Protect America and Frontpoint—two well-known home security companies. If you are interested in making your home more secure, you will inevitably stumble across those two companies (and many others) while doing your research.
Both Protect America and Frontpoint are well-known in the home security and monitoring niche, so how do they compare to each other? Frontpoint is more flexible, transparent, and offers a wider array of security products. The customers of Frontpoint are slightly more satisfied compared to Protect America. Protect America, compared to Frontpoint, has no upfront costs, however, their customers have to sign a 36-month contract.
This is the short and sweet answer, however, the devil is in the details, this is why below I expand more about the pros and cons of going with one or the other.
Ultimately the choice is yours, however, it is your responsibility to be fully informed before taking action. This is what this article aims to achieve.
Protect America vs Frontpoint
Customization and User-Friendliness
When it comes to customization and user-friendliness, Frontpoint takes the first place.
All it takes is just one look to see that Frontpoint offers a lot more versatility. They offer several prebuilt security packages that you can immediately purchase, and the whole process takes a few minutes.
You also have the freedom to fully customize your security system—and it is easier than it sounds. While customizing your security system, you will be presented with a comprehensive list of various sensors and cameras. It is possible that you find security products that you need but have never known about.
You can choose between door and window sensors, motion sensors, garage door sensors, glass break sensors, smoker and heat sensors, CO sensors, indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras, smart light controls and lightbulbs, and more.
Their website is very straightforward and easy to use, and you will be able to find your way in a matter of a few minutes.
Maybe it is just me, but I prefer the calm environment of having enough time to consider what I want to purchase without necessarily talking to sales representatives.
Going to Protect America’s website, one of the first things you will notice is that there is no easy way to buy your security system without first going through a few steps to request a quote.
This means extra steps, which not everyone will be happy to take—especially if they are looking for clear cut prices and costs, that they can compare to other companies.
Protect America offers a few monitoring plans, which come with a different number of door and window sensors. They also offer additional door and window sensors, motion detectors, smoke sensors, wireless cameras, and more—all to be purchased separately.
Since there were no prices provided on their website, this meant more research needed to be done—in the sections to follow, I talk more about upfront costs and equipment costs.
Security Features and Capabilities
Both companies offer fairly identical security services. They both offer 24/7 monitoring, which means that in the case of an emergency, they will be quick to respond and notify you and the authorities when and if necessary.
Both companies offer important features like remote access, alerts and notifications, live video feeds, and home automation.
Frontpoint security systems are either cellular or wireless. In comparison Protect America also offers a landline option.
Frontpoint also offers neat features like an automated system check, which will ensure your system is working correctly, geolocation services, and more.
Upfront Costs
Regardless of which Protect America monitoring plan you choose to go with—there are no upfront costs.
The equipment is considered free, so you will not have to worry about upfront costs. In reality, the money for the equipment will be spread out evenly across all your monthly payments for the duration of the contract.
The packages are very basic and include mostly sensors. You can purchase cameras and other sensors separately, though, which will increase your monthly payments.
With Frontpoint, on the other hand, you will have to pay some upfront costs. You will be paying for the equipment. Frontpoint often offers some decent discounts, so this may not be as bad as it sounds.
Both Protect America and Frontpoint’s security systems are DIY, and you will not have to worry about installation costs.
Contracts
If there is one thing, people don’t like, it is signing contracts. And even worse, long-term contracts.
Frontpoint used to offer one to three-year contracts to their customers. However, times have changed, and currently, Frontpoint offers month-to-month subscription plans.
This means less trouble and more freedom. A point goes to Frontpoint.
Protect America, on the other hand, requires you to commit to a three-year contract. It is worth noting that there are also no installation costs, and you do not need to pay anything upfront, so you are sacrificing staying contract-free for not paying anything upfront.
Monthly Plans and Pricing
Protect America offers three different subscription plans at different prices, depending on whether they are landline or cellular/broadband.
- The Copper Plan starts at $19.99 for the landline monitoring and $41.99 for cellular or broadband monitoring per month.
- The Silver Plan starts at $37.99 for the landline and $49.99 for the cellular and broadband monitoring per month.
- The Platinum Plan starts at $42.99 for the landline and $54.99 for the cellular and broadband monitoring per month.
Those plans are mostly connected to how many door and window sensors you get and they include the very basics. The most popular plan is the Silver plan, which falls within a reasonable price range.
However, if you want video monitoring, this could cost you about an extra $5 per camera and an additional $9.99 for fire and smoke monitoring per month.
Now on to the Frontpoint.
Currently, Frontpoint offers two subscription plans.
- The Interactive Plan which is roughly $45.88 per month (or $1.48 per day).
- The Ultimate Plan which is around $50.84 per month (or $1.64 per day).
Unlike Protect America, the Frontpoint plans offer different features.
For example, the Ultimate plan offers live video streaming, smart lock control, video and photo history, motion-triggered alerts, and more. (Which you do not have to pay for if you decide you do not need them.)
Both Protect America and Frontpoint will add a relatively similar cost to your monthly bottom line. Protect America has, arguably, some cheaper options, but it is important to consider what you get for the money you spend.
The cheaper monthly plan offered by Protect America will provide you with three door/window sensors and one motion sensor (stickers and a yard sign), which very rarely will be enough for the majority of people.
Customer Satisfaction
If you want to work with a company, especially a company that will be responsible for your home’s safety, you need to make sure you are trusting the right people.
One of the best ways to do that is by finding out what the long-standing customers of a particular company think about it.
There was not a lot of information about Protect America on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) except for some inquiries and complaints.
On Yelp Protect America’s rating was 2 out of 5 stars, and on Trustpilot, the rating was even lower, sitting at 1.3 out of 5. The customers’ most common complaints were in connection with the contract they have signed and their inability to cancel it.
Upon cancellation, oftentimes, customers will have to pay hefty fees. A lot of the customers felt like the company cared only about the money.
It may interest you to know that Brinks Home Security has acquired Protect America as of recently. So, gradually, Protect America customers will be transitioned to Brinks Home Security.
So how does Frontpoint perform according to its customers?
Frontpoint has 2 out of 5 stars on BBB, a whopping 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, and 3 out of 5 stars on Yelp.
Already we can see that it does seem like Frontpoint is performing way better according to their customers.
Protect America vs Frontpoint: Which One Is Better?
The most suitable company for you will depend on your needs and what you are looking for.
Protect America is a decent option for people who want to secure their home but do not want to pay anything upfront. However, they will be signing a long-term contract, and, arguably, their monthly costs will be somewhat higher as well.
If you plan on moving out in the next three years, you may run into some problems canceling the contract, judging by the majority of customers’ complaints.
Frontpoint, on the other hand, seems a little more flexible when it comes to contracts and equipment, which definitely puts them in the lead. As it is with any major company, there are some customers’ complaints; however, they have more satisfied customers on the whole compared to Protect America.
Frontpoint seems to be the best choice here; Frontpoint appears to be more transparent, more versatile, flexible, and contract-free.
