The Piper was an ambitious all-in-one security device from the mid-2010s: a camera, Z-Wave hub, motion sensor, temperature/humidity/light sensors, and 105dB siren — all in one unit. It was ahead of its time. Then its parent company was acquired, and Piper disappeared.
If you’re here searching for Piper, you’re probably a former owner wondering what happened, or you found one cheap and want to know if it still works. Here’s the complete story and what to buy instead.
What Happened to Piper Security?
| Year | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Piper launches via Indiegogo crowdfunding | Raised $270K+ — promising all-in-one concept |
| 2014 | Piper nv (night vision model) released | Retail $279 — premium pricing for the era |
| 2015 | Icontrol Networks (Piper’s parent) acquired by Comcast | Comcast wanted Icontrol’s platform for Xfinity Home |
| 2016 | Piper support winds down | No new firmware updates, app updates slow |
| 2017-2018 | Cloud servers shut down | Remote viewing, notifications, and cloud recording stopped working |
| 2026 | Completely dead | Hardware still functions as paperweight. No app, no cloud, no support. |
The lesson: Piper’s death is a textbook example of what happens when a cloud-dependent product loses its cloud. Once Comcast acquired Icontrol for their Xfinity Home platform, Piper became an orphan. No amount of good hardware saves you when the servers go dark.
Why Piper Failed (And What It Teaches Us)
Piper was genuinely innovative. The all-in-one concept — combining camera, hub, sensors, and siren — was exactly what the market wanted. But several factors killed it:
| Problem | What Happened | Modern Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud dependency | 100% reliant on Piper servers for everything | Look for systems with local processing + cloud backup |
| Single device = single failure | If Piper died, your entire security died | Modular systems (hub + separate sensors) are more resilient |
| Small company acquisition | Comcast bought parent, killed the product | Choose companies committed to consumer products long-term |
| Premium pricing, no ecosystem | $279 for one device with no expansion | $199 gets a full system today (hub + sensors + siren) |
| No professional monitoring option | Self-monitoring only — no dispatch | Best systems offer both self and pro monitoring |
| Z-Wave hub barely used | Limited device support, clunky automations | Modern hubs support Z-Wave + Zigbee + Matter + Thread |
Similar Products That Also Died
Piper wasn’t alone. The mid-2010s all-in-one security boom left a trail of dead products:
| Product | Launched | Status | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper nv | 2014 | Dead | Parent acquired by Comcast, servers shut down |
| Canary | 2015 | Dead | Moved features behind paywall, users revolted, company folded |
| Cocoon | 2016 | Dead | UK startup ran out of funding, SUBSOUND tech never caught on |
| Angee | 2017 | Dead | Crowdfunded, never delivered properly, company dissolved |
| Lighthouse AI | 2018 | Dead | 3D camera with AI — too expensive ($299), shut down in 1 year |
| iSmartAlarm | 2014 | Dead | Budget system, app abandoned, cloud unreliable |
| Nest Secure | 2017 | Dead | Google discontinued in 2020, hidden mic controversy |
The pattern: All-in-one devices from small companies are high-risk. The survivors in home security are either large ecosystem players (Ring/Amazon, Nest/Google) or dedicated security companies with sustainable business models (Abode, SimpliSafe).
