Overall Rating
- ASAPer quick alerts
- Good customer service and response
- No proprietary equipment
How Brinks Home Security stacks up
Brinks Home Security offers average equipment with above-average monitoring services. Devices come from third-party vendors like Alarm.com, but the monitoring and support are all Brinks. If you’re an entry-level customer who’s more concerned with customer service and emergency response than having the latest tech, read on to see if Brinks could work for you and your family.
Pros
- Monitoring for Brinks and Google Nest equipment
- Home automation for newcomers
- Speedy alerts
Cons
- Lacks proprietary equipment
- Requires credit approval
Brinks Home Security pricing
Brinks has three security monitoring packages: Home Complete, Home Complete with Video, and monitoring for Google Nest Secure*. Prices start at $19 per month if you add monitoring to your Nest Secure system with a three-year contract. Month-to-month monitoring is available for Nest Secure for $29 per month. But you need to buy your Nest Secure equipment elsewhere.
There is a $100 difference in equipment costs between the Brinks Home Complete plans, but that extra money includes a video doorbell and indoor camera. Monitoring is about $10 more per month for the video plan too, but $39 per month is standard for higher-tier security plans.
With the Home Complete package, home automation features like mobile access, smart locks, light control, and a thermostat become available. Bigger competitors like Vivint and Frontpoint charge up to $49.99 for similar packages. For under $30, this is a good deal for a smart security package.
When you opt for one of Brinks’s kits, you’ll need to go through a credit check and sign up for a three-year contract. Brinks offers a 30-day trial, but if you cancel after that you’ll have to pay the remainder of your agreement.
* Google, Google Nest Secure, Google Home, Google Nest Protect, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
Monitoring and equipment prices from Brinks
| Monthly cost |
| Equipment cost |
| Contract length |
| Base equipment |
| Standout features |
| Learn more |
| Home Complete | Home Complete with Video | Nest Secure |
| $39/mo. | $39/mo. | $19/mo.* |
| $399 | $499 | $399† |
| 36 months | 36 months | Month-to-month |
| Control panel, 1 motion detector, 3 contact sensors | Control panel, 1 motion detector, 3 contact sensors, Indoor camera, video doorbell | Nest Guard hub, 2 Nest Tag fobs, 2 Nest Detect sensors |
| Smart control panel | Indoor and doorbell camera | No contract |
| View Packages | View Packages |
View Packages |
Data effective 10/08/20. Offers and availability subject to change.
*Monitoring is $19/mo. with a three-year contract. Month-to-month monitoring is $29/mo.
†Equipment not available from Brinks.
Brinks Home Security tech and equipment
Brinks’s equipment is average compared to other companies like Vivint, ADT, and Frontpoint. Brinks keeps costs down by using tech from third parties like Alarm.com, but outsourcing equipment makes tech support and repairs difficult if something goes wrong.
The Home Complete kits include door/window sensors, a motion sensor, and a touchscreen control panel, which is standard for most security systems. DIY installation is easy with the sticky backing tape for the motion and contact sensors. They have adjustable sensitivity and will send alerts to your Brinks app when they sense activity.
The Home Complete with Video package comes with a doorbell and indoor cameras that shoot in HD quality, send you alerts to the app, and have a two-way talk feature. Both cameras will be monitored by Brinks professionals too for extra security. The doorbell camera is one of our favorite features: you can watch packages being delivered and kids arriving home, and you can catch any shady characters in action.
While most of Brinks’s tech doesn’t turn our heads, we do like the ASAPer group chat feature. Found in the Brinks app, ASAPer creates a type of chat room for everyone on a customized list. If an alarm goes off, get in touch with your spouse, professional monitoring, and kids all at once to make sure everyone’s okay. It allows you to cancel false alarms, and connect with emergency responders right from your phone.
Nest Secure monitoring from Brinks
Brinks offers professional monitoring for Nest Secure users. Professional monitoring covers the entire Nest Secure system, along with add-ons like the Nest Protect smoke alarm and the Nest thermostat.
The good news is that you can get pro monitoring for Nest contract-free, so you can back out and self-monitor with your Nest system whenever you like. Monthly monitoring—with no commitment—is $29 per month. If you don’t mind a little commitment, you can lower your monthly costs to $19, but you’ll need to sign a three-year contract.
