What Cove is and who sells it
Cove is a home security system sold directly to consumers by Cove Security, a company owned by Alarm.com. You buy the equipment outright (usually $200 to $400 for a starter kit), then pay a monthly monitoring fee. The system uses door and window sensors, motion detectors, and a control panel that communicates with Cove's monitoring center over your internet connection or a cellular backup line.
Cove does not require a long-term contract — you can cancel month to month. The company handles its own 24/7 monitoring rather than outsourcing to a third party, which means the same organization that sold you the equipment is the one responding to alarms.
You install the equipment yourself. Cove sends the kit to your home, and you mount sensors on doors and windows and place the control panel in a central location. The company provides video guides and phone support during setup, but you are not paying for a technician to come to your house.
Key Takeaways
- Cove equipment costs $200 to $400 upfront, and you own it permanently; monthly monitoring fees range from roughly $30 to $50 depending on the plan you choose.
- The system requires a broadband internet connection or cellular backup to send alerts to Cove's monitoring center, so it will not work if your internet is down and you have not paid for the cellular option.
- You install the equipment yourself using the guides Cove provides; there is no professional installation fee, but you also do not get a technician to assess your home's layout.
- Cove has no long-term contract, so you can stop paying for monitoring at any time, though the equipment itself remains yours to keep or sell.
- The system integrates with Cove's mobile app so you can arm and disarm it remotely, receive alerts, and see live video if you add cameras.
Equipment and what each piece does
A Cove starter kit typically includes a control panel (the main hub), door and window sensors, a motion detector, and a keypad or mobile app for arming and disarming. The control panel is a touchscreen device that sits on a shelf or mounts on a wall and communicates with all the wireless sensors in your home.
Door and window sensors are small magnetic strips that trigger an alarm if the door or window opens while the system is armed. Motion detectors use infrared to sense movement in a room. You can add extra sensors, cameras, and glass-break detectors to the system after purchase — Cove sells these as add-ons, and prices vary by product.
The system sends alerts to your phone through the Cove app and simultaneously notifies the monitoring center. If you do not respond to the alert within a set time (usually 30 to 60 seconds), the monitoring center calls you to verify the alarm. If you do not answer or confirm it is a false alarm, the center dispatches police to your address.
Monthly costs and what monitoring includes
Cove's monitoring plans typically range from about $30 to $50 per month, though the exact price depends on which plan you choose and your location. The company offers plans with different levels of monitoring — for example, some plans monitor doors and windows only, while others include motion detection and video monitoring if you add cameras.
All plans include 24/7 professional monitoring, which means someone at Cove's center is watching for alarms around the clock. The monitoring fee covers the response service — the center's staff calling you, attempting to reach a contact on your list, and dispatching emergency services if needed. It does not cover the cost of police response itself, which is a public service.
There are no long-term contracts, so your monthly fee does not lock you in. You can pause or cancel monitoring at any time. If you cancel, you keep the equipment and can sell it, give it away, or use it as a standalone system (though without monitoring, it will only sound a local alarm).
Internet connection and backup options
Cove requires a broadband internet connection to send alerts to the monitoring center. If your internet goes down, the system cannot reach Cove unless you have paid for cellular backup. Cellular backup is an add-on service (usually $10 to $15 per month) that uses a SIM card in the control panel to send alerts over a cellular network if your home internet fails.
Without cellular backup, a power outage or internet outage means the system can still sound a local alarm, but Cove's monitoring center will not be notified. This is an important limitation if you live in an area with frequent outages or if your internet service is unreliable. The cellular backup fee is separate from your monitoring plan and is optional.
Self-installation versus professional setup
Cove systems are designed for self-installation. You unpack the kit, read the app, and follow Cove's video guides to mount sensors and set up the control panel. The process typically takes 30 minutes to an hour for a basic setup. Cove's phone support is available during business hours if you get stuck, and the company also offers live chat.
Because you are installing it yourself, you do not pay a technician fee, which keeps the upfront cost lower than systems that require professional installation. However, you also do not get a security assessment from someone who knows the industry — you are responsible for deciding where to place sensors and whether your home's layout is adequately covered.
If you add cameras or want to expand the system later, you can do that yourself as well. Cove sells additional sensors and cameras separately, and you add them to the system through the app.
How to cancel or pause monitoring
Because Cove has no contract, you can stop paying for monitoring whenever you want. You log into your account online or call Cove's customer service to cancel. There is no penalty or early termination fee. The equipment remains yours — you own it outright from the moment you buy it.
If you want to pause monitoring temporarily rather than cancel permanently, Cove allows that as well. You can suspend your account for a set period and restart it later without having to buy new equipment or re-setup the system.
If you move or no longer need the system, you can sell the equipment secondhand. Because there is no contract tied to it, the new owner can set up their own Cove account and use the same hardware.
Comparing Cove to other self-installed systems
Other companies that sell self-installed systems include Wyze, Ring, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint. The main differences are in equipment cost, monitoring fees, app features, and whether cellular backup is included or optional. Wyze and Ring tend to have lower upfront costs but may charge more for professional monitoring. SimpliSafe and Frontpoint are closer to Cove in price and monitoring model.
Cove's main advantage is that it is owned by Alarm.com, a large monitoring platform, so the company handles its own monitoring rather than outsourcing. Some people prefer this because it means fewer handoffs if something goes wrong. The disadvantage is that Cove is less well-known than Ring or SimpliSafe, so customer reviews are fewer and the resale market for used equipment is smaller.
If you are comparing systems, the key questions are: How much is the equipment? How much is monthly monitoring? Is cellular backup included or extra? Can you cancel anytime? And does the app let you do what you want — arm and disarm remotely, see live video, receive alerts on your phone?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a landline or special phone service for Cove to work?
No. Cove uses your broadband internet connection to send alerts to the monitoring center. It does not need a landline or any phone service. If your internet goes down, alerts will not reach Cove unless you have paid for cellular backup.
What happens if I get a false alarm?
When the monitoring center receives an alarm, they call you to verify it is real. If you answer and confirm it is a false alarm, they do not dispatch police. If you do not answer, they will attempt to call an emergency contact on your account. False alarms may result in fines from your local police department, depending on your city's policy — this is not a Cove fee, but a local government fee.
Can I use Cove if I rent my home?
Yes. Because the sensors are wireless and mount with adhesive strips or small nails, you can install them without permanent damage to walls. When you move, you can take the system with you. Check your lease to see if your landlord has any restrictions on security systems.
What if I want to add cameras to the system?
Cove sells cameras as add-ons. You can purchase them separately and add them to your account through the app. Cameras are not included in the starter kit, so they cost extra. Video monitoring may also require a higher-tier monitoring plan.
Can I keep using Cove equipment if I cancel monitoring?
Yes. The equipment is yours to keep. Without monitoring, the system will still sound a local alarm if a sensor is triggered, but the monitoring center will not be notified. You can restart monitoring at any time without buying new equipment.