Frontpoint vs. Link Interactive

Frontpoint and Link Interactive are like the quote from that Austin Powers movie: “We’re not so different, you and I.”¹ They both offer DIY-installed security systems with home automation options and customer support that will make you feel loved.

So which one should you ultimately choose? We think Frontpoint takes the edge overall for excellent customer service and standout equipment. But if you want a super-customizable system with lower monitoring costs, then Link Interactive is an excellent choice.

Frontpoint and Link Interactive both require professional monitoring plans. (You can’t monitor these systems yourself.) Both Link Interactive and Frontpoint offer three monitoring plans to choose from. The plans all have roughly the same features.

Let’s take a look at Frontpoint’s options.

All of Fronpoint's plans give you access to the Frontpoint mobile app—although it's a little bit pricey. If you want camera control with Frontpoint, be ready to sign on for that top-tier option.

Frontpoint and Link Interactive offer basically the same features, but Link Interactive comes out to be about $10 cheaper per month for a plan with mobile app access.

Neither Link Interactive nor Frontpoint requires you to sign a contract. Frontpoint does month-to-month agreements for its most expensive plan, as long as you request the plan over the phone and pay for all your equipment upfront. Link Interactive also offers a month-to-month option, or you can choose from a 12-, 24-, or 36-month contract.

Frontpoint contract length: None, 24, or 36 months

Link Interactive contract length: None, 12, 24, or 36 months

Good news! Neither Link Interactive nor Frontpoint charge any over-the-top fees. You don’t have to pay for installation (since you do it yourself), and you don’t have to pay to activate your system either.

Just about the only fee you’ll pay is if you sign a contract with Link Interactive and then cancel your service early. In that case, you'll pay a pretty big chunk of change for ducking out of your agreement.

Pricing winner: Link Interactive

We have to give this one to Link Interactive. Its monitoring plans are cheaper than Frontpoint’s for pretty much the same features. Just make sure you get a plan that has mobile app access if you want to control your security system from your phone.

If you look at enough security systems, all the equipment starts to look the same. That’s because it usually is. A lot of security companies all use the exact same devices from Alarm.com, GE, Honeywell, and 2GIG.

Link Interactive and Frontpoint both use standard Alarm.com equipment, but Frontpoint goes a step further and offers some of its own pieces as well.

The stars of Frontpoint’s system are its hub and keypad.

Think of the hub as the brain of your system. It’s a smooth white square that won’t look out of place sitting on your front-room table, or on that bookshelf in your living room.

The keypad is pretty simplistic, but that makes it easy to operate your system with just a few button pushes. If you want to upgrade, Frontpoint also offers a full-on touchscreen control panel.

Frontpoint has everything from motion sensors to smoke detectors. It has pretty much every sensor you could want plus a few smart home devices.

Frontpoint sensors and equipment: 

• Hub
• Touchscreen
• Keypad
• Door/window sensor
• Garage door sensor
• Glass-break sensor
• Motion detector
• Flood sensor
• Carbon monoxide sensor
• Smoke/heat detector
• Panic button
• Garage door controller
• Smart outlet
• Smart lightbulb
• Yale smart door lock
• Key fob
• Smart thermostat
• Premium indoor camera
• Outdoor camera
• Doorbell camera
• Yard sign
• Window decal
• Door sticker

Link Interactive has a standard array of third-party equipment from Alarm.com, which works really well but doesn’t out from the home security crowd. You’d get the exact same stuff from companies like ADT or Protect America.

You do have a few control panels to choose from though, unlike Frontpoint’s minimalist little keypad. Link Interactive offers three different control panels:

1. 2GIG Go!Control panel
2. Qolsys Premium Smart Home panel
3. Qolsys Premium Smart Home with Power G

The 2GIG Go!Control gives you a smaller screen and fewer features. The Qolsys panels are full touchscreens with included cameras that take a photo every time someone disarms the security system. Just in case some stranger somehow snagged your code.

Link Interactive has all the sensors Frontpoint does, plus a few extras you don’t usually see from other companies.

