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ADT Home Security Review 2024: Tested and Rated
ADT's monitoring capabilities make it a good pick for a home security system, but the self-install system is pricey.
Dalia Ramirez Writer | Estate planning, home security
Dalia Ramirez writes about home services and estate planning for NerdWallet. She has a Bachelor of Arts in science and technology studies and critical theory from Wesleyan University. Her work has appeared in publications including The Washington Post, Bloomberg and The Associated Press. She is based in New York City.
Claire Tsosie Assigning Editor | Home services, Social Security, estate planning, credit cards, crypto, business software
Claire Tsosie is an assigning editor for the team responsible for expanding NerdWallet content to additional topics within personal finance. She has edited articles on a variety of topics, including home improvement, Social Security, estate planning, Medicare, crypto and business software. Previously, she was a credit cards writer at NerdWallet. Her work was featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press.
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NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$194.98
Base kit comes with 1 ADT Smart Home Hub and 1 ADT Door/Window Sensor.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$24.99 and up
$34.99 with cameras. A monitoring plan is required with equipment purchase (1 month minimum for self setup and a several-year contract with professional installation), but you can arm and disarm a self-setup system for free after the first month.
Hazard detection
Add-on CO detector, smoke detector and water/temperature sensor.
View details
Key facts
ADT is the most established home security provider, with well-reviewed professional monitoring services.
Pros
Owns 6 U.S.-based professional monitoring centers.
Integrates with Google Nest cameras.
Has been operating for over 150 years.
Cons
Has had a security breach.
Required monthly monitoring fees for all plans, ranging from one month to 3-5 years.
Monitoring fees are high compared to other providers.
ADT is a home security provider that offers self-setup and professionally installed alarm systems and cameras. The company’s long-term contracts can feel restrictive, but the benefits may be worth it for customers who want professional installation, a monitored home security system and a household name.
ADT has been operating for more than 150 years, making it one of the most well-known names in home security. The company has transitioned from more traditional home security equipment to newer technology by collaborating with Google Nest for cameras and video doorbells.
We tested ADT home security equipment and found the system to be functional and user-friendly to set up, though integrating the equipment with Nest products was complicated.
Overall, ADT products are expensive for what you get compared to other providers, especially the self-setup system, but the company’s tried-and-true professional monitoring makes their pro-install system a good pick.
Pros
Cons
Owns six U.S.-based professional monitoring centers, leading to fast alarm response times.
Required monthly monitoring fees for all plans, ranging from one month to three to five years. Monitoring fees are high compared to other providers.
Integrates directly with Google Nest devices and can connect with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Had a security breach in 2020 that affected customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area.
Deciding factors
One-time costs
About $195 for basic equipment.
Monthly fees
$24.99 and up.
Installation
Professional install and self-setup options. Pro installed systems start at $499 with a required monitoring contract starting at $24.99 per month.
Video monitoring
Self-setup:
$24.99 per month for pro monitoring with no cameras.
$34.99 per month for pro monitoring with cameras.
Pro install:
$45.99 per month for pro monitoring with no cameras.
$59.99 per month for pro monitoring with cameras.
Contract
36-month minimum for professionally installed system; 24 months in California.
How does ADT work?
To purchase an ADT system, you visit the company’s website and select a package. The company will mail your equipment.
Pro install
If you choose professional installation, you’ll schedule an appointment for an ADT technician to come to your home and set up the equipment. Appointments are usually available within three days. A professionally installed ADT system will run from a control panel wired into your wall and come with a required professional monitoring contract, typically three years, starting at $45.99 per month.
Self-setup
If you choose self-setup, you’ll follow the instructions in the included setup guide and control your system through a smart hub device. If you need extra help, you can consult the ADT virtual assistant feature on the app. Self-setup systems require at least one month of professional monitoring, starting at $24.99 per month. After the first month, you can call ADT to downgrade to free self-monitoring.
How much does ADT cost?
