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Yale has some of the best home security systems on the market; the company offers several different packages at varying prices, with both DIY and professional monitoring available.
Its competitive prices, wide variety of packages and range of additional devices make Yale one of the best options for security conscious homeowners who want to protect their property. Our expert team will compare Yale to its home security counterparts while covering the cost breakdown and different features to help you find the best home security system for you.
Rating: ★★★★
Yale offers a range of comprehensive packages with the option to add supplemental devices to suit your needs. Yale’s systems can function well without a subscription plan, making it a great no contract home security solution. They have a 4 out of five-star rating on Trustpilot and rank well against other home security system brands.
Our Independent Advisor experts have researched each system to provide fair, impartial and accurate recommendations. We compare products, features, reputation and cost alongside customer testimonials to provide deeper insights into each provider.
Our reviews are determined by the following categories:
We examine 18 elements within these categories including:
For more information, read our article on how we review and research home security systems.
We’ve highlighted three of Yale’s best smart alarm packages, considering their different components, costs and smart features to recommend them for all types of homes and homeowners.
The Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm system comes with six different devices, a keypad and two motion detectors, making it ideal for medium sized households. The smart hub can be used to arm and disarm the entire system via the Yale app and the door/window sensors allow for further security at every entry point in the home.
As with all Yale home security systems, they can be installed at home or by a professional. The costs for professional installation are relatively high, which could be a roadblock for homeowners with little experience in DIY.
Overall, this system is well-rounded and will work well for most homeowners. The lack of a camera could be an issue for some, however, these can be purchased separately from the Yale website for an additional cost.
If you are working on a tighter budget, this five piece Yale home security system is one of the best options. The smart hub provides complete control over the entire system and the included key fob provides easy access into the home.
Similar to other Yale packages, this system does not come bundled with a camera. However, the motion and door/window detectors allow you to track who comes in and out of your home. If you have small children or pets, you may want to invest in a more comprehensive system that offers visual surveillance of your property or supplement this package with more devices.
Those who live in a large household and want complete coverage should consider the 14 piece Yale Sync Smart Home Alarm system. This kit has everything you need to protect your home, including a real and dummy siren to help deter intruders.
The all in one wifi camera comes with a 1080p resolution, motion detection and a built-in spotlight for improved visibility and is one of the best ways to keep an eye on your children or pets while you’re out of the house.
This package is one of Yale’s most expensive systems and comes with a high installation fee. As with all other Yale packages, you can always install each device yourself, just keep in mind that some components may require drilling for proper installation.
As with most smart home security systems out there, Yale is powered through a central hub called the Smart Alarm Hub, which plugs into the mains and an ethernet cable for the internet connection. From there, you can install all alarm accessories, such as motion sensors or contact sensors for windows and doors, and connect everything via the Yale Home app.
With Yale’s systems, you can either self-monitor your home or opt for professional monitoring via the Secure Pro Plan subscription, which costs £36 per month. Other plans offer cellular backup, advanced AI motion detection and cloud recording. Our research shows that Yale is an effective system without a subscription plan, although homeowners looking for maximum security may want to opt for the Secure or Secure Pro Plans.
Yale home security systems have a varying price range, with discounts often being promoted on the website. Every pack comes with a standard two-year warranty, but you can add the extended warranty (three years; terms and conditions apply) for alarms or CCTV to each package for an additional £29.99.
We have broken down the price and contents of each Yale home security system to help you pick the right Yale package for your home.
