Not great. Cue automations have stopped working. They are not always visible on the tab for the automations. The cue automations are available online and show up properly there, it is only a problem with the app. The app also doesn't allow me to add "status indicators". Again, this function works online, but not from the app. Geo location is not very accurate, even with enhanced location accuracy from the phone.
Reviews for Abode
← Back to AbodeSo far, the app and the Abode security system has been GARBAGE. I got an email telling me I'm on cellular backup with them asking me to reboot everything. But the app shows an Ethernet connection. So which is it? I have a serious case of buyer's remorse all around because I've had nothing but problems with this system since I got it, starting with a defective security hub that had to be replaced and cameras that take forever and require multiple attempts before they'll connect to your system.
Stop removing features from non subscribers. When I purchased my system I got notifications that an alarm was set, disabled, or triggered. Now I get a notification that "an event occured" which is nearly useless. I bought the system based on features it had, and now you're updating features out of my product. This is unacceptable. I otherwise love the system and love being able to just self monitor, but removing useful notifications has made that almost not possible any more. Would avoid.
Not impressed with it. It is over-complicated and not at all intuitive. Also is somewhat unstable. Hub drops off line and needs to be power-cycled to reconnect. And yes, my wi-fi strength is more than adequate. Temp-humidity-motion detector readings disappeared after working for a few hours. Bought this product to monitor a remote location. Not sure if I will continue to use and expand as originally planned.
App crashes all the time. There is a bug where opening certain camera views will crash the app. The app literally crashed while I was writing this review. The cameras will unsynchronize from your WiFi on a weekly basis and then be unable to set up for weeks at a time. The setup process is glitchy and takes you for loops where you do the same steps over and over again like a crazy person. The sensors are unreliable and some of them such as the multi-sensor go through a battery in one week. Junk!
I've had no trouble with the app in the 5-6 months that I've been using it. I have about a dozen door/window sensors, a glass break sensor, and a couple of motion sensors. All of them loaded up pretty easily. I set up the whole system in probably about 2 hrs. Automations were also very simple. I didn't do anything too complicated so I have it set to arm when I leave, disarm when I get home, and arm at night. I've been overall very pleased with the system.
I went from 5 stars down to 2. One of my bigger pet peeves is having a free feature be moved behind a pay wall, and that's just what Abode did. I've used this app and service for a few years now. I bought a whole new kit only to discover the app had updated to put rich notifications behind a "An event has occurred in your abode system" when a door opens or when my alarm goes off is NOT helpful. You got my money. Here's your review.
The app itself offers most of the functionality of the web UI so it's pretty handy in that way. It is also required for location based detection and unfortunately abode is a terrible battery hog when it's enabled. I have many location based apps (including very similar ones that need to be run 24/7) and abode uses more battery than the rest of them combined. For some reason it basically runs always as a foreground app so my phone's battery life has gone down the drain since I started using it.
App is almost fully functional equivalent to the desktop version. However there is room for improvement with phone recognition for the electronic gate. I have a fully integrated system with over 20 de ices for over 6 years. Not once has a device failed. Replacement of batteries is the most taxing part of maintaining the system. The automation que is very nice. No fees, no brainer.
Forcing customers to pay subscription fees for basic features that were available when purchased like history in the timeline, and geofencing is criminal. Another case of greedy company using software "updates" to hold functionality for ransom. I used to recommend Abode to anyone who asked me...but I see the trend starting. They are going to remove more and more until the system is worthless without a subscription. Time to start looking somewhere else.
Update 2: Version 5.0.6 has been released. The problem with the tracking service was not addressed. My tracking service behaves as before. Release notes do not mention the problem. Failing to address this glaring problem that they introduced in version 5.0 makes me wonder about the future of the company. Would they let such a problem fester, which produces lots of reviews like this one, if they cared about enticing new customers? Update 1 : The problem now, if not before, is in the location service. It starts and stops randomly. The only guarantee is that if it is not running when I run the app, it will start the service. I nearly set off my alarm today, because I was distracted when I went to open the door to my house and did not notice the system was still armed, because the automation that should have disarmed it did not run. When I reported this problem before, they told me to upgrade to 5.0.5, which I was running already. They had no response when I told them that. Original review: Automations based on location are broken now. Mine that worked fine for many months no longer do. As a software professional for over 30 years, I understand the significance of a ".0" release. It indicates a huge change from previous releases. Releasing a .0 version is not like releasing the latest biweekly spin. When the user base relies on an app for something as important as home security -- this is not some free game app -- a lot more testing is required before releasing it. Clearly testing of this release was inadequate.
Wish the widget worked... Really wanted a way to quickly enable and disable alarm from home screen, and at last the widget was released (many months ago)! ... Sadly, it works maybe at best 20% of the time. I keep checking back for updates hoping one will come that will fix this one and for all... No luck so far. Let's go Abode! I want to give this app 5 stars so badly!
The app is clean and simple to use. Cue automations have made it where I don't use IFTTT anymore which is great. I don't know what's happening in the last few days, but battery usage has gone way up. I'm not running the widget at all, but I am using the location features to auto arm and disarm the system. Never had any battery issues before but now it's crushing my phone and is the top burner of battery. This is on a Samsung Note 8. Abode, fix your app please!
This app used to be amazing, but recent updates have removed functionality without warning. I assume that the notifications are no longer useful because I am not paying for a subscription, but there was never any explanation that we would lose the useful notifications. If I knew what I know now, I probably would have gone with a different security system.
Abode no longer is able to run automations based on my phone's location. I have reinstalled the app, allowed location services to have access "All the time", and my automations still don't run. Anytime I contact Abode's customer service, it takes 3-5 days for them to provide an initial response. I have had it with Abode, I've been a customer for 2 years, and I'm going to look elsewhere for home security. I suggest you do the same.
I used to like this app, but it has definitely gone downhill over the years. It seems like they want you to pay for everything, now. "Free" version, what free version? What does their free version give you? The notification alerts are laughable. It used to tell you if your front door was opened/closed, or if a window was opened/closed, etc. Now? All you get is, "an event has occurred in the Abode system." You click to take a look, and you have to pay to see the event. Pass. I can't recommend.
The free app is worthless. I spent over $500 on a security system, and the notifications are useless. If a door opens you get a notification: "An event occurred on the Abode system". If a window opens? same notification. Water leak? Same notification. Glass break detected? Same notification. Etc. If you're going to advertise having a free version, it shouldn't be so neutered as to be useless - feels like they're strong arming you into spending $6 a month to get even the most basic functionality.
I've had more problems with Abode products and service and app than I could ever list. Ive had the full security system and paid service for 6 years now, and there's always some kind of problem. Abode never works all the time. Unlike my Nest cameras which have never in five years had a single problem. Tech support is the worst ...making you try various tech solutions yourself instead of Abode fixing your problem. What good is having a home security system during the times it doesn't work?
it works, sort of... I would not recommend this system for anyone needing a reliable camera or security system. streams are often unavailable and/or freeze. over the past 2 years of use there have been many instances of missed events. Even after resorting to manually and individually rebooting all cameras once a week the system still does not function 100% as expected. save yourself the headache and pay more for a better system
This app crashes constantly, causing popup notifications throughout the day. Now it won't even open (maybe a server issue?), forcing me to rely on the single physical device that came with the door alarm rather than the several mobile devices around my house that allowed easy access. Ridiculously unacceptable development processes on the Android app.