The best skill for keeping your home safe is free with Amazon Alexa

The best skill for keeping your home safe is free with Amazon Alexa

What if there was a way to promise peace of mind, without needing home security cameras?

A few years ago, Amazon introduced Alexa Guard, one of the best Alexa skills. An Echo speaker can turn camera-less devices into danger detectors.

Alexa Guard turns most of the Alexa speakers into security devices, listening for signs of trouble such as glass breaking or your smoke alarm going off. Your Alexa app will notify you when it hears anything suspicious, letting you act however you see fit. It even gives you the option to drop-in on your speaker or check out the scene if you have a smart display like the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) or Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen).

You can also get Alexa Guard Plus, a subscription tier that will contact authorities for you when certain sounds are heard. Alexa Guard Plus can play fake barking dog and home activity sounds to make it seem like you’re inside, too. At $50 per year, it’s the cheapest professional monitoring service around. 

With an Amazon Echo Dot with Clock and Amazon Echo (4th Gen) on standby for concerning sounds, you’ll feel a lot better leaving your house. 

Alexa Guard — how it works 

Get hands-free access to an Emergency Helpline, receive alerts about activity in your home while you’re away, and deter potential intruders with away lighting. All you need is an Echo smart speaker or Echo Show to get started.
Shop eligible devices.

Get hands-free access to an Emergency Helpline, receive alerts about activity in your home while you’re away, and deter potential intruders with away lighting. All you need is an Echo smart speaker or Echo Show to get started.

Need emergency help?
Just ask Alexa

Guard Plus gives you 24/7 access to an Emergency Helpline you can call with just your voice.

Say, “Alexa, call for help” to speak with trained agents who can request the dispatch of emergency responders — such as police, the fire department, or an ambulance — based on information you provide on the call.

Get alerts about potential emergencies

If Alexa detects activity while you’re away from home — like footsteps, a door closing, or glass breaking — she can send you a Smart Alert mobile notification and play a siren on your Echo. Alexa can also notify you about the sound of smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms.

From a Smart Alert, you can play back what Alexa heard or drop-in for live audio. You can then call the Emergency Helpline to request emergency services or forward the alert to a supported security provider.

Deter unwanted visitors

Guard Plus is even better with connected smart lights and select outdoor-facing cameras. While you’re away, Alexa can turn on and off smart lights you select to make it look like someone is home and, when your camera detects motion outside, Alexa can play the sound of a dog barking from your Echo to help scare off potential intruders.

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Available with popular security plans

Guard Plus is included with Ring Protect Plus at no additional cost. Protect Plus subscribers need to link their Ring and Amazon accounts in the Ring app or on Ring.com and complete setup in the Alexa app to access Guard Plus benefits. And, starting next year, Guard Plus will also be available through partners including Abode, Scout Alarm, Resideo, A3 Smart Home, and Wyze.