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When it comes to home automation, especially IFTTT, abode takes the top spot with over 30 actions, triggers, and queries.
Updated October 4, 2024
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Once you dig into the powers of home automation with If This Then That (IFTTT), you can feel like you have a personal butler tending to your home without paying his salary.
We use IFTTT ourselves, so we went ahead and tested three of the only compatible security systems. We then ranked these systems based on their IFTTT integration and their overall ability to protect homes. With the goal in mind of finding the best security system to protect and automate your home, we named abode our top pick. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for everyone, so we’ll also talk about our other picks – Ring Alarm and Arlo.
FYI: Not all home security systems work with the IFTTT platform.
We believe the best way to make unbiased and trustworthy recommendations is by testing home security systems ourselves. We buy the equipment using our own money, install the systems in our homes, and test them for weeks or months. We get a feel for what it’s like to live with the devices and learn about the response times, apps, and features. These experiences help us rank and recommend the best security systems.
There are many factors to consider when testing home security systems, which means we need to find ways to even the playing field. One solution is testing all the equipment in the same home – a two-story, 2,200-square-foot house owned by one of our security experts. Using a real home instead of a lab allows us to simulate real-life scenarios and make better recommendations.
We also buy the same equipment for every test system and place them in identical locations. You can see where we typically install equipment below.
We took into account multiple factors when ranking the best home security systems that work with IFTTT. Using our knowledge and experience in the industry, these are the criteria we think are most important for IFTTT compatible systems.
Using these criteria, here is how our top five picks scored:
Rating The Best Security Systems That Work With IFTTT
We’re not like other websites that cover everything from printers to travel pillows. Our team of experts exclusively covers safety and security equipment. They are trained to thoroughly assess security systems and give our readers extensive and trustworthy recommendations. The experts who contributed to this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team on the internet. Since beginning in 2016, our work has been covered in multiple major outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times. As a team, we have achieved:
All of our recommendations are based on first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the home security industry. Now, let’s learn more about our top picks for IFTTT security systems.
| System | abode | Ring Alarm | Arlo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Contract length | Monthly or yearly | Monthly or yearly | Monthly or yearly |
| Installation type | Professional or DIY | DIY | DIY |
| Smart capabilities cost | Free | Starting at $3.99 per month | Free |
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $139 | Packages starting at $199 | Packages starting at $199 |
| Smart platform integrations | Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit | Alexa and Google Home | Alexa and Google Home |
| Review | abode review | Ring Alarm Security Kit review | Arlo review |
How did we decide on the best IFTTT-compatible home security systems? First, we had to find which security systems offered IFTTT support. Security systems like to advertise that they support IFTTT, so finding them was pretty easy.
Once we identified eight systems that supported IFTTT from top brands in the industry, we ordered each company’s security system. Then, we installed them and tested the systems ourselves. We looked at the smart home capabilities, features, and how they performed day to day. And we’re sharing our experience with you here.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
Supporting every major smart home system and many smart home devices, abode stands out in the way it lets you automate your smart home using your security system. It even has its own IFTTT type of automation, called abode CUE, that lets you easily set up tons of automated functions for your home. abode’s Iota Hub can even act as the central interface for all of your home automation needs.
One of the nice things about abode’s equipment offerings is that they can fit a range of budgets. Its lowest-cost starter package includes a Security Hub, a mini entry sensor, and a key fob for just under $130.
Unboxing the Abode system
From there, you can add any abode equipment to build out your security system. But the basic Security Hub does not support abode’s home automation system. For that, you need at least the Smart Security Hub with packages that start at just under $160. Still, this comes under the cost of the starter packages for Ring Alarm and Arlo, which each cost nearly $200. Take a look through our guide to abode’s packages, plans, cost, and pricing for a complete breakdown.
There isn’t any specific component we can point to that really excels, aside from the Iota Hub with an integrated camera. We struggled to put the camera to much use, though. We wanted the hub to sit in the corner of the living, next to our router, and the camera doesn’t get a good vantage point from there. Still, a hub with a camera is a first for us.
The $35 abode Cam 2 was also solid for its price, but when comparing abode and Arlo, it lacks the person detection that we love. It still makes abode one of the most affordable home security systems.
abode All-In-One Gateway components
FYI: It’s minor, but we learned that abode’s motion sensor has a 110-degree field-of-view (FOV), whereas most motion sensors have a 90-degree FOV. That extra 20 degrees isn’t going to make much of a difference, but we like to give credit where credit is due.
abode seamlessly integrates with IFTTT, with over 30 actions, triggers, and queries available through the abode channel. One IFTTT applet we have triggers our Philips Hue bulbs in the backyard to turn on whenever someone (or something) moves past our abode camera positioned outside. It allows us to monitor activities in our backyard, which are usually just deers coming from the tree line behind our house.
