ADT Home Security Review 2019

If you’ve never heard of ADT, then we’re not sure where you’ve been the last 100+ years because that’s how long ADT’s been the biggest name in home security. And there’s a reason for the hype: ADT systems have a long history of reliable service.

But don’t think it’s all sunshine and roses just yet. ADT is a huge company that uses a network of third-party contractors to sell, install, and maintain its alarm systems, so you never know quite what kind of customer experience you’re gonna get.

ADT Protect Your Home monitoring and pricing

Anything above ADT’s landline option gets pretty pricey. But its multiple monitoring centers mean you can count on a quick response.

All ADT systems are professionally monitored. That means if someone breaks into your house, or if your toddler has suddenly learned how to work a doorknob, a professional will respond to anything that triggers your system and call the police (or fire department, or paramedic) if they need to.

You get to choose from a few different connection types, including landline and broadband. But we really recommend cellular—which means subscribing to an ADT Pulse plan.

ADT’s top plans are expensive. You’ll pay more for an ADT Pulse plan than you would for similar plans from other top security companies—like Vivint or Xfinity Home Security—so be sure it has the features you want before you jump on board.

Contracts

Ah, contracts . . . we meet again. Unlike some flashy new contractless security systems out there, ADT does require you to sign a 36-month contract. That’s pretty much the industry standard. (Not that that makes it any less annoying.)

On the bright side, you don’t have to sign until the end of your installation day, after all your equipment is up and in place. So you don’t have to worry that you’ll be signing on for something you don’t want.

ADT Protect Your Home technology and equipment

ADT uses third-party equipment, but they have a full range of basic security sensors and smart home options.

ADT doesn’t have some kind of fancy exclusive equipment. It uses the same standard control panels and sensors we’ve seen from a dozen other security companies. That said, if you opt for one of the ADT Pulse packages, you get full home automation options and control.

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Basic security equipment

Whether you just want to secure your doors and windows or you want a fully armed fortress complete with flood sensors and smart lights, ADT has the equipment you need. The only downside is it’s a guessing game how much it will cost at the end of the day.

ADT doesn’t list its equipment prices online, or anywhere else for that matter. That’s because the prices can change depending on where you live, the details of your installation, which contractor installs your system—and probably the color of your left shoe, for all we know.

You won’t find out the total cost of the equipment you order until your installation date. We don’t love that lack of transparency, but your installation is also pretty flexible. If you decide you don’t want that third indoor camera or that fourth flood sensor, you can nix it from your final package.

Cameras

We gotta say, if you want the best cameras around, then ADT is not our first pick. It offers a few different cameras, including an indoor model, an outdoor model, and a doorbell cam.

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The indoor and outdoor cameras are a bit, dare we say, meh. That’s not to say they’re bad—they’re just missing that razzle dazzle you get from a Vivint Ping camera or a Nest Cam IQ Outdoor.

Both cameras record in HD, but it’s 720p, not 1080p. And neither seems to have a two-way audio function, which means you can’t use the camera to yell at your Labradoodle for jumping on the sofa.

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On the bright side, the indoor camera is wireless, so you can put it wherever you want without having to MacGyver a cord across rooms or up bookshelves to your internet router.

ADT doorbell camera

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It’s what we’ve all been waiting for . . . *drumroll* . . . an ADT doorbell cam! The Vivint doorbell camera has been showing ADT up for years, not to mention DIY options like the Ring Video Doorbell, the Nest Hello, the SimpliSafe doorbell cam . . . we could go on.

Suffice it to say, we’re glad ADT offers a doorbell cam now. It gives you HD recording (although it’s still 720p. We have yet to break the 1080p barrier with ADT). It also gives you two-way audio, so you can tell the Amazon delivery person to hide your new Nintendo Switch behind the potted begonia.

Home automation

We’ll give it to ADT on this one—it has full home automation capabilities. But there’s a caveat: you have to subscribe to an ADT Pulse plan.

We recommend ADT Pulse over your other options anyway, but it’s important to note because ADT Pulse doesn’t come cheap. You’ll pay more for a Pulse plan than you would for a similar plan from Link Interactive, Vivint, or Frontpoint (to name a few).

That said, ADT Pulse gives you access to cooler equipment, more features, and better integrations than the lower-priced plan. If you’re set on an ADT system, then we think a Pulse plan is worth it.

