Brinks and Cove both offer DIY home security options with professional-level monitoring and a trial period. There are, however, several significant differences between the companies, including cost, contract and voice integration.
Brinks offers a large selection of home security and home automation technology. It’s open with pricing information and allows you to save money by installing the system yourself. The company does require you to commit to a lengthy contract.
Brinks plans
Brinks offers three plans to choose from. You can also add equipment to the plans to customize your security.
Smart Security Essential: The basic plan is $199 and includes a control panel, a motion sensor, two door sensors and a yard sign. Monitoring services are $39.99 a month.
Smart Security Complete: This plan costs $349 and includes one control panel, one video doorbell, one motion sensor, two door sensors and a yard sign. Monitoring services are $44.99 a month.
Smart Security Ultimate: The most thorough Brinks plan costs $699 and includes one control panel, one video doorbell, one motion sensor, three door sensors, one outdoor camera and one yard sign. Monitoring services cost $49.99 a month.
What Brinks customers say
Brinks customers report timely, friendly and polite service with knowledgeable technicians that are attentive to questions and concerns. Customers who experienced issues with Brinks mostly complained about long hold times and the need for multiple calls to resolve issues. Overall, reviewers on ConsumerAffairs appear to be happy with their system and describe Brinks as professional.
The Technician who worked on my system was polite and helpful. He was knowledgeable and explained things to my understanding. The system was not telling when one door was opening and he fixed it. I would recommend Brinks to anyone who asks about an alarm company.”
Cove is a DIY home security option that also includes professional monitoring. The company promises easy cancellation and no contracts, and it offers a lifetime price-lock guarantee.
Cove plans
Unlike most companies, Cove doesn’t offer equipment-based plans. The website has you build a unique package based on your needs. From there, you can choose from two monitoring packages.
Cove Basic: This plan costs 50 cents a day. It includes 24/7 live alarm monitoring, environmental monitoring, three methods of communication, smash and grab protection, a 100% AT&T 4G LTE connection, an hourly automated system check, a 24-hour backup battery and a one-year equipment warranty.
Cove Plus: This plan is 83 cents a day. It includes all the features of the basic plan and has a lifetime equipment warranty, smartphone control, Alexa and Google Home voice control, a $5/month equipment reward and a lifetime monitoring rate-lock guarantee.
What Cove customers say
Cove customers leave mixed feedback on ConsumerAffairs, with happy customers commenting on a customer service team that goes the extra mile, an easy install process and quality products. Negative feedback centers around equipment functionality and cancellation issues.
The cost was very attractive, but we didn't know what to expect of the Company nor their products. It's with great pleasure that I can say that their products are excellent, easy to install and that COVE stands behind their products firmly. [In] every instance when I needed their help, [advice], assistance and or instructions, every single COVE representative that I talked to has been very pleasant to deal with...”
