Link Interactive Review
Based out of Utah, Link Interactive has been in the home security business since 1952. Known for its flexibility and customer service, Link is perfect for the DIY-loving homeowner looking for value and quality without a hefty price tag.
The equipment and monitoring prices are comparable to other DIY companies, but Link Interactive gives customers the choice of entering a contract or going month-to-month.
Unlike many companies, there are no predetermined equipment bundles to choose from. The only bundle you choose from is with regards to their monitoring services. This means each order is custom, and prices vary based on what you choose and the length of your contract. Link Interactive home security systems also allow customers plenty of smart home options and operate on a reliable cellular connection.
Some Link reviews report difficulty in installing their system, but Link stands by their assertion that 92% of their customers say setup and installation are easy. The biggest downside to this company is higher upfront cost, but you can mitigate that by choosing a 3-year contract. The cancellation policy is pretty strict though, so make sure you choose your contract terms wisely.
Here’s how we graded Link Interactive:
- Hardware: 5 out of 5. Customers choose from a solid variety of equipment with setup that should take under an hour to finish. From different types of cameras to various home automation devices, Link Interactive home security provides homeowners with a nice variety of options.
- Customer Service: 4.5 out of 5. This is one of Link Interactive’s biggest selling points. Rated A on Angie’s List and with stellar reviews from Consumer Affairs, it’s clear that customer satisfaction is top of mind for Link.
- Pricing: 4 out of 5. Hardware can be a little pricey if you aren’t ready to sign a contract. And with monitoring services that start at $30.99, it is more expensive than some DIY companies. However, if you are willing to sign a contract, you can spread out your payments.
- The Mobile App: 4 out of 5. Link Interactive uses Alarm.com’s mobile app, so you’ll need to download that in the app store for access to your system via smartphone. The reviews for the Alarm.com app are generally pretty good, however there are multiple users reporting bugs and other issues with the Alarm.com app that Link uses.
- Smart Home Capabilities: 5 out of 5. Link provides multiple smart home options you can buy from the company, but you are also able to integrate any Z-wave technology you may already have into your Link security system. And if you already have a Nest, Alexa, or Apple TV, those can be integrated as well.
Link Interactive Fees & Features
| Features | Standard | Gold | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $30.99 | $39.99 | 44.99 |
| Installation Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Installation | DIY | DIY | DIY |
| Mobile Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke and CO Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Pendant | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte |
| Video Monitoring | No | No | Yes |
| Motion Sensors | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte |
| Door/Window Sensors | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte |
| Doorbell camera | No | Only if purchased | Only if purchased |
| Smart Home Integration | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Contract Length | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Warranty | Warranty matches length of contract | Warranty matches length of contract | Warranty matches length of contract |
| Yard Signs | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte | Must purchase ala carte |
| iTunes app rating | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Google Play app rating | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Fees and features will vary based on your length of contract, so you should always talk with a customer service representative to get an exact price prior to purchase. They also run promotional deals that could score you discounts not listed online. Generally though, the longer the contract you sign up for, the bigger the discount you’ll receive on equipment. However, all monitoring prices stay the same no matter if you are contract or choose month-to-month. Link does offer a price lock feature through the length of whatever contract you choose, so you won’t have unexpected jumps in price for your services while you are under contract with them.
If you sign no contract, you will pay full price on your equipment. Here are the discounts you’ll receive on equipment for all contract lengths:
- 1 year: $50 discount
- 2 year: $150 discount
- 3 year: $250 discount
Make sure you ask for promotional deals, because you can score even more money off equipment if the time is right.
Nerd Pros
Link Interactive offers an impressive variety of hardware. The smart home options alone are a cut above many other DIY offerings. You also have complete customization options, allowing you to create your perfect system. And the equipment has a 3-year warranty as long as you’re under contract.
Nerd Cons
If you choose to sign a contract and you decide to leave before your contract is up, you’ll have to pay the entire remainder in full.
