On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Abode vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Abode legitimacy and licensing
- Abode cost
- Abode and Apple HomeKit: which kit you need
- Abode complaints and how to avoid problems
- Returns, warranty claims and canceling
- What happens when the alarm goes off
- Who should pick something else
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Abode is one of the few alarm systems that works natively with Apple HomeKit, but only on the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs. It is a legitimate DIY security company, Abode Systems, Inc., founded in 2013. You can self-monitor for free, pay $8.49 a month for recorded clips and a 30-day timeline, or pay $26.99 a month for 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, with no contract. The downsides have grown: its BBB ratings are C- and C, Trustpilot shows 2.2 out of 5, and recent reviews describe offline cameras, buggy updates and slow support, with only 30 days to return equipment at your cost.
- Kit prices
- Abode Security Kit $150, Smart Security Kit $240, Iota All-In-One Kit $399 list; $75, $99 and $199 when you check out with a monthly Pro plan, as listed October 20262
- Plans
- Free self-monitoring $0; Standard $8.49 a month or $79.99 a year; Pro $26.99 a month or $245.99 a year with 24/7 professional monitoring1
- Contract
- None; change or cancel in the app anytime with no cancellation fee1
- Apple HomeKit
- Native HomeKit on the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs only; also works with Alexa, Google Home, Zigbee and Z-Wave1
- Returns
- 30 days from delivery; you pay return shipping4
- Company
- Abode Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA; business started December 2013; CEO Christopher Carney5
- BBB
- C- (Palo Alto profile, 6 complaints in 3 years) and C (San Francisco profile, 3 complaints); not accredited5
- Trustpilot
- 2.2 out of 5 TrustScore from 2,904 reviews7
Pros
- Native Apple HomeKit on the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs, plus Alexa, Google Home, Zigbee and Z-Wave
- Free self-monitoring plan with live video and alerts
- Professional monitoring with no contract, changeable in the app
- Half-price kits when you start on a monthly Pro plan
- App rated 4.2 out of 5 from 4,878 App Store ratings
Cons
- BBB ratings of C- and C, not accredited
- Trustpilot TrustScore of 2.2, with complaints about hardware and support
- Only 30 days to return equipment, and you pay shipping
- The base Abode Security Kit doesn't support HomeKit
- On the free and Standard plans, no one calls police or fire for you
Best for: Apple and smart home users who want a contract-free alarm that ties into HomeKit, Alexa or Z-Wave and can run with no monthly fee.
Skip it if: You want a long trial, the most reliable hardware and support, or a company with a strong complaint record.
Abode vs. competitors
| Company | 24/7 pro monitoring | Free self-monitoring | Trial or returns | BBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | $26.99 a month (Pro) | Yes, $0 plan | 30 days, you pay return shipping | C-, not accredited |
| SimpliSafe | From $0.76 a day (about $23 a month) | Camera recordings plan at $0.33 a day | 60-day full refund, free return shipping | A+, accredited since 2013 |
| Ring Alarm | Ring Pro $19.99 a month | Limited features without a plan | 45 days on Ring.com orders | |
| Cove | From $0.67 a day (about $20 a month) | No | 60-day money-back guarantee | B |
Abode pricing at a glance
Abode equipment and plans, as listed October 20261
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Abode Security Kit | $150 list; $75 with monthly Pro plan | Entry hub; no native HomeKit |
| Smart Security Kit | $240 list; $99 with monthly Pro plan | HomeKit, Zigbee and Z-Wave hub |
| Iota All-In-One Kit | $399 list; $199 with monthly Pro plan | Hub with built-in camera, motion sensor and 93 dB siren; HomeKit |
| Abode Cam 2 | $34.99, regularly $59.99 | No local recording |
| Free plan | $0 | App, live video, push alerts, smart home integrations |
| Standard plan | $8.49 a month or $79.99 a year | 30-day event timeline, AI smart detection, recorded clips |
| Pro plan | $26.99 a month or $245.99 a year | 24/7 US-based professional monitoring, 4G cellular backup, emergency dispatch |
| 24/7 video recording | $9.99 a month per camera | 10 days of continuous storage |
Kit discounts apply only if you check out with a monthly Pro plan. Removing the plan removes the discount. Monthly plans are free for the first month when you buy a hub. Abode's home page also says plans start at $7 a month and that Standard includes professional monitoring, which conflicts with its plans page. The plans page is what we used.