We found that it’s also possible to create automations using both CUE – abode’s IFTTT-like automation engine – and IFTTT. We have a CUE automation that turns on our entry light when someone opens the garage door. Separately, we have an IFTTT applet that unlocks the front door when we enter a zone right outside our house. Lastly, we used another applet to turn off the entry light once when we lock the door. It’s a great setup to come home to after a long day at work.
Pro Tip: While mixing the two automation engines works, I would suggest picking one or the other. Take it from me: It’s not easy to manage multiple automation platforms, especially when they have rules that depend on one another.
What I like most about abode as an IFTTT-compatible system is that it doesn’t require you to pay a monthly fee. So if you’re willing to self-monitor your system – and there are lots of applets to assist you in that – you can pay nil per month and still enjoy abode’s full automation capabilities. Well, except for CUE. abode requires a premium plan if you want to use CUE.
How much? $6.99 per month for a premium self-monitored plan. You’ll get access to CUE and cloud storage for your cameras. If you also want professional monitoring, that will cost you $24.99 per month. That will give you cellular backup and professional monitoring on top of the premium self-monitoring features. Abode is one of the best contract-free options, though, so you can upgrade and downgrade your plan anytime.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to use abode as a security system without monthly fees, pick up a few of its auxiliary sirens. You’d need a few of those, as they are not very loud. SimpliSafe’s sirens are 105 decibels loud; abode’s sirens are only 95 decibels.
| Monitoring Options | Professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit |
| Equipment Cost | From $139.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $6.99 |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month |
Full disclosure, not all Ring Alarm products work with IFTTT. In fact, the only compatible Ring products are the Ring video doorbells and security cameras. But it’s here because Ring plays really well with smart home platforms. It’s also a part of the Amazon family, so it works great with Alexa. Alexa has stopped working with IFTTT since 2023, but it’s still a great smart home platform if you want to integrate voice control. With Ring working with both, you should have plenty of options to make your home smarter.
We all know about Ring because of its famous video doorbells. You see them everywhere. And its equipment offerings really show this emphasis on its camera technology. It has so many options for cameras, although none is as cheap as abode’s indoor/outdoor camera.
On top of that, Ring also offers different power options. Some models can either be wired in, plugged in, solar-powered, or battery-powered. There are now PoE cameras from Ring as well. The outdoor cameras also give you an option for an integrated Ring spotlight or floodlight.
Ring cameras
Outside of cameras, Ring Alarm leaves a bit to be desired. First of all, it doesn’t have an actual smoke detector. It sells only a monitor that listens for the siren in your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. We also had a tough time connecting all of the equipment to our Wi-Fi when installing our system. But we loved the motion detector because it uses patented technology to avoid sending an alert when our dog walks by. Basically, it can tell how big of an object is moving.
Pro Tip: Don’t overpay for your Ring Alarm security cameras and video doorbells! Follow our guide to getting the best deals on Ring security cameras and video doorbells for expert tips and tricks.
Although Ring integrates really well with Amazon Alexa, it’s a bit lacking in terms of its home automation capabilities. Using IFTTT, you can set only two triggers for your Ring Alarm security system. In comparison, abode lets you use 10 triggers to automate your home, and the Google Nest Thermostat alone offers four triggers.
>> Check Out: Best Home Security Systems That Work With Alexa
With just two triggers, you can automate your home with Ring only based on someone ringing your video doorbell and someone walking in front of your video doorbell. It still doesn’t support Ring Alarm’s other home security products.
The Ring Video Doorbell
But you can still use Amazon Alexa’s own home automation capabilities to automate your Ring Alarm security system and other smart devices in your home. For example, we used Alexa Hunches to turn off all of our entertainment devices when we armed our security system during the day. This lowered our electricity bill without inconveniencing us since we arm our security system during the day only if we’re leaving the house.
With Ring, you actually need to pay a monthly fee to access IFTTT. That’s on top of the IFTTT Pro or Pro+ plan you might already be paying for. The good news is Ring’s subscription plan starts at $3.99 per month. That plan even includes cloud storage for one of your cameras, likely a video doorbell that works with IFTTT.