Equipment available from Link Interactive
Link is unique in that they don’t offer bundles of equipment based on tiers like other companies. That means every order is custom, and prices vary based on the contract length you sign.
Another nice part about the equipment is that you own it up front without a contract, and it is yours to keep after your contract is up. That means you could move monitoring services later if you’d like (as long as the new service is able to use the Link equipment.) Customers can choose from two different security panels. Both are user friendly touch screen models, but the upgraded IQ Panel 2 has a larger display screen with added features like bluetooth touchless disarming and a built in camera. You’ll pay an extra $200 for the upgraded panel, while the standard is included in your security system.
Below are the products you choose from when creating your own security system with Link Interactive:
Security Equipment:
- 2Gig Go!Control smart panel (Or IQ Panel 2 upgrade for an extra $200)
- Door/Window sensors
- Motion sensors
- Smart motion sensors
- Key king remote
- Glass break sensor
- Tilt Sensor
- Panic Button
- Outdoor gate sensor
- Remote keypad
- Interior siren
Life Safety Equipment:
- Environmental sensor (smoke/heat/freeze)
- Carbon monoxide sensor
- Disaster sensor (flood/heat/freeze)
- Smoke alarm
- Water leak detector
Cameras:
- Interior and exterior cameras
- Doorbell cameras
Home Automation Equipment:
- Smart locks
- Smart thermostat
- Smart temperature sensor
- Smart lights
- Garage door sensor
Add-ons:
- Window decals
- Yard sign
- Yard sign light
- Repeaters
The Link Interactive Mobile App
Link uses the Alarm.com app for its home security services, which scores high in both app stores:
- 4.3 rating in the Google Play store
- 4.8 rating in the Apple App store
The app allows you to disarm and arm your system from the comfort of your own cell phone. Other features include:
- Watch live video
- View activity captured by image sensors
- Control home automation options from one place
- Push notifications based on your choice of activity from the home
Link Interactive uses Alarm.com’s app for mobile monitoring like many other DIY security companies. You can control your entire security system from this app, including viewing your security cameras and receiving text alerts of activity within your home. It is highly rated in both app stores, but there are people who complain about glitches after updates, which the company appears to respond to in Link Interactive reviews. In general, this app seems to get the job done.
Link Interactice Smart Home Capabilities
Home automation is one of Link’s strong points because of the multiple options you can buy when you purchase your system. And the best part is, if you already have Z-wave smart home technologies, they are compatible with Link’s interface. It is also compatible with Nest, Echo, and Apple TV! Link offers these products from its own website:
- Smart lights
- Smart locks
- Doorbell cameras
- Garage door openers
- Thermostats
Link Interactive Customer Service
Although the company’s monitoring service is 24/7, its customer service staff is not available every day. The customer service hours are as follows:
- Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. CST
- Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-6pm CST
To test customer service, our SecurityNerd called the company to inquire about a potential security system:
- Sales: Sales representatives picked up the phone quickly and answered all of our SecurityNerd’s questions, which were many. Because each system is essentially custom, expect to spend a little extra time on the phone going through pricing options. It can be confusing, but the sales representatives explained everything and even offered a deal that was not advertised on the website. Our SecurityNerd also tried out the chat feature, and was able to get a quick basic quote in minutes without ever picking up the phone.
- Design: This process takes a little longer than other companies because there are no predetermined equipment bundles to choose from. But the customer service representative helped with what the SecurityNerd needed without trying to push too hard on upselling.
- Install: Link Interactive reviews do have a few poor reviews where customers say setup wasn’t as easy as claimed. However, those are few and far between. Equipment comes preprogrammed, and most reviewers said that setup is a snap.
- Alarm: Link reviews seem to rate alarm response high, and the company says it has an average 20 second response time.
- Service: Our SecurityNerd tested both phone and chat features for customer service and was helped promptly. Having an idea of what you want ahead of time will help, or else agents will go through all the options step by step, which can be time consuming.
