You’ll barely put a dent in your budget to get a basic Wyze Sense system up and running. Just don’t expect all of the bells and whistles (or the range of equipment) you’d get with something like Vivint or ADT. Also, you’re gonna have to monitor it yourself. If you need a camera, we recommend getting the Wyze Sense Starter Kit + Camera, instead of the Wyze Sense Starter Kit by itself. This kit includes the Wyze Cam v2, and will still only run you $47.96 at the time of this writing. Wyze Sense Starter Kit + Camera devices:
2 door/window sensors 1 motion detector 1 bridge (must be plugged into Wyze Cam v2 or Wyze Cam Pan) 1 Wyze Cam v2
Price: $47.96 To illustrate just how cheap the Wyze Sense is, check out how much some other DIY home security starter kits cost. But Wyze keeps things discreet. Its entry sensors are small: only 1.1 by 1.2 by 0.9 inches. Compare that to Ring Alarm’s entry sensors, which are 1.56 by 2.09 by 0.55 inches. Ring Alarm’s sensors are almost twice the size of Wyze’s. Plug-in bridges often connect devices like smart door locks or smart lights to your Wi-Fi network. The Wyze bridge does the same thing, but instead of plugging into a wall, it plugs into a Wyze camera’s USB port. You’ll need either the Wyze Cam v2 or the Wyze Pan Cam for your Wyze Sense system to work. You’ll plug the Wyze Sense bridge into the back of the camera and voilà, your sensors work together, and you can control everything from your smartphone. You can adjust your lights’ brightness through the Wyze app or your smart speaker. Currently, the Wyze Bulb offers only one color: white. But you can still adjust the color temperature from clean, cool, and white to soft, warm white, and everything in between. If you don’t already have a Wyze camera, then the hardest part will be setting that up first. Even then, we can pretty much guarantee you worked harder setting up your TV than you will with this thing. Wyze Sense installation steps:
Download the Wyze app. Create an account (if you don’t have one yet). Add your new Wyze Cam to your account and pair it with your Wi-Fi network. Plug in the Wyze Sense bridge to the back of the camera. Go back to the Wyze app and add your sensors as new devices. Stick the sensors where you want them. They come ready with adhesive backing.
That’s the basic overview of getting your Wyze Sense system up and running. For more info, check out Wyze’s setup guide. The main thing we’ve seen customers complain about is connectivity. Some people have had issues with signal drops and long load times. Nothing’s more annoying than opening a notification only to see that your baby’s nursery camera is offline. We recommend making sure your Wi-Fi is fast and reliable, so you know if an issue is the app’s fault or just due to an iffy internet connection. Plus, along with the basic security sensors, you can add on smart devices from Wyze. If you want Wyze cameras, a Wyze smart lock, or a Wyze smart bulb, then the Wyze Sense system is one more tool in your smart-home toolbox. Pricing: We can’t complain about Wyze pricing: it’s incredibly cheap. If you want basic security sensors, this is a great budget buy. Equipment: Wyze Sense offers basic security sensors, like door and window sensors and a motion detector. It doesn’t offer extras like flood/freeze sensors or smoke alarms. It doesn’t even have a keypad. Home automation: Wyze offers some cool smart devices that will work with your other Wyze stuff. You can add on a Wyze smart lock, Wyze smart light bulb, or Wyze smart wall plug. And you can control everything through the Wyze mobile app, IFTTT, or your smart speaker. Installation: The hardest part of installation is setting up your Wyze camera. And even that should take only a few minutes. All the sensors are peel-and-stick for easy installation. Customer experience: Wyze’s mobile app gets fairly good reviews, but some customers have reported issues with connectivity. If your camera keeps dropping off your Wi-Fi, check your internet connection. On the whole, Wyze Sense is a pretty good choice for the cheapest of cheap security systems. If you want something with more types of sensors or professional monitoring, check out our Best Home Security Systems review for other options. 2. Google Play, “Wyze.” Accessed June 10, 2020.
