How their Home Security System Control App Works
First of all, Alarm.com is NOT a home security company. They are a white label mobile app service FOR home security companies. This provides the service to turn on and off the alarm system, not monitor it. Founded in 2000 they were later acquired in 2009 for $27 million by ABS. They are a ‘turnkey’ solution, great for startup security companies who can’t integrate their own app control with existing security equipment. Dozens of companies use them with their personal business logo on it. You may not even know you are using the Alarm.com app! Before digging deeper into how it works, what you can control lets take a look at the good and bad of Alarm.com.
Pros
- Complete control of home alarm system
- View live data feed of security cameras
- White label service
- Reliable app
- Smart automation services
- Suitable for a variety of security systems
- Wireless Technology
- Home automation and property access
- It works with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, Apple TV, Apple Watch and Fire TV
- Integrates with Honeywell or GE security systems
- Collaboration with large numbers of service providers
- BBB since 2005 with an A+ rating and an accredited business
Cons
- Does not provide security monitoring services
- If the app goes down or glitches, thousands of users of different companies are effected
- Not as clean in design compared to the ADT pulse app
- General Pricing Model
- Poor customer service
Well-known security companies that use the Alarm.com service include: Protect America, Frontpoint, Protection One and nearly every small ma n pa alarm company out there.
In terms of home automation and security, Alarm.com is a market leader. Alarm.com is fundamentally a technological platform. Home security systems, mobile apps, TV streaming, and wristwatch apps are just a few of its many different product offerings.
The business is dedicated to improving the relationship between its clients and their homes. For both home and commercial consumers, Alarm.com provides security solutions.
How does Alarm.com make their money?
Each company or dealer that uses their app as a white label service for their customers to be able to control their alarm system pays a monthly price. Depending on the use, it can range into the thousands of dollars. It is a great app and that’s why companies tend to use it over building one for their own. It also works flawlessly with GE and Honeywell equipment making it ideal for 99% of security systems available in the market.
Alarm.com is the symbol of security when it comes to home safety. Available for download on the Android and Apple app stores, home security control is just an arm’s length away. Alarm.com has gone a step beyond the traditional security systems with their android app. The app is extremely user friendly and has been designed in such a way as to make the navigation easier for the user.
As a consumer you don’t have to worry about this. Most home security companies include free smartphone control.
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System dashboard review – What can be done with Alarm.com
Don’t let the power get to your head…
The user-friendly interface allows you to keep an eye out for what is happening around and on the premises of your property (if you ordered a security camera with your security system). You can view who enters or leaves your property, rooms etc. A complete check on the movements within your property is possible with this mobile app. One of the best features of this app is the simplicity of turning the alarm on and off (big green unlock and red lock symbols). This feature allows you to be in an instant touch with the security system with just a single tap, from any location at any time. It saves you a lot of time from typing your code by hand and is convenient for when you have your hands full (with groceries for example) and need to disarm it before coming in the home.
Here is a screenshot of what the energy management control looks like on a smart phone:
Here are more features that you can integrate:
Remote Monitoring
Alarm.com allows you to watch live video feed from the security cams installed on your property and monitor every corner without any hassle. It also lets you watch stored video clips that were recorded earlier and to look out for any unusual activity.
You can watch any specific event happening at your property too, even if the event or the activity you want to view is couple of days old. You also get a notification when a video is recorded in any corner of your property. The app is designed to allow you easy access to your home and its systems remotely, which is one of the main ideas behind smart living. With this app, you can tap into your home heating system and remotely set the thermostat to a specific temperature. This feature comes quite handy when you are just 10 minutes away from home and can turn on the heating system for a warm welcome. As of 2015, this is the latest craze in Home automation to control your thermostat and you can save big bugs on your energy bill.
Lighting Control
And then there was light…
Although this doesn’t fall into the ‘security’ realm of your system, more and more companies are offering it as an up-sell (higher monthly rate) feature. If your company offers it, then Alarm.com can control it. You can brighten or dim the lights of your property at will from distance. This feature particularly proves to be useful when you are moments away from reaching home and can turn on the lights. It can save you money as well as cut down the energy expenditure. Using the same principle, you can remotely control the locking system of your property. You can lock or unlock the doors and windows as per your needs without having to be physically present on the property.
Notifications
Buzz-buzz!
With this smart phone android app, the history of your security system is at your disposal for perusal. You can check the complete log of system and alarm events by all the users with this app. For example, you can see what time doors opened, when an alarm went off, what user turned the alarm on and off and more. The app also allows you to adjust the settings to receive notifications about any of the systems at your home or workplace right on your mobile phone. Whenever anyone uses, activates or deactivates that particular system, you’ll receive a notification about it on your cell phone. This provides a safe way to allow other users like a baby sitter or sibling to have access to your alarm system remotely when entering your home when you are away.
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Malfunctioning errors and the updates they have done
Their android platform has proved to be quite a valuable tool for users along with some hiccups on the way. Users can get to updates when:
- Your kids reach home
- Someone arrives or leave the premises of their property
- Any unusual activity occurs on your property like water leaking through the pipes
- When any of the corners are left unguarded like the garage or pool door being left open
- Someone forgets to turn off the lights for longer time duration’s.
