The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
Netatmo is a French smart home technology company that offers several smart home products and home security devices. As a relative newcomer when it comes to home security systems, it offers only two preconfigured packages, but you have the option to add extra equipment.
To help you decide if Netatmo has the right home security system for you, our experts have compared it to leading brands. Our guide focuses on Netatmo’s costs, equipment and available features.
Rating: ★★★★
Netatmo offers two ready-made home security systems, which are both DIY installed and self-monitored, so there is no monthly fee for professional monitoring. For an extra fee, you can add equipment such as sirens, sensors and cameras to your package.
However, when compared with leading brands such as Ring, Netatmo isn’t the best value for money, as its systems cost more and are not comprehensive.
To provide fair, unbiased and accurate recommendations, our reviewers have researched and tested several home security systems. We compare products, features, quality, prices, the opinions of industry experts and ratings from customers regarding their experiences.
Our reviews are determined by the following categories:
We examine 18 elements within these categories, including:
All our home security articles are fact-checked by our in-house team to give consumers the knowledge they need to make an informed, up-to-date and confident buying decision. For more information, read our article on how we review home security systems.
Netatmo’s home security system has components that can be used independently, so it doesn’t require a central hub. Systems provided by Ring, Yale and Abode all require a connection to a smart hub, which has the benefit of allowing you to arm or disarm your system manually.
Netatmo doesn’t offer professional monitoring. While some people may appreciate the absence of monthly fees, others may prefer to have a team of professionals monitoring their home. Most popular home security brands offer professional monitoring, and the best companies offer a free or paid subscription plan.
| Key feature | Netatmo | Yale | Abode | Ring |
| Minimum equipment cost (without installation) | £269.98 | £189.98 | £197.99 to £384.99 | £219.99 |
| Starting monthly fee | N/A | N/A | From £7.99 | £4.99 (optional) |
| Power outage backup | No | 12-hour backup battery | Five hours | 24-hour battery backup |
| Mobile phone backup | MicroSD card, iCloud and Dropbox | SD cards available | Yes | Yes, cloud storage with a subscription |
| Live streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Push alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remotely arm/disarm system | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Netatmo’s equipment cost is fairly mid-range. The company’s Smart Indoor Camera and Smart Window and Sensor pack costs £269.98, and its Smart Alarm System with Camera is priced at £359.97. The latter package is similar to Yale’s Sync Smart Home Alarm 5 Piece Kit, which costs less at £269.97, and Ring’s five-piece Small Alarm Pack, which is available from £219.99.
Some of Netatmo’s add-on products are also expensive. For example, the Outdoor Camera with Siren, for insurance, is priced at £289.99, whereas Ring’s equivalent product, the Spotlight Cam Plus Battery is £149.99. Ring also offers a variety of ready-made packages, whereas Netatmo offers only two. While you can add devices to Netatmo’s package, this can be costly. Netatmo doesn’t require any monthly subscriptions for access to special features or professional monitoring.
| Package | Equipment | Cost |
| Smart Indoor Camera and Smart Indoor and Windows Sensors Pack | One smart indoor camera and three door and window sensors | £269.98 |
| Smart alarm System with Camera | One smart indoor camera, one smart indoor siren and three door and window sensors | £359.97 |
Sleek by design, Netatmo smart security products are mostly wireless and some are composed of anodised aluminium monobloc to make them more durable and weather-resistant. The devices can have different settings, which can be adjusted in the app. This gives you a full overview of your system, allowing you to create a schedule or response procedure that works for you. For instance, you can configure what happens when different sensors detect activity, such as sounding the siren, playing pre-recorded “at-home” noises or simply sending you a notification. The indoor camera is the hub of Netatmo’s home security system, as some components – namely the smart indoor siren and sensors – can only work with this camera.
Netatmo’s smart indoor camera is an essential part of its home security system, as different accessories, such as the indoor siren, need it to operate. The camera needs to be plugged in and connected to wifi. It has 1080p picture quality, a panoramic 130-degree field of view and infrared night vision of up to five metres. It also has facial recognition, and it comes with an 8G MicroSD card.
The smart indoor siren requires the indoor camera to operate. If an intruder is detected by the camera, the 110dB alarm will activate. You can turn the siren off using the app, or you can activate another pre-recorded sound to give the impression that someone is home – which is ideal if you’re away for the weekend. The siren can be installed on the wall or ceiling via double-sided stickers or screws, and it comes with four AA batteries that have a two-year lifespan.
Netatmo’s Smart Outdoor Security Camera can differentiate between people, animals and unimportant objects/movements. It’s a two-in-one device that has a dimmable LED floodlight (12W low power) in the upper section and a surveillance camera in the lower section.
The camera acts as a surveillance system, so if it detects movement that could pose a security threat, it will start recording in full HD 1080p with a 100-degree field of view, which you can access live on the app for free. The night vision detects movement up to 15 metres away. The default setting is for the floodlight to come on when the camera picks up movement, but you can set up different alert zones in the app to only monitor specific areas. The device can also be turned on manually.
