Smoke detectors are a necessary part of any home. They provide peace of mind throughout the night and can help save you and your loved ones in an emergency. For many years we've dealt with the high pitched beeps emitted by most fire detectors. But with modern smart fire alarms, like the Nest Protect (2nd Gen), you can swap that out for voice alerts and smartphone notifications. We've gathered together a list of the best smart smoke detectors. See which one works for you.
Best Overall: Nest Protect (2nd Gen)
This beautiful looking smoke detector sends messages to your smartphone. It also has a color-changing ring of light and gives verbal notices when there's a problem instead of emitting shrill chirping noises. If there are multiple of these devices set up in your home and one of them detects danger, it will alert you to a specific location by saying things like, "there's smoke in the living room." It will also send a similar message to your smartphone in case you're away. You'll always know exactly where the problem is coming from.
In addition to detecting smoke and carbon monoxide, it also has a Split-Spectrum Sensor that senses fast and slow-burning fires, so it will be able to pick up several different dangers. The Nest Protect works with other smart home devices like Hue, Nest, and Wink. For instance, you can make it, so the alarm turns on your home's smart lights in the event of a fire, thereby making it easier to evacuate safely. You can use the app to turn the alarm off instead of getting up on a chair and attempting to push any buttons.
This detector comes in either a wired or battery-powered version so you can choose the option you like best. Should the battery get low, the device will send a message to your phone instead of chirping the night away. A super helpful addition is the detector's motion-detecting path light, which gives off a very gentle glow to light the way when you walk beneath it in the dark. This is a relatively expensive fire alarm, which makes it a little harder to purchase one for your entire home. However, the convenience and safety it provides make it well worth the cost.
Pros:
- Phone alerts
- LED indicator
- Turn off alarms remotely
- Works with several home automation services
- Path light
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Overall
Nest Protect (2nd Gen)
A super convenient smart smoke detector
This fire alarm gives out verbal alerts, smartphone notifications, and visual cues when it detects smoke, carbon monoxide, or a low battery. You can control your device remotely using your app instead of physically interact with it. It even features a motion detector that turns on a path light when you walk under it in the dark. This alarm works with several different home automation services to make a safer environment for you and your loved ones.
Best Budget Alarm: First Alert SCO7CN
If you're looking for something inexpensive and easy to install, then this is the smart smoke detector for you. It may be reasonable in price, but it still offers vocal, smartphone, and email alerts in addition to the siren whenever it detects smoke or carbon monoxide. If you have multiple of these devices in your home, the notifications will let you know which location is setting off the alarm.
Unlike other inexpensive First Alert smoke detectors, this one doesn't require a Z-Wave hub to work. So you don't have to make any additional purchases. It operates using two AA batteries that can be accessed from the side, so you'll easily be able to swap them out when the time comes. Since this is a much less expensive device, it doesn't connect to other smart home automation systems, but it will get the job done while making your alarms more convenient.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Emails and smartphone notifications
- No hub required
Cons:
- Fewer abilities
Best Budget Alarm
First Alert SCO7CN
An inexpensive smart smoke detector
This smoke detector doesn't cost much, but it still gives you voice alerts, emails, and phone notifications when it detects carbon monoxide or smoke. It's the perfect fire detector to use if you want something that takes care of the basics without offering any additional bells or whistles.
Best Budget Alternative: Roost Smart Battery
This is the cheapest option for anyone who simply wants to turn their existing fire alarms into smart devices. The battery is Wi-Fi enabled and should the alarm go off it sends alerts to your smartphone so you'll get a notification no matter where you are. It works with any fire or carbon monoxide detectors that take a 9-volt battery. You can even set it up to automatically alert another person, like a trusted neighbor when you're on vacation, should the alarm go off.
Since only the battery is smart in this case, you'll only have the abilities offered by your existing smoke detector. This likely means you won't have voice notifications or as many lighting cues as other options. Additionally, this battery only links with one smart home automation service, IFTTT. If you use this service, you'll be able to set it up to do things like turn the lights on when the alarm goes off. This battery lasts up to five years before needing to be replaced, so you'll get a decent amount of use out of it.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Links to IFTTT
- Smartphone notifications
- Lasts up to 5 years
Cons:
- Limited smart abilities
- Only works with one home automation service
Best Budget Alternative
Roost Smart Battery
Turn your smoke detector into a smart device
You can turn any smoke detector that takes a 9-volt battery into a smart device using Roost. It's Wi-fi enabled and will send notifications to your smartphone if the siren goes off. Using IFTTT, connect it with your smart home to have it turn on other smart devices should the alarm sound.
