Ring Alarm vs Nest Secure: An Expert Comparison
Today we will be comparing home security providers Ring Alarm and Nest Secure, and see how they stack up! We’ll go over equipment, monitoring plans, and more!
Owning a home is a really great feeling. One of the most important steps to take as a homeowner is to make sure your home has some sort of security system. Home security systems are great at keeping your home safe, and can save you thousands of dollars in lost property. There are a lot of great security products out on the market that you can use to keep your home and family safe from home invaders. Today we will look at and compare what Ring Alarm and Nest Secure have to offer.
Ring Alarm Control Panel
You have probably heard of the name Ring before due to the reputation they have built with their security cameras. Ring, over the years, has released a variety of other smart home camera, and now security products. Ring offers their Ring Alarm system which work by connecting to your home’s WIFI network. It does include a cellular chip as an optional way for you to use their system without the need of an internet connection. Ring is actually on the second generation of their control panel. Their second-generation control panel is small, compact, and has a square shaped design. The control panel includes the famous ring indicator light that will change colors to show different system statutes. The Ring Alarm control panel is controlled through a separate push-button keypad or through the Ring app. The Ring control panel includes a 24-hour backup up battery. It has a built in Z-Wave protocol which means you can expand it include other branded devices such as smart locks. The Ring system has different chime alerts for different security devices that will alert you will these devices have been triggered. If your Ring system or devices detect an event, the system will sound its built-in internal siren.
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Nest Secure Control Panel
Nest started off being well known for their security cameras but their product line has exploded over the years, and now they even make a home security system. Their security system is known as the Nest Secure. They call their control panel the Nest Guard which has some really standout features. It is a wireless control panel that works by connecting directly to your home’s WIFI network, but you do have the option to add a cellular chip. The Nest Guard has a really great compact design making it easy to place. It has a push-button keypad connected to the top of it that allows you to create custom user codes for different uses, and it allows for quick arming and disarming of your Nest Secure system. One really cool feature of the Nest Guard is that it has a built-in motion sensor that will trigger your system if motion is detected around it. The Nest Guard has a backup battery that will last up to 12 hours so it will work even if your power is out. The Nest Guard includes a built-in indicator light that will change color to show different system statuses along with chimes alerts for system status and triggering of connected devices. If your Nest Secure system is triggered it will sound its 85-decibel internal siren. The Nest Guard is really expandable and will work with Z-Wave enabled devices.
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Who wins?
Ring Alarm’s and Nest’s control panels are pretty similar to one another. They both are wireless and come with a cellular chip. They both also have to be controlled via an app or through a separate keypad. The Ring Alarm control panel and Nest Secure control panel both include LED indicator lights to let you know your different system statuses. However, the Ring Alarm control panel includes a Z-Wave protocol making much more expandable than Nest Secure’s control panel. For this reason, we are choosing the Ring Alarm as our winner for this category.
Ring Alarm Equipment
Ring offers a lot of great basic equipment for you to choose from. To keep the doors and windows of your home protected, Ring offers wireless and battery-operated door/window sensor. Ring also offers wireless and battery-operated motion sensors that are great at detecting motion in large areas in your home. Ring offers secondary keypads you can add to your Ring Secure system. Their keypads have an illuminated push-button keypad and include a rechargeable battery. Ring also offers a battery-operated panic button that will trigger your system, and alert emergency services when it has been pushed. They also offer a battery-operated external siren that will trigger when your Ring Secure system triggers. Ring offers a wireless and battery-operated smoke/CO sensor and a freeze/flood sensor to keep your home safe from the elements. Both these sensors will make an audible alert if rises in smoke, CO gas, rises/drops in temperature, and floods/ leak occur. All equipment offered by Ring is DIY, but they do include a step by step setup guide for a fast and easy installation.
Recommended: An alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option called Link Interactive >>
Home Automation
Due to the Ring control panel having a Z-Wave protocol, you can really expand it to includes a lot of home automaton devices, and these devices don’t have to be a Ring Brand. Ring offers a ton of home automation and video surveillance equipment for you to choose from. Today we will only be going over some of these, and if you are looking for a more complete list you can visit the Ring website. Ring offers several different brands of smart locks including Schlage. These locks have a push-button keypad, can be remotely controlled, and you can create custom user codes that can be enabled and disabled at any time. You can also use a variety of smart bulbs, smart switches, and light controls you can choose from including brands like Phillips HUE and GE. These particular types of devices are great at cutting down your home’s energy consumption per month due to their ability to have custom timers set and to be controlled remotely.
Video Monitoring/Cameras
When it comes to video surveillance equipment, Ring has more of selection than many other security companies. They offer, indoor, outdoor, video doorbell, and flood light cameras. Their video surveillance cameras come in two versions: powered by an AC power source, and a rechargeable battery powered version. Their cameras work by connecting directly to your home’s WIFI network. You will need to check which camera you are interested in specific specifications but generally most Ring cameras includes 2-way audio, night vision, custom motion zones, motion sensors, and the ability to capture video in either 720P or 1080P.