If you have more than one camera, though, you’d need to pay $10 per month. That’s for all your cameras, no matter how many you have. If you want Ring Alarm’s professional monitoring, it’ll cost you $20 per month, but it includes all of the features in its lower-cost plans, making it one of the most affordable professional monitoring options on the market. In comparison, while testing ADT’s security system, we found that ADT charges double for professional monitoring.
Pro Tip: We’re currently testing Ring Alarm long-term and we have the $20-per-month Ring Protect Pro plan. If you want to save money and you have the budget, pay for one year at a time. Ring offers it for $200, which is $40 less than what we would have paid if we had gone month-to-month.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $244.95 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | $20 |
| Contract Length | 1-12 months |
Less than two years ago, Arlo released its first complete security system. It’s definitely not new to the security industry, with 10 years of experience creating some of the best home security cameras on the market. You can also access Arlo’s IFTTT integration without any monthly subscriptions. Depending on the system you want, this can make up for the lack of safety sensors in the Arlo ecosystem.
Just like Ring Alarm, Arlo started out with just security cameras too. But, without the backing of Amazon, Arlo has taken a bit longer to roll out more security products. Currently, it offers a huge selection of security cameras, a single multipurpose sensor, and a keypad security hub. So, the system as a whole still emphasizes cameras, but at least you can set up a few entry sensors around your house.
The Arlo Pro 4
FYI: While we think the idea of a multipurpose sensor is unnecessary, it does make installation a bit easier. See how Arlo stacks up against other camera-based security systems in our Blink vs. Arlo comparison.
Beyond the multipurpose sensor, Arlo has a huge selection of security cameras that range in price from $40 to $300. It really does have something for everyone. We particularly liked the integrated spotlight when we reviewed the Arlo Pro 4, as well as the long battery life with the option to purchase backup batteries. Arlo also makes one of the best 4K security cameras in the industry.
Even though we liked the equipment overall, we found the magnetic mounts to be a bit flimsy, and we always like the option for a glass-break sensor. That was one feature missing from the multipurpose sensor.
Pro Tip: Magnetic mounts are becoming more common with home security providers because they let you easily take the camera or sensor down anytime you want. But, to prevent a burglar from tampering with it, you need to install it correctly and seriously consider its location. Check out our guide on setting up Arlo security cameras for a step-by-step breakdown.
For using IFTTT to automate your home, Arlo lands between abode and Ring Alarm. It offers five triggers you can use to initiate other actions in your smart home. These triggers are:
We used the low-battery trigger to make sure we kept our cameras charged. Anytime a camera had a low battery level, we had IFTTT add “charge your cameras” to our calendar. It complements the app notifications we already get from Arlo.
We also set up IFTTT to flash our Philips Hue lights in the backyard when our Arlo camera sees something, but this time around, we made it so that the applet only triggers when a person is seen. That’s thanks to Arlo’s person detection, which abode’s camera didn’t have.
Lastly, we also set up an applet that would trigger the bedroom lamp to turn on when our Arlo camera in the living room picks up a loud noise. We live in the suburbs so it’s pretty quiet at night. It’s nice to be woken up anytime there’s a suspiciously loud noise in the middle of the night.
Arlo Pro 4: What’s in the box?
Thankfully, you don’t need to pay any monthly fees with Arlo to use its IFTTT and other third-party integrations. In fact, you can use most of Arlo’s features without any subscription at all, including basic notifications. This makes it great for anyone looking to avoid monthly fees altogether.
When we tested Arlo’s security system, we subscribed to Arlo Secure, which has the generous free trial of three months that comes with all Arlo products. Once the free trial ends, you’ll pay $7.99 per month if you have one camera or $12.99 per month for as many cameras as you want to keep your 30 days of cloud storage in 4K resolution.
We would generally recommend either Arlo Secure or Safe & Secure Pro, which includes 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup for $24.99 per month. That’s a bit more than Ring Alarm charges for monitoring but still nowhere near what companies like Vivint charge. When we tested Vivint, we paid only $29.99 per month, but its rates for professional monitoring can go well over $40 per month depending on your system.
Pro Tip: Arlo has an e911 feature which I love. If you’re self-monitoring the system and there’s an emergency while you’re away on vacation, use the Arlo app to call 911. It will connect you to 911 operators that operate in the area of your registered address, rather than the area where you’re currently in.
| Connectivity | Wi-fi, ethernet |
|---|---|
| Power | Wired, battery, PoE |
| Field of View | Up to 180° |
| Resolution | Up to 2160p |
| Storage | Cloud |
| Smart Platform Compatibility | Alexa and Google Home |
Wyze works with IFTTT, but while it offers over 40 triggers and actions, most of those aren’t related to Wyze’s security products. That’s why it didn’t make our top three.
