abode Security System Review for 2022 – Security + Smart Home

Abode Security System Review

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Current testing methodology is v1.2

The abode Security System is a powerhouse of DIY security and smart home in one attractive package.

This abode security system review has been a long time in the making. I’ve owned the first generation abode security and smart home automation system for over 3 years over 5 years, this means everything I write comes from extensive experience with the system.

In 2022 this abode Security system review still stands and my opinion still supports this as the best system on the market. I still haven’t even had to change a battery on a door sensor in all that time. Impressive.

Editor’s Pick
Abode Smart Home Security System

Designed for security first but packing a massive list of compatible smart home devices. The Abode Security Hub comes with Zigbee, Z-Wave, abodeRF and an automation engine to rival anything out there.

Definitely the best DIY home security system on the market right now

.

I am always happy to answer questions. Just pop them in the comments below.

A short introduction…and review summary

The shortest summary I can give without you having to read this whole abode security system review is…

I would buy the abode security system again if I had to buy another security system.

All the details I go in to here will certainly help you decide if it’s right for you. If I don’t cover something then comment at the bottom and I’ll be happy to help with any questions you have.


If you’re looking at buying the abode security system Gen 2 or abode iota, this review is still highly relevant as the core integrations, cue automation system and operating methods are identical.

I’ll go into detail on that too.

Abode Security System in living room
The Abode Security System is a good looking unit.

Current available abode security system models

It seems a good place to start to outline the current starter kits and units available from abode. For a long time, there was only the Generation 1 system. This came in a starter kit and the hardware included hasn’t really changed in Generation 2, except it’s had some updates like Z-Wave Plus.

abode Security System – iota

Abode iota Security System
abode iota

Key features

  • Built-in camera
  • Z-Wave Plus
  • WiFi
  • Homekit Compatible (as of November 2019)

abode Security System – Gen 2

Abode Security System - Gen 2
abode Generation 2

Key features

  • Z-Wave Plus
  • 4g/LTE Cellular
  • Updates still happen OTA. Apple HomeKit compatible as of Feb 2020

abode Security System – Gen 1

Abode Security System - Gen 1
Abode Gen 1

Key features

  • Z-Wave
  • 3g Cellular
  • Updates still happen OTA. Apple HomeKit pending

I’ll go into more detail about the differences between the abode systems in a table next in the review, but now you at least understand the different model’s abode offer.

The Gen 1 gateway is no longer for sale as it has been replaced by the Gen 2 gateway.

The iota is an all in one system that was released at the same time as the Gen 2 gateway.

abode security system review – differences in Gen 1 vs Gen 2 vs iota

Now that we’ve covered some of the history and what models are available it’s probably worth going through the difference between the iota, 1st generation and 2nd generation models.

I believe this will be easiest doing this as a table.

Modelabode hub Gen 1abode hub Gen 2abode iota
Smart Home Automation Hub
Z-Wave
Z-Wave Plus
Zigbee✓ (Pro)✓ (Pro)
Abode RF
Wireless (WiFI)
Ethernet
Cellular Backup3G4G / LTE4G / LTE
Built-in HD Camera
Built-in Motion Sensor
Built-in Battery Backup~5 Hours~5 Hours~6 Hours
Built-in Temp/Light Sensor
Built-in 2-way audio
Built-in alarm siren✓ (93db)✓ (93db)✓ (93db)
SD Card
Maximum connected devices160160160
IFTTT
Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa
CUE Automation
Apple HomeKitComingYes
Learn moreLearn more

abode Hardware – Hubs

Now we’ve highlighted the differences with the abode gateway hubs you can see if you have a generation 1 hub the only reason you would really want to update to the Generation 2 hub is if Z-Wave Plus and 4G cellular are important to you. Personally I’m considering it for the added range of Z-Wave Plus.

1: Abode Essentials Security Kit – Standalone

“Abode

The gen 1 and gen 2 hubs are stand-alone units. The alarm siren, sim card slot, battery back-up and ethernet are built-in but all other hardware is an add on.

