Google Nest Protect is a famous smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector that offers numerous features, including app notifications, self-testing, and integration with other smart home devices. If you are looking for alternatives to the Nest Protect, several other reputable options exist in the smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector market.
Innovative home systems and gadgets have made our lives significantly sensible and practical. Nowadays, the market is filled with high-tech models and devices unveiled to protect human lives and personal properties. We have heard plenty of mixed reviews and positive feedback for home security systems, including a range of motion detector action devices, sensors, and two-way communication concepts. The gadgets are helpful if you want to monitor your personal property or family members through smartphones.
However, you can also do the same and keep a check on your home by keeping it safe from smoke or fire. This is an exceptional example of an innovative smoke alarm system known as the Google Nest Protect, commonly in the market and worth buying today. The smoke systems are traditionally old-fashioned and hardly applied because of their outdated properties. For example, they are usually seen mounted on the ceiling and never come into practice until it is time to change the worn-out batteries or eventually replace the system. Therefore, having a smart home system can make lives stress-free and improve home security by upgrading living standards.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Nest Protect?
Here are some of the best Google Nest Protect alternatives:
- First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound:
- Features: Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector, built-in Alexa voice services, premium home speaker functionality, and night light.
- Integration: Connects with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
- Kidde RemoteLync Monitor:
- Features: Monitors existing smoke and CO alarms and sends notifications to your mobile devices.
- Integration: It’s more of a standalone system but can integrate with some smart home platforms through third-party applications.
- Roost Smart Battery:
- Features: This is not an entire smoke detector but a 9V battery that turns your existing smoke detector into a smart one by sending you notifications when the alarm goes off.
- Integration: Works with IFTTT and can thus connect with various other smart home devices.
- Halo Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm:
- Features: Detects fast and slow-burning fires, carbon monoxide, and weather alerts.
- Integration: Compatible with popular smart hubs using Zigbee wireless protocol.
- Ecobee smart thermostat with voice control:
- Features: While primarily a thermostat, it has an integrated smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It also has built-in Alexa and a speaker.
- Integration: Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and more.
- Fibaro Smoke Sensor:
- Features: Smoke detector with temperature sensing, visual & sound alarms.
- Integration: Uses Z-Wave, so it’s compatible with various smart home hubs supporting it.
- Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm:
- Features: Offers a 10-year battery life, real-time alerts to your phone, and a self-check function.
- Integration: Works well within the Netatmo ecosystem and can interact with Apple HomeKit.
When choosing an alternative to Nest Protect, consider factors such as compatibility with your existing smart home system, battery life, additional features, ease of installation, and price. Additionally, always ensure that the device meets your country’s or region’s safety standards and certifications.
The Nest Protect is a cutting-edge smoke and carbon monoxide detector that alerts homeowners immediately about potential fire hazards. Unlike traditional alarms that emit shrill beeps, Nest Protect employs a human-like voice to provide details about the threat, including its location. The device is convenient for those frequently away from home; it sends alerts to linked smartphones, even allowing users to silence it remotely. Once set up and connected to its app, the alarm offers audio updates and specifics about the nature of the hazard. Integrating it with other Nest products, like thermostats and cameras, amplifies home safety. However, other budget-friendly alternatives in the market can equally secure a home.
Roost Smart Battery Nest Protect Alternative
This is a smart option for those with conventional smoke detectors installed on the ceiling. The Roost Smart Battery is a practical way to enhance the traditional smoke detectors as it just needs to be connected to the Wi-Fi network. You will be notified through the smartphone if the smoke alarm detects fire or smoke. In case of a false alarm, it offers the same practicality as the Nest Protect, as you can quickly turn it off from the smartphone. Whenever there is a battery change required for the Roost Smart Battery, it will notify you on the smartphone rather than beeping.
With the help of the installed app, you can accommodate many batteries and have the option to cancel the alarm and send the alert to someone else. However, that would not be an issue as the battery is guaranteed to last 3 to 5 years and will be compatible with any other smoke or CO alarm that is operational on a 9-volt battery.
The Roost Smart Battery is not associated with other smart products, such as Alexa and Nest, and is incompatible with IFTTT or any other smart product. It is not a complete smoke detector, but it is used when owners need to step up and make old smoke detectors up-to-date and digitalized. It is also equipped with its customized app alerting you for extreme weather updates.
FirstAlert OneLink Safe and Sound Nest Protect Alternative
If you prefer to achieve smart home compatibility and integration with other smart products, this is a perfect choice. It comes with a high-definition speaker, making it a versatile product equipped with the most unmistakable voices, and it can also be used for entertainment purposes such as music and audio playing. Additionally, it is equipped with a smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
The First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound is a multifunctional device that serves both as a safety instrument and an entertainment gadget, making it a unique addition to the array of smart home products.