ADT offers six home security system packages; three are self-setup packages and three are pro-install packages. We found that the company often runs promotions, typically discounting self-setup packages by up to 25% with a required one-month-minimum professional monitoring plan. Sometimes it also discounts professionally installed packages (or includes a free video doorbell) with the purchase of a several-year contract. The prices below are list prices.
Self-Setup
Package
Price
What you get
Build Your Own
$194.98
Smart home hub, door/window sensor and app.
Starter
$389.96
Everything in Build Your Own package plus one more sensor (two total) and a Google Nest doorbell.
Premium
$744.92
Everything in Starter package plus an indoor camera, outdoor camera, smoke detector and water/temperature sensor.
Pro-Install
Package
Price
What you get
Build Your Own
$499.99
Control panel, door/window sensor and app.
36-month professional monitoring contract required ($24.99 per month).
Smart Home
$778.00
Everything in Build Your Own plus one more sensor (two total) and a Google Nest doorbell.
36-month professional monitoring contract required ($34.99 per month).
Video and Smart Home
$1,586.00
Everything in Smart Home package plus an indoor camera, outdoor camera, smoke detector, water detector and temperature sensor.
36-month professional monitoring contract required ($34.99 per month).
Our experience with ADT
We tested ADT’s Self-Setup Build Your Own package, which comes with one month of required professional monitoring.
What we liked
Easy device setup
The hub had very clear setup instructions, and the devices in a kit come pre-connected so that once you set up the hub, the accessory items (such as a door sensor) are already visible in the ADT app. We just had to pull the battery tab to activate the sensor, which flashed a blue LED light and triggered a two-tone chime noise on the hub. It didn’t take long for the app and hub to connect to Wi-Fi, and there’s not a complicated Wi-Fi setup like some other providers.
(Photo by Dalia Ramirez.)
Test mode
With a professional monitoring plan, your system will be in “Test mode” for the first seven days so that you can practice triggering alarms without the monitoring center contacting emergency services. We found this feature helpful in testing out the system. Several other providers have a similar feature. With ADT, you can switch to test mode anytime in-app for up to 24 hours.
Easy to arm and disarm
We were able to arm and disarm our system with a custom four-digit passcode in the app or on the hub keypad. With a professional monitoring plan, we could also generate a unique verbal passcode to speak to ADT agents in case of an alarm event to verify our identity, which other professionally monitored systems also have (SimpliSafe calls this a “Safeword”).
Customization
In the ADT app settings, you can set up Alexa or Google Assistant integration, add users, customize alert tones and timing, and add “rules” to automate your home. For example, you can set your system to automatically arm at 10 p.m. every night.
Compared to other providers, the ADT app is very simple; there are only these settings, the buttons to arm and disarm the system and an event history.
Customer service
Each time we contacted customer service during our testing (to inquire about shipment delays, to verify pricing information and to disable professional monitoring after our testing period), we got through to ADT customer service on the phone very quickly, and the agents were helpful, friendly and professional.
What we didn’t like
Multiple apps needed for Nest integration
Google Nest’s security products can integrate with ADT products — but we found the process frustrating. Google Nest cameras and doorbells require both the Google Home app and the Nest app to access video recordings with a Nest Aware subscription. To integrate an ADT alarm system with Nest cameras, you need to connect all three apps. This took almost an hour of attempts and a lot of online help page research, and we were eventually unable to get Google Nest device access in the ADT app.
We had to log into each account several times and enable device sharing in each app. It was also unclear which app or device should be used primarily to control the system.
(Photo by Dalia Ramirez.)
We were, however, able to connect our Nest Hub with the ADT hub and alarm system, arm and disarm the system from the Nest Hub, and view the ADT devices in the Google Home App.
(Photo by Dalia Ramirez.)
Some Nest devices aren’t supported
ADT alarm systems integrate with some Nest cameras (mostly newer models) but not all: they won’t connect with the Google Nest Cam Indoor or Outdoor, the Google Nest Hello, or Nest Cam IQ cameras.