2: iota – All-in-one

“Abode

The iota is more of an all-in-one system with a built-in camera (HD 1080p), SD slot for offline camera footage storage, 2 way audio (so you can talk back and forth), temperature sensor, light (lux) sensor, motion sensor (the PIR sensor offers a 110-degree view) and a WiFi connection option are all built-in.

This makes the iota a perfect unit to put in your entranceway, kitchen etc. Anywhere it makes sense to have a camera pointing.

The Gen 2 unit (from here on I’ll stop referring to the Gen 1 unit because you can’t buy it anymore anyway) can do all the iota can but you need to buy the extra units to do so.

Monitoring and Self-monitoring (No Contract)

The reason I chose abode, and hence why I am doing an abode security system review, is because it could protect my home, be a smart home hub and not-require any wiring.

The thing that that also sold me on the system was that I didn’t need to pay for back-to-base monitoring unless I wanted too. And if I did want to, I could do it on an as-needed basis. If I was going on holiday I could get professional monitoring but that didn’t require a long term commitment.

Abode plans on offer

There are three options for plans: Free, Connect and Secure.

  • Basic is, basic. Just self-monitoring. But you get notifications if your alarm goes off.
  • Connect is self-monitoring but with cellular backups – if your internet goes down your cellular connection kicks in to ensure you can still connect to your hub and be notified of anything going off/wrong etc.
  • Secure is professional monitoring. That means the dudes in fancy cars with lights flashing can come to your house. There is a full protocol set up for this – an order of emergency contacts, escalations etc.

I’ve only used Free. I live in a safe place so it’s nice to have the option for professional but I don’t feel I need it.

The starter kit already ships with a SIM card in it, ready to be enabled. If you select a Connect or Secure plan it will enable the SIM card and connect to the network automatically.

abode Battery Backup

Another one of the features that appealed to me, and impressed me, was the built-in battery. It charges up when you first plug in the unit and flick the switch on the back. That also means it recharges if it needs to kick in at any point. I’ve had to use this in power cuts from time to time and it’s nice to know it’s there.

Not a major deal but probably a core and important part of a smart home security system.

abodeRF / Zigbee / Z-Wave (Z-Wave Plus) / WiFi

I’m still going on the ‘why I chose this system list’, but there were so many reasons I chose it and connectivity was one of them. These are the communication protocols built into the abode. It’s also worth noting all these radios and communication options mean you have plenty of home automation options when setting up a smart home.

abodeRF

abode has its own proprietary RF (radio frequency) (operates on 433mHz ). Called abodeRF it connects to most of the abode specific hardware you purchase. Door sensors, motion sensors etc.

Z-Wave Plus

You might think the option to have 160 devices is more than you will ever need but, when you start lining up all the opportunities you have to integrate Z-Wave Plus devices you might be surprised how fast you start using up the number. Locks, Cameras, Sensors, Fire & Smoke units etc.

Zigbee

Like Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee offers a large number of devices that can be integrated. I have a Zigbee Yale smart lock integrated.

WiFi

abode does let you connect other devices via IFTTT. I tried using an aeotec Z-Wave garage door opener but the unit was faulty so I changed to the tailwind garage door opener (read my tailwind garage door review here). This unit works with smart devices like google and Alexa but doesn’t have Zigbee or Z-Wave Plus. It connects using IFTTT which is fine. I can still do things like:

  • “When abode alarm is set to Away, Close garage door” or
  • “When abode alarm is set to Home, close garage door” – in case I left it open at night
  • or “When abode alarm is set to stand-by open garage door” – when I come home in the car

There are a lot of options for integration with IFTTT services.

abode Security encryption

So…here comes to another reason why I chose abode. Security. I bought it around the time there was a lot of bad press about WiFi-connected smart devices getting hacked. With abode I knew with abodeRF, Zigbee and Z-Wave I had a closed system between devices which gave me a lot more confidence.