Link Interactive sensors and equipment:

Instead of offering just one type of each sensor, Link Interactive offers a bunch of different versions in case you need something specific.

Frontpoint and Link Interactive offer the exact same cameras. No joke, they’re the same standard Alarm.com models you can also get from Brinks Home, Protect America, ADT . . . we could go on.

Frontpoint camera models:

• Alarm.com Skybell doorbell camera
• Alarm.com Indoor Camera
• Alarm.com Premium Indoor Camera
• Alarm.com Outdoor Camera

Link Interactive camera models:

• Alarm.com Skybell doorbell camera
• Alarm.com Indoor Camera
• Alarm.com Premium Indoor Camera
• Alarm.com Outdoor Camera

All the cameras record in high definition and have features we look for, like night vision and motion detection. They’re not the best home security cameras we’ve ever seen (or the best doorbell camera), but they’ll get the job done.

Frontpoint and Link Interactive have pretty similar equipment (and the exact same cameras), but Frontpoint has some unique devices the company designed itself (the hub and keypad) and Link Interactive offers tons of different kinds of sensors so you can get the best one for your needs.

We’re calling this one a tie.

Both Frontpoint and Link Interactive give you lots of home automation options and let you control your system from your phone.

They both use Z-Wave, which means you can add on a ton of different compatible Z-Wave devices, whether you bought it directly from the company or not.

Frontpoint home automation integrations:

• Mobile app
• Z-Wave
• Amazon Alexa
• Google Home

Link Interactive has the same smart home integrations as Frontpoint. Just like Frontpoint, it’s missing an Apple Homekit integration and it doesn’t work with IFTTT (If This Then That).

Link Interactive home automation integrations:

• Mobile app
• Z-Wave
• Amazon Alexa
• Google Home

Frontpoint and Link Interactive have the same home automation integrations, so it’s an easy tie! Both systems also let you control your security system through your smartphone.

Whether you choose Frontpoint or Link Interactive, you’re gonna have to get down and dirty for installation. Okay, not that dirty—installation is pretty easy either way.

Both systems have DIY installation, so you do it all yourself. Both systems also come preconfigured, which means you set up all your sensors and stuff during the ordering process, so by the time the equipment shows up at your house, it’s all set and ready to go.

Both these systems have easy DIY installation and come with everything preconfigured. Total tie.

We’re impressed with both Frontpoint and Link Interactive’s customer service. We’ve had positive experiences with both companies and the customer reviews back us up—both Frontpoint and Link Interactive get high marks on Trustpilot^2,3 reviews and Better Business Bureau grades.^4,5

That said, Frontpoint takes the customer support lead. It gets slightly better customer reviews than Link Interactive on Trustpilot and takes first prize by a hair.

Both these companies have really solid customer support, but Frontpoint takes the lead by just a little bit.

Frontpoint and Link Interactive are so similar that which one you choose really just comes down to what you need.

Do you need a super customizable system with loads of different sensor options, plus lower monitoring costs? Then Link Interactive is your best bet. Do you want standout equipment backed by the best customer service? Go with Frontpoint.

Pricing winner—Link Interactive: These two companies have similar monitoring features, but all of Link Interactive's plans are cheaper than Frontpoints.

Equipment winner—Frontpoint: Frontpoint offers some equipment you can’t get from other companies, whereas Link Interactive sells standard Alarm.com equipment. That said, Link Interactive has more types of equipment than Frontpoint, so you can customize your system.

Home automation winner—Tie: Frontpoint and Link Interactive support Z-Wave, so you can use all kinds of smart devices with either system.

Installation winner—Tie: Both Frontpoint and Link Interactive have DIY systems with easy installation and no activation fees. It’s a draw.

Customer experience winner—Frontpoint: Link Interactive and Frontpoint both have excellent customer support, but Frontpoint gets slightly better reviews that give it a lead.

Still can’t make up your mind? Check out our individual reviews to find out more about Frontpoint and Link Interactive.

Read our full Frontpoint security review.

Read our full Link Interactive security review.

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