Cove vs Frontpoint
Last updated July 2026
Cove
DIY home security with cheaper monitoring and 60-day guarantee
Advantages
- Cheaper monitoring: $17.99/mo Basic, $27.99/mo Plus
- 60-day risk-free trial with full refund
- InstaText and RapidResponse, text confirmations sent before dispatch
- Equipment fully owned by the customer after purchase
- Easy DIY setup, no professional installation required
Drawbacks
- Smaller equipment lineup than SimpliSafe
- Camera options fewer than SimpliSafe or Ring
- Newer brand, fewer public reviews than SimpliSafe
Frontpoint
Safer, smarter, simpler
Advantages
- DIY installation with pre-programmed equipment; setup in under an hour
- 24/7 professional monitoring with cellular backup
- 1 or 3-year contract options with month-to-month after
- Strong customer service reputation in independent reviews
- Smart home integration with Alexa and Google
Drawbacks
- Higher equipment cost upfront than SimpliSafe or Ring
- Monitoring price above average for DIY category
- Camera lineup narrower than Vivint or ADT
Cove and Frontpoint both play in home security, but they're aimed at different buyers. Cove is built for homeowners who want cheaper monitoring and are OK with a smaller ecosystem. Frontpoint is built for dIY-comfortable homeowners who want professional monitoring without ADT's contract. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cove | Frontpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring Price | $17.99/mo Basic; $27.99/mo Plus (video and smart features) | $50/mo monitoring |
| Contract Required | None, month-to-month | 1 or 3-year contracts; month-to-month after |
| Equipment Kits | $150-$400+ starter kits | $400-$1,000 upfront for equipment |
| Smart Home Protocols | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google integration |
| Cellular Backup | Yes on paid monitoring plans | -- |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 60-day money-back guarantee | -- |
| App Experience | Solid iOS/Android app; InstaText for quick response | -- |
| Installation | Not offered, DIY only | DIY installation; pre-programmed equipment |
| Monitoring Infrastructure | -- | 24/7 professional monitoring; cellular backup |
| Camera Options | -- | Frontpoint indoor/outdoor cameras and doorbells |
| Customer Support | -- | 24/7 phone; strong reputation for CS |
Too Close to Call
Cove and Frontpoint land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
Cove's standout strength: Cheaper monitoring: $17.99/mo Basic, $27.99/mo Plus. Frontpoint's standout strength: DIY installation with pre-programmed equipment; setup in under an hour. Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. Cove's biggest drawback: Smaller equipment lineup than SimpliSafe. Frontpoint's biggest drawback: Higher equipment cost upfront than SimpliSafe or Ring. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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