- The most important notification-whenever someone turns off the alarm system- can also be received spontaneously with this android app. It also notifies you about the exact person who disables the alarm system.
- Finally, if someone approaches sensitive area of home like the medicine cabinet, liquor cabinet or the guns’ storage area.
These notifications can be enabled for getting texts as well as for emails or phone calls or push notifications. With this app, you can also set specific user codes for different family members for instant notification when someone sets foot on or leaves your property. These codes can be changed at any time round the clock.
Throw Away your Keys and Grab your Phone
Alarm.com has eliminated the need for having keys to access your home and offices. This instant alert system has the immense benefit of helping you act quickly in case of any emergencies, for example, if a fire erupts on the property, you can immediately notify the concerned authorities while reaching the spot quickly.
Our Conclusion
Alarm.com app is available on the android apps stores for instant download and can be easily installed in any kind of android smartphone. It is compatible with all android devices with OS 1.6 or later. This app keeps you in close connection with your property while you are away without having to worry about its safety because mobile.com is the extra pair of eyes that you need for 24/7 monitoring and security of your home or office. Please note that not all features Alarm.com offers may be available for you depending on what equipment your security company offers.
Utilizing a smart device or control panel, you can manage your entire house thanks to its cutting-edge technology. To provide you peace of mind and complete control over your home, you can configure the notifications that are sent to you. The company gives customers the advantages of a big business with the personal touch of a small dealer thanks to its nationwide network of authorized partners.
Have anything to say that we didn’t cover? Please leave your feedback below.
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Last update on 2025-12-29 at 23:28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
TPS Industrial Ltd says
A great roundup with some pretty amazing advice.
Jim F says
alarm.com beats the hell out of ADT Pulse. ADT Pulse is the Yugo of systems.
Daniel Voiss says
So for update purposes, and to contradict your comparison to the ADT pulse app: ADT is moving to alarm.com platform and has copied design and concept of their new panel from one of alarm.com’s dev partners, Quolsys. The alarm.com platform is the standard and the most reliable and feature rich solution available hands down, no comparisons. I will agree that one of the issues is that they do not offer monitoring directly but there is many reasons for that and that’s why you should look at a company that has an established good reputation with your market to provide service installation and support of security devices and smart home devices that integrate with the platform. I live in Las Vegas and the best solution here is a local company, Sting Alarm ( https://StingAlarm.com ) but if you go to alarm.com you can search for a local partner in your area.
D Spaulding says
I read all the comments below. I have had ZERO issues with my system. No problems controlling thermostats, alarm system, lights, locks, etc. Some minor connectivity issues with outdoor landscape lighting when weather is bad but I think that is more zwave limitations than this system issue.
Robert Rupar says
As with many customers, we are new to the buying experiences when it comes to a security company.
After the home purchase with D R Horton, I was provided an Alarm.com doorbell. Just to let you know. The doorbell look great, but the customer service with Alarm.com is exhausting to deal with.
After two days, all I got from the customer service department is this message:
Hello Robert,
Thank you for the follow up. We appreciate you passing along the numbers used in this call so that we can investigate your call. We are very sorry, again, for what you experienced. While receiving feedback like this is never easy, it is the only way a company like ours can learn and grow. We take this very seriously and will seek to improve based on what we learn from this situation. We would like to thank you once again for taking the time to report this. If you have additional feed back or questions for us, please let us know.
Regards,
Alarm.com CORE
TID 1756813
Yes, I called Brinks, Links, and etc all said the same things about Alarm.com customer service numbers. Not going to name the companies since they are dealers for Alarm.com, both said the customer service issues has been ongoing for years. Shocking…YEARS! Thank God I do not have stocks in that company.
So, I am a team player. All I can do is give the warnings. I would stay away from Alarm.com like no other. In the end, just wanted to share my first time experience with Alarm.com
Mike says
I would have to say that this product packs a punch for the features it has, although I’ve gotten feedback from my friends that system is glitchy and they find it a hassle, I have to see it firsthand before I can make the conclusion. Although collectively mixed reviews have come upon this, I think it’s good enough unless you’re looking for a foolproof product. Lol!
Josh Mcdaniel says
Most people don’t know they are using the Alarm (dot) com app and I suppose it’s supposed to be this way. They do a great job connecting with most security equipment providers. If you are a DIY security guru this is your best chance for a quality smart app to control all home automation aspects. Your other options are higher MMR fees like ADT or Vivint who create their own app for users.
These guys have done a good job acquiring smaller companies and assets to beef up their brand and stay relevant in an ever changing tech world. Anyone who uses this app shouldn’t have to worry about functionality or buggy updates.