What Piper Owners Should Do Now
If you still have a Piper sitting around:
| Option | What to Do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Recycle it | E-waste recycling — the hardware is useless without cloud servers | Free |
| Replace with modern DIY | Get a real security system with hub, sensors, cameras | $199-$500 |
| Keep as Z-Wave hub? | Not recommended — firmware is outdated, security vulnerabilities likely | — |
Best Piper Replacements in 2026
Modern systems do everything Piper promised and more — with actual reliability, expandability, and support. Here’s what to buy instead:
| System | Price | Monthly | Camera | Hub | Sensors | Siren | Smart Home | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | $199 | $0-20 | Optional ($35) | Yes (Z-Wave/Zigbee/Matter) | Yes (included) | Yes (built-in) | HomeKit/Alexa/Google | Self + Pro |
| Ring Alarm | $199 | $0-20 | Optional ($50+) | Yes (Z-Wave) | Yes (included) | Yes (built-in) | Alexa only | Self + Pro |
| SimpliSafe | $199 | $0-28 | Optional ($100+) | Yes (proprietary) | Yes (included) | Yes (separate) | Alexa/Google | Self + Pro |
Why Abode Is the Best Piper Replacement
If you loved Piper’s all-in-one concept, Abode is the spiritual successor done right:
| Feature | Piper nv (2014) | Abode Smart Security Kit (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Built-in 180° fisheye | Optional Abode Cam 2 ($35) — 2K resolution |
| Smart home hub | Z-Wave only, limited support | Z-Wave + Zigbee + Matter + Thread |
| Sensors | Built-in motion/temp/humidity/light | Separate door/motion sensors (included in kit) |
| Siren | 105dB built-in | Built-in siren + optional extra sirens |
| Monitoring | Self-monitoring only | Free self-monitoring, $6-20/mo professional |
| Apple HomeKit | No | Yes — only HomeKit-compatible security system |
| Geofencing | Basic | Advanced auto arm/disarm + CUE automations |
| Expandability | Limited Z-Wave devices | 160+ compatible devices |
| Local processing | No — 100% cloud | Yes — works during internet outages |
| Price | $279 (one device) | $199 (hub + gateway + mini sensor + key fob) |
| Company status | Dead (acquired 2015) | Active — backed by AT&T Connected Life partnership |
How to Avoid Buying the Next Piper
Before buying any security product, check these red flags:
| Red Flag | Why It Matters | What to Look For Instead |
|---|---|---|
| 100% cloud-dependent | Server shutdown = product death | Local processing + cloud backup |
| Single device, no ecosystem | Can’t expand, can’t replace components | Modular hub with separate sensors/cameras |
| Small startup, no revenue model | Likely to run out of money or get acquired | Established companies with subscription revenue |
| Crowdfunded with no shipping history | May never deliver or deliver poorly | Products available at retail (Amazon, Best Buy) |
| Proprietary everything | Locked into one vendor’s decisions | Standard protocols (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter) |
| No professional monitoring option | Limited to self-monitoring forever | Optional pro monitoring for when you need it |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my Piper in any way?
Not meaningfully. The cloud servers are offline, so the app doesn’t connect, recordings don’t save, and notifications don’t work. The Z-Wave hub might technically respond to local commands, but with outdated firmware and no security patches, it’s a liability. Recycle it and move on.
Is Comcast/Xfinity Home the same as Piper?
Not exactly. Comcast acquired Piper’s parent company (Icontrol Networks) for their smart home platform technology, not the Piper product itself. Xfinity Home uses Alarm.com and is a completely different product. Piper owners got nothing from the acquisition.
Are all-in-one security devices bad?
Not inherently — but single-device solutions are risky because one failure point takes down everything. Modern systems like Abode use a hub architecture: the hub coordinates everything, but individual sensors and cameras work independently. If one camera dies, your door sensors still work.
What’s the cheapest Piper replacement?
Abode’s Smart Security Kit at $199 with free self-monitoring is the best value. You get a hub, gateway, mini door sensor, and key fob. Add an Abode Cam 2 for $35 to replicate Piper’s camera functionality — all for less than what Piper cost in 2014.
Did Piper owners get any compensation?
No. When Comcast acquired Icontrol, Piper owners received no refunds, trade-in offers, or migration paths. The product simply stopped working. This is unfortunately common when small hardware companies get acquired — see also: Revolv (acquired by Nest/Google, bricked in 2016).
What happened to Piper’s Z-Wave features?
Piper supported Z-Wave devices like smart plugs, locks, and lights. Without the Piper app and cloud, those automations no longer work through Piper. However, your Z-Wave devices themselves are fine — they’re standard Z-Wave protocol and will pair with any modern Z-Wave hub (Abode, SmartThings, Hubitat). You just need to factory reset them and re-pair.
Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
Taffeta Lace says
I bought this camera a few years ago to check in on my dogs (and their walker) while I was at work. It was OK — setting it up was quite annoying, and I wish it were smarter so it could detect the difference between my dogs moving around and a person entering a room.
