Frontpoint’s starting package is more expensive than Ring’s starter kit (about $130 more). Professional monitoring is also more expensive with Frontpoint (about 4 times more) than Ring. You’ll pay at least $44.99/mo. for Frontpoint monitoring, whereas with Ring, you’ll only pay $10/mo. For these reasons, Ring gets the win for pricing.

Frontpoint uses UL-certified, award-winning Rapid Response for its monitoring services, while Ring’s third-party monitoring arrangement is unknown. But keep in mind that you’ll pay about $40/mo. more for the peace of mind you get with Frontpoint than you would with Ring. 

If home automation is one of your must-haves, we’d recommend Ring. Frontpoint has its foot in the door with a handful of smart home devices, but Ring has opened the door wide and set up shop with its selection. Ring’s smart home offerings include light switches, outlets, door locks, gate access control, and more.

It was a close call on this one, since both companies offer the mobile app with all packages, but Ring gets the upper hand because its app includes live video streaming. Frontpoint offers live video streaming, but not until you pay more for an upper-tier plan. 

If you’re looking to build your own equipment package, both Ring and Frontpoint provide this option. You can choose from preset packages as well. With either provider, you’ll also find smart home devices and environmental monitoring equipment like smoke detectors. Since you’ll find similar equipment with either, it’s a tie for us.

Frontpoint and Ring both allow you to self-install their systems, avoiding any installation fee. Each provider also gives you access to either phone or online support for walking you through the process. No technical expertise is needed to install either system, making them both options in terms of installation.