Fortress vs. SimpliSafe

Keeping your home protected is serious business, and you want some serious technology working to keep you and your family safe. Fortress and SimpliSafe are two major brands that offer a comprehensive security setup, but which option is best for you and your home? For professional 24/7 monitoring, SimpliSafe is the brand to beat, but Fortress is the best bet if you’d prefer to self-monitor your home.

With so many brands on the market at this point, homeowners have a lot of choice in terms of the features that matter to them most. does a great job of protecting your home and exceeds the benefits of SimpliSafe in a lot of ways, but at this point, it forces you to rely on third-party monitoring services rather than offering the protection themselves. SimpliSafe is a little more expensive month-to-month, but that extra expense is put to good use with some of the best 24/7 monitoring around.

Below, we go into detail on the similarities and differences of Fortress vs. SimpliSafe. Alternatively, you can use the navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

iSmartAlarm vs. Fortress

There are more options on the market than ever before for keeping your home protected, but how do you sort through the huge selection in order to find an alarm system that works for you? Comparing iSmartAlarm vs. Fortress makes it readily apparent that not all security setups are created equal, with being the far superior option due to a whole host of features that keep your home better protected.

When breaking down these two systems, it’s clear that iSmartAlarm offers basic protection at an affordable price. However, the lack of features like cellular backup, battery backup, flexible installation, and 24/7 monitoring make it clear that there are some major shortcomings when it comes to offering comprehensive security.

Below, we go into detail on the differences between iSmartAlarm and Fortress security systems. If there are specific aspects that you’re most interested in, however, feel free to use the navigation bar to jump directly to the appropriate section.

iSmartAlarm vs. SimpliSafe

When it comes to keeping your home protected, a quality home security system can be the difference between feeling vulnerable and feeling safe. iSmartAlarm and SimpliSafe cater to different markets, with the former being best for simple and affordable coverage, and the latter being a more professional system that requires a bit more of an investment.

Each homeowner is unique in the type of protection that they feel they need, and these two systems offer different levels of security at different price points. While there’s no doubt that the coverage offered by SimpliSafe is a little more comprehensive, but when that protection comes with a relatively-expensive monthly fee, are the benefits really worth it?

Below we go into detail on the similarities and differences of iSmartAlarm vs. SimpliSafe. However, if you’d rather jump to a specific section, feel free to use the navigation bar to check out the information that interests you most.

Arlo Baby vs. Arlo Q

While both the Arlo Baby and Arlo Q have their perks, the Arlo Baby is specifically tailored to keep an eye on babies, with Baby Crying Detection and a Smart Music Player.

Within NETGEAR’s Arlo brand, you’ll find products that are intended for different uses — from portable LTE cameras like the Arlo Go, to more traditional and high-end cameras like the Arlo Pro 2. The Arlo Baby is a more niche product, but it’s definitely a little more unique than the more general Arlo Q.

abode vs. SimpliSafe

When it comes to smart security systems, you have more options than ever before. But how do you sort through the good and the bad to figure out which sensors are best for your home? Well, let us do the hard work for you! abode is a superior product to SimpliSafe on almost every front.

Even disregarding the fact that abode makes one of the best security systems on the market, it’s easy to see where SimpliSafe falls short despite the years that they’ve had products on the market. With the expensive subscriptions required to access simple features, the security system is just difficult to recommend.

Below we break down the differences of the abode vs. SimpliSafe to help give you a sense of what each option has to offer. Alternatively, you can use the navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

Scout vs. SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe has been on the market for quite some time at this point and was one of the first smart home security systems to make a splash. Recently, relative newcomer now also offers a competitive product as well, bringing in an innovative control mechanism that promises convenience and ease of use. In this case, however, we feel that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. SimpliSafe’s more traditional control scheme is difficult to beat, and we feel that it still has the edge due to its support for a keypad.

When comparing Scout vs. SimpliSafe, you’re essentially comparing a product that offers something new and innovative versus a tried and true upgrade of a more traditional security system. Scout has a very unique way of arming and disarming the system, but in its current implementation, it seems to fall short of what the creators intended. While SimpliSafe is not without its issues, there’s some truth to the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Below we go into detail on the benefits and drawbacks that these two systems have to offer. If there are specific aspects of the products that you’re specifically interested in, however, feel free to use the navigation bar to jump right down to the appropriate section.

