ADT Home Security Review 2024

ADT at a Glance

ADT has been in the security business since 1874, and its headquarters are in Boca Raton, Florida. The company offers home and commercial security systems as well as monitoring systems, alerting authorities to burglar, fire and carbon monoxide alarms to keep its customers safe.

We think ADT’s a great fit for customers who want professional installation. While there are some DIYable installations, ADT’s history of reliability is largely due to the fact that it has trained, professional installation technicians installing these systems in customer homes. 

The cost of a home security plan depends on the type of equipment selected, the professional monitoring plan selected and installation and activation fees. ADT sells packages and standalone devices, and most of its prices are easily found on the company’s website. 

ADT provides customers with a six-month money-back guarantee, which applies after ADT has made attempts to resolve a system-related issue. Self Setup systems require the purchase and continual monthly payment of both QSP and professional monitoring at the time of activation to be eligible. Additionally, ADT offers a theft protection guarantee, subject to the terms of the Residential Services Contract, covering up to $500 of your insurance deductible if a burglary occurs while your system is armed. The company provides professional installation, customizable packages and 24/7 professional monitoring.

 ADT Security System Components

ADT offers a wide range of devices for their security system customers. These devices are available in curated packages as well as stand-alone purchases so customers can design or expand their systems as they wish. 

Smart Hub

ADT’s smart hub is the base unit or cornerstone of their systems. Rather than being a standalone tower like many other brands, ADT’s is a touchscreen security panel that users can program devices and set the different zones and settings for their system.

Door and Window Sensors

ADT’s door and window sensors are the same, and they consist of a two-part system: the alarm device and a magnet. They’re compatible with just about any doorway or window that opens.

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Indoor Cameras

ADT partnered with Google Nest Cam to provide indoor/outdoor camera options. These cameras come in battery or hardwired versions and they detect familiar faces, offer night vision, talk and listen and provide HD video.

Outdoor Cameras

The same cameras that ADT provides for indoor use also work outdoors, and they’re available in battery or wired versions. There is also a version with built-in floodlights activated by motion. 

Doorbell Cameras

ADT’s doorbell camera is another partnered-product with Google Nest. It provides alerts, talk and listen, night vision, familiar face alerts and even package detection. 

Smart Locks

ADT partnered with Kwikset to provide convenient smart door locks. These locks allow for keyless access, remote control and personalize key codes. They can also be programmed to work with automations, such as arming the alarm system. 

Leak Detectors/Smoke Alarms

The ADT product line also includes water and temperature sensors to detect leaks or dangerously low temperatures. There is also a smoke detector. Although a carbon monoxide detector is not available through the regular menu, you can find it later on in the package assembly options.

ADT Home Security Smart Home Integration

ADT is compatible with a wide range of smart home devices. This includes Apple Home Kit (and Siri), Alexa, and Google Assistant. ADT says users can automate devices including garage door openers, smart plugs, smart locks, smart doorbells, smart thermostats and other appliances. The smart home hub makes controlling these devices from one platform possible. 

Users can also download the ADT app to their phones for more access. This app makes it possible to view live video, set the home’s temperature, turn on lights or disarm the system, as examples.

ADT Home Security Plans and Pricing

ADT offers three basic packages. They include the Build Your Own, Starter and Premium plans. Each includes different items and, therefore, has its own cost associated with it.

Build Your Own: Perfect Home Security Starter Package

The BYO plan is perfect for the homeowner only looking for basic protection. This plan will alert homeowners of intrusions and smoke or CO leaks. 

Smart Home: Full Control with Outstanding Protection

The Smart Home monitoring plan is ideal for homeowners with smart devices looking for a more hands-on approach to home security. This plan offers remote app-based system control to disable alarms and control other smart devices.

Complete Plan: Comprehensive Protection

The Complete Plan is the most comprehensive professional monitoring option ADT offers. It includes remote access to live cameras and trigger-based video surveillance. This plan is ideal for homeowners with a second home or small children.

Build Your Own Custom Home Security

Customers who would rather build their own kit have that flexibility as well. They can choose from a range of products and purchase them in any quantity, allowing them to customer the system they build for their home. The only requirement is the smart hub, as everything else is optional.

For example, customers can choose as many door or window sensors as they need, as well as water sensors and thermostats for their specific needs. The Build Your Own Kit starts at $146.23, though users can spend a bit more for the Starter Kit or the Premium Kit, which come with more devices to start (usually at a savings). 

Home Security Packages

ADT offers a comprehensive package option with pro monitoring services. All home security packages include 24/7 professional monitoring, theft protection, service and repairs, a six-month money-back guarantee and professional installation.

Comparison of Equipment Packages

Monitoring Plans

ADT home security packages require a professional monitoring plan that gives customers 24/7 professional monitoring by ADT experts. The company has six state-of-the-art monitoring centers. ADT professionals will immediately contact emergency services if a fire, theft or carbon monoxide leak occurs. Customers who already have an existing system installed can get 24/7 monitoring starting at just $29.99 per month.

Comparison of Professional Monitoring Plans

Build Your Own: Perfect Home Security Starter Package

The BYO plan is perfect for the homeowner only looking for basic protection. This plan will alert homeowners of intrusions and smoke or CO leaks. 

Smart Home: Full Control with Outstanding Protection

The Smart Home monitoring plan is ideal for homeowners with smart devices looking for a more hands-on approach to home security. This plan offers remote app-based system control to disable alarms and control other smart devices.