When Nest Secure, Google’s own home security line, was discontinued in April 2024, former users were given a credit to replace their systems with ADT alarm equipment, but some were likely unable to connect their older-model Nest cameras (which weren’t discontinued) to their new ADT systems.
Sensor install
ADT’s door sensors come with an adhesive on the back. Like other providers’ sensors, they sometimes take off wall paint when removed.
The magnet part of the door sensor, which sticks onto the moving part of the door to trigger an alarm when it’s opened, had a slim, vertical shape without much surface area to stick onto the door. When we tapped the sensor, it fell off, lost its stick and was hard to reattach.
(Photo by Dalia Ramirez.)
(Photo by Dalia Ramirez.)
Shipping and packaging
We had some issues with delivery, which we didn’t have with any other provider we tested. The products were shipped via FedEx, and while the label was marked as created the day after the order, the package didn’t register as “On the way” until 10 days later. It's unclear if the problem was due to ADT or FedEx, but the package was unable to deliver and required a pickup.
Separately, the packaging was a bit excessive for the quantity of items included. Our kit only came with one sensor and the hub, but was shipped in a fairly large box. The package contained a smaller box for “sensors and accessories” that was much bigger than the small sensor inside it.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$249.96
Base kit includes one base station, one keypad, one entry sensor and one motion sensor. Sometimes you can get a free Smart Alarm wireless indoor security camera and a free trial of professional monitoring if they're running a promotion.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$19.99
Self monitoring available for $9.99 per month. You can also access basic features with no plan.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke/CO detector, water and temperature sensor.
View details
Key facts
SimpliSafe offers comprehensive packages at affordable prices with both self- and pro-monitoring subscription options.
Pros
Offers affordable packages with add-ons and a build-your-own-system option.
No record of security breaches.
Can be self-monitored for free.
Cons
Only integrates with Alexa, Google and Apple Watch for smart home automation, which requires a paid monthly plan.
Doesn’t offer facial recognition like some other providers, such as Ring.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$244.95
Base kit includes alarm base station, keypad, door/window contact sensor, motion detector, alarm range extender and free 30-day trial of Ring Protect professional monitoring. Pro starter kit comes with a Wifi router.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$20
Other features/self monitoring available with plans starting at $4.99 per month. You'll need at least the basic plan to arm and disarm your system remotely.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke/CO detector and listener, flood and freeze sensor.
View details
Key facts
Ring offers affordable professional monitoring and a DIY system with high-quality cameras.
Pros
Lowest-priced professional monitoring service among competitors.
Offers a self-monitoring option with rich video features.
Pro system includes a Wi-Fi router that can replace or extend your existing coverage
Cons
Has had a security breach.
Can only integrate with Alexa, not Google, unless you use a third-party app.
Requires a paid monthly subscription starting at $4.99 if you want to arm and disarm the alarm system from your phone.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$159.99
Base kit includes security hub, key fob and mini sensor for door/window.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$24.99
Self monitoring with extra features is $7.99 per month, but you can also use basic features for free.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke alarm monitor and leak detector.
No actual smoke/CO detector.
View details
Key facts
Abode's security system is compatible with the widest range of smart home products including Amazon Echo, Google Home and Nest.
Pros
Can be self-monitored for free.
No record of security breaches.
The alarm system can be connected directly to an ethernet cable or work wirelessly with your Wi-Fi network.
Cons
Smart detection requires a paid subscription starting at $6.99 per month.
Doesn’t offer an actual smoke alarm, just a smoke alarm monitor.
We collect data from providers and do firsthand testing as necessary. Our process starts by gathering information from providers and contacting providers for further information where needed. This information, combined with our specialists’ hands-on research, makes up our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance. The final output produces star ratings from poor (1 star) to excellent (5 stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. Learn more about our ratings methodology here.
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