SimpliSafe Review

If you’re in the market for home security, some cursory research makes it obvious that there are a ton of options out there to keep your property protected. From traditional security systems built into your home wiring, to basic DIY options that offer simple protection for bargain prices, there are options out there to suit pretty much anyone’s needs. If you’re looking for easy access to comprehensive security, a one-box solution like SimpliSafe may be just what you need.

While SimpliSafe may not be a household name at this point, they are actually a pretty huge name in the smart security industry — having been around for more than 10 years and with a valuation of over $1 billion.

The third-generation SimpliSafe system has recently hit the market, so there’s no better time than the present to dive into what this security solution has to offer.

With superior design and better integration with third-party products, the new SimpliSafe system is the brand at its best.

abode vs. Nest Secure

Nest is one of the most recognizable names in the smart home industry, but will Nest Secure live up to the reputation of their more established products like the thermostat? Nest Secure is one of the better home monitoring solutions out there, but we feel that it does fall short of competitor abode when it comes to delivering quality security at an affordable price.

While abode doesn’t have the same brand recognition that Nest does, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have the superior product. With a huge portion of the security system’s features available without a subscription, it provides an excellent balance of features and value that makes it our top pick for a home security system.

Below we break down abode vs. nest Secure to help give you a sense of what each security system brings to the table. If there’s a specific section you’re most interested in, however, you can use the navigation bar to move right there.

Ring vs. Nest Security System

Ring and Nest are two brands that have built a name for themselves in the smart technology industry, offering multiple different products that add convenience and utility to your home. When comparing the Ring vs. Nest security system, it’s clear that both have a lot to offer. For those on a budget, the Ring security system just can’t be beat, while Nest Secure is better suited for those who already have a collection of Nest products.

At the most basic level, the Ring and Nest security systems offer the same great protection that will keep your home secure. When you start to get into the various features that they have to offer, however, it’s clear that the “best” decision is much more subjective, with your choice likely to be influenced by the factors that are most important to you. While Ring offers an affordable and capable product, Nest has a lot going for it too and is the clear choice for those already invested in that ecosystem.

Below we compare the Nest vs. Ring security system to help give you a sense of where these systems excel and where they fall short. If there’s something specific you’re looking for, however, feel free to use the navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

abode Security Review

abode is a relatively recent addition to the market and is a comprehensive home security system that stands out in several different ways. Unlike other brands that make you pay for 24/7 monitoring on a long-term or month to month basis, abode is unique in its offering of on-demand 3-day, 7-day, or monthly monitoring. This makes it a top pick for homeowners that want the ability to enable monitoring for an occasional vacation, but who are not interested in an ongoing monthly fee.

Outside of that, abode is a pretty straightforward system that perfects the basics and gives you the tools you need to monitor your home on your own. Price-wise, it manages to strike a balance between extensive features and value — coming in at a lower cost than similar competitors like Scout and Frontpoint.

With extreme flexibility and easy expandability, abode is one of our top picks for renters and homeowners alike.

SimpliSafe vs. Nest Secure

Smart security systems make keeping your home protected easier than ever before, and DIY options have never been more accessible. When comparing SimpliSafe vs. Nest, we feel as if the latter is the better value due to the fact that it offers smart features without any additional monthly fees.

SimpliSafe has been around for years at this point and is one of the biggest names in smart security, but Nest Secure has made big waves in the industry recently as well. Outside of an upfront cost, you won’t really need to shell out extra to use the Nest Secure like you would for SimpliSafe. In this case, it appears that the newcomer to the field is the better buy.

Below, we go into detail on the differences between these two smart security systems to help give you a better sense of which option works best for you. However, if you’re interested in something specific, feel free to jump to the appropriate area using the navigation bar.

Arlo Pro 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cams

The Arlo Pro 2 camera is one of the best wireless cameras on the market, and the All-New line of Ring Stick Up Cams that received a revamp earlier this year makes it a worthy competitor. Which camera is best is really going to depend on what you’re looking for when it comes to video monitoring.

The Power over Ethernet features of the Ring Stick Up Cam Elite make it one of our favorite options on the market. And flexible power options of the Ring Stick Up Cam Gen 3 from , to make the camera super versitile. However, at the same time, the AC & Battery option with Arlo makes it a good buy as well. Regardless of your choice, you’ll likely be more than happy with the features each brand has to offer.

