Abode vs. Nest

Abode beats Nest when it comes to price. The Abode Smart Security Kit currently retails for $229 with professional monitoring costing $20 per month. Nest comes in at $399 for equipment and $19 per month for monitoring.

Both Abode and Nest offer professional monitoring as an option for their security systems. This allows you to have professionals available around-the-clock to respond to alarm events, which is one of the reasons why we recommend professional monitoring over self-monitoring.

According to Abode security, their systems are designed to “play well with others.” Third-party integration is easy to set-up with other popular smart home brands. Nest Secure can use Amazon Alexa with their security system, but other smart home integrations are limited, so we crown Abode the winner for this category.

Nest has a couple of outdoor cameras that customers can purchase, unlike Abode. The Google Nest Cam Outdoor, priced at $199, is designed with weatherproof features and is ideal for backyard monitoring. The cameras feature 1080p HD video and has a 130-degree wide-angle view. While Abode has an outdoor camera on the way, it hasn’t been released for sale yet, making Nest the better option if you want to monitor the exterior of your home.

Both Abode and Nest offer professional installation. Abode has a partnership with HelloTech for professional installation as low as $99 for their starter kits. Google’s Nest Pro network allows you to hire a local professional to install your Nest equipment. The cost may vary by installation technician.

We like that Abode and Nest each offer free smartphone apps for iOS and Android, with comparable features. You’ll be able to arm and disarm your alarm system, view footage and other convenient features whether you’re at home or on the go.