Abode , step by step
Pick a kit
Choose the base Abode Security Kit, the Smart Security Kit (needed for HomeKit, Zigbee and Z-Wave) or the Iota all-in-one hub.
Install it yourself
Plug in the hub, connect it by Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and stick on sensors. There's no technician visit.
Choose a plan
Run it free with app alerts, add Standard for recorded clips, or Pro for 24/7 monitoring and cellular backup. Switch anytime in the app.
Connect your smart home
Link Apple Home, Alexa or Google Home, and add Abode or Zigbee and Z-Wave devices such as locks and lights.
Test within 30 days
Returns close 30 days after delivery and you pay shipping, so check every sensor, camera and automation right away.
Abode legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Abode Systems, Inc. started in December 2013 and sells DIY alarm systems, cameras and monitoring plans from goabode.com. The BBB lists its CEO as Christopher Carney and its address as 2625 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. A second BBB profile lists an office at 535 Mission Street in San Francisco.
Its public scores have slipped. Older reviews, including our earlier one, cited an A- BBB rating. The BBB now rates Abode C- on its Palo Alto profile (6 complaints in three years) and C on the San Francisco profile (3 complaints). It isn’t accredited. Trustpilot shows a TrustScore of 2.2 out of 5 from 2,904 reviews. The lifetime split is mostly positive, but TrustScore weights recent reviews, and recent ones skew negative. Abode doesn’t reply to negative reviews there. The iPhone app does better, at 4.2 out of 5 from 4,878 ratings.
We found no FTC or state regulator action against Abode.
Abode cost
Equipment. The Abode Security Kit lists at $150, the Smart Security Kit at $240 and the Iota All-In-One Kit at $399. Abode advertises 50% to 60% off ($75, $99 and $199), but only if you check out with a monthly Pro plan. Remove the plan and the discount disappears. The Abode Cam 2 is $34.99, regularly $59.99. Older reviews quoting kits from about $130 are out of date.
Plans.
- Free: app control, live video, push alerts and smart home integrations.
- Standard, $8.49 a month or $79.99 a year: 30-day event timeline, AI detection of people, packages and pets, and recorded clips.
- Pro, $26.99 a month or $245.99 a year: everything in Standard plus 24/7 professional monitoring from a US-based center, 4G cellular backup and emergency dispatch.
- 24/7 video recording: $9.99 a month per camera for 10 days of continuous footage.
Monthly plans are free for the first month when you buy a hub. Abode’s home page says plans start at $7 a month and that Standard includes professional monitoring. Its plans page says monitoring is Pro only, so go by the plans page and confirm at checkout.
Abode and Apple HomeKit: which kit you need
Abode is one of the few alarm systems with native HomeKit support. You can arm and disarm, see door status and get water leak and smoke alarm status in the Apple Home app, Siri, Apple Watch and Apple TV. But HomeKit works only on the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs, not the base Abode Security Kit. The Abode Cam 2 doesn’t work with HomeKit either.
Abode also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and the Smart Security Kit hub connects Zigbee and Z-Wave devices such as locks, lights and plugs. If smart home control is why you’re buying Abode, start with the Smart Security Kit or Iota.
What customers say about Abode
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Smart home integration, especially Apple HomeKit
- No contract and a usable free tier
- Simple DIY setup when hardware works
Common complaints
- Cameras dropping offline
- Hardware that arrived dead or failed early
- App crashes, firmware update failures and battery drain
- Slow or unhelpful support
- The 30-day return window closing before problems appear
Abode complaints and how to avoid problems
Recent Trustpilot and BBB complaints repeat a few themes:
- Cameras that drop offline or need frequent resets
- Equipment that arrives dead or fails within months
- App crashes, failed firmware updates and fast battery drain
- Slow or unhelpful support
- Problems that show up after the 30-day return window
To protect yourself: test every device in the first week, keep the box, and contact support in writing so you have a record before day 30. If you need dependable emergency response, choose the Pro plan, since the free and Standard plans only alert you and don’t dispatch help. Pay by credit card so you can dispute a charge for defective equipment.