Best for Alexa Fans: First Alert OneLink Safe & Sound
The first thing you'll notice about this fire detector is that it has Alexa built directly into it. This means you can use the built-in 10-watt speaker to take advantage of hundreds of skills including listening to music, hearing the news, or checking the weather. The other thing you'll quickly notice is that it's far more expensive than other options on the market. When you add an Alexa to any device that's bound to happen, but you get plenty more convenience out of it that way.
Like some other smart sensors on this list, this one sends smartphone notifications and lets you know what the issue is as well as where in your home the problem is coming from. It'll also give voice alerts and features a color-changing ring to provide you with visual cues if it detects smoke, carbon monoxide, or a low battery. Note that this smoke alarm does require a hardwired connection, which takes more work to install and might not provide the most convenient placement for your Alexa unit.
Something interesting about this device is that it can connect with other brands of smoke detectors that are hardwired into your home. This means it can communicate with other fire alarms, so you don't have to purchase one of these for every room in your house. Just get it for the places that you are most likely to take advantage of Alexa's skills.
Pros
- Built-in Alexa
- Smartphone alerts
- 10-watt speaker
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires hardwired connection
Best for Alexa Fans
First Alert OneLink Safe & Sound
An Alexa-enabled smoke detector
This fire alarm sends smartphone notifications, gives voice alerts, and has a ring of light that changes color when it detects smoke, carbon monoxide, or low battery life. Since Alexa is built directly into it, you'll be able to take advantage of her skills, whether that be to listen to music, check the weather, or learn the latest news.
Best for Security: SmartThings ADT Smoke Alarm
If you're the kind of person that sleeps better knowing your home is continuously being monitored for break-ins or emergencies, then you'll appreciate this smoke alarm. You'll need to pay for a SmartThings ADT Security Hub and a SmartThings ADT device to interact with it if you don't have those devices already. The perk here is that this setup gives you the option to pay for ADT's 24/7 professional monitoring service. If you do this, the company will keep tabs on your home and will notify you immediately if an alarm is triggered.
If you already have all of the necessary equipment purchasing this fire detector won't cost much. But it's a significant expense when you need to buy all the different parts. It provides plenty of conveniences to help make up for the cost. For one thing, it's Wi-fi enabled and works with several compatible Ring, LIFX, Hue, Alexa, Google Home, and other smart home devices to provide further convenience in your home. As with the other detectors on this list, if the alarm detects smoke, it will send a notification to your smartphone.
Pros
- Can connect smart devices
- Phone alerts
- Optional professional monitoring
Cons
- Requires SmartThings ADT Security Hub
- Requires SmartThings ADT device
- All necessary equipment makes it expensive
Best for Security
SmartThings ADT Smoke Alarm
Smoke alarm with optional monitoring
In addition to sending you phone notifications when it detects smoke, this smoke alarm setup gives you the option of having ADT professionally monitor your home. You'll need to pay for this security service, but if you do, the company will notify you whenever an alarm is triggered in your home.
Smart and alert
There are several different smart smoke detectors on the market for you to choose from. Many of these devices tend to be expensive, so you'll want to consider whether the conveniences offered by the smart detector makes the purchase worth it. As a minimum, you'll want something that can send you smartphone notifications, but I highly advocate for getting something that also features a visual cue and can be turned off remotely via an app.
My highest recommendation is for the Nest Protect (2nd Gen), which gives vocal alerts, has a ring that changes color and sends phone notifications should it detect a problem. It will even tell you what the problem is and what room to find it in. It also works with several home automation services and devices, so you can link it to say your smart lights and have them turn on if a fire is detected.
Credits
Rebecca Spear loves keeping up-to-date with the latest and greatest electronics. She is a life-long gamer and a writer who has written hundreds of online articles over the past four years. On any given day you'll find her drawing with her Wacom tablet, playing video games, or reading a good book.
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