Alder Home Security Review

Alder Pros and Cons

Unboxing the Alder Kit

The Alder kit came with a handful of sensors and the handsome 7-inch touch-screen panel you see below. Now take a closer look … see something missing? Alder doesn’t include a base station, which is a critical component with most systems. Instead, the touch-screen panel works double duty as your control center and smart hub, which is very cool.

Alder Security Equipment

Keep in mind, Alder does things a la carte, meaning you’re going to have to work with a representative to build your security system from scratch — there are no pre-made kits here or purchasing pieces of equipment directly from the company. My kit cost $450 and included the following equipment:

• One 7-Inch Touch-screen Panel
• Five Door/Window Sensors
• One Motion Sensor
• One Medical Alert Pendant
• One Key Fob
• User Manual
• Yard Sign

You’ll have to call Alder to order, as they don’t list products or prices on their website. I don’t really care for this approach; having to order by phone is like a time-warp to the ’90s, especially for a DIY system. Then again, it was nice speaking with a rep and getting a rundown on their equipment and options.

First Impressions

As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and Alder did not disappoint. Their sensors were all sleek and sported slim profiles — they were hardly noticeable once they were installed. That’s great news, especially when you compare it to some of the more boxy, obtrusive equipment at this price point.

Take a look at the entry sensors from our Frontpoint review, for instance. Those things were so big that they could barely fit on my palm. Alder’s entry sensors, on the hand, were slimmer and sleeker, with a depth of only about half an inch and a width of about one inch.

The control panel was also impressive. It was intuitively designed and had that satisfying heft you’re looking for when you pick up a piece of electronic equipment. You know what I’m talking about. It didn’t feel flimsy, it felt … substantial. Not that I would, but I felt like I could hammer nails with the thing. Maybe that’s not the best test of how well a piece of equipment is made, but it gave me the confidence that I wouldn’t be replacing it in six months.

On that note, there’s a reason we test the hardiness of the security products, particularly hubs and control panels. There are burglars out there that would smash and crash their way into your home, and they’re not beneath destroying security system hubs to deactivate monitoring. With the Alder control panel, it felt like it could withstand a few impacts and make a last stand to alert the monitoring center so they could drive the burglars away.

So overall, yes, I was very satisfied with how everything looked and felt. So I was excited to get everything installed.

Setting Alder Up

Alder claims that setup only takes 10 minutes, but I beg to differ. It’s definitely do-it-yourself easy, but it still took me about 35 minutes to install. Thankfully, once you plug in the touch-screen panel, the install wizard walks you step by step through the process. You’ll want to get cozy with the control panel, as you’ll be using it A LOT with Alder.

Alder Hub connecting to Sensors

The first thing the install wizard will have you do is to pair each sensor to the control panel. You’ll do this manually, and although it comes with detailed on-screen instructions, I wasn’t a big fan that I had to do this step myself. I’ve tested many DIY systems that shipped pre-programmed equipment so that all I had to do was place the sensors. Check out my SimpliSafe review, for comparison. That system took just 20 minutes to install, even the security cameras.

Other than that, I’d say that Alder’s installation process is a breeze. The sensors had double-sided tape backing for easy placement. Peel cover and stick; it’s that easy.

Alder Motion Sensor

The sensors are similar in size to Ring Alarm’s streamlined 2nd Gen sensors, though Ring sensors are a bit better looking. Check out the snapshot below, with Alder sensors on top and Ring sensors on the bottom.

Alder and Ring Entry Sensors

Not bad, right? I actually appreciate Alder’s unbranded approach. It helps the sensors blend in better with the wall.

After installing the sensors, I had some difficulty setting up the 24/7 monitoring. When I called Alder customer service for help, I was put on hold for a full 30 minutes (not good!). Thankfully, a fellow named Geno from tech support came on the line and got me back on track.

Alder Security: What Tests Revealed

I came across some eye-opening things during my hands-on experiment with Alder — some good stuff, and some not-so-good stuff. Let’s start with the controls. I accessed and controlled my Alder system using primarily the touch-screen panel, though there are a couple of other options.

