Home alarm systems, smoke detectors, and monitored security
A smoke detector that does not connect to anything is still better than nothing – but when you travel or spend time away from home, you get zero warning about problems until you walk back in. Smart smoke detectors fix that. The question is which one is worth the price premium over a $15 unit … Read more
SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm are the two DIY security systems most people end up comparing. They are similarly capable, both work without a monitoring contract, and both skip Apple HomeKit entirely. The decision mostly comes down to your smart home ecosystem – and one is clearly the right choice depending on which one you’re already … Read more
Ring Alarm 2 is the most popular DIY home security system in the US. It’s affordable, easy to set up, and plays nicely with the rest of the Amazon ecosystem. It also has a subscription model baked into almost every useful feature – which is fine as long as you know that going in. This … Read more
Most people buy a home security system once, set it up wrong, and forget about it until the battery dies or the monitoring company jacks up the price. That is not a great strategy. This is a straight comparison of the four DIY security systems worth considering in 2026: SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, ADT Self Setup, … Read more
No. New SimpliSafe hardware is not backward compatible with older generations. Sensors, keypads, and base stations from the Original SimpliSafe will not work with Gen 3 – and the reverse is equally true. If you’re upgrading, you’re replacing almost everything except your cameras. SimpliSafe only recognizes two hardware generations, not three – there’s no official … Read more
Yes, SimpliSafe works with Google Home – and by extension, the Google Nest Hub (what Google used to call the Google Home Hub). You can arm your system and check its status with a voice command. That’s about it. Disarming by voice is not supported, and SimpliSafe has confirmed it’s not in development. Here’s the … Read more
No. SimpliSafe still does not work with Apple HomeKit natively, and as of May 2026 the company has no announced plans to add HomeKit or Matter support. If you want SimpliSafe in the Apple Home app, your only option is running a Homebridge plugin on a separate device you already own (a Mac, a Raspberry … Read more