ADT Home Security Review

If you’re going to go with ADT, you’ll get better value with one of the more expensive plans. We suggest, at the very least, getting the Video plan. That way, you’ll have app access with your ADT alarm.

But if home automation is a deal-breaker for you and you have money to spare, we recommend going for the highest plan. With the Complete plan, you’ll gain video storage with your monitoring service. (That includes 24/7 video recording, which is arguably ADT’s best feature.)

With Complete, you’ll get mobile access, video storage, and home automation. That means you can add smart devices to your ADT security devices.

ADT has some of the priciest home security packages on the market, which is a thumbs down. The prices are a lot, and so are some of the monitoring plans.

But the company also has a money-back guarantee for cancellations made 6 months after purchase, which is a thumbs up. However, they can only provide a money-back guarantee if the system or equipment issue cannot be solved by ADT.**

We won’t lie: overall, ADT charges a lot more than most of its competitors. But if you want that brand name recognition, it comes at a premium.

ADT is probably the most trusted name in home security, and with good reason. It’s been around for over 147 years, and it offers professional monitoring with multiple monitoring centers.

The typical ADT contract is 36 months, which is the market standard right now. Unless you’re in California—then you only need to commit to ADT for 24 months. More on that later.

Once you install ADT, you have six months to confirm the system and equipment work well for you. If you want to cancel at any time during those six months, ADT will refund your money only after attempting to solve system-related issues. 

Without any systemic issues, you have to pay 75% of your remaining contract as a cancellation fee.** That’s a pretty standard industry cancellation policy, but it’s still a huge barrier if you need to get out of your contract (especially if you’re canceling for financial reasons).

ADT doesn’t make its own equipment but has a good selection.

ADT offers three packages at different price ranges. There is the Secure Home, Smart Home, and Video and Smart Home. 

Each of these packages includes the basic features: 1 touchscreen panel, 24/7 alarm monitoring, 3 sensors, and professional installation.

ADT has a not-insignificant range of equipment, including the following:

• Control panel
• Doorbell camera
• Indoor camera
• Outdoor camera
• Siren
• Glass break sensor
• Shock sensor
• Motion sensor
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Smoke detector
• Smoke/carbon monoxide detector combo
• Smart lock
• Remote smart light module
• Remote smart thermostat
• Garage door controller
• Smart LED light bulb

Your ADT equipment isn’t proprietary. It’s made by a third party, like Alarm.com or Honeywell. On the one hand, it’s annoying to pay so much for generic pieces. But on the other hand, you may be able to reuse them with another monitoring company after your ADT contract ends.

With that in mind, let’s take a close look at some of ADT's most unique equipment offerings.

This sensor shocks anyone who tries to break into your house. Okay, no, that sounds cool, but it’s not true.

The shock sensor detects shock waves a.k.a. any impact against your window or door. If someone tries to break glass or use a battering ram, you’ll know.

If you’re wondering, “How does that differ from a glass break or window sensor?” the answer is: it doesn’t really. It gets pretty much the same results, but with a different approach.

Most smoke detectors or carbon monoxide sensors tend to be pretty basic, so we’re really digging ADT's security detectors. When your device goes off, it does the following:

• Sends you notifications
• Calls the ADT monitoring team
• Sounds a siren
• Shines lights

ADT's smoke and CO detectors are also tamper-protected and work in a large range of temperatures and humidity. Things don’t get much safer than that.

A lot of home security companies love to highlight their cameras. ADT isn’t one of those, and we understand why. To all appearances, ADT security cameras aren’t bad, but they’re not groundbreaking either.

ADT offers indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras. With a camera and one of the two ADT Security plans, you can enjoy remote viewing, cloud storage, and 24/7 professional video recording. And if you're a fan of Nest indoor, outdoor, or doorbell cameras, ADT is now promoting Nest equipment.  

You get good home automation with ADT with a higher-tier package.

ADT’s compatible with Alexa, Google, and the Z-Wave protocol, so it will connect with most smart home devices. And if you're 

ADT requires a professional’s touch.

ADT security systems are all professionally installed. (ADT Self Setup which is self-installed, is a whole other service.)

You don’t have to lift a finger during the actual installation process, but you do have to block out a time to be home when the techs arrive (and pay the installation fees).

