Abode review

Abode is the most flexible system here for people who already run a smart home. Out of the box, with no plan, you get the app, live camera video and integrations with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home and others. The Standard plan, $79.99 per year or $8.49 per month, adds a 30-day event timeline, AI detection for people, packages and pets, rich notifications and eligibility for insurance discounts. The Pro plan, $245.99 per year or $26.99 per month, adds 24/7 professional monitoring from a US-based center, 4G cellular backup and automatic dispatch for break-ins, fires and medical emergencies. Video is sold separately: continuous recording with 10 days of history costs $9.99 per month per camera, and camera-only setups pay $3.99 per camera. There are no contracts, and you can switch or cancel plans from the app. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the system.

Who it is for

smart home owners who want free self-monitoring

Price

Free plan; Standard $8.49 per month or $79.99 per year; Pro with 24/7 monitoring $26.99 per month or $245.99 per year.

The Standard Plan ($79.99/year or $8.49/month)
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Free tier includes app access, live video and smart home integrations
• Standard plan adds a 30-day event timeline and AI detection of people, packages and pets
• Pro plan adds 24/7 US-based professional monitoring and 4G cellular backup
• Works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Home Assistant, IFTTT, Zigbee, Z-Wave and Sonos
• 24/7 recording add-on keeps 10 days of video for $9.99 per month per camera

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Usable with no subscription at all
• Strength: Contract-free; change or cancel plans in the app with no fees
• Strength: Pro costs $245.99 per year, less than paying monthly
• Weakness: Professional monitoring and cellular backup only come with Pro at $26.99 per month
• Weakness: Apple HomeKit works only with the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs
• Weakness: Without a plan, alarms must be forwarded to the monitoring center by hand

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, app, live video and integrations
• Cheapest pro monitoring: Pro, $26.99 per month or $245.99 per year
• Contract: None
• Cellular backup: 4G, Pro plan
• Install: DIY

Where it ranks

Abode is No. 3 in our Best Home Security Systems verdict.