When placed on different entry points around your home, sensors pick up any movements or vibrations. They need the indoor camera to work and are included with the Smart Alarm System with Camera package. If anyone is forcing their way in, you’ll get real-time notifications, and your alarm can be set to go off if abnormal movement is detected. One handy in-app feature is that you can check whether any windows or doors have been left open.
Netatmo gets 3.7 out of five stars on TrustPilot. With over 7,000 reviews, 59 per cent of them are five-star rated, while 20 per cent were awarded one and two stars.
“I have had my Netatmo Security Camera for over two years, and it recently developed a fault. It was quickly diagnosed as a faulty SD Card, and Gladys (lead technical specialist) arranged for a replacement to be sent to me the same day. The camera now has its new SD card installed and is working perfectly once again.”
“Netatmo is a great company that provides state-of-the-art products. These security devices work seamlessly in your wifi-connected home and link to the free app on your iPhone. With no ongoing costs for reviewing your video, it’s second to none! I link my account to Dropbox so the video is stored, and if needed, I can see footage from a month back. The software alerts you to new faces and reduces false alerts. Their customer support is exemplary. Highly recommended!”
Netatmo’s systems are self-monitored (with no professional option available) and you can control your system via Netatmo’s subscription-free security app. In the app, you can receive a live feed for indoor and outdoor cameras, and if you have window and door sensors, you’ll be alerted by app notifications. The app will also inform you when different devices are connected or disconnected.
You can turn indoor sirens on or off via the app, essentially arming and disarming your system, but this is not available for every device. By default, event storage time is set to three months, but you can keep videos for up to six months, depending on the amount of available storage. You can edit time frames in the app and delete old footage in the smart settings after as little as 48 hours.
Netatmo offers two home security packages: the Smart Alarm System with Camera and the Smart Indoor Camera and Smart Door and Window Sensors Pack.
Netatmo’s Smart Alarm System with Camera would best suit an average three-bedroom house. It includes three door and window sensors, meaning you can secure both your front and back doors. The third sensor should be attached to another entry point that you consider an easy target for intruders.
The sleek indoor camera records in full HD 1080p and has a 130-degree viewing angle. Its infrared night vision can capture clear video footage up to five metres away.
Each of these devices can be controlled and monitored via the Netatmo security app when your system is connected to your home wifi network. The equipment is easy to install yourself, and you can place equipment on top of furnishings or attach to the walls and ceilings.
| Reputation | ★★★★★ |
| Security and performance | ★★★ |
| Features | ★★★½ |
| Plans and pricing | ★★★★★ |
| Customer experience | ★★ |
| Overall | ★★★★ |
The Smart Indoor Camera and Smart Door and Window Sensors Pack isn’t the most comprehensive system available. With that said, we would recommend it for households concerned primarily with protecting entry points. If you live on a busy street or in an area with heavy footfall, this system may allay your security concerns.
The kit includes three door and window sensors. Ideally, you should attach one to your front door, one to your back door and the last to an easily accessible window. If triggered, these sensors will send you a security alert via the Netatmo app, highlighting which sensor has a security threat.
The indoor camera can be placed anywhere in your home and records in full 1080p HD with a 130-degree viewing angle. It can capture footage in any lighting conditions, and its infrared night vision works up to five metres.
| Reputation | ★★1/2 |
| Security and performance | ★★★★ |
| Features | ★★★1/2 |
| Plans and pricing | ★★★★ |
| Customer experience | ★★1/2 |
| Overall | ★★★★ |
If you’re looking for a self-monitored home security system that is simple to install and use, Netatmo could be worth considering. Netatmo’s products are aesthetically pleasing and easily connect with other smart home devices for a modern setup. However, there are a couple of missing features that can be found with other home security providers, such as two-way audio on cameras and video doorbells.
Most of Netatmo’s products are wireless and easy to install, and you should be able to find certified Netatmo installers to help with anything more complicated. Installation is also mostly renter friendly and as customisable as you’d expect with a DIY system.
However, we wouldn’t recommend Netatmo for anyone looking for a comprehensive system with equipment such as a keypad, key fob and two-way audio for cameras. It’s also not suitable if you require professional monitoring.
| Reputation | ★★★★★ |
| Security and performance | ★★★ |
| Features | ★★★½ |
| Plans and pricing | ★★★★★ |
| Customer experience | ★★ |
| Overall | ★★★★ |
You need a good wifi connection to use most of Netatmo’s home security products, as they won’t work using a hotspot from a mobile device. The indoor camera can be connected via an ethernet cable, but it still requires the internet to function.
No, unlike other smart home security systems, Netatmo home security products work over wifi and are controlled via the app, so there’s no need for a hub.
You can access all streaming and setup of your devices on Netatmo’s app without signing up to a payable monthly subscription.