Alder’s controls include:

• Touch-screen Smart Hub
• Mobile App
• Key Fob

Alder’s Touch-screen Panel

The 7-inch touch-screen control panel is the crowning jewel of the Alder system. But Alder’s panel doesn’t really measure up to the Command touch-screen panel you get with ADT Control; nor is it as impressive as Vivint’s Smart Hub. (Read about that powerhouse in our guide to Vivint home automation.) The ADT and Vivint devices are like full-on tablets, whereas the Alder panel is more limited in functionality. It’s kind of like the difference between a modern iPad and an early-2000s PalmPilot. Remember those?

Another thing to note: Alder’s control panels require constant power, so you have to mount them near a standard outlet. That doesn’t mean you’ll be left unprotected during power interruptions, though, as the control panels have 24-hour battery backup. Even if power to your house goes out, the control panel will be able to protect your home from intruders and other criminals.

Alder’s smart hub sure beats the standard push-button keypads you get with other DIY brands. (Even Ring’s 2nd Gen system still comes with a push-button keypad!) With Alder, you’ll enjoy countdown arming and disarming timers, as well as entry announcements directly from the panel. So when someone comes in the front door, Alder will announce “Front door open.” With cheaper systems, all you get is a simple chime.

Touchscreen Panel

So let’s say you’re eating dinner at night and hear “Bedroom window open.” You can get your wits about you, flee the house, and call the police with the exact location of your tripped sensor. Very helpful! You can also select whether you want the voice to be female or male, which is a nice little feature.

Of course, the audible announcements can also play a role in stopping burglars in their tracks. Just imagine how you would react if you were a thief and you heard a person’s voice announcing your entry. It may not be as effective as a siren (though Alder has that too!), but the announcements are a nice addition to Alder’s crime-deterrent features.

Alder Touchscreen Control Panel

As with any touch-screen panel, you’ll have to deal with grubby fingerprints and smudge marks from time to time. But Alder has a solution for this. The panel has a “screen cleaning” mode that turns off all controls for 30 seconds, allowing you to wipe it down without triggering any functions. (It’s the little things … )

Alder Mobile App

One thing I didn’t like about Alder is the software, particularly the mobile app. Alder used to be on the SecureNet network,1 but they’ve now developed their own mobile app so you can control your system using your smartphone.

The Alder app only gets two stars in the app store, but I’d hesitate to give it even that. One Google Play user called it “bugs galore,” and I agree. The notifications were late, the security cameras would stop recording or detecting movement all of a sudden, and worst of all, there was one time it didn’t let me log-in to my account at all.

It’s important to recognize that Alder is somewhat new to the app game, so hopefully they’ll fix the bugs in the months to come. That said, their app score has actually gone down a star over the last year.

Unlike some other home security apps we’ve tried, Alder’s app doesn’t offer super advanced features. You’ll be able to view your video stream, arm and disarm your system, customize your sensors, and check your activity log. That’s about it.

Alder App Devices

The design isn’t so hot either. Alder went with a red and yellow interface, which really doesn’t work with their blue and white branding. It gives off some serious Ronald McDonald vibes. See the image below.

Arming the Alder App

One thing you may find annoying is that you have to input your four-digit PIN every time you want to open the app. I actually thought this was a tech issue, and I called in, only to be told that that’s how it was designed. So whenever you have a false alarm, it’ll take you an extra five to 10 seconds to input your PIN and wait for the app to load. (At times, I wasn’t able to access the app at all; I’d just get a “timed out” message.)

I wish I had better news to report on Alder’s app. After all, smartphone controls are great. It’s how I prefer to manage my home security and smart home equipment. Any new software is bound to have its bugs, but it does seem to be taking Alder some time to iron things out.

Alder’s Key Fob

When not using the touch-screen panel, I mostly controlled my Alder system with the key fob. It’s fast and easy, just like a car alarm remote. But there are a couple of things to note here. You have to be within 100 feet of your house, and you have to press the button for a full second (one Mississippi) to arm or disarm your system. Once, when returning from the park with my pup, I thought I’d pressed the button long enough to disarm the system, but the blaring siren upon entry told me otherwise. Oops.

Does Alder Scare Away Burglars?

You might be wondering if Alder has what it takes to scare away intruders. Well, you’ll find that the siren is louder than loud. It’s only rated around 85 decibels. (You normally want to see 110 to 120 decibels.) But the pitch of the Alder alarm is absolutely ear-piercing. It’s definitely loud enough to make the bad guys get out of Dodge.

