About Scout

Scout is a Chicago-based company made up of engineers, designers, and security experts. It was founded in 2013 after a crowdfunding campaign during which it managed to pre-sell its security solutions for over $500,000, thus exceeding its initial expectations. The company’s goal is to design smart, simple, and affordable home security systems.

Top Features  

If you choose to build a security system yourself rather than buying one of the ready-made Scout packs, you have to start from the Scout Hub, the min piece of Scout’s security solutions. This hub comes in two color choices. After choosing your preferred model (Arctic or Midnight), you can add a different number of sensors. The hub and sensors connect wirelessly. You can monitor the system yourself or add 24/7 police dispatch. The hub includes 4G Cellular and battery backup, which ensures you’re always secured. If the system detects intruders, the 105 dB siren will turn on to deter them.

The Scout hub offers multiple integrations. It connects to smart home systems such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, Yale, First Alert, IFTTT, Kwikset, Philips Hue, and LIFX.

You can customize the system with the components you want and the actions you want it to perform, as well as the level of support you wish to benefit from. You can check in from any device and see the activity feed of all the sensors.

Arm and disarm the system from your smartphone in a second, choose how you want Scout to react in different contexts, and set custom real-time alerts via SMS, email, and mobile push notifications. The system can auto-alert your chosen network in case you’re out of reach. Scout offers UL-certified monitoring.

There are no long-term contracts if you choose one of the Scout monitoring plans as you can get billed monthly.

Equipment, Devices & Technology

Scout offers several packs and products you can purchase separately if you want to design your own security solution.

The company currently provides the following products

·         Access sensors ($20): wire-free, with temperature detection, track doors and windows while closing/opening

·         Door panel ($50): arms/disarms with the help of the app or key fobs, having no buttons or passcodes

·         Motion sensor ($30): features a 90-degree field of view, 25ft range, and infrared detection

·         Video doorbells ($99): features two-way audio, night vision, people detection, motion detection, 1080 HD Video, 180-degree field of view

·         HD cameras ($99): records in 1080p HD day or night, allows zoom in, sets up in seconds, and sends you relevant notifications based on the detected motion

·         Keypad ($50): wire-free, with a tamper-resistant mounting and encryption, arms and disarms your system with a single touch of a button,

·         Water sensor ($30): wire-free, reusable, and easy to install anywhere, detects leaks immediately

·         Glass break sensor ($50): battery-powered, communicates wirelessly with the hub and secures windows within a 25ft distance

·         Door lock ($249): battery-powered, tamper-resistant, syncs with the Scout Modes and allows you to lock/unlock your door from anywhere via the app

There are four Scout security packs available.

·         Small Pack ($229)

·         Large Pack ($319)

·         Elements Pack ($349)

·         Architect Pack (549)

All the packages contain the Scout hub, key fobs, a door panel, motion and access sensors, and a yard sign. The Elements pack also includes a smoke alarm and a water sensor. The Architect pack also has a smart lock and a glass break.

Packages and Plans Comparison

If you want to opt for Scout monitoring services, there are two plans, Always On and Always On+. You can get billed monthly or yearly. With the yearly option, you save 10%.

Always On

This self-monitoring plan costs $9.99 and includes 4G LTE battery back-up, unlimited email and mobile push notifications, SMS and Phone call alerts, and the Scout mobile app. For camera cloud storage, you need to pay an extra fee of $2.99 per month per camera.

Always On+

This plan costs $19.99 per month and besides the features found in the Always On plan, it also offers 24/7 professional monitoring, police and fire dispatch, and free cloud storage for the first camera or doorbell in your package. If you want to add more cameras, you also need to pay the $2.99 monthly fee per camera.  

Contract & Termination

There are no long-term commitments if you choose Scout. If you want to purchase one of the company’s monitoring plans, you can pay a monthly subscription and cancel your plan at any time.

Customer Support

Scout offers a comprehensive knowledge base where you can find FAQs, user manuals, installation information, troubleshooting guides, and more. If you want human support, you can contact the team by email at info@scoutalarm.com, via a web form, or call them at 1-844-ATSCOUT (287-2688). Phone and email support are available 24/7 from 9 AM to 6 PM CST.

Extra Services

Besides customizable security systems you can build based on your home’s size and necessities by choosing from multiple cameras and sensors, ready-made bundles, and the ability to self monitor or choose a monthly subscription plan, Scout also offers certified refurbished products.

Overall Opinion

Scout offers two straightforward monthly monitoring plans and doesn’t force you to sign any long-term contract. The wide range of accessories, cameras, and sensors allows you to build the security system you want. The Scout app is user-friendly and the customizable alerts make it easy to avoid pesky, unnecessary notifications. The company also offers a 60-day trial that allows you to test the system and return it for free. Overall, Scout security solutions are reliable and customizable, plus, they integrate with lots of smart home technologies.