ADT Pulse features:

• Cellular connection and battery back-up (more secure than broadband or landline connections).
• Complete control of smart home devices (like lights, locks, thermostats, smart outlets, and garage door openers).
• Access to the ADT Pulse mobile app, which lets you control every aspect of your security system and smart home from anywhere.
• Integration with Amazon Alexa.
• Camera support and live video streaming. (If you want security cameras, then you’ll need a Pulse plan.)

Mobile app

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Like we said, you’ll need an ADT Pulse plan to get access to ADT’s Pulse mobile app. But once you have it, the mobile app lets you control your whole security system and all your smart home devices.

You can check your camera’s live streams from anywhere. You can turn on your air conditioner before you even leave work. You can even arm your security system with just your voice and your Amazon Echo.

If you want the full smart home experience, then you’re definitely gonna need the Pulse app.

Installation

DIY home security systems are all the rage these days. Abode and Ring Alarm are like the popular new kids at a boring high school dance. But sometimes you just want the professionals to do the work for you, and that’s exactly what ADT does.

When you order your ADT alarm system, you’ll set up an installation date for a professional to come out and set everything up. Then, when the tech gets there, they’ll put up your yard sign and install your control panel first, and then go through your house with you and identify any areas that could use a little security love.

There are a few benefits to the whole professional installation deal:

1. You don’t have to do it yourself. Score!
2. You don’t have to guess which windows need sensors or where just a motion detector will get the job done. These people are trained to know what should go where.
3. You’re not gonna mess it up. Your alarm system will be up and running smoothly without you lifting a finger.

But what about the drawbacks of professional installation? There are a few of those, too:

1. It costs a bit extra. (ADT’s installation fee is $99.)
2. You have to be home and available for the contractor, which might mean taking some time off work or finding someone else to entertain your kids. (The installation process usually takes 2–4 hours.)
3. You don’t know how much equipment you’re going to end up with. (Which means you don’t know how much it will cost.)

The contractor will go over the final price with you before they install all your new equipment (except the keypad). You don’t have to sign off on anything you don’t want. That said, it can be frustrating to not know beforehand how much you’re going to have to pay.

ADT Protect Your Home customer experience

ADT’s customer experience is unpredictable because it uses so many different retailers. We recommend Protect Your Home.

Just like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, with ADT, you never know quite what customer experience you’re gonna get. Because the company uses multiple third-party contractors, your customer experience depends on which of those contractors you use.

We’ll make things a little easier for you: use Protect Your Home. It’s the biggest ADT provider and it keeps everything in-house. You’ll get Protect Your Home installation techs and Protect Your Home customer service reps, which makes things a little more predictable.

Recap

ADT’s top systems don’t come cheap—but you get loads of extra features for that extra money.

ADT has a long history of providing reliable security systems with reliable professional monitoring. But is it the best alarm system for you?

Basic security equipment: ADT’s equipment isn’t the fanciest or the most exciting we’ve seen, but it gets the job done. If you really want the good stuff, then spring for an ADT Pulse plan that gives you a touchscreen keypad and access to the mobile app.

Cameras: ADT cameras are okay. They’re still HD, but they record in 720p, and they don’t offer some features we expect from top cameras, like two-way audio. (The doorbell camera does have two-way audio, though.)

Home automation integrations: As long as you subscribe to an ADT Pulse plan, ADT has a ton of different home automation integrations. You can control everything from locks to electrical outlets.

Installation: ADT is strictly professional installation. Your installation tech will work with you to properly secure your home, but that does mean it’s harder to predict which equipment you’ll end up with (and how much you’ll pay for it).

Monitoring: If you subscribe to a landline or broadband plan, then ADT pricing is par for the course. But we recommend ADT’s cellular plans, which cost considerably more (even compared to competitors).

Customer experience: Customer experience is a little unpredictable because ADT uses multiple contractors. (Which is why we recommend going through its biggest provider: Protect Your Home. Even then, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.)

ADT security services are the best-known in home security for a reason, but keep in mind that if you want access to all its best features, then you’re definitely going to pay for them.

Still not sure if ADT is the right system for you? Check out our best home security systems review to compare all the top systems on the market.

Sources

1. Better Business Bureau, “DEFENDERS d/b/a Protect Your Home”
2. Trustpilot, “Protect Your Home – ADT Authorized Dealer”