Martin says
I’m a current Alarm.com customer (through Livewatch) and I’ve been unhappy with the service. Initially, the service was great and everything was working fine but I added an approved zwave thermostat which has caused all my zwave devices to not function correctly. In particular, my door locks do not consistently respond to remote commands and I’ve spent dozens of hours trying to fix the problem with support. The company will not replace the faulty device which is a safety problem (i.e., the door locks do not always correctly indicate if they are locked or not) – sad for a security company! Since I’ve invested so much time and effort already, I’m just replacing the faulty device on my own dime but I do not recommend given the problems with the technology.
Brenda Grow says
App is the worst. My husband and I have problems arming and disarming from the app constantly, It is worthless since you can not arm/disarm from the app. I have set the alarm off when I drive into the garage because you can’t determine if it is armed or if you have disarmed it. Definitely would not recommend.
J WYSS says
They bought my information from someone. Their automated system has called me non-stop several times a day for weeks. One cannot block the system, because it calls from a different number every time.
Richard says
J, are you sure it’s Alarm.com calling you? As I know, Alarm.com don’t purchase lead info, nor has automated system calling. Does your caller ID actually show Alarm.com?
As author described, Alarm.com provide white label solutions and not doing direct sale.
AP says
This company acquired previous company that I had contract with. During signing contract in person with company representative at home physically and he made a call with other person to discuss the contract and it was mentioned 2 years without any price increase. When two years got over and I called them, they said it is 5 years contract and if you want to cancel you will have to pay for rest of 3 years too. I asked them I would like to recall the call which was recorded for security purpose and they said they don’t have it. This is sucks. I felt cheated. Also I saw that they started charging me more than what was in contract, when I called them regarding that they said it is in contract. So it is completely cheating customers. Please be careful and record on your phone any conversation during signing contract with them. I am not happy at all with this company. Also competitors are giving more security features with the same price.
Richard says
AP, as author described, Alarm.com is a solution provider and not selling directly. Are you sure who acquired your previous company is Alarm.com? Just curious, which is your previous company?
May Pederson says
I am fully into the home automation craze of the moment. Although Home Automation has been around for about 3 decades, it seems to be getting its reach firmer now. I like what I can achieve with the alarm.com app and the prospects of what could come later is Incredible.
Alec says
I love that I have the power to control the system right from my phone. I used to always forget the keys to my last system and this has completely eliminated that for me. Great app and smart thinking by them to get companies to pay them a monthly service charge to white-label their services!
Craig Sherrill says
So what happens if they ever decide to update the app and it isn’t compatible with the companies that use them for their security system? Does everyone that use them and updates all of sudden not have a working alarm system? It seems like a cool thing but I don’t get how it connects with so many different inter-type faces such as GE, Honeywell, Lynx etc. I would rather go with a company like ADT Pulse which has their own standalone app.
Claire says
alarm.com system is simple to set up and get used to. Great synopsis of the app because that’s what it really is! Not a standalone security company like many think.
Anna Craig says
I often wonder what features I should go with when I decide on a home alarm company. Do I need things like lighting control and stuff like that? I am not sure what I would need in my neighborhood.
Alarm Reviews says
Good question Anna. That is honestly up to you, your partner and your home. The basic is still the most common which covers the doors, windows and simple phone control. Full home automation actually makes things more complex often and is not needed.
Hugo Frank says
Good to learn that Alarm.com is not a stand alone security system. I will most likely be using their app with a different company I choose to go with!
Jay Fridgette says
The Alarm.com app seems to work fine dependent on the company you sign up with to use it. It is still a pretty basic app and I think they should completely redo the user interface to make it more appealing. I know the companies that use this as their home alarm system operator can tweak the design and functionality to a certain degree. Most people that use this don’t even know they are since it is a white label service. I’m sure they’ll make some big improvements over the years since big companies like Frontpoint and Protect America trust and use their app.
Marky says
I do hope that they improve the interface. It looks dated and the features are very basic. The app won’t be able to compete with ADT pulse app. The alarm.com app works with vivint and Frontpoint. I think if the app is given a much needed upgrade, more security system providers would use the app. Though it’s pretty basic, it does what it sets out to do and that counts for something.
Shun says
I really love this new feature
lee says
I am very satisfied with their service and knowledge of their products. I would highly recommend them to protect your home. I have used them for the last 4 years and have no plans of changing my home security needs. When I leave my home my smart phone alerts me if anything is wrong. They are the best.
Ann Abbitz says
I really love this new feature! It is literally a life saver, as my elderly parents now live with us, and though I still do work part-time after cutting my hours, I feel very secure in knowing that my parents aren’t alone. My husband, or I, can check up on them if they don’t get to the phones, or reply to our texts.
Eugenie says
Got to say alarm.com app is very convinient, gives you peace of mind and a very reasonable price, highly recommend.
Mary Craft says
Thank you for your recommendation. I am looking at this service and deciding which security company to use Alarm.com with.
Eugenie says
I love the sound of this alarm system, my friend is opening a jewelry shop in town and they are looking for security alarm system, i’ll make sure i give them your link, sound great thet you can even check everything via android app, i love that.
Stephan says
I believe the best about this is that I no longer need the keys, and that they can be replaced by the phone. It really makes life easier. Also, being able to monitor the house through its security cameras is invaluable.