Scout Alarm Review

Package prices are listed below, but you also have the option to buy a la carte equipment. Here are the prices you’ll pay if you choose this approach:

• Scout Hub: This is the brains of the system that all sensors connect to. It costs $120.
• Door panels: This uses an RFID monitor to control the Scout system and it monitors activity on your main door. It also triggers a 106 db siren if the alarm is triggered. The cost is $50.
• Motion sensors: These detect motion up to 25 feet and have a 90 degree field of view. The cost is $30.
• Access sensors: These can detect the opening and closing of windows, doors, cabinets, or safes.  The cost is $20.
• Scout indoor cameras: You can monitor your home day or night in the Scout app with a 1080p live feed from your camera. The cost is $99.
• Water sensors: Water sensors trigger an alarm as soon as water is detected. The cost is $30.
• Smoke & C02 detectors: If an event occurs, sirens will be triggered, you’ll be notified, and monitors will also be made aware of the problem if you have professional monitoring services.  The cost is $50.
• Door locks: These smart locks allow you to ditch your keys and lock and unlock doors via the keypad on the lock or your Scout app. The cost is $229 per lock.

A bundled package can provide savings compared with the a la carte price, but you can also add to each bundle to make your system suit your home perfectly.

Scout Security aims to allow you full control over all your smart home devices — and works well with the systems you use every day to control your home environment. Scout integrates with:

• Nest: You can use Scout Security with the Nest Protect Smoke + Carbon Monoxide detector so your Scout Security system will alert you if smoke or dangerous gases are detected in your home. Scout and Nest will communicate their learnings to each other, you can receive customized alerts from both Nest and Scout devices in one convenient app, and you can sync your “Away” mode in Scout’s system with your Nest Learning Thermostat.
• Amazon Alexa: You can control your Scout Security system simply by talking to Alexa. It doesn’t get much easier than asking Alexa if the door is open or telling Alexa to arm away mode on your alarm.
• Google Assistant: If you use Google Home to control your home instead of Alexa, Scout’s integration with this virtual assistant also allows you to talk with your alarm. Just tell Google Home what you want Scout to do and Scout will do it.
• Hue and Lifx: Hue and Lifx connected lighting products work with your Scout System so you can flash lights when your alarm is triggered.
• IFTTT: IFTTT allows you to connect Scout with more than 175 smart home partners. Using IFTTT, you can create customizable “recipes,” which are basically automated processes that control a wide variety of different “channels” including Facebook and smart devices.  With IFTTT, you can simply tell Scout what to do and a series of customizable actions will occur automatically every time.

Because Scout Security works with IFTTT, it’s one of the most connected home security systems on the market.

Scout customer support is available via phone at 844-287-2688 or can be reached at [email protected].  Customer service is available from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM CST, except on major holidays. Scout also provides separate 24/7 monitoring, which is always effective every day of the year at all times of the day.

Scout Security doesn’t yet have a rating with the Better Business Bureau, as the company is a newer one. However, Scout customer reviews indicate the company has been responsive and willing to work with customers experience occasional reliability problems with Scout components. We also found Scout Security’s customer service to be helpful when we contacted the company to test various aspects of its service. Our Security Nerd tested each of the following processes:

• Sales: We contacted customer service to ask about purchasing a security system and found support staff to be knowledgeable and friendly but not pushy.
• Design: We used the Scout website to build a customized security package.
• Service: We contacted customer support to see how long it took to get a representative on the phone and were provided with quick answers to questions. 

When purchasing a security system, key costs to consider include:

• Equipment costs: With Scout Security, you can opt for one of four packages described above or can build your own system by buying individual components.
• Installation costs: Installation is DIY and there is no fee.
• Monthly costs: You can opt for a self-monitored plan with WiFi backup for just $9.99 per month or pay $19.99 monthly for professional monitoring with no contracts required. There are additional fees for cloud storage for video footage.
• Activation fee: There is no activation fee to get started with Scout, other than paying the up-front costs of buying equipment.

Scout provides a wide array of products to customize your home security system. You can buy Scout Packs, which group popular components together, or you can buy individual products to build a system that best meets your needs. Cameras are not included with any of the Scout Packs, so you’ll have to add those at an additional cost.