24/7 Monitoring and Response Times

One thing you’ll like about Alder is their responsive monitoring. If someone tries to break into your home, your sensors will send a signal to the monitoring center, and Alder will reach out. And if there’s a need to call first responders, they’ll do so on your behalf, and quickly, I might add.

How fast? Well, not as lighting-fast as they say. Alder claims that in 2017, their response times averaged at 3.4 seconds, which is in fact, 10 times faster than the industry average. But in my experience, the response times were closer to 30 seconds. Again, that’s the industry average, so not bad, but I wouldn’t count on the 3.4-second average response times posted on their website.

Here’s how Alder’s response time ranked against the security systems I’ve tested with the fastest response times:

When my alarm went off, Alder contacted me using either two-way talk, which is built into the control panel, or by calling my cell phone. The two-way talk feature is another nice addition to Alder’s arsenal of crime-preventing features, and it’s one we don’t see often. Since control panels are usually placed in an accessible location (e.g. near the front door), Alder’s monitoring center agents can scare away thieves and intruders themselves.

That said, it may take time for an agent to reach out. During one of my tests, it took their agents a full 45 seconds to reach out. A responder came through using the two-way voice and asked, “Is there an active emergency?” I told her no, and then she asked for my “safe word” and my name. All fairly standard … at that point, at least.

Then the strangest thing happened. When she said goodbye, I could still hear her fiddling at her desk for another 10 to 15 seconds before she finally hung up! So she could certainly hear anything that was spoken in my home during that time, which makes my spidey senses go off for privacy reasons. Then, when she finally hung up, the siren started blaring again. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best experience.

Despite that isolated issue, I was pretty happy with Alder’s 24/7 professional monitoring service. Most of the time, the agents contacted me via phone, and the interactions were flawless. And since Alder is 100 percent cellular-based — using 4G LTE cellular monitoring2 — I felt that our signal was reliable, and our system was always connected.

Alder Camera Integrations

Alder Security Cameras

Alder does not make its own cameras … yet. They currently sell the outdoor Kami camera and the indoor YI cam, both made by YI Technologies. Both devices are solid, with features like 1080p HD resolution, night vision, smartphone controls, and two-way talk. The Kami even has AI-powered facial recognition, a feature usually seen in higher-end cameras like the Vivint Outdoor Pro, or like what you’ll see in our review of the Google Nest Cam.

The cameras offered by Alder have some impressive features, but when I tested them, they didn’t integrate into Alder’s app. That means I couldn’t view live footage from my cameras in the same app where I controlled my security system. Instead, I had to download the YI Home and Kami Home apps, which was disappointing.

Alder has since integrated the YI cameras into the Alder app, which is a step in the right direction. However, given that Alder’s app score has actually gone down a star since I tried them out in my home, it’s unclear how well these camera integrations are working.

When it comes to camera integrations, it’s worth noting that you can’t view a live video feed on the Alder touch-screen control panel like you can with the best home security systems like ADT and Vivint. I like having access to all of my home security devices in one place — as I think most people would. So I have to dock Alder some points here. Otherwise, the security cameras performed well during my hands-on testing.

Upgrades and Add-Ons

Alder offers a whole lineup of environmental sensors. Their “Life Safety” products include smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, along with freeze and flood sensors. They also have a medical alert pendant, which is not something you typically see from home security companies.

We do loads of research and testing of medical alert systems, and they can be lifesavers, especially for seniors who are at increased risk of injury from falling.3 (Check out our roundup of the best medical alert systems.)

Alder Pendant

Alder’s medical alert pendant is an unsightly little thing, but it certainly gets the job done. Just hold the help button for two seconds, and it’ll signal the monitoring center. I experienced 20-second response times on average. Kudos to Alder for even offering this service, as most home security brands don’t have any medical alert options.

Snapshot of Alder’s Pricing

Alder doesn’t list their equipment or monitoring prices on their website. I had to call in to get a rundown of their costs, so I can’t quote exact figures here.

