Kini is very reliable. I checked it on the shelf and in the drawer, and it notified me every time it was opened. It also keeps a log with calculated times. While alerts go through the cloud, Kinisium’s maker says it doesn’t collect data, and you can turn logging off entirely if you like. Kini also has a Stasis mode, so you can pause it and alert you if there hasn’t been any movement in a set amount of time. This makes it a versatile monitoring device, and you can use this mode to make sure an elderly relative opens their medicine cabinet every day or check what time your dog walker opened the door. Kini is also compatible with IFTTT automation, and there is even webhook integration that can send notifications to a custom URL.
More motion sensors
There are a number of other motion sensors that can detect movement or presence in an area or room and trigger a light, but what’s right for you depends on your current smart home setup.
I really like the Eve Motion sensor, but if you want it to trigger alerts, you need a smart home hub, and you have to set it to default. It is a reliable sensor that works indoors or outdoors. I tested it with the Google Home system.
The Aqara FP2 Presence Sensor ($83) has many features, including local and multi-person detection, and is compatible with all smart-home ecosystems, although it may not always be very accurate in identifying the number of people in a room. The affordable Aqara FP300 ($50) is an adequate presence detector for most people and can track light, temperature, and humidity.
The Switchbot Presence Sensor ($30) is the most affordable sensor I’ve tested and has a similar feature set, but you’ll need the Switchbot hub if you want alerts, and there’s some overlap between detecting and alerting.
The Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor is great, but only if you already have a Hue setup, because it requires a Hue Bridge to connect to. I put the sensor in my yard and tested it with the Bridge Pro. It reliably detects people with fewer false positives. I configured my outdoor sensor to turn on a strip of light behind the house (not Hue) after sunset and send me a notification when it’s triggered between certain hours (between midnight and 6 am) using Google Gemini.
There’s also the Philips Hue Indoor Motion Sensor and Contact Sensor ($40) for doors and windows. Both are very reliable and can be configured to trigger alerts.
Smart Light Sensor
As an interesting alternative to motion sensors, you can also use some smart lights to detect presence and movement indoors.
Wiz SpaceSense
If you have a few Wiz lights, you can try SpaceSense, which uses Wi-Fi to detect movement in rooms. I wasn’t impressed when I tried SpaceSense, but how effective it is depends on how many Wiz lights there are and where they are located. I’ve also been testing it as a way to automatically turn on lights, and there’s a luxury that limits its use to that effect. But as a security alert that can tell you if there is movement in your home when you are not there, it can be very useful. If you already have Wiz lights, you might as well give it a try, as it doesn’t require registration.
Philips Hue MotionAware
Signify is the parent company of Wiz and Philips Hue, and MotionAware is very similar to SpaceSense, but uses Zigbee, rather than Wi-Fi. Also, how well it works depends on the number of Philips Hue lights you have and their configuration. Unfortunately, it requires registration if you want to receive alerts. MotionAware can trigger lights at no extra cost, but if you want motion alerts, you have to pay $1 a month or $10 a year. It’s also included in Hue Secure subscriptions starting at $4 per month.
Many Other Protection Mechanisms
You might consider a modular security system. We like the Simplisafe system, which offers a base station, keypad, and array of sensors. You can also find modular systems from security specialists like ADT and Vivint, as well as security camera makers like Eufy and Arlo.