Returns, warranty claims and canceling
Abode accepts returns within 30 days of delivery, and you pay return shipping. Plans have no contract or cancellation fee. You can upgrade, downgrade or cancel in the app, and Abode prorates the difference if you switch off an annual plan. Its terms make you responsible for managing and canceling your own subscription and require individual arbitration instead of class actions, so confirm a cancellation went through and keep the confirmation email.
What happens when the alarm goes off
On the free and Standard plans, the siren sounds and you get a phone alert, but no one calls police or fire for you. If your internet goes down, the system still works locally, but you won’t get remote alerts until it’s back. On Pro, a US-based monitoring center checks alarms 24/7 and contacts police, fire or medical services, and 4G cellular backup keeps the system online during internet outages. Many insurers give a discount for a monitored system, so ask yours for proof of monitoring requirements before you choose a plan.
Who should pick something else
- You want a long, free trial. SimpliSafe and Cove give 60 days, and SimpliSafe pays return shipping.
- You want the cheapest professional monitoring. Ring Pro is $19.99 a month, and Cove starts around $20.
- You don’t use Apple Home or Z-Wave. Abode’s main edge is integration, and without it, other systems have better support records.
- You need cameras that record locally. The Abode Cam 2 doesn’t support local recording.
Alternatives to Abode
- SimpliSafe Better if you want a longer 60-day trial, free return shipping and a stronger BBB record. Read review
- Ring Alarm Cheaper professional monitoring at $19.99 a month if you already use Ring cameras or Alexa. Read review
- Cove Cheaper monitoring from about $20 a month, with 4G backup in every hub and a 60-day guarantee. Read review
- Apple Home with standalone sensors If you only want HomeKit alerts, not alarm monitoring, Home app automations with contact sensors and a home hub cost nothing a month.
Abode reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Abode a good security system?
It's a flexible, contract-free system with rare native HomeKit support. Recent reviews raise reliability and support concerns, and the BBB rates it C-, so test it fully within the 30-day return window.
Does Abode require a monthly fee?
No. The free plan includes app control, live video, alerts and smart home integrations. Standard is $8.49 a month and Pro, with professional monitoring, is $26.99 a month.
How much is Abode professional monitoring?
The Pro plan costs $26.99 a month or $245.99 a year and includes 24/7 US-based monitoring, 4G cellular backup and emergency dispatch.
Does Abode work with Apple HomeKit?
Yes, natively, but only on the Iota and Smart Security Kit hubs. The base Abode Security Kit and the Cam 2 don't support HomeKit.
Does Abode have a contract?
No. You can pay monthly or yearly and change or cancel in the app at any time with no cancellation fee.
What is Abode's return policy?
You can return equipment within 30 days of delivery, and you pay the return shipping.
Does Abode work without internet?
The system keeps working locally, and the siren still sounds, but you won't get remote alerts on the free or Standard plans. The Pro plan adds 4G cellular backup.
How much does an Abode kit cost?
List prices are $150 for the Abode Security Kit, $240 for the Smart Security Kit and $399 for Iota. Abode advertises $75, $99 and $199 when you check out with a monthly Pro plan.
What is Abode's BBB rating?
The BBB rates Abode C- on its Palo Alto profile and C on a San Francisco profile, and it isn't accredited. Older reviews citing an A- are out of date.
Abode vs SimpliSafe: which is better?
Abode wins on smart home integration and a free tier. SimpliSafe offers a 60-day trial with free returns, an A+ BBB rating and more monitoring options.
Sources (13)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Abode: Plans and pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Abode: Abode Security Kit, Smart Security Kit and Iota product pages (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Abode: Home (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Abode Help Center: Start a return (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Abode, Palo Alto business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Abode, San Francisco business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Abode reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Abode (US) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Abode Help Center: Terms of service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Abode: Abode Cam 2 (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SimpliSafe: Compare monitoring plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Ring: Ring Protect plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove: Monitored security plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
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