Features:
- Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector: At its core, the Onelink Safe & Sound is designed to keep residents safe. It has sensors that can detect smoke and carbon monoxide, ensuring that the occupants are promptly alerted in case of fire or gas leaks.
- Built-in Alexa Voice Services: This feature allows users to leverage the full suite of Alexa capabilities without needing an additional Amazon Echo device. Users can ask questions, control other smart home devices, get news updates, play music, and more, all via voice commands directly to the Onelink Safe & Sound.
- Premium Home Speaker Functionality: Beyond its safety features, the Onelink Safe & Sound doubles as a high-end speaker. You can stream music, audiobooks, or any other audio content with clarity and rich sound. Its ceiling-mounted placement ensures optimal sound dispersion throughout the room.
- Night Light: This feature can be especially useful in hallways, staircases, or children’s rooms. The device comes with adjustable smartness settings, allowing you to set the perfect ambiance or provide a clear path during nighttime.
Integration:
- Apple HomeKit: With HomeKit integration, users can control the Onelink Safe & Sound using the Apple Home app or through Siri voice commands. This allows seamless integration with other HomeKit-enabled devices, creating a unified smart home environment.
- Amazon Alexa: As mentioned, the built-in Alexa voice services allow Onelink Safe & Sound to function like an Echo device. This also means it can integrate effortlessly with other Alexa-compatible devices, allowing users to control various smart home functions through Onelink.
- Google Assistant: Onelink Safe & Sound offers compatibility with Google Assistant for those invested in the Google ecosystem. Users can control the device and receive alerts through Google Home speakers or other Google Assistant-enabled devices.
It automatically sends notifications and warnings to the smartphone by telling you the type, kind, location, amount, and severity of the damage done. You can use them to categorize, manage, and change the settings, silence the false alerts, and even change the smartness and the color. This option is not battery-operated and needs to be hardwired. However, this option can be a bit costly, especially for looking for a budget-friendly option. This gadget comes with a night light and works with the Amazon Alexa speaker.
Onelink safe and sound installation
- When you Install Onelink safe and sound on the ceiling, the Onelink logo needs to be face down.
- Use the included easy adapter to plug your alarm into your home’s AC power.
- Push the Safe & Sound firmly against the mounting bracket
- Twist the Safe & Sound clockwise until it can’t be turned further.
- Switch your circuit breaker back on.
- Check sound.
See the whole video step by step:
KIDDE RF-SM-DC Wireless Interconnect Battery Nest Protect Alternative
This smart gadget comes with a pack of three and uses the radio frequency to connect with other Kidde smoke alarms to save the trouble of hardwiring the device. An interconnected system will mean that all the other alarms will be instantly notified and silenced simultaneously when one gadget detects smoke. It is also a battery-operated device but not Wi-Fi connected. One of the downsides of using this device is that you cannot control and manage its settings from the smartphone. This smart smoke detector only detects smoke and not carbon dioxide, but it can be an affordable package to enhance the house’s overall security.
It is essential to opt for an alarm that is a smoke and carbon monoxide detector at the same time. The Nest Protect uses a photoelectric split spectrum sensor that rightly guides the smoke situation in the room compared to the ionization-based sensor, which is more prone to false alarms. Voice notes and alerts are more practical as they highlight and clarify the type of hazard noticed and mention the location for quick action. Color-coded lights are also a plus point, along with the phone push notifications, which come in handy. Some devices also support interconnectivity, which means that if one alarm goes off, all the other alarms will automatically go off. This can be advantageous if you have a spacious home, and you might not hear other alarms in the house. Lastly, if you want to connect the smoke alarm with the rest of the home gadgets, it should be supported by a smart home hub. The Next Project is conveniently linked to the next ecosystem, and they can also be connected with Alexa smart things and HomeKit options.
Conclusion
The Google Nest Protect stands out as a leading smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector, known for its advanced features and user-friendly interface. However, numerous alternatives in the market, such as the First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound, offer unique features like built-in voice services and premium speaker functionalities. Other alternatives cater to specific needs, from integrating various smart home systems to transforming conventional alarms into smart devices. Choosing the suitable alternative requires assessing compatibility, additional features, and integration capabilities. It’s essential to prioritize safety while also considering these smart detectors’ added convenience and functionality.
From 2022 onwards, Mark has also been contributing author of home repair articles at nimblefreelancer.com.
Read more on Mark Brown's biography page.
Contact Mark: mark@nimblefreelancer.com