| Package name | Equipment included | Price | Installation cost (optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync Smart Home Alarm – 5 Piece Bundle | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Keypad, 1x Motion Detector, 1x Mini Door/Window Contact Sensor | £269.97 | £229.99 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm – 5 Piece Kit with Key Fob | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Motion Detector, 2x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Key Fob | £219.98 | £229.99 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 6 Piece Kit | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 2x Motion Detector, 1x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad | £269.99 | £254.99 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 6 Piece Kit with Grey Siren | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Grey Siren, 2x Motion Detector, 1x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad | £269.99 | £254.99 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm – 7 Piece Bundle | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Mains Powered Siren, 2x Motion Detector, 1x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Water Sensor | £339.97 | £325 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 9 Piece Kit | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 1x Dummy Siren, 2x Motion Detector, 2x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Key Fob | £349.99 | £325 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 10 Piece Kit | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 1x Dummy SIren, 2x Motion Detector, 2x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Power Switch, 1x Smoke Alarm | £399.98 | £325 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 11 Piece Kit | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 1x Dummy Siren, 3x Motion Detector, 2x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Indoor WiFi Camera, 1x Black All in One Camera | £499.99 | £325 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 14 Piece Kit | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 1x Dummy Siren, 5x Motion Detector, 3x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Key Fob, 1x All in One WiFi Camera Black | £549.98 | Yale Alarm Installation for £280, Camera Only Installation for £175 |
| Sync Smart Home Alarm 14 Piece Kit with White All-in-one Camera | 1x Smart Hub, 1x Yellow Siren, 5x Motion Detector, 4x Door/Window Contact Sensor, 1x Keypad, 1x Key Fob, 1x All in One Camera White | £549.98 | Yale Alarm Installation for £280, Camera Only Installation for £175 |
While you don’t necessarily need to sign up for one of Yale’s subscription plans, doing so will increase security, but also up the price. Here is a breakdown of the four subscription plans offered by Yale, including their price and features.
We have also included what comes with the free plan for your reference, but keep in mind that every plan also comes with the same features as the free plan.
| Subscription name | Cost | Included features |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | £0 per month | Control via Yale Home app, No user limit, Push notifications, Email notifications, Smart home integration, Multi-house support, Arm/part-arm/disarm, Geo fencing, Live streaming, Basic AI motion detection, Recording local storage |
| Camera Plan | £3.50 per month | Advanced AI detection for one camera**, Cloud recording with 30 day video storage |
| Alarm Plan | £5 per month | Cellular backup |
| Secure Plan | £9 per month | Advanced AI detection for all cameras, Cloud recording with 30 day video storage, Cellular backup, Automatic call alert |
| Secure Pro Plan | £36 per month | Advanced AI detection for all cameras, Cloud recording with 30 day video storage, Cellular backup, Automatic call alert, Professional monitoring |
Indoor motion sensor: Yale’s motion sensors are wireless and cover a 12 metre range from the Smart Hub, notifying you immediately via the app if any movement is detected. You can install it yourself, it integrates with voice assistants, and you can add as many motion detectors as you’d like to your smart home system – aside from the EF and SR Yale alarm series.
Keypad: The keypad allows you to arm and disarm your alarm using your four-digit code or a fob if purchased (or included in the package). It’s wireless for up to 1km from your Smart Hub, and you can add as many keypads as you’d like around your home for convenience.
Indoor Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera: If you want to keep a closer eye on what’s happening indoors, this camera lets you live stream full HD 1080p footage from anywhere via the app, which you can record, if you have an SD card; there’s 10-metre night vision, too. You’ll get sound detection alerts and be able to have two-way conversations and/or trigger the siren. Plus, it’s end-to-end encrypted for enhanced security.
All-in-One Camera: This indoor/outdoor camera features in the 11- and 14-piece Yale Smart Alarm kits, but you can also add it to your order for £89.99 to expand another package. It uses a power cable, which may put some people off if you want to keep it wireless, but it features a 1080p camera with a 110-degree viewing angle and 10-metre infrared night vision, with recordings saved automatically. If movement is detected, you will receive a notification, while there is even an integrated siren (80 dB) and spotlight (160 lumens), both of which can be activated as a deterrent. You can stream footage through the app and make use of the two-way talk for deliveries when you’re not home.
Door/window contact sensor: At least one contact sensor features in every package, and they can also be purchased separately. Simply fix them to any doors or windows acting as main entry points and receive notifications through the app if and when triggered.
Yale external battery-powered siren: Any Yale siren included in the pre-made kits will be the battery-powered option, although you can buy a mains-powered siren with a battery backup, if you prefer. It’s weather resistant and features a 104dB siren that’s loud enough to notify neighbours in the event you don’t have any signal to receive a notification on your phone when you’re away from home. The alarm range is 30 metres and installation is available from £199.99.
Yale benefits from its DIY setup, high quality products and smart home compatibility, making it a strong contender in the home security market.
