~£39 each
Motion Sensor
Hive Security Review (UK 2026)
British Gas's smart home platform - great for Hive users, limited as a standalone alarm
Last reviewed: March 2026
3.9/5
AlarmCompare editorial score
Hive does not offer a traditional alarm system or professional monitoring. There is no control panel, no ARC monitoring, and no police or guard response workflow. Hive works as a smart home awareness layer. For complete alarm options, see SimpliSafe, Yale, or Verisure.
Quick Facts
£189.99
Outdoor Camera
From £5.99 (Hive Plus)
Monthly plan
No lock-in
Contract
Not available
Professional monitoring
Yes (British Gas)
UK support
Overview
Hive is a British Gas smart-home platform first, with security accessories layered on top. It began as a heating control product and expanded to lighting, plugs, cameras, and sensor devices. For existing Hive households, this means basic security can be added without adopting another app ecosystem.
The security product set includes motion sensors, contact sensors, indoor/outdoor cameras, and automation with other Hive devices. For awareness-led scenarios, this can be useful: motion can trigger lights, door opening can notify your phone, and cameras can provide visual context for household activity.
The key limitation is protection depth. Hive does not offer traditional alarm architecture with professional ARC monitoring, dedicated intrusion panel behavior, or police/guard escalation workflow. Events are sent to your phone and response remains your responsibility.
Hive is best framed as a smart-home awareness layer and ecosystem add-on rather than a full alarm replacement. That distinction is important for buyers comparing it against monitored providers or dedicated alarm-first systems.
Hive Security Products
| Product | What It Does | UK Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hive Motion Sensor | Indoor movement detection with app notifications | ~£39 |
| Hive Action Sensor | Door/window contact event detection | ~£39 |
| Hive View Indoor Camera | 1080p indoor monitoring with two-way audio | ~£99.99 |
| Hive View Outdoor Camera | IP-rated outdoor camera with night visibility | £189.99 |
Hive sells components separately rather than as a full alarm kit bundle.
Hive Plus Subscription
Hive Plus adds camera-oriented features including 30-day history, advanced motion zones, and AI-assisted person detection. Without Hive Plus, cameras can still provide live view and basic notifications but do not retain historical clips.
This means Hive can work with low recurring spend for awareness use cases, while subscriptions become relevant when playback history and richer event filtering are important.
Smart Home Integrations
Hive's best use case is integrated smart home behavior across heating, lights, and awareness devices in one app. Motion can trigger lighting scenes, door events can prompt notifications, and routines can be managed without juggling multiple platforms.
Alexa and Google integrations are supported, while HomeKit is not. Hive remains a relatively closed ecosystem without broad third-party protocol expansion like Z-Wave or Zigbee-focused platforms.
Pros
UK-native support via British Gas
Customer support channels are UK-based, which many households prefer over offshore workflows.
No contract lock-in
Hardware ownership and optional plans avoid long-term commitment pressure.
Strong fit for existing Hive homes
Security add-ons integrate naturally with existing heating and smart-home routines.
Simple setup experience
Accessories pair quickly with the Hive hub through guided app setup.
Useful baseline automation options
Common routines like motion-triggered lights are straightforward to configure in-app.
Cons
No professional monitoring
Hive remains an awareness layer without responder-backed 24/7 protection workflows.
No traditional alarm siren stack
Deterrence depends primarily on cameras and notifications, not a full alarm architecture.
Product range contraction risk
Some historical accessory lines were discontinued, so roadmap stability should be monitored.
Closed ecosystem constraints
Limited protocol openness reduces flexibility compared with more interoperable platforms.
Security-specific review signal is diluted
Brand reviews often mix heating and security experiences, reducing clarity for alarm-only buyers.
Who It's Best For
Existing Hive heating customers
Ideal for adding basic security awareness without adding new app ecosystems.
Homeowners wanting simple camera coverage
Practical for straightforward outdoor/indoor visual monitoring with UK support channels.
Users preferring unified smart-home control
Good fit when minimizing app fragmentation is a primary decision factor.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Anyone needing full alarm response with monitoring center escalation.
- Users requiring HomeKit or broad third-party device protocol support.
- Buyers wanting the largest dedicated alarm accessory ecosystem.
- Households not already invested in Hive platform value.
Hive FAQs
No. Hive offers cameras and sensors but not a full traditional alarm siren and monitored responder stack.
No. Hive is self-monitoring only. Notifications are sent to your phone and any emergency escalation is user-led.
Basic notifications and live view can work without subscription, but cloud history and some advanced camera features require Hive Plus.
Hive supports Alexa and Google integrations but does not provide native HomeKit support.
Yes, but the range has changed over time. Always check current availability before investing in a long-term accessory plan.
How It Compares
Hive vs Yale
Yale offers a more complete alarm stack; Hive is stronger as smart-home extension for existing users.
Hive vs Ring
Ring provides broader alarm-centric accessories; Hive is simpler for British Gas ecosystem households.
Hive vs SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe is a full no-contract monitored alarm option; Hive is awareness-first and self-monitoring only.
Bottom Line
Hive security works best as a practical smart-home awareness layer, especially for households already using Hive heating and automation products. Its strengths are simplicity, UK support, and no-contract flexibility. Its limits are equally clear: no professional monitoring and no full traditional alarm architecture. Use Hive when convenience and ecosystem continuity matter most; choose a dedicated monitored alarm when response depth is the priority.
Explore Hive's Smart Home Security Range
Hive security accessories are available at hivehome.com and through British Gas.
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