Abode uses AES256 Bit Encryption – like banks and all those other secure things. When I thought to do an abode security system review it was important to highlight this as most other systems use Bluetooth or WiFi alone.

With abode security, if the internet goes down you still have a working alarm system.


abode Mobile app and Web app

I have the android app installed on my Tablet, the iOS app installed on my iPhone and can also access what I need through the web app via a browser.

There was an update last year that also meant you can add new hardware devices to the system via the iOS app.

On the app you can:

  • You can set up and manage CUE automations
  • View streaming camera(s)
  • Trigger camera recordings and still camera photos from motion camera
  • View status of all devices – open/closed, on/off
  • Turn switches and lights on and off
  • Open and close connected garage doors
  • Set alarm mode to away, home, standby
  • Set up ‘quick actions’ (grouped actions) to quickly enable/disable
  • Add and remove devices from the gateway
  • Get notifications on events you want notifications on e.g. ‘Front Door was just unlocked’ or ‘Bedroom heater switch has been turned on’ or, heaven forbid, ‘Alarm has been triggered’

Screenshots for the mobile app – Updated 2020 – New Version 5 App

Abode updated their App in 2020 to include a complete rebuild on iOS and Android. This has made it faster and greatly improved the location accuracy and features of the mobile app. You can see the beta preview on youtube – it’s out of beta now but it will give you a preview at least.

Here are a few screenshots of the abode iOS app

abode security Starter Kit

The abode starter kit is the perfect place to start regardless of whether you are getting iota or Gen 2. I started with the starter kit and added a few extras like the keypad, key fobs and some extra window/door sensors.

The abode start kit (Gen 2) includes:

  • 1 x Abode Smart Home Security Hub
  • 1 x key fob for enabling and disabling
  • 1 x motion sensor
  • 1 x door/window sensor.

Later on, I added a motion sensor and a temp/humidity/light sensor.

Cue Automation engine

abode Cue automations are really quite amazing. So much so that I’ll put them in a different post. But just you have an idea here is the short download. Essentially it’s an “IF THIS happens then DO THIS’ but it’s so much more because you can do ‘IF THIS happens then DO THIS BUT ONLY if this is also TRUE’.

CUE Automation examples

  • IF it’s sunset THEN turn on the Lounge Light but ONLY if alarm mode is set to Standby’ – this means only turn the light on at sunset if I am home.
  • IF it’s 6 am THEN change alarm mode to Standby but ONLY if alarm mode is set to home’ – I know I will probably forget to turn off the alarm in the morning so I have it disable automatically but only if I am home, and the alarm is set to home. If the alarm was in the AWAY mode it would mean I am probably on holiday or away for the night so it then it leaves the alarm on. Being able to clarify in CUE that only disables in the mornings if I am home is great.
  • ‘IF it’s 10 pm THEN close the garage door but ONLY if the Garage door is open.’ – this one is obvious, I don’t use it but if you have an abode compatible garage door then it’s perfect.
  • IF the abode humidity sensor in the Piano room is above XX THEN turn on the dehumidifier switch but ONLY if it’s between 9am and 8pm’ – don’t want it on at night as it’s noisy

I think you get the picture.

You can also do IF this AND this THEN do this AND this AND this but ONLY if this is true. Essentially you can stack each step with additional triggers and actions.

We (the abode community, mostly on Reddit) waited for this forever but when it came it was worth the wait. I know Samsung SmartThings has a similar engine but it doesn’t have all the other bits abode offers.

The secret joy of using abode Motion Sensors

I wanted to pull motion sensors out into their own section for this abode security system review as they are probably the key element in a truly automated smart home. The ability to have actions happen based on movement & motion is IMO the most fun part. Here are some examples I am using with just one abode motion sensor (also doubles as a light sensor BTW)

  • IF motion is detected THEN turn on the lounge light AND set it to 40% AND set it to warm white (LIFX Bulb) but ONLY if it’s between 10 pm and 5 am at night.’ – this means if I get up in the night to get water, or Tylenol from the kitchen I don’t have to turn any lights on. I just walk into the kitchen and it turns on enough for me to see what I am going but without waking me up too much.