Recommended: See all of our Alarm.com powered video monitoring options at Link Interactive >>
Nest Secure Equipment
The Nest Secure doesn’t have a lot of components to its security system. The sensors they do offer are high tech, battery-operated, and wireless. Nest Secure’s main entryway sensor is called the Nest Detect. The Nest Detect is a combo door/window and motion sensor built into one sensor. The Nest Detect will inform you when your door/windows have been opened while also being able to monitor for any motion in the area it is placed. Another way to arm and disarm your system is the Nest Tag. This RFID Tag that is wireless and battery-operated that allows you to arm and disarm your system by tapping it near or on the Nest Guard. Nest currently only offers one environmental safety sensor which is called the Nest Protect. The Nest Protect is a wireless and battery-operated sensor that will monitor for dangerous rises in smoke or CO gas. If these are detected it will make an audible alert. It also includes a light up feature that will illuminate an area in which it is placed. All equipment offered by Nest is DIY, but they do include a step by step setup guide.
Recommended: An alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option called Link Interactive >>
Home Automation
Nest has partnered with a lot of great companies over the years which is reflected in their premium selection of add-on equipment. Today we will only be going over a few of these devices, for a more complete list of add-on equipment you can use with your Nest Secure, you can visit their website. Nest has partnered up with Yale to produce the Nest X Yale Lock. This smart lock has a touch-screen keypad that illuminates and allows for one touch locking. You can create custom user codes for your Nest X Yale Lock that can be enabled and disabled at any time. It is powered by 4 double A batteries so you don’t have to worry about having an existing doorbell wiring for it to work. It connects to your home’s WIFI network wirelessly and can be controlled through the Nest app. To make your home greener, Nest offers their smart thermostats. The Nest Learning Thermostat is our favorite. This thermostat is powered by a rechargeable battery, and it works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network. The Nest Learning Thermostat comes with temperature sensors that can be placed in different rooms around your home. These temperature sensors will learn your home’s temperature and automatically adjust to your preferred temperature setting while also making sure you are saving energy on your home’s energy consumption per month. You can also remotely control the Nest Learn Thermostat through the Nest app. The Nest secure system also works with smart bulbs and switches such Phillips and GE.
Monitoring/Cameras
When it comes to video surveillance equipment, Nest has a huge variety. They offer indoor, outdoor, video doorbell, and other varieties of video surveillance equipment. Generally, their video surveillance cameras can capture video in HD, have advanced motion sensors and advanced night vision, and include 2-way audio.
Recommended: See all of our Alarm.com powered video monitoring options at Link Interactive >>
Who wins?
Ring and Nest offes a lot of similar basic equipment. They both offer wireless and battery-operated entryway and environmental safety sensors. We really like the combo environmental safety sensors offered by Nest due to their ability to monitor for more than one environmental factor which cuts down on your need for separate environmental safety sensors. This category is a tie.
Unfortunately, Ring doesn’t have a very good selection of home automation equipment for you to choose from, and since their control panel doesn’t include a Z-Wave protocol you will very limited on how much you can expand your system. We do however really like that Nest Alarm is compatible with a wide array of Nest cameras. Nest has more video monitoring capabilities for you to choose from. For this reason, we are choosing them the winners of the home automation category.
Ring Alarm vs Nest Secure App
Ring Alarm and Nest Secure offer video, self, and professional monitoring services. Their self-monitoring services are done through their apps which are free to download and work for PC, Mac, tablets, and smartphones. Their apps will allow to stream live and recorded video, control your system and connected devices, add/remove devices, check system/sensor history, and receive push notifications for events. Their professional monitoring services work the same where you have a 24/7 professional monitoring station watching over your home. You will need to purchase all of your equipment upfront with both Ring and Nest due to the fact they offer no contract plans.
Recommended: Check out Link Interactive. With Link Interactive you’ll get the Alarm.com app (the gold standard in home security), and top of the line security equipment at great affordable prices. See details >>
Ring Alarm vs Nest Secure vs Link Interactive
Ring Alarm and Nest Secure have similar control panels and similar basic sensors. The Ring Alarm system is a great little basic security system with limited compatibility with after-market smart devices. Nest has a ton of video monitoring options that you can add to your Nest Secure system so that you can give your home total protection. As a result, we crowning Nest Secure as our overall winner.
Recommended Alternative: Link Interactive
If you want to pay less without skimping on features and quality of service, take a look at the Link Interactive home alarm system.
Link Interactive is leaps and bounds ahead of Ring Alarm in terms of equipment and monitoring services. At Link we offer a more feature-laden control panel in the the Qolsys IQ 2 Panel, complete with Alarm.com self-monitoring and third-party 24/7 professional monitoring. We also offer cutting-edge video monitoring services and cameras, all at a much better price point than the competition.
We have thousands of 5-star reviews on various reputable third party review sites complimenting our awesome after-sales support! We encourage you take a look at our offer here, get a quote and compare. You can also call us direct at 1-877-826-5443 for further details and speak with a rep!
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