I actually needed it for home security for some upcoming construction work on my home, and the stupid thing DIED. At first I thought it was the spare batteries — even though it was plugged in. Well, at least now I can upgrade to a much better camera, as I would NOT buy this camera again.
mike casey says
As a long term user and early adopter of this product, I can say that there are a lot of issues with these units. I have been using a pair for over 4 years. When they work, they are wonderful, when they don’t work (which is often) they can cause a real headache. Installed at your primary residence helps as they need to be manually rebooted often. I have my units at a cabin hours away. I have had issues with reliability since day one. After 3.5yrs of support through email, they have finally come to the conclusion that they are not compatible with Satellite internet due to the high latency. Unfortunately now that its past the 90day period since purchase, they will not take the units back even thought it took over 3.5 years to diagnose the issue. When the units go offline, they are unusable. For instance, if you have the piper set to turn on lights or external siren when it detects motion, it will do so, but if the unit does this and has lost connection with the network, you are unable to shut anything off, which results in a trip to the location to unplug the units, remove batteries and reset. I have had times where an external siren was on for over a week because I was unable to get to the location. What is almost worst is that the units are unusable even when you get to the location and get on the same network. Piper units NEED to be on the internet to function at all. End of the day, interesting product, but definitely not a security device. I have been reviewing many other products over the years and this is by far the least reliable. Save your money and invest in Arlo or abode.
David Johnson says
Piper sucks. I just need to video monitor my dog pens. One inside and one outside.I lose connection and then spend hours trying to reestablish connection. I can get one to work but can get a second camera to work is impossible. Don’t try to call in because their voice recording says there are too many callers. I can’t imagine why. Such a waste of time and money. This is going into the trash.
Jason says
I don’t think this is worth the purchase, no night vision and it doesn’t call the authorities! These are big features that I consider important so maybe it’s worth it for others but my personal take is it’s something I would not utilize. I can see some reviews here sharing their bad experience, so yeah. It’s a no from me.
Skip Middleton says
Totally agree – customer service is either just weak enough or smart enough to keep you working until the warranty runs out – I bought 3 units during their fundraising and used one in my office – then finally plugged in the other two at home, NONE worked – Just take a match and light $300 and you’ll get more satisfaction – this company is WEAK and the product is POOR – and their Customer Service SUCKS.
Jaycee says
Piper will be irrelevant soon enough. Came in with hype with their fundraising but there’s no benefits in going with this low quality cam over a monitored system. If you are trying to cut costs then go with the SmartThings (or any DIY monitored system) but don’t count on this ‘all in one’ magic camera working as it’s hyped up to be. Not to mention you need to buy 5 to cover a home which comes out to be $1000, more than most monitored companies.
Jack Ludlow says
Piper is a waste of money – Have 3 piper cameras in my vacation home. On a power and/or network glitch, the camera loses its connection and gets stuck in a yellow blinking light state and does not automatically recover. It needs to be manually powered cycle by removing the batteries and unplugging the power cord before in order to bring it back up to the working state. The bug has been around for a while but the company is not interested in fixing it.
RFL says
This is a huge problem, I wish they would fix it, everything else is just fine for me.
Jerry DuVall says
I bought thr Piper and it worked for a week or two. Cannot get them to replace it. You could say I just wasted $200 and back to looking for the right alternative.
Jonathan Wogan says
I bought 4 Piper units in January last year. I started using them in April or May of last year. The first unit stopped working towards the end of last year and now 3 of the 4 units have all stopped working. They will work on battery power only but will not work via the power cords. From my experience, the shelf life of the hardware is from 9-16 months. That’s far from acceptable when the warranty is only 12 months. I would strongly advise not to buy these until they offer a longer warranty.
ciaran cronin says
Piper was my biggest waste of money this year. What a crap product and crap customer support. DON’T BUY THIS CAMERA!
Giles Benson says
My Piper lost Internet connection and will not reconnect. It has become a useless device. I was a a vocal supporter of this product but their customer support just shifts the blame to you and others for their product failure. I now rate this product very unfavorable. Use a different product reviewed on this site for home security.
Steve Salkeld says
Just bought a Piper with door sensors. We have had a false alarm every time we Arm it!!!! Trying to return is even more complex. Beware!!
Jason Delli says
I have been debating on getting this for some time and you just confirmed it for me that they do not support police alerts. I am fine with that when I am close to home but I need something more solid when I am out of town. Thanks for the information!