With that said, Alder does require a one-time activation fee of $49, plus your first month’s bill for monitoring and equipment financing. This worked out to $44.99 per month for the monitoring package I purchased, but prices may vary. Alder does offer a plan for as low as $40 per month, which doesn’t quite land it among the most affordable home security systems, but it’s still in line with industry standards. Check out our latest breakdown of Alder home security pricing, but here’s a quick brief:

One important caveat with Alder: Be ready to sign a contract if you don’t purchase your equipment up front. The contract term may vary. When I recently tested the system, the contract term was 42 months, but just a few days ago I called Alder and was quoted a 60-month term. Though long-term contracts are somewhat common for professionally installed security systems like Vivint and ADT, they’re a bit unusual for DIY systems. But if you plan to have your system for a few years, as most people do, a contract shouldn’t necessarily be a deal-breaker. Also, Alder has a 30-day, risk-free trial, giving you an “out” if you end up not liking them.

Alder Security System Quick Specs

For what to expect from an Alder security system, check out the most important specs and features below.

Specs

The Customer Experience

Now, Alder is a very reliable security system overall. It uses pretty good technology, the response time is fast, and although the app leaves things to be desired, the touchscreen control panel propels Alder beyond most DIY security systems.

That being said, not everything works all the time and there’s a good chance that at some point, you’ll have to talk to a customer support agent for help. That’s where Alder becomes a little lopsided.

“I could hardly understand what [the customer support staff] was saying, and she kept messing up repeating my information back to me,” one user wrote about their customer support experience.

Another user said: “I called for technical support in changing the record time on one of my cameras. They asked me for my username and password for my app in order to assist me. I declined and asked [that] they send me written instructions. They hung up on me.”

These reviews show that Alder isn’t perfect, but my personal experience also tells me that it’s not all bad when it comes to their customer support. I’ve called them up a few times and they were mostly helpful.

How I Rate Alder

Using our SecureScore rating methodology, I give Alder an 8.8 rating out of 10. Our ranking system averages Alder’s scores in five major aspects: customer support, value, equipment quality, features and technology, and ease of use.

• Customer support (8.9/10): I had a good experience overall with Alder. It certainly wasn’t the best in terms of customer support, but it wasn’t all bad, either.
• Value (9.1/10): For its price, Alder offers decent value. It’s an effective crime-deterrent with fast response times and high-quality equipment.
• Equipment (8.6/10): Alder’s equipment is of good quality. It’s rugged and hardy, but at the same time, it has a streamlined look.
• Features and technology (8.7/10): On one hand, Alder’s touch screen panel, 4G cellular connection, and battery backup give it an edge over more traditional systems, but the lackluster app takes away some of that high-tech feel.
• Ease of use (8.9/10): Alder’s DIY setup wasn’t the easiest I’ve dealt with, but it was still very easy to install. Using the system also doesn’t require a lot of time to get used to.

Bottom Line

Alder offers reliable home security without a lot of frills. It’s not a perfect system. There’s really no such thing. For instance, I don’t like the limited camera options and smart home features. (If you want a smart home system, check out our guide to the best home automation security systems.) And if I’m being honest, the Alder app doesn’t deliver the best user experience.

On the other hand, I felt very secure in my home, knowing that Alder’s reliable 4G LTE cellular monitoring was always there for me, and that goes a long way. Also, everything was simple to set up and get started, and I really enjoyed using the touch-screen control panel. So even if you’re new to home security systems, I think you’ll find Alder to be a good perimeter system for burglar detection.

Even though I’m not completely impressed by everything Alder has to offer, the system still checks most of the boxes for quality home security. So if you’re considering a DIY system, it might be worth hopping on a call with one of Alder’s sales reps. All things considered, it’s not a bad solution for home security.

Our Methodology: How We Review Security Systems

In our continuing quest to be the best source of unbiased home security system reviews, our expert team is always on the lookout for brands that offer dependable security equipment and monitoring. Our process starts with in-depth research. We spend countless hours comparing and gathering information about security systems and the companies that sell them.

When we find security systems we want to test; we go straight to the source and go through the normal sales process. Next, we set up the security system in our home and test each and every feature extensively, taking note of the strengths and shortcomings we find, and how the system protects us and our family. We also simulate security breaches to see how well each system detects them.

All in all, we spend at least a week testing each system, but we like to keep the security systems around for a month or so to gain first-hand experience on long-term user-experience. After all, security systems are meant to last years.

Alder Security FAQs