Roku adds budget DIY home security system to expand its smart home offerings

Roku smart home security system — (Image credit: Roku)

Further expanding its business beyond streaming sticks and smart TVs, Roku today announced new smart home devices — namely, a DIY smart home security system with optional professional monitoring.

The Roku Home Monitoring System SE, as the system is called, is a five-piece bundle with a wireless keypad, a hub with a siren, two entry sensors, and a motion sensor. The package will cost $99, and will be available online at Roku.com on May 11, and at Walmart.com and in Walmart stores starting May 15th.

Customers will have the option of purchasing additional sensors as well as professional monitoring, the latter of which will cost $9.99 per month; service is provided by Noonlight.

As with Roku's other smart home devices — which currently include security cameras, video doorbells, smart lights, and smart plugs — the Roku Home Monitoring System SE is a rebranded version of the Wyze Home Security system, which we praised for its low cost, both in terms of the equipment and the professional monitoring fees. Most of the best DIY home security systems offer professional monitoring for twice as much as Roku.

I imagine that additional sensors will be priced similarly to what's listed on Wyze.com: a three-pack of entry sensors is $23.99, while a motion sensor costs $8.99.

However, the system doesn't work with Alexa or Google Assistant, and lacks both cellular and battery backup, so if your power or Internet goes down, it won't work.

One advantage that Roku's version has, though, is that if you have a Roku TV or streaming stick, you can view a live feed from your Roku video doorbell or security camera on your television.

In the coming weeks, additional smart home integrations will also be arriving, such as the ability to view your camera's history, and using the Roku remote's microphone to control smart home devices using your voice.

In our reviews of both Wyze and Roku security cameras, we've found both to be excellent, low-cost devices that produce good video for the price. In addition, Wyze offers the least expensive security camera cloud storage subscription plan, making it the best around for those on a budget. The Roku versions of its products are then ideal for Roku owners who want to build a smart home on the cheap. However, Wyze devices only work with Alexa, and not Google Home.

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Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.