So many options with this one! You could put motion sensors all through the house to turn on lights, switches and more when it detects you’re there. Some people have used them outside under the eves of their houses but they are not really rated for such use.

abode connected hardware device options

With the abode and the abodeRF radio frequency, plus the benefit of having Zigbee and Z-Wave Plus built-in, it means you have a huge list of hardware devices to choose from that will work with abode. Some officially and some unofficially. I am not going to list them all here because it would be very long.

The official Gen 2 & iota abode device compatibility list is here PLUS you also have the option of using IFTTT, as I have with my tailwind garage door opener.

The unofficial abode devices list is sometimes more about trial and error. In theory, most Zigbee and Z-Wave Plus devices should work (don’t blame me if you buy something and it doesn’t though).

There is an unofficial abode Reddit channel that might help – in fact, the Reddit abode channel is a great community to join if you are on Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Abode/

My abode security hardware integrations

Here is my current hardware list for abode if you have specific questions, ask them in the comments section below.

  • Abode Hub
  • 7 x Door sensors
  • 1 x Motion (Occupancy) / Light / Temperature Sensor
  • 1 x Humidity / Light / Temperature Sensor
  • 1 x Alarm Motion sensor with camera
  • 1 x abode Streaming Camera
  • 1 x abode Keypad
  • 2 x abode Key Fobs

Additional hardware integrated with my abode includes:

You can see in the last photo that I have a door that is recessed but opens inwards. This meant I couldn’t put the door sensor against the door as the door then couldn’t open.

Instead, I bought a shelf L bracket from the hardware store and attached it to the door with some 3M double-sided tape, like the sticky non-marking foam tape on the regular abode sensors plus a little tape and a plastic extension. The toothpick was added later as a quick fix after a relative bent the unit by accident. I’ll sort it properly later…although that was 2 years ago and this fix still works. 🙂

Installation of abode security system

The abode website will tell you most people have the system installed and running in about 30 minutes. I’d agree with that for the starter kit, especially if you have already decided what is going to go where.

I have installed all the devices around the house using the double-sided command strip stuff. This means I have not had to screw holes in anywhere on the house. Of course, that is an option with most of the kit but even as a house owner I hate making holes in things.

Once the heat and temperature of the house caused a door sensor to fall off (3m tape lost its stick) and it set the alarm off but no big deal, and clearly user error on my part.

Flat batteries?

You might be asking yourself, “Yes, I like the sound of abode but I don’t trust something with batteries”. I get it, me too. But here is the thing.

I have had the system set up for over 3 years and have only changed the batteries on the motion camera once (it uses a flash so it uses more batteries as I have set up to take a photo every time the alarm arms or disarms – so I could save batteries if I wanted too). The other devices are still going strong on their original batteries.

If a battery is running low the abode system will let you know with a message, email and the app will show it.

abode’s integration with Smart Assistants – Google Assistant / Alexa / HomeKit

Apple HomeKit

UPDATE: Feb 2020 – Apple HomeKit is now compatible with the abode iota and the Abode Security Hub Gen 2.
The team is working on the Gen 1 next. Great news!

As mentioned, the Apple HomeKit & abode integration is still coming, but I do believe it will be soon. I’ll update this post when it does.

Google Assistant

For Google Assistant there was an update recently that gives full integration. It’s awesome because you can ask about alarm status, if the doors are open, if windows are ajar, to close the garage door, to lock another door, to turn a switch on and off.

The Google Assistant & abode integration just feels native. It’s the best integration of a third-party service with Google that I have experienced. So, that’s great.

