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Cove is a legitimate Utah home security company and one of the cheapest ways to get 24/7 professional monitoring without a contract: plans run $0.67 to $1.33 a day, every hub has 4G cellular backup, and you get 60 days to return the system for a full refund. The tradeoffs are that there is no self-monitoring option, cancellation is by phone, and its BBB record (B rating, 223 complaints in three years) keeps returning to billing after cancellation. If you buy, keep your cancellation confirmation, and if you're on the older Economy plan, know that canceling before 36 months leaves an equipment balance to pay.
Your options
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Cove This review
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SafeStreets This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative Homeowners who plan to stay put for three years and want an ADT system installed and explained by a technician.
- Company
- Cove Smart, LLC, Draper, Utah, founded 20185
- Monitoring price
- Cove Basic $0.67 a day, Cove+ $1.00 a day, Cove Premium $1.33 a day (about $20, $30 and $40 a month), as listed October 20261
- Contract
- None on the Value plan (equipment bought upfront); the discontinued Economy plan required 36 months of monitoring3
- Trial
- 60-day money-back guarantee on equipment and service; return all components in good condition4
- Backup
- 4G cellular backup managed by Cove and a 24-hour backup battery in every hub2
- Warranty
- 1 year on equipment; lifetime on Cove Premium (cameras 2 years)1
- BBB
- B rating, accredited since January 23, 2019; 223 complaints in the last 3 years5
Cove vs. competitors
| Company | Lowest pro monitoring | Contract | Self-monitoring | BBB | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cove | $0.67 a day (about $20 a month) | None | Not offered | B, accredited | Visit site |
| SimpliSafe | $0.76 a day (about $23 a month) | None | $0.33 a day | A+ | Read review |
| ADT | $49.99 a month on SafeStreets ADT packages | 36 months on pro-installed plans (24 in California) | Not offered on pro-installed plans | A, accredited | Read review |
Home security systems we reviewed
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Cove This review BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. -
Brinks BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Homeowners who will stay put for at least three years and want a technician to install and support a monitored system. -
ADT This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Homeowners who plan to stay put for at least three years and want a technician to install everything and a large national company monitoring it. -
Vivint This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.1 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Homeowners who want one professionally installed system for alarm, cameras, locks and thermostat, and who can pay for the equipment upfront or keep the loan for its full term. -
SafeStreets This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Homeowners who plan to stay put for three years and want an ADT system installed and explained by a technician. -
Simplisafe BestGuide rating: 3.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Renters and homeowners who want to install their own system and pay for monitoring month to month.
Cove pricing at a glance
Cove monitoring plans, as listed October 20261
| Plan | Per day | About per month | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cove Basic | $0.67 | $20 | 24/7 professional monitoring and dispatch, cellular backup |
| Cove+ | $1.00 | $30 | Camera access in the app and 7-day cloud video storage |
| Cove Premium | $1.33 | $40 | AI alerts, 30-day storage, lifetime equipment warranty, $5 monthly equipment credit |
Equipment is bought separately and upfront on the Value plan. Cove runs frequent sales; in October 2026 its home page advertised 70% off equipment plus a free HD camera. Professional installation is available through HelloTech at a price Cove doesn't publish.
Cove, step by step
Build a system
Choose a hub, touchscreen panel, sensors and any cameras or smoke, carbon monoxide and water detectors online, and pay for the equipment upfront.
Pick a monitoring plan
Choose Basic, Cove+ or Premium. A plan is required because Cove has no self-monitoring option.
Install it yourself
Plug the hub into your router, then follow the touchscreen prompts to place peel-and-stick sensors. HelloTech can install it for a fee.
Use the 60-day trial
If it doesn't work for your home, call within 60 days and ship everything back in good condition for a full refund.
Cancel by phone
Call 855-268-3669 to cancel and ask for written confirmation. On the older Economy plan, any equipment balance must be paid first.
Cove legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Cove Smart, LLC is a home security company in Draper, Utah, founded in 2018 and BBB accredited since January 2019. It sells its own equipment and runs 24/7 Professional monitoring. A 24/7 monitoring center that responds to alarms and requests emergency dispatch. Compare home security systems with emergency dispatch.
Its reviews split by site. Trustpilot shows 4.6 out of 5 from 8,810 reviews, but Cove invites customers to review there and pays for Trustpilot’s verification service. The BBB gives it a B with 223 complaints in three years, and the most common complaint is being billed after canceling. The Cove Connect app scores 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store.
How much Cove costs
There are two costs: equipment, paid upfront, and a monitoring plan billed monthly. Cove Basic is $0.67 a day (about $20 a month) for professional monitoring and dispatch. Cove+ is $1.00 a day (about $30) and adds camera access with 7-day cloud storage. Cove Premium is $1.33 a day (about $40) and adds AI alerts, 30-day storage, a lifetime equipment warranty and a $5 monthly equipment credit.