Link Interactive Coverage Area
Link Interactive provides security solutions throughout all fifty states within the US.
Link Interactive Pricing & Packages
You won’t see any installation or activation fees with Link. When purchasing a system with Link here are the costs to consider:
- Equipment Cost: While Link has higher upfront costs, keep in mind that most companies will tie in the hardware and monitoring into one monthly fee. At Link, you’re paying for your equipment up front, but will receive a hefty discount if you sign a longer contract.
- Monthly Costs: You’ll have to choose from three different monitoring tiers, and those prices do not change based on your contract tiers. It ranges from basic monitoring all the way up to top tier with video monitoring and smart home options.
- Cancellation fees: As with most companies, you’ll have to pay to cancel. But this company requires you to buy out your full contract, so keep that in mind before agreeing to a contract.
Here are the prices for Link Interactive’s equipment. Each system comes with a standard panel included, so you won’t have to worry about that cost. You will get a discount based on whether you decide to sign a contract.
| Item | $ / unit |
|---|---|
| Upgraded Smart Panel | $200 |
| Recessed door sensor | $34 |
| Wireless door sensor | $37 |
| Door/window sensor | $22 |
| Motion sensor | $50 |
| Smart motion sensor | $112 |
| Key king remote | $24 |
| Tilt sensor | $40 |
| Glass break sensor | $69 |
| Wireless doorbell | $30 |
| Touchpad | $138 |
| Interior siren | $43 |
| Outdoor gate sensor | $61 |
| Smoke/heat/freeze sensor | $66 |
| Carbon monoxide detector | $80 |
| Disaster sensor | $67 |
| Wireless heat detector | $64 |
| Firefighter module | $55 |
| Smoke detector sensor | $37 |
| Water leak detector | $48 |
| SmartCode Deadbolt | $135 |
| Yale Touchscreen deadbolt | $204 |
| Yard sign | $7 |
| Window decal | $1 |
| Yard sign light | $6 |
| Go!Controll Battery Pack | $22 |
| Attic mount antenna | $33 |
| Door/window magnet | $1 |
| RE524X Repeater | $90 |
| 2 gig repeater | $57 |
Nerd Rating: 4 / 5
Wrapping Up
If DIY is your cup of tea, Link will have what you’re looking for. With a wide range of smart home options and sleek looking hardware, you’ll get home security at a fair price. Although equipment seems expensive compared with other DIY companies, remember that a 3-year contract will automatically take $250 off your equipment costs.
Customer service is a big selling point, but it does take awhile to wrap your head around the pricing structure. Make sure to give yourself time to do a virtual walk-through with a customer service representative to get a good idea of how much equipment you’ll need.
With all the customization of smart home options mixed with the flexibility of being able to choose to bypass a contract, Link has so many pluses that it’s hard to fault them for any downsides.
If you are still on the hunt for other options, here are a few to consider:
- Scout: This company has lower cost plans but also some customization options. You are required to have a monthly monitoring service with this system as well.
- Simplisafe: This is another DIY wireless home security company that provides flexibility when compared to the larger companies. The best part about Simplisafe is its low-cost equipment and incredible flexibility. You don’t even have to use a monitoring service with this equipment, and there is no contract.
- Larger national companies like ADT or Vivint. You’ll be paying more in fees, but it is worth it for customers who want an in-home evaluation and professional installation process with no DIY.
Link Interactive is a great choice if you want quality technology and the flexibility to choose your system on your terms. While you may shell out more cash for the equipment, you do own the equipment and you don’t have to commit to any long-term contracts if it’s not your thing.
About the Author
Erin Maloney
Erin is a freelance video producer and writer based out of Florida. She works with major retail companies and digital startups as a brand storyteller. When Erin's not writing, you can catch her scuba diving and spending time with her dog (not at the same time).