windows
that you wanna protect with a contact sensors,
you can add on more
à la carte for about $30 each.
Other à la carte equipment choices include
an indoor security cam
keychain remote,
garage door sensor,
glass break detector,
CO detector,
smoke detector,
and flood, freeze and smoke sensors.
You can also add on smart locks
from Kwikset, and they offer smart switches,
plugs, and lighting controls by GE.
As with most everything from Brinks,
what I like most about its equipment options
is the simple way their packaged.
I like that there are only three choices
and that you customize it for your home
from there.
You don't have to figure out the basics on your own.
And there aren't so many packages
to choose from that it becomes overwhelming.
And that brings us to the end
of our Brink's home security review.
Now, Brinks definitely isn't the homecoming queen
of DIY security systems,
but it just might win
Miss Congeniality
for its straightforward options
that are simple
and make protecting your home
and family easy,
not complicated.
You can learn even more about Brinks
and how it matches up
to other home security systems
on SafeWise.com
and in a roundup video
of all the best home security systems
right here on this channel.
To catch our next home security review
and our updated list
of the best home security systems of 2022,
subscribe to our channel
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Until next time,
stay safe.
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