Kini is very reliable. I tried it on a drawer and a closet and it always let me know when they were opened. It also keeps a log with the times listed. While alerts are sent through the cloud, manufacturer Kinisium says it doesn’t collect data and you can disable logging entirely if you prefer. Kini also has a Stasis mode, so you can reverse it and have it alert you when there has been no movement for a set period. 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 the dog walker opened a door. Kini also supports IFTTT for automation, and there’s even a webhook integration that can send notifications to a custom URL.

More motion sensors

There are many other motion sensors that can alert you to movement or presence in an area or room and activate lighting, but the right one 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 need to set up automation. It is a reliable sensor that works indoors or outdoors. I tested it with a Google Home system.

The Aqara FP2 Presence Sensor ($83) has many features, including zone and multi-person detection, and is compatible with all major smart home ecosystems, although it’s not always very accurate at identifying the number of people in the room. The more affordable Aqara FP300 ($50) is a good enough presence detector for most people and can also track light, temperature, and humidity.

The Switchbot Presence Sensor ($30) is the most affordable sensor I tested and has a similar feature set, but you’ll need a Switchbot hub if you want alerts, and there’s a lag between detection 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. I installed the sensor in my backyard and tested it with Bridge Pro. It reliably detects people with few false positives. I set up my outdoor sensor to turn on a backyard light strip (not Hue) after sunset and send me a notification when it activates between specific times (midnight and 6am) using Google Gemini.

There’s also a Philips Hue indoor motion sensor and a contact sensor ($40) for doors and windows. Both are very reliable and can be configured to trigger alerts.

Smart light detection

As an interesting alternative to dedicated motion sensors, you can also use some smart lights to detect presence and movement indoors.

Wiz SpaceSense

If you have some Wiz lights, you can try SpaceSense, which uses Wi-Fi to detect motion in rooms. I wasn’t very impressed when I tried SpaceSense, but how effectively it works depends on how many Wiz lights you have and where they are located. I was also testing it as a way to turn on the lights automatically, and there is some delay that limits its usefulness in that regard. But as a security alert that can let you know when there is movement in your home when you are away, it could be very useful. If you already have Wiz lights, you can also try it as it does not require a subscription.

Philips Hue MotionAware

Signify is the parent company of Wiz and Philips Hue, and MotionAware is very similar to SpaceSense, but uses Zigbee, instead of Wi-Fi. Again, how it works depends on the number of Philips Hue lights you have and their design. Unfortunately, it requires a subscription if you want to receive alerts. MotionAware can activate lights at no additional cost, but if you want motion alerts, you have to pay $1 per month or $10 per year. It’s also included in Hue Secure subscriptions starting at $4 per month.

More security system alternatives

SimpliSafe

8 Piece Wireless Home Security System

You might consider a modular security system. We like the Simplisafe system, which offers a base station, keypad, and a variety of sensors. You can also find modular systems from security stalwarts like ADT and Vivint, and security camera makers like Eufy and Arlo.