The Nest Secure system comes with the smart hub, two contact sensors with built-in motion detection, and two key fobs to tap into the system when you arrive and leave home. Read our full review of Nest Secure to learn more.
Brinks Home Security installation
All of Brinks’s Alarm.com equipment is self-installed, but if you want help from a pro, you can get assistance for an extra fee. Professional installation makes sense for more complex setups like an outdoor camera or the video doorbell, but you can handle most of the job yourself. Like many other self-install systems, you just need to peel the backing from your sensors and place them throughout your home.
Brinks Home Security customer service
Brinks Home Security was rated Best Home Security in a satisfaction study from J.D. Power and Associates and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. But we saw mixed reviews from customer ratings on BBB, Trustpilot, and Consumer Affairs. The worst comments we saw reported long hold times on the phone, confusing contracts, and faulty equipment with no repair in sight. The best, on the other hand, spoke of helpful customer reps and supportive service.
That said, customer service is different from professional monitoring. The ASAPer feature in the Brinks app will alert you, your contacts, and the monitoring professionals in as little as 30 seconds of any issues in your home. The monitoring pros are there to walk you through any situation you might encounter, from fires and break-ins to floods and carbon monoxide leaks.
Compare Brinks Home Security
| Monthly Rate |
| Contract Length |
| Biggest Perk |
| Installation Type |
| Learn More |
|
|
|
|
| $39.00 | $27.99* | $44.99 |
| 36 months | 36 months | Monthly |
| ASAPer alerts | Professional installation | 100% cellular monitoring |
| DIY | Professional | DIY |
| View Plans | View Plans | View Plans |
Data effective 10/08/20. Offers and availability subject to change.
*Landline monitoring only. Some restrictions apply. (Full disclaimer)
Overall, Brinks fits right between DIY and professional systems. But it’s much more affordable than ADT and Frontpoint for home automation devices. Like ADT and Frontpoint, you’ll need to sign a contract if you opt for Brinks’ Home Complete packages. But you can also monitor Nest contract-free through Brinks. Overall, Brinks provides plenty of choices for your smart home features, equipment, contracts, and payments.
Compare Brinks to other top security systems:
FAQ
Does Brinks charge a cancellation fee?
Brinks packages come with a 30-day trial that allows returns within the first month. But Brinks’s Alarm.com equipment comes with a contract, so you’ll have to pay out the remaining balance if you decide to drop Brinks or go for another security system.
What happens during false alarms?
Any time the alarm on your Brinks system activates, the monitoring professionals know about it. Once they see the alarm, you and your emergency contacts will receive a notification, phone call, text alert, or email. Through the ASAPer group chat, you can call off the alarm and claim it as a false alarm if nothing is wrong.
How long does Brinks’s warranty last?
Brinks has a two-year warranty. If something goes wrong within this time, you can get the equipment replaced.
Can I move with Brinks?
Yes. Self-installed systems like Brinks are easy to move from home to home, making them great for renters. Remove your system from your old home and install it again in your new place. Once everything is set up, call the professionals at the monitoring center to share your new location.
Bottom line
Overall, Brinks sits right in the middle of the market for professionally monitored, self-installed systems. And it’s a great choice if you’re interested in getting pro monitoring for your Nest Secure system.
Brinks equipment works, but you’ll pay a lot upfront for Alarm.com devices you can find from other companies. The best thing about Brinks was the quick response times from their highly trained monitoring techs. It’s helpful to have a calm voice in a stressful situation and they do just that. While the tech and pricing aren’t stellar from Brinks, the monitoring certainly is.
How we reviewed Brinks Home Security
To get an accurate picture of Brinks’s pricing, equipment, and more, we did a lot of research. We dug through online forums and customer review sites. We compared Brinks to similar security companies and services like ADT, Frontpoint, and Vivint. For more information on our testing processes and standards, read our full methodology.
Disclaimers
Google, Google Nest Secure, Google Home, Google Nest Protect, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
ADT $27.99 Essential package: $99.00 Customer Installation Charge. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64). 24-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California. Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may be required. Satisfactory credit history required. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Dealer customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include the 6-month guarantee or the Quality Service Plan (QSP). Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Landline monitoring only.
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