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Cove FAQ

By John Carlsen

Staff Writer, Security & Smart Home

Published on November 12, 2021

Cove delivers the basics at a price you can afford—and its flexible policies put customers first.

Take 60% off Cove home security equipment and get a free security camera!

Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Let's jump into some common questions about the Cove home security system.

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General Cove questions

How does Cove Smart work?

Like most security systems, Cove triggers an alarm when its sensors detect activity in your home—as long as you arm the system first. After sounding an alarm, the system sends you a Cove InstaText message to check if you need help—or so you can report a false alarm. After confirming your request for help (or if you don't respond at all), the Cove professional monitoring center sends an emergency response to your home.

Unlike most security systems, Cove offers RapidSOS services, which sends your information directly to 911 responders rather than relaying it over the phone. This means you get help faster after an alarm event.

Does Cove security do a credit check?

Cove does not require a credit check if you pay up front for your equipment. Cove calls this option the Value Plan. But there is a credit check if you choose to finance your equipment costs throughout a three-year contract—Cove calls this option the Economy Plan.

How long is Cove's warranty?

The Cove Basic monitoring plan covers equipment with a one-year warranty, while Cove Plus includes a lifetime warranty for all Cove equipment.

Does Cove security need Wi-Fi?

Only Cove's security cameras require a Wi-Fi connection to send video over the internet. Other Cove devices connect to the Cove Panel, which uses a cellular connection to talk to the monitoring station and doesn’t connect to your Wi-Fi network.

Cove monitoring

Does Cove work without monitoring?

Cove doesn't have a self-monitoring option. Its equipment won't work unless you pay for a monitoring plan.

Does Cove have a contract?

There's no contract if you pay up front for your equipment. Still, Cove has a three-year contract if you choose to finance your equipment instead.

How much is Cove a month?

Cove's costs depend on the monitoring plan you choose and whether you finance your equipment:

Cove Basic costs $14.99 a month.
Cove Plus costs $24.99 a month.
Financing your equipment through a Cove Economy Plan adds $10 to your monthly fee.

Can I transfer my Cove service when I move?

You can take your Cove equipment with you when you move. Just uninstall it from your old home, install it in your new home, and update your account details with your new address.

Cove equipment

Does Cove work if the power goes out?

Most power outages won't affect Cove's sensors since they use batteries and the control panel's backup battery lasts up to 24 hours. Since the panel uses a cellular radio, it stays connected to the monitoring center until the battery dies or your power comes back on.

Do I own or lease my Cove equipment?

You own your Cove equipment after paying it off. If you choose to finance your equipment through a contract, you must pay it off before canceling your monitoring plan.

Does Cove offer DIY or professional installation?

Cove primarily sells its equipment using a DIY install model. It also offers optional professional installation for $79 when you buy a system.

What sensors does Cove have?

Cove sells contact sensors, motion detectors, glass-break sensors, flood sensors, and smoke and carbon monoxide sensors. It doesn’t support any other kinds of sensors at this time.

Does Cove have a siren?

The Cove Touch Alarm Panel has a built-in siren that sounds when something triggers your alarm.

How do Cove security cameras store video?

Cove's security cameras support both cloud storage and local storage via a microSD card.

Cove Plus monitoring supports unlimited cameras with one day of cloud storage.
Cove Cloud+ allows you to save up to 30 days of video clips in the cloud. It costs $2.99 a month per camera.
Insert a microSD card (up to 32 GB) into your Cove camera to store video without a monthly fee.

How do I reset my Cove panel?

You can perform a hard reset of your Cove panel by unplugging the battery.

Cove mobile app

Can I control my Cove system using my phone?

You can use the Cove app on Android and iOS smartphones if you subscribe to the Cove Plus monitoring plan. The app isn't available for Cove Basic customers.

Can I add multiple mobile users to my Cove system?

You can add more users from the Cove app as long as you have "Master User" admin access. Added users can be master users with the same administrative controls or app users without them.

Cove smart home compatibility

What smart home devices does Cove sell?

Cove doesn’t sell smart home devices. It sells only sensors, security cameras, and alarm system accessories.

Does Cove work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa?

Cove is compatible with Google Assistant ^† and Amazon Alexa voice controls, which allow you to arm, disarm, and check the status of your Cove system. Cove doesn't offer any other smart home functionality—you need to rely on Google and Amazon for controlling smart devices alongside your Cove system.

Compare the best home security systems

Brand	Best for	Lowest monitoring price	Starter equipment price	Contract required	Smart home compatibility	Learn more	Read review
Vivint	Best overall	$29.99/mo.	$599.00	No *	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View packages	Read review
SimpliSafe	Reader favorite	$14.99/mo.	$229.00	No	Amazon, Google	View packages	Read review
Frontpoint	Whole-property pick	$34.99/mo.	$99.00	No	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View packages	Read review
ADT	Pro monitoring pick	$27.99/mo.	$0.00	Yes	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View packages	Read review
Cove	Customer-focused pick	$14.99/mo.	Quote required	No *	Amazon, Google	View packages	Read review
Blue by ADT	No-contract DIY pick	$19.99/mo.	$199.15	No	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View Packages	Read review
Abode	Smart home pick	$20.00/mo.	$279.00	No	Amazon, Apple, Google, Z-Wave, Zigbee	View packages	Read review
Ring	Budget pick	$20.00/mo.	$199.99	No	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View on Amazon	Read review
Link Interactive	Sensor selection pick	$30.99/mo.	Quote required	No *	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View packages	Read review
Brinks	Simple package pick	$39.99/mo.	$199.00	Yes	Amazon, Google, Z-Wave	View packages	Read review

Info current as of 08/23/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Full Amazon disclaimer
Full ADT disclaimer

Disclaimers

†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Written by

John Carlsen

John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over eight years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.