ADT doesn't have a moving policy on its corporate website. Based on customer experiences, it sounds like you can buy out your contract, transfer it to the new homeowners, or move your service to a new dwelling. But even if you take your service with you, ADT may require you to pay off your old equipment in full and/or pay for upgrades at the new place.

Your level of customer service will rely heavily on the dealer you buy from.

Don’t get us wrong. A lot of ADT customers are happy with their service. But like with any company, there are some things ADT could do better.

According to Consumer Affairs and the BBB, one of the biggest roadblocks of using an ADT dealer is the business model.

ADT doesn’t work like McDonald’s franchises. ADT dealers don’t always have strong, centralized leadership to keep things consistent.

Instead, they use fragmented approaches to selling, equipment packages, and installation. That makes the customer experience far from consistent, and therein lies a lot of potential for frustration.

Speaking of frustration, we see the following main complaints against multiple dealers:

• Unexplained fees
• Unexpected charges
• Misrepresented services

We don’t love that the same types of complaints pop up repeatedly. It’s not a good look for any security company.

We’ve heard of alarm companies that pretend to be ADT dealers but aren’t. If you didn’t reach out to ADT yet ADT salespeople show up on your doorstep, hold off on signing anything until you do more research. Those folks may not be from ADT.

ADT is one of the most expensive national home security companies. Only Vivint comes close in price.

But ADT also has a longstanding reputation that makes its prices worth it for those who want a guaranteed security brand.

ADT solutions fill a lot of needs if you’re willing to pay the price.

ADT is familiar to people. It’s synonymous with home security. And if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, or if you don’t mind paying extra to access them, then you’re going to be satisfied with ADT.

Let’s walk through what you can expect with ADT one more time.

• Pricing: ADT’s prices are sky high if you want anything other than a landline system.
• Equipment: ADT equipment is fairly generic and might be reusable for another monitoring company.
• Home automation: The ADT system is compatible with most major smart home devices. You just have to pay extra for app use and full automation.
• Installation: Sit back and relax while the professionals do all the installation work.
• Customer experience: Your customer experience will largely depend on the dealer you use (if you choose not to go with ADT corporate).

But if you’re tired of paying a ton of money for home security, or if you want a DIY system, or if you’re just looking for something different, ADT isn’t the end-all-be-all. Check out our best home security recommendations for plenty of other options.

When rating home security services, and specifically with this ADT security review, we frequently consider the following points:

1. Price: We understand that affordability is a significant consideration for homeowners seeking reliable security solutions. We carefully analyze the pricing structures of ADT's home security services to determine the best value for your investment.
2. Equipment: The quality and range of equipment provided by a security service can greatly impact its effectiveness. We thoroughly examine the security equipment offerings, assessing the reliability, durability, and technological advancements of the equipment to ensure it meets the highest standards.
3. Smart home integrations: In today's interconnected world, the integration of security systems with smart home technology has become increasingly important. We evaluate the compatibility and functionality of each service's smart home integrations, ensuring seamless connectivity and control over your security system.
4. Security cameras: Surveillance cameras play a vital role in deterring potential intruders and capturing crucial evidence in the event of a security breach. We carefully assess the camera options offered by different services, including their resolution, field of view, night vision capabilities, and additional features.
5. Customer experience: A positive customer experience is paramount when it comes to home security services. We consider factors such as responsiveness, professionalism, and the overall satisfaction of customers to gauge the level of service provided by each company.

In addition to these fundamental points, we conducted an in-depth review where we placed particular emphasis on two additional aspects:

• Installation Type: We recognize that the installation process can greatly influence the overall user experience. We examine the installation options provided by each service, including professional installation and do-it-yourself (DIY) setups, to evaluate the convenience, reliability, and ease of use for homeowners.

• Video Storage: The ability to store and access recorded footage is a critical aspect of any home security system. We carefully analyze the video storage capabilities offered by each service, including factors like cloud storage options, storage duration, and accessibility, to determine the level of convenience and security provided.

For this particular review, we also lived with an ADT home security system for a few weeks to get a more detailed experience.

ADT has a long history and tons of past and present customers, so there’s a lot to talk about.