Amazon Alexa

The Amazon Alexa & abode integration is also good. Not as fluent as the Google Assistant integration but you can still arm the system, check if the garage door is open, unlock locks and turn on switches as you like.

It is the home automation skills of abode that shine with the integration of a smart assistant. It’s nice to not only set up CUE automations with abode but to also be able to trigger things with a voice assistant is great.

Using abode smart home features to turn on lights and switches etc. just puts the cherry on the top of this amazing smart home automation security system


I have some other basic abode security FAQ in this post.

Conclusion – abode security system review wrap up

Hopefully, in this abode security system review, I’ve covered all the major parts of the abode security system and why I am still so happy with it over 3 years later. Security & Smart Home Automation in one easy to use and easy to install system.

If you wanted a TL;DR version it would be this:

I have owned abode for over 3 years and use it both as a smart home automation system and a home security system. It’s been a solid performer for this entire time. My smart home automation is controlled by it with great ease.

A great purchase decision.

Make Life Click

The longer version would include a few more highlights like the fact that it’s secure, integrates with a huge range of devices, offers optional professional monitoring and just goes and goes and goes.

The extra investment in abode is starting to show with the recent releases so I look forward to what is coming next. I might even upgrade myself to the Gen 2 or iota.

Where to buy abode security system? You can purchase the abode system direct from abode or from amazon below:

I’ve also talked a lot about the Gen 1 gateway here but you can’t buy it anymore so when you purchase the starter kit gateway, it’s the Gen 2 gateway your buying. Just in case you were looking at the listings and couldn’t tell.

Personally, I quite like the iota but the starter kit gateway just feels more flexible, even though the core components are the same.


Addendum

I’ve moved this section to the bottom of the abode review because it’s not information that will interest everyone. If you are interested in the abode security system it might be of interest to you. Either way – here it is.

Major milestones for the abode security system

A short history of abode security 1st generation (with a happy ending)

To do an abode security system review and not cover off some of my history with the unit seems shortsighted. The generation 1 abode hub had a good long run.

It’s fair to say the bulk of the current abode community bought in early after abode launched the 1st gen on Kickstarter. When we did we all expected (were told there would be) a long list of features and hardware integrations to follow it’s release in 2015/16

Promises were delivered on – mostly.

I believe most of those promises did eventually come through, despite being a little late, and a small handful didn’t make it at all. It’s what to expect from a start-up and to be honest, some startups would not have delivered at all so I’m grateful to the abode team for putting in so much effort. I’m sure there were a lot of late nights.

Small confession of my own, I didn’t realise for the first 2 years that it didn’t even have Z-Wave Plus which was disappointing but only due to my lack of knowledge, not their lack of information.

Z-Wave and Z-Wave Plus are not the easiest to understand and that’s a Z-Wave complaint.

Improvements were made

Things like the advanced automation engine (called CUE) was added – a big improvement. Apple HomeKit integration didn’t arrive, but it didn’t arrive for most other hardware developers who were saying the same thing (like garage door companies, smart locks, smart home devices, thermostats and more).

So again, we (the abode community) were all hoping for more hardware integrations but some of those didn’t arrive for the Gen 1 hub.

The GOOD news is it all came with Gen 2 and iota!

Generation 2 and iota delivered all the things people were asking for. Z-Wave Plus and a huge increase in the number of integrated devices.

It’s obvious from the release of Gen 2 and iota that abode was on the right path. Of course, Gen 1 owners felt like they had missed out a bit but hey, we had a good 3-year run before an upgrade came AND the software etc is the same. So it makes sense that hardware will update over time.

Sadly, Apple HomeKit is still not integrated [UPDATE Nov 2019 – HomeKit now available with iota and soon to be added to Gen 1 & 2 gateways] despite being earmarked for a while. I understand from industry insiders that Apple is making changes to the HomeKit integration process which should see a lot more integrations going online for all companies over the next year.

It’s important to note the software on the web and mobile apps for the iota, Gen1 and Gen 2 are the same.

