In this guide
What we like
- The lowest entry cost of any system here
- Monitoring priced well below the market
- Genuinely renter-friendly — adhesive mounting, nothing drilled
- Simple enough to set up in minutes
What to watch
- Limited sensor and camera range
- Build quality reflects the price
- Automation and integrations are minimal
- Smaller company with a shorter track record
What the low price actually buys
Kangaroo’s proposition is simple: entry sensors and motion sensors at a fraction of what the majors charge, with optional professional monitoring in the low teens per month.
For a small flat, the practical security question is usually narrow — does the front door open, and does something move in the living room while I am out. Kangaroo answers both for less than the cost of a single SimpliSafe sensor bundle.
Sensors are adhesive-mounted, so nothing is drilled and everything comes with you. For renters on a budget this is a legitimate first line of defence, and considerably better than the common alternative of nothing at all.
Where it stops
Cameras are limited in range and quality. If video matters, pair it with something else or choose differently.
Automation is essentially absent. Voice assistant support is basic. There is no meaningful integration story.
Build quality reflects the price. Plastics are light and adhesive quality is ordinary. Expect to re-stick sensors occasionally.
The company is small, with a shorter track record and a smaller support organisation than the majors — a fair consideration when the product is your alarm.
Who should buy Kangaroo
Consider Kangaroo if you are in a studio or one-bedroom rental; budget is the binding constraint; you want basic monitored coverage rather than a full system; or you want something entirely reversible.
Look elsewhere if you have a house rather than a flat; you want good cameras; you want automation; or you want a system to grow into. SimpliSafe costs more and does considerably more, and our apartment security guide covers the middle ground.
Sources and review scope
This is a research-based review. Our score is an editorial assessment using our published criteria; it is not a hands-on test result. We have not independently measured this product’s performance or long-term reliability.
What to check for your setup: Kangaroo devices need Wi-Fi internet to communicate with the app. The Motion + Entry Sensor shown is one component of a wider kit; professional monitoring comes through Complete Protect, and the linked kit includes one year of that plan, so check availability and renewal terms.
Source notes checked . Prices and offers can change; confirm the current terms for your chosen equipment and plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kangaroo enough security for an apartment?
For a studio or one-bedroom with limited entry points, it covers the basics — door and motion detection with optional monitoring. For a larger flat or a house, it is thin.
Does Kangaroo require a contract?
No. Monitoring is optional and month to month.
Kangaroo or SimpliSafe?
SimpliSafe is a better system in every respect except price. Choose Kangaroo when the cost difference is genuinely decisive.
Full specifications and scores
At a glance
- Installation
- DIY
- Contract
- None
- Monitoring
- Optional professional
- Monthly
- $0–$13
- Equipment
- $30–$180
- Storage
- Cloud
- Works with
- Alexa, Google Assistant (limited)
