It has been over seven years since Nest shook-up a stagnant industry with the release of their smart thermostat. The company is back with a new product for the home, hoping to accomplish the same feat. Enter the Nest Secure, a do-it-yourself alarm system that packs smart features and functionality into a clean, compact design.

It may be a little pricey compared to other options, but we decided to put our money where our mouth is and purchase a unit to conduct a hands-on test to see if it is worth it. Now before you watch the video review below, here is what you are getting into:

What’s in the Box?

Nest Secure Pros and Cons

Pros Quality Hardware Simple Installation Intelligent Detect Sensors User Friendly App Self Monitoring/Optional Professional Monitoring Cellular Backup

Cons Price No Google Assistant No Enter/Exit Door Chime



How I Reduced the Nest Secure’s Price:

It’s no secret that the Nest Secure is one of the more expensive Smart Home Security systems available on the market today. At just under $500 for a hub, some tags and sensors, it is understandable if buyers scoff at it. But what if there was a way to get more for even less? That’s exactly what I found when I decided to purchase through my cellphone service provider T-Mobile. You see, when purchasing the security pack through them, you get the Nest webcam at no extra cost. That’s a $200 incentive.

Now usually when you upgrade or activate a new device at T-Mobile, the company also allows a trade-in to go toward the purchase cost. This applies to the Nest Secure as well! That’s right, if you have an old phone laying around, you can apply the trade-in value toward the Nest Secure. I traded-in a OnePlus 3T for a trade-in value of $160. This brought down the overall cost of the alarm system down to $340, which is a lot more reasonable right?

*Understand that T-Mobile does require a qualifying service plan with purchase of the Nest Secure. The plan is $15/month and includes cellular backup plus Nest Aware video recordings for the included webcam. This T-Mobile plan is non-contract and can be cancelled at anytime if desired. See your local store for additional details.*

Do We Recommend the Nest Secure?

Overall, with its top-quality hardware, beautifully-designed user experience that ensures simple installation and ease of use, the Nest Secure is one of the best do-it-yourself alarm systems on the market we can recommend. If you are comfortable spending the $500 on a home security system, and you’re already invested in the ecosystem or looking to join the ecosystem, then the Nest Secure will make a great addition to your smart home. I definitely plan to keep mine.