Make Life Click
Abode Security System Review Image - full Starter Kit on Display
Abode Security System Review
Stability
Value for Money
Smart Home Features
Features
Build Quality
What we like (Pros)
Stable. I can certainly say that after 3 years. It just works and works.
Looks good in the house, most anywhere you put it
DIY - Easy to install
Battery backup and cellular back up are smart options
ZWave Plus / Zigbee / abodeRF / WiFI / Cellular - connectivity and then some more!
What we like less (Cons)
None at all, especially at this price.
4.6

Endless hours of experimentation, professional work, and personal investment in Home Theatre, Hi-Fi, Smart Home Automation and Headphones have come to this.

Former owner of Headphones Canada, a high-end headphone specialty retailer.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-17 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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6 thoughts on “abode Security System Review for 2022 – Security + Smart Home”

    1. It’s possible it will work with the second generation hub but it isn’t compatible with the Gen 1 hub. Possibly iota also. Ideally, you’d use the abode sensor – this works natively and I’ve always found it to be accurate.

  1. is the sim card fixed? can it be changed for something local? i’m from malta (europe) and really interested in the product. my only concern is that even with a “connect” plan i wouldnt have cellular backup which for me , security wise, is a necessity. thanks and thanks for the article

    1. I believe it is fixed, or locked. In Abodes first hub release they made an international version but it was too hard to manage so they started to focus on the US market. It doesn’t mean you can’t buy this model, but you’ll want to get North American / USA Z-Wave frequency add on devices.

      I think, like SmartThings and other hubs, they will eventually go international again.

  2. Hey Mark,
    thank you for this great review,
    I am in a situation that I am renovating all the house, and a lot of people are recommending me to wire all the house with KNX Protocol but then I am locked with a company like Control 4 or IRT, which I am not a fan, to be honest, altho I just come home and it’s all set up for me.

    from the other side, I love the DIY type, but after a lot of research on the web, I feel that most of the smart home hub that works on Z-Wave or Zigbee but doesn’t mean I can connect them or that companies intentionally block some product.
    (for example, Fibaro, I love the design, but they block nest products in purpose or other Z wave products cuz they made their own hardware to compete with, and I don’t like to be married to 1 company only with all my products).

    so I need to spend time (which is money also) to research and find the exact product that will work with the smart hub,

    I love automation, it helps me focus on the important stuff instead of juggling from this to that to this again,

    from your review I see you recommend the Abode Iota, but from your experience did you have any issue with the products that they said that can integrate and in the end didn’t?
    doest abode support, answer when you ask them a question or when you need help?

    thank

    1. Thanks for taking the time to comment Dan. Your situation is not entirely rare. We have been at a crossover of traditional wired systems and wireless for some time. The challenge is that for mission-critical applications, sometimes hard-wired cables are the only way to go. While KNX is open-source, it can still be limited by the amount of uptake that industries commit to it.

      For me, the abode range is a solid choice with its range of back to base monitoring services, it’s cellular back up and the CUE automation engine. But, there are still some limitations on the number of devices they integrate with. This will, unfortunately, be true for any of the systems you choose.

      One thing you could consider is that you can marry different DIY systems together. For example. I have an Abode Security System but also have a Samsung SmartThings hub. There are devices I want to connect but abode doesn’t support them. SmartThings supports a very wide range of devices so that fills in any gaps Abode has.

      Both the SmartThings and Abode integrate with Amazon Alexa. So, while I manage most of my automation with abode I also have some automations set up with Alexa Routines. This can still use abode devices and non-abode support devices in routines in together. It does require at least 1 echo device in the house.

      This isn’t perfect but gives you a good extension on both systems, and they both support WiFi, Zigbee and Z-Wave.

      For me, after many years, I still think the Abode system is good. I’ve not had to contact support for such a long time but they typically get back to me eventually. They get a hard time for being slow to respond but that goes in seasons.

      Does that help?

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