As we warned you, Google will be shutting down support for its once-excellent Google Nest Secure home security system on April 8. This means that, starting today, your Nest Secure will no longer be connected to the internet, and you won’t be able to control it from the Nest app or receive notifications from the alarm system. It’s basically a paperweight (albeit recyclable).
Google has announced that it will discontinue Nest Secure in 2020, so you have plenty of time to buy a replacement. But if you’ve been putting off the excruciating pain of turning off your home security system until the last minute, the last minute is here.
So, what are your options? When the cancellation of Nest Secure was announced, Google, a major investor in ADT, offered its users a free self-installing system of ADT (worth up to $485) or a $200 credit in the Google Store. According to ADT, the free system offer is valid until May 7, 2024, which is less than a month away.
Launched in March 2023, the ADT Self Setup system is ADT’s second DIY security system (the first was the short-lived ADT Blue). It has the option of professional monitoring via ADT or monitoring yourself. It integrates with most Nest hardware, including the Nest Battery Doorbell, Nest Hub, and Nest Cam, and works with Google Home. But it’s far from a direct Nest Secure swap, and its integration with Google Home is essentially the same as what other third-party security systems offer (more on that later).
ADT’s Wayne Thorsen told me that the Self Setup system “is scalable and will continue to receive new software updates, enhancements and benefits from the ADT/Google partnership.” So we could see updates to Google Home in the future Good integration.
However, ADT/Google is rumored to be launching a new ADT smart home security system that uses first-party hardware developed with direct input from Google and includes many of the features we liked from the Nest Secure.
While it hasn’t been officially announced by Google or ADT, it appears to be coming soon. last year, edge Tons of details about ADT Smart Home Security were released that were hidden on the ADT website; earlier this year, an installation video surfaced, and even now, the support page for the new system can be searched on the ADT website.
For Nest Secure users who haven’t opted for ADT self-service setup, the question is whether this new system will launch before the free offer expires on May 7, which is less than a month away. Considering ADT may need to offload a bunch of self-provisioning systems before rolling out new systems, my guess is that ADT smart home security won’t arrive until those credentials expire, in which case you may want to consider non-ADT alternatives.
What are the alternatives to Nest Secure for use with Google Home?
I’ve tested several DIY security systems, and if you want one that can be controlled from Google Home and integrated with your Google devices, such as Nest cameras, thermostats, and smart home hubs, I recommend Arlo or Abode.
Arlo’s home security system ($199.99) is probably the closest option to the Nest Secure, offering stylish, multifunctional sensors instead of a plethora of little white plastic boxes. Its door/window sensors double as motion sensors, just like Secure’s Nest Detects do. But they don’t have neat touch-to-dismiss functionality. However, they can also serve as leak, temperature, light and tilt sensors, and listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Arlo announced an NFC tag that can disarm the system, similar to how Secure tags work. You can control the Arlo security system through the Google Home app, but you can’t control Google devices through the Arlo app, and features like video verification for professional surveillance require an Arlo camera and don’t work with Nest cameras. (The Arlo Secure plan with professional monitoring costs $24.99 per month).
Abode is a more traditional DIY smart home security system with many options for single-purpose sensors such as motion, door/window, glass break, etc. But it can integrate with Z-Wave and Zigbee smart home sensors, lights, and locks along with dozens of other smart home devices, making it a good choice for a more powerful smart home setup. Abode starts at $139.99 and integrates perfectly with Google Home, allowing you to control it through the Google Home app.
Google Nest products can be controlled through the Abode app, including real-time feedback from Nest cameras. You can also set up automations to do things like arm the system when the Nest Thermostat switches to the away state. However, you’ll need to purchase an Abode plan to run these services, which starts at $7 per month and goes up to $23 per month for options with professional monitoring capabilities.
For those of you who have stopped using Google altogether, I really like Ecobee’s new security system. It shares the same simplicity as the Nest Secure, with a multi-function door/window sensor that doubles as an occupancy sensor. The system starts at $269.99 and includes an Ecobee thermostat that can be controlled via a keypad built into the thermostat. It can also integrate with Ecobee’s indoor cameras and doorbell cameras. Professional driving is only $10 per month, which is a great price. But there is no Google Home support.
While there’s currently no direct replacement for the Google Nest Secure system, there are some good options that offer simple, easy-to-use alternatives that work with Google Home.Whatever Google and ADT are doing possible As the well-deserved successor to Secure, it seems that it won’t be in time to help those Nest Secure users whose ADT offer is set to expire next month.