Each camera has their pros and cons, and we’ll go into detail while comparing the Arlo Pro 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cams. Read on below for the big picture, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections you care about most.

Maximus vs. Kuna Light

The Maximus and Kuna Light are two cameras that both function off of the Kuna app and Kuna Cloud. Although these two models work on the same platform and are owned by the same company, we do feel that the Maximus Floodlight has the edge with slightly better features overall.

The Maximus Smart Security Light is a brand that works to bring Kuna technology to a broader line of products and a bigger audience. Since the cloud and the app are shared between the Maximus and Kuna Lights there are a lot of features that they share as a baseline. From a technology standpoint, however, the Maximus camera just seems a step ahead at every turn.

Below we compare the Maximus vs. Kuna Lights in order to give you a clear picture of their similarities and differences. Read on for the full overview, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the aspects you care about most.

Skybell HD vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro

There are more options on the market than ever before when it comes to smart doorbells, which gives you a great degree of choice for adding security and convenience to your home. The Skybell HD and August Doorbell Cam Pro each have a lot to offer, although we feel that the Skybell model does a better job as a standalone doorbell.

While Skybell HD may be the stronger product on its own, it’s important to keep in mind that one of the greatest strengths that August Doorbell Cam Pro has to offer is integration with other smart products. If you’re interested in the August Smart Lock, the comparison becomes much less clear-cut due to the great collaboration the lock and doorbell add to your home.

Below we’ll compare the Skybell HD vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro to give you a sense of where these products excel and where they fall short. Feel free to read on for the full picture or use our navigation bar to jump directly to a specific section.

Kuna vs. Ring Floodlight

Although Maximus and Kuna are two separate brands, they are both produced by the same company and with the same attention to quality. When comparing a product like the Kuna Maximus Floodlight with the Ring Floodlight, however, we feel that the Ring Floodlight still manages to come out ahead.

Despite being two different products from two different brands, both of these cameras manage to provide an excellent solution for outdoor monitoring. Ring does have a few features that Kuna is lacking, but what really sets the brand apart is the excellent customer support that Kuna very much lacks.

Below, we compare the Kuna vs. Ring Floodlight to help you get a sense of which product might be right for your home. We’ve compiled a comprehensive comparison and review, but you can also use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections you’re interested in most.

August Doorbell Cam Pro vs. Nest Hello

Nest is perhaps one of the most recognizable smart technology brands on the market, and August has built a good reputation as well for their doorbells and smart locks. When comparing the August Doorbell Cam Pro vs. Nest Hello, it’s clear that Nest has a lot of advantages; but due to some serious technical flaws, we feel that the August Doorbell Cam Pro is the better buy.

While August focuses mostly on doorbells and locks, Nest has their hand in a wide variety of smart tech industries. The company has a good reputation in general, but the Nest Hello has some bugs that majorly impact security and have yet to be addressed. While August is missing some perks, they’ve delivered a product that works and works quite well.

Below we go into detail on the similarities and differences of the August Doorbell Cam Pro and Nest Hello. Read on for complete coverage, or use our navigation bar to jump right down to the information that interests you most.

Nest Hello vs. Ring 2

Smart doorbells are a great way to keep an eye on the entryway of your home, and Nest and Ring are two well-known brands that offer their own take on the technology. When comparing the Nest Hello vs. Ring 2, we can’t in good conscience recommend the Nest Hello due to some security issues that they have yet to address.

Nest products generally have a reputation for high quality, and there’s no denying that the Nest Hello has a lot to offer. However, the Ring 2 brings a lot to the table as well and manages to do so without the major drawbacks that make the Nest Hello so difficult to recommend. While a long lineup of features is certainly exciting, the superior security of the Ring 2 proves that it’s the execution that really matters.

Below we take a look at the Nest Hello and Ring 2 to show you where these doorbells excel and where they fall short. Read on for a comprehensive review, or jump directly to the sections that interest you most using our navigation bar.

Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro

Smart doorbells offer a great combination of security and convenience to your home. When comparing the Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro, it’s clear that both doorbells have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, we feel that the is the better buy unless you’ve already invested in an August Smart Lock.

August and Ring both have a pretty impressive lineup of products, but Ring got their start in doorbell and it really shows. The brand has only continued to improve their offerings with the release of the Ring Doorbell Pro, and we feel it deserves that top spot when compared to the August model. However, August is a great brand for smart locks as well, and the interaction between the doorbell and camera might give it the edge it needs to be a superior option overall.

