Abode review
Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Abode suits people who want cameras, a video doorbell, locks and smoke alarms in one app, with no contract, and professional monitoring when you want it. Hardware is priced at $75 and the cloud plan costs $3.99 a month, so the recurring cost stays small unless you add monitoring at $26.99.
Key facts
- Best for
- One app for cameras, a doorbell, locks and smoke alarms with no contract attached.
- Price
- $75 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Monitoring per month
- $26.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Minimum contract
- 0 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Alarm, Camera, Smart-lock, Smoke-alarm, Video-doorbell (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Professional monitoring
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Local storage
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Money-back period
- 30 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Cloud plan per month
- $3.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Free features
- Live video and app access free (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Top resolution
- 1080p (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Recording retention
- 10 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Installation required
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Abode Systems, Inc. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2014 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Diy, Monitored
- Power source
- Battery, Wired
- Ecosystems
- Alexa, Google, Homekit
- Official website
- goabode.com
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- X
Pros and cons
Pros
- Nothing is locked in: the Abode contract term is 0 months, and Abode places 1 of 60 brands on contract length.
- Live video and app access are free at Abode, so a self-monitored setup can run before you take any paid plan.
- Professional monitoring is available from the same account, letting a self-monitored setup be upgraded without changing hardware.
- One brand covers alarm, camera and smart lock, which keeps cameras, locks and alarms under a single app.
- Installation is not required, so there is no installer bill to add to the $75 hardware price.
Cons
- Local storage is not available, so clips live in the cloud and history is capped at 10 days.
- Entry hardware at $75 is higher than the $13.95 kit at The Home Security Superstore and the $19.99 doorbell at Annke.
- Monitoring is the expensive tier, since $26.99 a month places Abode at 47 of 51 on monthly monitoring cost.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line listed for anyone who prefers to call.
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who want alarm, camera and smart lock under one app and would rather not sign a contract.
- Self-monitorers who mainly want live view and app alerts at no monthly cost, then can add monitoring later.
- Households already using alexa, google and homekit who want voice control across the whole kit.
Who should look elsewhere
- Single-camera buyers on a budget: The Home Security Superstore at $13.95 and Annke at $19.99 sit under the Abode kit at $75.
- Shoppers outside the US market, or after a GBP price point: Aqara lists cameras at £36.98 while Abode is headquartered in the United States.
Pricing
Abode splits the one-off cost from the recurring cost. Entry hardware, such as the video doorbell, is priced at $75 and paid once. Renewal is monthly: the Abode cloud plan costs $3.99 a month, while the Abode professional monitoring plan costs $26.99 a month, a multiple of the cloud fee. Live video and app access are free at Abode, so the paid plans are a choice rather than a condition of use. The Abode contract term is 0 months, so nothing is tied to a minimum commitment once the hardware is bought.
Where it sits among rivals
Contract length is Abode's clear strength: 1 of 60 brands on contract months, a direct result of a contract term of 0 months. Monitoring cost runs the other way, at 47 of 51 on monthly monitoring, which tracks with the $26.99 monitoring fee. Entry price sits in the middle of the field at 38 of 70 on the $75 kit.
What it does well
Abode covers a lot of ground in one system: the range spans alarm, camera and smart lock, so cameras, a video doorbell, locks, alarms and smoke alarms sit together. Professional monitoring is available, which is the option to pick if a monitoring centre is wanted rather than app alerts alone. Recording is cloud based, with 10 days of history kept on the plan, and local storage is not available. Installation is not required, so the kit can be set up without an installer calling in.
Who runs it
Abode is operated by Abode Systems, Inc., headquartered in the United States and trading since 2014. Support runs on email and help centre, so email and a help centre are the routes listed, and a phone line is not published for buyers who want one. The legal entity and home country are both stated, which helps anyone checking who stands behind an Abode purchase.
How Abode compares
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Frequently asked questions
What does an Abode video doorbell cost and what does the cloud plan add?+
The Abode video doorbell is priced at $75 as a one-off purchase. The Abode cloud plan costs $3.99 a month and is the tier that keeps your recording history in the app. Live video and app access are free, so a self-monitored setup can be run without either subscription.
Does Abode charge for professional monitoring on top of the plan?+
Professional monitoring is available and sits on its own Abode plan at $26.99 a month, the larger of the two recurring fees. The Abode cloud plan is $3.99 a month. Households that want alerts only and handle responses themselves can stay on the free tier.
Is there a minimum contract with Abode?+
The Abode contract term is 0 months, and Abode places 1 of 60 brands on contract length in the security rankings. Hardware is bought outright, so ending a monthly plan does not strand the devices already installed.
Can Abode cameras record to a drive at home?+
Local storage is not available, so Abode clips are kept in the cloud rather than on the device. History on the Abode cloud plan runs to 10 days. Anyone who needs footage held on their own hardware should treat that as a hard limit and shortlist brands that record locally.
Does Abode work with the main voice assistants?+
The Abode smart security kit lists alexa, google and homekit as compatible ecosystems, so voice control is available in the three main assistants. The same kit covers both diy and monitored models, which means a household can self-monitor first and add a monitoring centre later.
What resolution and power options do Abode cameras offer?+
Abode cameras top out at 1080p, and power options are battery and wired. That covers doorbells plus indoor and outdoor cameras, including units that need to run on battery and those that can be wired in for a fixed position.
Who runs Abode and where is it based?+
Abode is operated by Abode Systems, Inc., headquartered in the United States and trading since 2014. Support is documented on email and help centre, so email and the help centre are the routes listed, and no phone number is published for the company.
Is there a money back period on Abode hardware?+
The Abode smart security kit carries a 30 day money back window, so a kit that does not suit the property can be returned inside that period. It is worth checking early if you are fitting a self-monitored setup and want to try placement before committing to sensors elsewhere.
Sources
- goabode.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Installation required, Legal entity, Products
“fully DIY system, most customers are set up in under 15 minutes”
- goabode.com/about-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“Abode was founded in 2014”
- goabode.com/plans checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Cloud plan per month, Minimum contract, Free features, Monitoring per month, Professional monitoring, Recording retention
“Capture and review video clips later for just $3.99/mo per camera - Abode Cam 2, Wireless Video Doorbell”
- goabode.com/product/abode-cam-2 checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Local storage, Power source, Top resolution
“does not support local recording so it does require consistent power - Abode Cam 2”
- goabode.com/product/smart-security-kit checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Ecosystems, Pricing model, Money-back period
“works seamlessly with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant - Smart Security Kit”
- goabode.com/product/wireless-video-doorbell checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Price
“Abode Security Kit $150.00 $75.00”
- help.goabode.com/en/articles/8942331-abode-warranty checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Support at help.goabode.com, Contact Us support@goabode.com”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Abode
One app for cameras, a doorbell, locks and smoke alarms with no contract attached.