Cove Security Review
This Old House Rating: 8.9/10
Finding the right security system for your home’s needs is essential, but it isn’t always easy. In this Cove security review, we examine the company’s offerings as well as its cost, reviews, and technology, so you can make an educated decision on whether it’s the best home security system for you.
Our Take on Cove Security
We rated Cove’s security system an 8.9 out of 10. Its low prices and lack of a contract make it a safe choice for customers looking for affordability, but it lacks many of the features that are offered by competitors.
Pros & Cons of Cove Security
Pros
- Low monthly cost
- No contracts
- Easy cancellation
- Free upgrades for $5/month
- Lifetime equipment warranty for Cove Plus members
- Excellent reviews on Trustpilot
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t offer smart home integration
- Doesn’t offer self-monitoring option
- Requires premium subscription to use mobile application
- Doesn’t offer any outdoor security cameras
- Doesn’t support IFTTT applets
- Need premium subscription to control systems remotely
Cove Security Packages
Cove offers two professional monitoring plans: Cove Basic and Cove Plus. Both of these plans do not require a contract. In addition, there is a 60-day money-back guarantee. Unlike home security systems offered by competitors such as Abode, Google Nest Secure, and Samsung SmartThings, Cove does not offer a self-monitoring package.
Cove Package Comparison
Cove Basic | Cove Plus |
---|---|
One-year equipment warranty |
Lifetime equipment warranty |
24/7 professional monitoring |
24/7 professional monitorin |
Smartphone control |
|
Alexa and Google Home Voice control |
|
$5 monthly equipment credit for upgrading devices |
|
Lifetime professional monitoring rate-lock guarantee |
Cove Technology
With both of its security packages, Cove provides two services: InstaText and LiveAssist. Learn more about these services below.
InstaText
With InstaText, homeowners are notified immediately via text message when a sensor triggers an alarm. The text message gives homeowners the option to send the police, cancel the alarm, or for a representative to call the homeowner.
LiveAssist
With LiveAssist, a direct channel is set up between the homeowner’s touch alarm panel and emergency response teams — you are just a couple touches away from calling for medical help, the fire department, or the police department. Just like using a phone, the company’s panel allows you to have a two-way conversation with an emergency response team.
Cove Security Equipment
Cove sells a comprehensive variety of security equipment to keep homeowners safe, including a motion detector, alarm panel, flood sensor, and glass break detector. One downside to Cove’s equipment offerings is that it does not offer any outdoor security cameras, which many homeowners like to have.
Here is a list of the products it offers:
Cove Touch Alarm Panel: Cove’s alarm panel is the central component of Cove’s security system and connects homeowners with the company’s six 24/7 live monitoring stations. You can arm and disarm your system using this panel or by using the company’s mobile application or key fob. The company’s alarm panel comes with a 24-hour backup battery to protect the system from potential weather outages.
Door and Window Sensors: These sensors are mounted onto any door or window, letting you know if someone enters or leaves your home.
Motion Detector: The motion sensor detects movement inside any room and triggers the alarm. In most homes, placing one motion sensor over a central location with high traffic provides sufficient security. In larger homes, additional motion sensors may be needed.
Key Remote: Cove’s wireless home security key fobs allow you to arm and disarm your system by pressing a button. If you have a need for multiple people to access your alarm system, multiple key fobs can be purchased.
Glass Break Detector: This system detects if the windows or glass doors of your home are broken. One glass break detector covers all glass fixtures within 15 feet and is recommended for locked windows, windows that don’t open, and casement windows.
Smoke Detector: Smoke detectors catch fires while they are in their infancy. It is recommended that these not be placed directly over stoves or cooking areas, which can cause the sensor to create false alarms.
Flood Sensor: Flood sensors alert you in the event of a residential flood, which can be caused by a plumbing leak or by other appliance malfunctions. Each system is delivered pre-programmed to your home and is easy to install. These sensors are often placed near running water, such as under water heaters, sinks, refrigerators, and between the toilet and the sink.
CO Detector: These sensors detect harmful carbon monoxide gas to prevent poisoning. CO detectors are typically placed near bedrooms so that they can alert homeowners who are sleeping. Some homeowners also place these detectors near a utility room to detect potential carbon monoxide from fuel-burning equipment.