Below we’ll detail the similarities and differences between the two doorbells to help give you a better sense of what each brand has to offer. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

Nest Outdoor IQ vs. Arlo Pro 2

Most smart cameras offer a lot of the same features, but a lot of them are intended solely for keeping an eye on the inside of your home. There aren’t quite as many models that are intended to work outside, but the Nest Outdoor IQ and the Arlo Pro 2 are some of the best. Both cameras have their pros and cons, so it’s difficult to determine the best — but for severe weather, there’s no bearing the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor.

Nest and Arlo are some of the biggest names in the smart camera industry, and these two specific models are some of the best the brands have to offer. From a durability standpoint, the Nest is better, but it’s also much more expensive. Arlo adds in some features like a siren, limited free cloud storage, and local backup, making it an excellent option for those looking for a more affordable price.

Below, we take a look at the Nest Outdoor IQ vs. Arlo Pro 2 to give you a sense of what both cameras have to offer. Read on for the full story, or use our navigation bar to jump right to what you’d like to know.

TP Link vs. LIFX

The primary goal of smart lights are to provide convenient access to light, and TP Link and LIFX both do a great job in that regards. However, when it comes to extra perks and technology, we do feel that LIFX pulls ahead.

When most people think of smart lighting, they’re likely thinking of voice activated bulbs or ones that can change color. While that’s a large part of the industry, the LIFX shows that there’s more to be had if you’re looking for better smart home integration, brightness, and even flawless syncing with your favorite tunes.

Below we break down the similarities and differences of the TP Link vs. LIFX. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump right to a specific section.

Xiaomi Yeelight vs. LIFX

LIFX makes some of the most impressive and fun bulbs on the market, but Xiaomi provides a competitive product as well. When comparing the Xiaomi Yeelight vs. LIFX, we feel that the Yeelight offers a more competitive price, but that the LIFX offers a better product as a whole.

Both of these lights can add a little more intelligence to your home, but we don’t feel that the savings that Xiaomi has to offer are worth it in the long run when you consider how great LIFX bulbs truly are. Plus, you can often find LIFX bulbs on sale which will make the price difference negligible. With better brightness, smart home support, and even the ability to use them outside, the benefits are really clear.

With that said, we’ll give you a full breakdown of the two bulbs so you can decide which one is right for your home. You can also use our navigation bar if you’d like to jump right down to a specific section.

Wyze Cam vs. YI Home

When it comes to monitoring you home, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank! The Wyze Cam and YI Home are two more affordable cameras, and they’re really quite similar in features. While Wyze Cam offers free recording and voice control with Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant, the YI Home does better with night vision and motion detection.

Video monitoring is more accessible than ever before, but the most premium models come at quite a hefty price. These models from Wyze and YI don’t offer the same level of quality you’d see with a device like a Nest Cam or Arlo Pro 2, but offer a great product that can add some low-cost monitoring to keep your home safe.

We’ll go into detail on the similarities and difference of the Wyze Cam vs. YI Home below, but feel free to use our navigation bar to jump right down to any section you please.

Wyze Cam vs. Nest Cam

When comparing Wyze Cam vs. Nest Cam, one of the most obvious differences is the way that they are priced. The Wyze Cam is significantly less expensive than the Nest Cam, which makes it a more budget-friendly option.

Nest has been in the smart home game for quite some time now, with their most recognizable product being the Nest Learning Thermostat. However, over the past few years we’ve started to see a lot of releases from the brand that all work together for a more convenient home. The Nest Cam Indoor is a quality product, despite being a little pricey. While the Wyze Cam has a lot of features at a pretty attractive price, while still providing high quality.

Below, we go into detail on what sets these two cameras apart from one other. Read on for the full picture, or use the navigation bar to jump to the sections you care about most.

Arlo Q vs. Amazon Cloud Cam

While Amazon may be more recognizable as a brand, Arlo has built out a wider lineup of video monitoring solutions. When comparing the Arlo Q vs. Amazon Cloud Cam, we do feel that the Arlo model is the superior choice.

Amazon and Arlo both offer a great product, but the is missing a few of Arlo’s features. It’s a quality option for those looking for a camera that is more affordable, but there’s no denying that the Arlo Q is a better camera overall.

