Scout Home Security Review

Scout’s prices are pretty on par for most do-it-yourself security systems, though we don’t love that there’s no free self-monitoring option.

Even if you don't opt in to professional monitoring, you still have to pay a minimum of $10 each month. So basically, you’re paying to use the app, which we think is somewhat silly. Most apps, security or otherwise, have some kind of free access.

As with many DIY systems, there’s no contract with Scout. Charges are month to month.

You can choose to make a 12-month commitment in exchange for a 10% discount. But even then, Scout will give you a prorated refund if you have to cancel. That’s a pretty sweet deal in an industry known for wringing steep cancellation fees out of customers.

You install Scout yourself, so you don’t have to pay an installation fee. And if you want to move, you can take everything down and reinstall it on your own. It’s a pain for sure, but it’s free.

In today’s world of ‘gram-ready houses, Scout stands out for its aesthetics. If we judged systems solely on looks, this one would be at the top of our list. It even comes in two color schemes: white-on-black (Arctic) or black-on-white (Midnight).

But enough about appearances. Scout’s equipment offering selection is, for the most part, pretty basic. You can get any of the following:

• System hub
• Door panel
• Keypad
• Access sensor
• Motion sensor
• Water sensor
• Glass break sensor
• Doorbell camera
• Indoor camera
• Door lock
• Panic button
• Remote control
• Key fob
• RFID sticker
• Siren and Zigbee repeater
• Yard sign
• Window sticker

An access sensor is sometimes called a door/window sensor, a contact sensor, or an entry sensor.

You can buy Scout equipment à la carte. You have to get a hub for $120 because the system won’t work without it, but after that, you can mix and match to your heart’s content.

However, we think Scout Packs are the way to go in most situations. You can save a little money on your equipment with the bundle.

As we mentioned earlier, the equipment packages are comparable to brands like Ring and SimpliSafe. You get about the same value from Scout—maybe even a little better.

Remember how we said Scout’s offerings are pretty basic? The door panel and its accessories are the exceptions to that statement.

Unlike most control panels, Scout’s door panel is an access sensor. Instead of putting a sensor on the front door, you install the door panel. Any time it opens or closes, you’ll know.

You slap the RFID sticker on anything (key chain, picture frame, vase, wax fruit), and it becomes a key to your system. You can then hold that object to the door panel to arm and disarm your Scout security. Pretty neat, if you ask us. And handy if you don’t want to buy extra key fobs for a big household!

Scout refers to its two cameras as the Scout Video Doorbell and the Scout HD Camera

The video doorbell includes the following features:

• 1080p vision
• 180° field of view
• Two-way audio
• Motion detection
• People detection
• Pre-recorded messages

Overall, that’s not bad. This camera could potentially hold its own against some leading video doorbell cameras.

The Scout Indoor Camera has a distinct, round appearance. It has 1080p video quality, night vision, motion detection, and even sound detection. That way, if something happens offscreen, the camera will pick up on any noises.

If you don’t get the Always On+ plan, you’ll pay $2.99 per camera per month for cloud storage. And even if you opt for the more expensive plan, it covers only one camera. You’ll pay $2.99 a piece for the rest. Sadly, even when paying, you only get 14 days of cloud storage, which is ... not a lot.

When it comes to automation, Scout pretty much has it all. It’s compatible with all of the following:

• Amazon Alexa
• Z-Wave
• Zigbee
• IFTTT

And it’s not only compatible with hubs and protocols. It also works directly with security and smart home devices, like Yale locks, Kwikset locks, Nest cameras, LIFX bulbs, and Philips Hue bulbs.

Hands down, that’s some of the best automation on the market.

Again, the Scout Alarm system is DIY. The pieces come with adhesive backing, so you don’t even need a screwdriver.

Scout installation steps:

• Download the app or visit the website and follow the instructions for setting up an account.
• Plug the hub in.
• Connect the hub for Wi-Fi.
• Type the installation code in the provided field on the app or website.
• Pair the hub with the account.
• Follow the online instructions to connect the rest of the system.

Scout offers tons of videos and resources to help customers out. You can also contact customer service if you get confused.

And, of course, you can always outsource the installation to someone you trust if you don’t think you can do it yourself.

At the time of this article, Scout has no reviews on Consumer Affairs or the BBB and only one review on TrustPilot. The system used to sell on Amazon, but all the reviews there are old or reviews that were exchanged for free products.

In some ways, that’s encouraging, since it suggests customers don’t have many recent complaints. But it makes it hard for us to pin down what the Scout alarm customer service is like.

From what we do know about Scout, it offers some neat customer-friendly features. The lack of contracts, the prorated refunds, the automation, and the DIY installation resources are all positive signs for us. But we’re still side-eyeing the lack of free app access, so it’s not totally a customer’s dream.

The Scout security system has a lot to offer, especially for a lesser-known brand.

Pricing: Scout’s prices are reasonable, but we don’t like that the company charges for the app.

Equipment: This equipment looks weirdly nice for a home security system and has some standout functions.

Home automation: Scout has extremely good home automation.

Installation: The Scout Alarm system is self-installed, but there’s a lot of support to help you along the way.

Customer experience: Scout hasn’t made much of a name for itself, though it offers several customer-friendly features.

If you’re looking for a system that won’t charge you to use the app, we suggest Ring Alarm. Or, if you want a bigger name, ADT or Vivint would be our picks for you.

When you get a home security system, you need some extras to make it accessible, like Wi-Fi and a mobile phone plan.

Security systems with no landline tend to rely on an internet connection. And the more devices that depend on your Wi-Fi, the more download speed you’re going to need.

You’ll want to access your app from anywhere, especially if you choose to self-monitor. With that in mind, we recommend trying a plan with unlimited data.

If we didn’t already answer a question you have about Scout, you might find the answer here.