Medical Alert Necklace: Cove offers a medical alert necklace that can be worn in your house and around your yard.
YI indoor camera: The YI indoor camera lets you see what is going on in your home and communicate with two-way audio communication.
Cove Security Cost
The cost of Cove’s security services depends on the particular security package that a homeowner purchases and the specific security products that they purchase with their package. The tables below reveal both of these costs. Cove’s security packages are competitively priced—many home security companies charge over $30 per month for professional monitoring.
Security Package Cost
Plan | Cost |
---|---|
Cove Basic |
$14.99 per month |
Cove Plus |
$24.99 per month |
Security Products Cost
Products | Cost |
---|---|
Door sensor |
$15 each |
Motion detector |
$30 each |
Key fob |
$25 each |
Window sensor |
$15 each |
Glass break detector |
$35 each |
Smoke detector |
$30 each |
Flood sensor |
$20 each |
CO detector |
$50 each |
Medical alert necklace |
$20 each |
YI indoor camera |
Varies |
Cove Touch Alarm Panel |
Varies |
Cove Reviews
Most Cove security reviews online come from customers who expressed having positive experiences with the company. Homeowners frequently state that Cove’s customer representatives are helpful and that the security equipment they purchased from the company is high-quality. On Trustpilot, Cove holds a 4.8-star average rating based on over 880 reviews.
Here are some sample reviews we found:
“Great customer service. Very professional and polite. [The representative] patiently answered my questions and addressed my concerns. He provided a reasonable solution and made me feel valued as a customer.” —Tammy Q. via Trustpilot on September 1, 2020
“I have had no issues with the system and am very happy with the quality of both the equipment and the immediate response from the monitoring staff when sensors have gone off.” —Chad T. via Trustpilot on August 30, 2020
Cove vs. Competitors
Our Cove security review concluded that the company’s products are among the most affordable in the industry, and the company scored an 8.9 out of 10 based on our rating system. Cove is a company worth considering for budget-conscious consumers seeking a security company that won’t lock them into a contract, but it might not be an ideal choice if you’re in search of a company offering the broadest variety of technology features.
We advise consumers to get multiple quotes to find the security system that best meets their needs.
Compare Top-Rated Alternatives to Cove’s Security System
Provider | SimpliSafe | Vivint | ADT |
---|---|---|---|
Get a free quote |
View Plans |
View Plans |
View Plans |
Equipment prices |
$200 and up |
$590 and up |
Bundled with contract |
Monitoring prices (per month) |
$15 or $25 |
$40 and up |
$29 and up |
Contract required |
No |
No |
36 months |
24/7 monitoring |
Available |
Available |
Included |
Professional installation |
$79 |
Pricing by quote |
$99 and up |
DIY installation |
Yes |
Not available |
Not available |
Mobile app access |
With interactive monitoring |
Yes |
Yes |
Motion detection |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Smart home compatibility |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Video surveillance |
With SimpliCam purchase |
With camera purchase |
Available |
Video streaming capability |
With SimpliCam purchase |
With camera purchase |
Available |
Money-back guarantee |
60 days |
Warranty only |
6 months (installation and monitoring fees) |
BBB rating |
A+ |
D+ |
A+ |
Our Conclusion
Cove’s positive customer reviews and lack of a contract obligation make it a security provider that homeowners should consider. We also recommend researching other home security companies so you can find the system that is the best fit for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cove a good security system?
Yes, Cove offers a high-quality security system. Cove is affordable, requires no contract, and has received outstanding customer reviews.
Does Cove have an app?
Cove has a mobile application that is available through its Cove Plus monitoring plan. Homeowners can use the app to arm and disarm their security system.
Other Resources:
- ADT Home Security Review
- Vivint Home Security Review
- Alder Home Security Review
- SimpliSafe Home Security Review
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our home security recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. Our research includes analyzing product specifications, reviewing service and plan information, speaking with customer service representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score the provider against our review standards for system options, special features, installation options, connectivity and smart-home automation features, pricing, contract terms, warranty, usability, availability of a trial period, and trustworthiness to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.