Read on for a full review of these two cameras, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

Arlo Ultra vs. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

The smart camera market has exploded over the past few years and we now have a wide variety of options at different price points. The Arlo Ultra and Nest Cam IQ Outdoor are definitely on the higher end of the spectrum, offering premium features for a premium price. While both cameras have a lot to offer, we do feel that the Arlo Ultra is the better buy.

Arlo and Nest are both brands with a large lineup of products, and both have a reputation for quality. While the Arlo Ultra has some perks that Nest doesn’t offer such as support for 4K video, local backup storage, and a built-in siren, both of the cameras in this comparison are quality products. With that said, with the Arlo Ultra packing in more features at a lower price-point, the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is a bit of a hard sell.

Below we break down the Arlo Ultra vs. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and discuss what each camera brings to the table. Read on for the full picture, or jump right to the sections you care about most using our navigation bar.

Arlo Ultra vs. Arlo Pro 2

Since the release of Arlo Ultra, it’s quite clear that it’s one of the most advanced options on the market for home video monitoring. Arlo has already proven with their Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 that they can provide a premium experience, and the Arlo Ultra is one of the first smart cameras to record security footage in 4K. That quality comes at a price, but for many the improvements may be worth it…or not? Well, it’s time to find it out.

Below we compare the Arlo Ultra vs. Arlo Pro 2 to hopefully help make the shopping process a little bit easier. Read on below for a comprehensive review, or jump right down to a specific section using our navigation bar.

Arlo Q vs. Nest IQ Indoor

Arlo is a big name when it comes to smart cameras, while Nest has their hand in many areas of the smart technology scene. When comparing the Arlo Q vs. Nest IQ Indoor, neither one seems to blow the other out of the water. With that said, we think that the Arlo Q camera provides a better value when you consider the features it has to offer combined with the selling price.

Nest products are very high quality, but as one of the most recognizable brands, they are able to get away with pricing their products on the high side. While the Nest IQ Indoor has a lot to offer, we feel that Arlo does a better job overall — and as an added bonus, it won’t break the bank!

Below we’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks of each product to help you figure out which one is right for your home. If you’d rather get right to the parts you care about the most, feel free to take advantage of our navigation bar.

Rocketbook Wave vs. Everlast

For those of us who are still taking notes with pen and paper, it can be difficult to keep track of various notebooks and they take up a lot of space. New smart notebooks from companies like Rocketbook offer a potential solution to that problem. When comparing the Rocketbook Wave vs. Everlast, it’s difficult to choose a clear winner since both notebooks have something to bring to the table.

The Rocketbook Wave is more akin to a traditional notebook with a similar feel, and the microwaveable feature is very cool. The Rocketbook Everlast, on the other hand, is a little bit more high-tech and is built to last rather than being a more temporary option. Neither is necessarily better, and both offer a lot of utility like the ability to upload your notes to the cloud and reuse your notebook to save space.

Below we compare the Wave and Everlast to help you get a sense of what sets these two smart notebooks apart. Read on for a full review, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you the most.

YI Home vs. YI Dome

As smart technology has become more and more accessible, the dream of having an affordable and capable security camera is now a reality. The YI Home camera and YI Dome are two very similar products from the same brand that will make a great addition to any security setup, although we do feel the Dome pulls slightly ahead due to the motion tracking feature.

While YI doesn’t have the same market recognition as some other more popular brands like Ring or Arlo, they have some solid performers that offer impressive home monitoring with varying levels of features. Our favorite in this comparison is the YI Dome, although the brand does offer a 1080p version of the same camera that we’d strongly recommend considering as well.

Below, we go into detail on the similarities and differences of the YI Home vs. YI Dome. Read on for a full picture, or use the navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

YI LITE vs. YI 4K

YI as a brand has started to make a name for themselves in the smart camera scene, and are now well known for their high-quality action cameras. The YI LITE and YI 4K are both excellent products in their own right, and the “better” pick is going to depend on the quality of footage you’re looking for.

It’s up for debate as to where 4K recording is really worth the extra expense when 1080p footage is so clear and detailed already — especially when you consider that a lot of computers and TVs can’t really take full advantage of the quality that the format has to offer. However, there’s no doubt that 4K footage has the edge, and for those looking for the best possible picture, the YI 4K is an excellent option.

Below we compare the YI LITE vs. YI 4K to help you figure out what makes each option special. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump to the sections you care about most.