A look at the Wyze Cam v3 we tested.
Wyze is a low-cost smart security brand though. It offers affordable security cameras, simple smart home equipment like smart locks, and a straightforward DIY security system. We like its camera line in particular. The cameras are affordable – mostly less than $100 – but the features are able to go toe-to-toe with more expensive cameras on the market. Even the cheapest Wyze camera, the Wyze Cam v3 ($36), offers person detection and customizable activity zones. They also have free cloud storage plus a microSD card slot for local backup.
Our Vivint home security system, featuring the Vivint Smart Hub touch screen control panel.
Vivint technically isn’t IFTTT compatible, but it doesn’t need to be. The Vivint security system is already one of the most smart-home friendly security systems. It works with dozens of third-party smart home devices from smart lights to smart thermostats, and it’s able to automate them using rules – similar to how IFTTT applets are constructed.
Of course, as much as we love Vivint as a smart home security system, it wouldn’t be fair to include it in the top three of this list because it doesn’t work with IFTTT at all. But if you’re looking for an alternative – and a top-quality one at that – Vivint is a great choice.
If you want to automate your home’s smart devices, you’ll usually need a third-party application to connect all of your devices unless they’re all the same brand. That’s where IFTTT, which stands for If This Then That, comes in. It’s a free platform that lets apps and devices talk to each other. Basically, it lets you set up automation by creating rules that cause your smart devices to react to triggers. For example, you could create a rule that says when someone tags you in a photo on Facebook to save that photo to Dropbox.
abode’s CUE automation engine works a lot like IFTTT.
When it comes to home security, IFTTT lets your sensors and cameras trigger smart devices. This lets your house react to your movements; it’s cool watching your lights turn on as soon as you walk through the front door. You can also set more practical rules, like having your doors lock when an outdoor camera detects motion.
It does take a bit of time to get used to the IFTTT platform, but it will feel intuitive in no time once you get used to it, and the possibilities are endless.
Pro Tip: Explore the use of conditional logic and criteria to customize your IFTTT applets. Those are like programming codes that will let you customize in which conditions (i.e. time, weather, day) each applet should or should not run.
Both these smart locks work with IFTTT.
By automating your home, you can make it known to any potential criminal that your house is secured. Here are a few specific ways you can use IFTTT to improve the security of your home:
>> Read More: The Best Smart Locks of 2024
IFTTT automations can also make it clear to potential burglars that you have a working security system. And if we know anything about burglars, it’s that they generally avoid homes with a security system. According to our in-house home security research:
Unfortunately, IFTTT does not support every smart security device. Currently, it supports over 900 devices and apps, and that list keeps growing. A lot of companies try to lock you into their own ecosystem, which prevents some products from working with IFTTT.
You can check IFTTT’s website for a list of popular connections between devices and They even include premade rules you can use with your devices. This lets anyone easily start using IFTTT with their smart devices without any commitment or lengthy learning process.
Did You Know? Unlike Alexa that no longer supports IFTTT natively, Google’s voice assistant still works with IFTTT. If you have devices that don't work with Google Assistant but work with IFTTT, you can trigger them with your voice by creating an applet, naming it, and then having Google Assistant trigger the applet when you say, “Google, activate [applet name].”
Whether you already use the IFTTT platform to automate your home or just want to future-proof your security system, IFTTT support means your security system will stay friendly with most smart devices. The platform’s capabilities and amount of supported devices keep growing every year. Now, it supports over 900 devices and apps, which is pretty impressive in the smart home industry.
Using IFTTT to automate your security system and other smart devices takes your home security up a notch. It can lock your doors when you leave your house, flash your lights when your system senses an intruder, and start the hot tub when you walk out the back door. The possibilities really are endless when you use an IFTTT-compatible home security system.
No. The IFTTT platform was designed to be user-friendly. It gives you an easy interface to create your own automation, or you can use premade rules without ever needing to understand the “if this, then that” structure.
You do not need to know any amount of programming to use IFTTT. It’s just an app you can download on your phone to connect smart devices and apps from different manufacturers.
To begin, we recommend creating a few simple rules. For example, you might want to start with a basic rule, like turning on your lights when your morning alarm sounds. This will get you used to the interface without the risk of disabling any parts of your security system.
Unfortunately, SimpliSafe does not offer support for IFTTT at this time.
Overall, we recommend abode for IFTTT-compatible security systems. It supports 10 triggers and 10 actions, which means you can automate with almost any aspect of your home security system.
