Abode March 30, 2026 Most security systems assume you own your home. They want you to drill holes, run wires, and commit to a 3-year monitoring contract. That doesn’t work when your landlord won’t let you touch the walls and you might move in 12 months.
Abode was built differently. Every sensor uses adhesive strips. The hub plugs into a standard outlet. Nothing gets drilled, screwed, or permanently installed. When you move, peel the sensors off, pack the hub, and set it up in your new place in 30 minutes.
Every Abode sensor uses 3M adhesive. The Mini Door/Window Sensors are small enough to fit on apartment doors and windows without looking out of place. The Slim Strip Sensors are nearly invisible — thin enough to hide in a door frame.
Abode plans are month-to-month. Start on the free tier, upgrade to Connect ($6/month) if you want professional monitoring, cancel anytime. When your lease ends, cancel your plan (or don’t — it works at your next apartment too).
The free tier includes full app control, push notifications, event timeline, and CUE automations. You don’t pay anything monthly to arm/disarm your system, get alerts when a door opens, or check your sensor history. SimpliSafe charges $21.99/month for the same basic app functionality.
Moving? Peel off your sensors (the adhesive doesn’t damage walls or leave residue). Unplug the hub. Pack everything in the original box. At your new apartment, stick the sensors back up and you’re protected again in under an hour. Your settings, automations, and account carry over.
| Component | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Security Kit | $199 | Hub + keypad + key fob + 1 door sensor |
| 6-Pack Mini Door/Window Sensors | $90 | Cover front door + bedroom windows + patio |
| Motion Sensor | $40 | Living room coverage when you’re away |
| Abode Cam 2 | $35 | Indoor camera for entry point monitoring |
Total: $364 one-time + $0-6/month
Compare that to SimpliSafe’s equivalent setup: ~$300 equipment + $264/year in monitoring. After 14 months, Abode is cheaper even if you’re on the $6/month Connect plan.
In an apartment, a blaring siren at 2am will make your neighbors hate you. Abode lets you adjust siren volume or disable it entirely for specific modes. You can set entry delays long enough to disarm before the siren triggers — no angry knocks on your wall.
Set longer entry delays for your front door (30-60 seconds) so you have time to walk in and disarm. Set immediate alerts on windows and patio doors that shouldn’t open when you’re away.
If you use an iPhone, Abode’s HomeKit integration lets you auto-arm when you leave (geofencing), auto-disarm when you arrive, and control everything through Siri. No app fumbling when your hands are full with groceries.
Share system access with roommates through the app. Each person gets their own login — no sharing PIN codes or key fobs (though both are options if you prefer).
Indoor cameras work fine — the Abode Cam 2 sits on a shelf or mounts with adhesive. Outdoor cameras are trickier in apartments since you typically can’t mount anything on the exterior.
For apartment hallway or door monitoring, consider a Ring or eufy video doorbell with a no-drill mount that hangs over the peephole. Use it alongside Abode for the alarm — Abode handles intrusion detection, the doorbell handles package theft and visitor identification.
| System | Equipment | Monthly | Year 1 Total | Year 2 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode (free tier) | $364 | $0 | $364 | $364 |
| Abode (Connect) | $364 | $6 | $436 | $508 |
| SimpliSafe | $300 | $21.99 | $564 | $828 |
| Ring Alarm | $280 | $20 | $520 | $760 |
| ADT | $0 (with contract) | $28.99 | $348 | $696 |
ADT looks cheap in year 1 because they subsidize equipment into your contract — but you’re locked in for 3+ years with an early termination fee. By year 2, Abode on the free tier is the cheapest option by far.
Abode is the best security system for apartments because it’s the only one designed around the constraints renters face: no drilling, no contracts, no mandatory subscriptions. The free tier gives you more than what SimpliSafe and Ring charge $20+/month for. And when you move, everything comes with you.
Yes. Wireless systems with adhesive sensors and a plug-in hub can protect an apartment without drilling holes or making permanent changes.
A wireless kit with self-monitoring is the best fit for many renters because it keeps the system portable and avoids recurring costs. Abode supports free self-monitoring with optional paid upgrades.