Over three years, monitoring alone comes to roughly $734 on Basic, $1,095 on Cove+ and $1,456 on Premium. Equipment prices change with frequent sales, so price your full build at checkout.
What you get with Cove
Cove is built around a hub that plugs into your router and a wall-mounted touchscreen that walks you through setup. Sensors are peel-and-stick. Every hub includes 4G cellular backup that Cove pays for and manages, separate from your phone plan, and a 24-hour battery, so monitoring keeps working through internet and power outages.
Beyond entry sensors, Cove sells smoke, carbon monoxide and water leak detectors, and indoor, outdoor, doorbell and light cameras. It doesn’t offer live agents who watch cameras or talk to intruders, and its smart home support is thinner than bigger brands.
What customers say about Cove
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Low monthly monitoring price with no contract
- Easy touchscreen setup
- Friendly, quick phone and chat support
- Inexpensive sensors and monitoring for a pro-monitored system
Common complaints
- Charges after customers canceled
- Having to call to cancel
- App, camera and sensor connection problems
- Batteries and devices failing soon after install
Cove complaints and how to avoid them
The pattern in Cove’s BBB complaints is billing after cancellation, followed by trouble canceling and device or app problems. To protect yourself:
- Cancel by phone at 855-268-3669 and ask for an email confirming the cancellation date.
- Check your next card statement and dispute any charge after that date.
- If you return the system in the first 60 days, ship it with tracking and keep the receipt.
- If you financed equipment on the Economy plan, find the remaining balance in your original order confirmation before you call.
Canceling Cove and getting a refund
Within 60 days of purchase, call Cove and return the equipment with all original components in good working condition for a full refund of equipment and service charges. After 60 days, Value plan customers own their equipment and can cancel anytime with no penalty by calling 855-268-3669.
Cove’s older Economy plan, which it no longer sells, gave equipment for no money down in exchange for 36 months of monitoring plus a $10 monthly fee. If you cancel before 36 months on that plan, you must pay the remaining equipment balance before the account can close.
Who should skip Cove
If you want to watch your own alerts without paying for monitoring, Cove won’t work, since a plan is required. If you want a technician to handle everything, ADT or a SimpliSafe pro install is a better fit. And if you’ve had break-ins or package theft and want agents who can speak through outdoor cameras, SimpliSafe’s Active Guard plans offer that and Cove doesn’t.
Alternatives to Cove
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Simplisafe
Better if you want a self-monitoring option, live agents who can speak through cameras, or a stronger BBB record.
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ADT
Better if you want a technician to design, install and service the system and don't mind a 36-month agreement.
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Self-monitored cameras and sensors
The cheapest route: you get phone alerts and call 911 yourself, with no monitoring bill, though nobody responds if you miss an alert.
Next steps
Cove reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much is Cove per month?
Cove Basic is $0.67 a day (about $20 a month), Cove+ is $1.00 a day (about $30) and Cove Premium is $1.33 a day (about $40). Equipment is extra and paid upfront.
Does Cove require a contract?
No, not on the current Value plan, where you buy equipment upfront. The discontinued Economy plan required 36 months of monitoring.
Can I use Cove without monitoring?
No. Cove requires a paid monitoring plan and has no self-monitoring option.
How do I cancel Cove?
Call 855-268-3669. Value plan customers can cancel anytime with no penalty; Economy plan customers who cancel before 36 months must pay the remaining equipment balance first.
Does Cove have a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Notify Cove within 60 days of purchase and return the equipment with all components in good condition for a full refund of equipment and service.
Does Cove work without Wi-Fi or power?
Yes. Every hub has 4G cellular backup that Cove manages and a 24-hour backup battery.
What is Cove's BBB rating?
B, and Cove has been BBB accredited since January 2019. Its profile listed 223 complaints in three years in October 2026.
Why are Cove's Trustpilot reviews so high?
Cove invites customers to leave reviews and pays for Trustpilot's verification service, which tends to bring in more positive reviews. Its BBB profile shows a more mixed picture.
Is Cove better than SimpliSafe?
Cove's monitoring is cheaper at every tier and includes cellular backup on every plan. SimpliSafe offers self-monitoring, live agent plans and an A+ BBB rating.
Can Cove be professionally installed?
Yes, through HelloTech. Cove doesn't publish the installation price on its site.
Sources (12)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Cove: Monitored security plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove: Home page offers and FAQ (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove Help Center: Equipment payment options, Value plan vs Economy plan (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove Help Center: How does the 60-day money-back guarantee work? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Cove Smart, LLC profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove Help Center: How to cancel Cove service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Cove reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Cove Connect (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove: Professional installation (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SimpliSafe: Compare monitoring plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SafeStreets: Terms and conditions (ADT monitoring agreement) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SafeStreets: ADT prices and packages (accessed October 12, 2026)
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