Complete Plan: Comprehensive Protection

The Complete Plan is the most comprehensive professional monitoring option ADT offers. It includes remote access to live cameras and trigger-based video surveillance. This plan is ideal for homeowners with a second home or small children.

ADT Home Security App and Add-ons

Customers can choose add-ons like video security, additional home security equipment, life safety devices and home automation devices, including:

• Outdoor Google Nest Cam 
• Google Nest Cam With Floodlight 
• Google Nest Doorbell 
• Indoor Google Nest Cam 
• Add-on door and window sensor 
• Add-on motion detector 
• Add-on wireless touchscreen 
• Smoke detector 
• Combo smoke and CO detector 
• Flood detector 
• Google Nest Wi-Fi and Point 
• Google Nest Mini 
• Google Nest Hub Max 
• Google Nest Thermostat 
• Smart door lock

Smart Home Integration

ADT offers smart-home functionalities with some of its packages. ADT includes a smart lock in its Smart Home package and Google Nest Cam and Doorbell on the Video and Smart Home package. 

ADT home security devices work with Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa and Hey Google Assistant. The company’s platform integrates with Google Nest devices, Z-Wave devices and a variety of other approved smart home devices from best-in-class smart home brands.

Smart Hub Home System

The ADT Control app is your home’s smart hub system. It allows you to control approved devices, including:

• Smart lights
• Smart thermostats
• Garage doors
• Google Nest Doorbells
• Smart plugs
• Security cameras
• Smart door locks
• CO and fire sensors
• Flood sensors

Video Storage

For customers with a Command system and Sercomm cameras, video storage depends on the chosen service plan and the number of clips stored and uploaded. Generally, 6,000 clips are uploaded and stored per month for Command. For customers with Nest cameras, subscriptions to Nest Aware provide access to 30 days of event video history, or to Nest Aware Plus, which offers 60 days of event video history along with 10 days of 24/7 video history.

Mobile Apps

ADT has two mobile apps, the ADT+ app and ADT Control app, which allow customers to control their security and smart home devices or stream live video from their cameras while away from home using a smartphone. With the ADT Control app or ADT+ app, users can control approved devices from virtually anywhere, including:

• Get alerts if the status of a sensor changes
• Arm or disarm your system
• Turn on the lights
• Set the temperature before you get home
• View live video from any of your security cameras

ADT also offers SoSecure by ADT, helping customers get in touch with emergency services while on the go with three forms of help: SOS Chat, SOS Slider and SOS.

Installing ADT Home Security

We wanted to get a true feel for the customer journey. We went through the process of designing a system for our mock home to determine how easy it was to get a price. There’s a lot of back and forth on the ADT website when comparing packages, but ultimately, putting the package together ourselves was relatively straightforward.

• House size: 2,000 square feet
• What we need: A smart hub, entry sensors for basement and first floor windows and doors, doorbell, smoke detectors, water leak detector, indoor camera and two outdoor cameras.

We started with the Secure Home Package and built on to it. The process was straightforward. All we did was work our way down the page, adding devices as needed. Every time we’d add a device, the monthly equipment price would adjust accordingly, making it easy to judge how much we’d be paying. After purchasing, you’ll receive a confirmation that allows you to schedule your installation. Pleasantly, the price is included in the equipment price. 

What We Like About ADT Home Security

We like that ADT takes the installation out of the equation for folks that don’t want to install their security systems themselves. ADT makes it easy to get these systems installed, and even includes the cost in the price. 

We also like that the ADT systems are fairly flexible when it comes to smart home integration. It’s compatible with many systems and components and the smart hub can serve as a platform to customize them.

What We Didn’t Like About ADT Home Security

The 36-month commitment for monitoring isn’t great and seems a bit excessive. Also, ADT’s prices are slightly higher than most of the competitors (though monitoring is close to being on par). Overall, it’s the contract length we struggle with.

How ADT Home Security Stacks Up

ADT Home Security vs. SimpliSafe

In the fight between ADT and SimpliSafe, ADT pulls out ahead thanks to its flexibility with smart home devices. SimpliSafe is less expensive and doesn’t require a long-term contract, but ADT is extremely reliable, and it performs better with more functionality when it comes to smart home devices.

Learn more: SimpliSafe review

ADT Home Security vs. Vivint

Vivint excels when it comes to customizability. And, like ADT, it requires professional monitoring service. It’s also even more smart-home friendly than ADT, though its pricing isn’t as transparent. We place Vivint slightly ahead of ADT, but the two are very close

***Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission was reviewing claims regarding Vivint accounts being opened improperly. Make sure to properly vet every company you consider.

Learn more: Vivint review

What Are People Saying About ADT Home Security

We wanted to make sure that shoppers got the full jist of what it’s like to be an ADT customer. Overall, it seems customer service is ADT’s greatest challenge, along with the fact that customers feel they aren’t allowed to cancel their services. Otherwise, ADT carries a stellar reputation.

Is ADT Home Security the Right Home Security System for You?

From our perspective, ADT isn’t a great choice for folks who want bargain basement prices or customizable, no-commitment monitoring plans. Otherwise, ADT’s a great move for most folks, as it comes with free professional installation and fair monitoring prices. The quality of products the company uses with (and the companies it partners with) are top-tier, as well. We feel ADT, despite not being the cheapest option, is still a great deal for most folks.

Methodology – How We Selected the Best Home Security Companies

To determine the best home security companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 22 companies and 133 systems across 68 different attributes broken into categories represented in the below pie chart:

You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates home security companies in our detailed methodology page.