Its systems are simple to set up and seemingly long lasting (a sales advisor tells us some kits are still going strong after five years of use). Cost wise, it is comparable to brands such as Ring and Abode, although the starter packs from these brands do vary.
To give you a better idea of how Yale compares to other security systems on the market, we have compiled a list of the starting prices for each provider as well as some key features from each brand.
| Home security system provider | Independent Advisor rating | Minimum cost (without installation) | Minimum subscription cost (optional) | Professional monitoring | Remotely arm/disarm system | Push alerts | Live streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale | ★★★★ | £219.98 | £3.50/m | Yes, with subscription | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SimpliSafe | ★★★★ | £284.96 | £15.99/m | Yes, with subscription | Yes, with subscription | Yes, with subscription | Yes, with subscription |
| Arlo | ★★★★ | £484.96 | £4.99/m | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, with subscription |
| Abode | ★★★★ | £197.99 | £7.99/m | Yes, with subscription | Yes | Yes, with subscription | Yes, with subscription |
| Ring | ★★★½ | £219.99 | £4.99/m | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Yale Home app allows you to control several aspects of your smart home security system, including:
Yale has a 4 out of five star rating on Trustpilot, putting it in the Great category. Positive testimonials mention high-quality customer service, simple installation and fair prices. Negative comments, on the other hand, cite poor customer service and issues using their devices and the Yale app.
“First order from Yale Home UK: a set of three spare keys for a newly fitted domestic front door. From ordering to delivery the process was seamless. The package was despatched to DPD [delivery provider] in the stated time and delivered on the dot. As expected the keys were a perfect fit.”
“Great Update to my Conexis L1 with the new mod bringing it right up to date and allowing compatibility with the new app. Decided to also buy the WiFi Bridge too which connected seamlessly with the lock, so it now allows full operation for me via the new Yale app from my iPhone. I can check who’s been and when and also remotely lock and unlock the door from anywhere. I have also integrated it with Amazon Alexa which is another great function. Posted and delivered quickly from the point of order. Well done Yale!”
“I had to cancel an online order (wrong size) and reorder, but no answer on [the] phone. Sent an enquiry/email instead. Someone came back to me an hour or so later just before dispatch cut-off and sorted the situation. But the impression was of a fairly casual approach to customer service – I felt lucky to have the situation sorted out, but would have minimal confidence for the future.”
Ranking up there with other notable brands in home security, Yale Smart Alarm systems are worth a try for homes big and small.
Packages can become expensive, especially if you require more than one indoor camera – something to keep in mind if you live in a larger home. Reviews also imply the Yale app is complicated to use, so it may be worth avoiding if you and your house are not tech-savvy.
Our experience with Yale customer service was positive; it took less than five minutes to speak to a representative who was well informed on the Yale products and how they worked. One representative told us that although the sensors aren’t specifically pet-friendly, it’s easy to part-arm the system, showing Yale’s home security systems can be tailored to your needs.
Overall, Yale offers reliable home security systems that can be easily customised to fit most households. Cheaper options can be found from Ring, and more comprehensive options can be found from SimpliSafe, but Yale offers a healthy middle ground that is ideal for families looking for more protection over their home for a reasonable price.
Overall score: ★★★★
Yale products used to run off wifi only, but there is now 4G/cellular backup with the Alarm Plan subscription. Cellular backup is also available with the Secure and Secure Pro subscription plans.
The batteries in Yale smart alarm components like the sensors should last for 12 to 18 months. The products come with batteries with the initial order, but you will need to purchase all replacements separately; however, they are common batteries and easy to find. You will receive a notification in the Yale Home app when it’s time to replace the batteries and a customer service advisor also told our researcher it’s worth replacing batteries every 12 to 18 months, even if you haven’t received a warning, to keep your smart alarm system in good health.
Yes, you can use all the Yale home security systems without a subscription plan. Yale offers four different subscriptions, not including the free plan, which offers additional features which make your system more comprehensive.
If you want features such as professional monitoring, advanced AI motion detection, cellular backup or 30 day video storage, we recommend looking into the subscription plans. However, under the free plan users can save their recordings locally, live stream from cameras and receive email and push notifications.
All of Yale’s subscription plans can be cancelled at any time and work on a monthly rolling basis, so you can try out the service without committing to it for a lengthy period.
