ADT Self Setup Doorbell Review

In our ADT Self Setup review, we mentioned that you could buy the ADT Self Setup doorbell camera as a standalone piece. If that piqued your interest, we’re here to give you a rundown.

Let’s talk shop about the ADT Self Setup doorbell camera (also sometimes known as the DIY Doorbell Camera). It’s reasonably priced and has a lot of useful features, but the facial recognition needs some work.

Within the hardware, there are several useful video doorbell features.

ADT Self Setup video doorbell camera features:

• Facial recognition
• Motion detection (with customizable motion zones)
• Night vision
• Two-way talk
• Cloud storage
• Push notifications
• 180° field of view
• 1080p resolution
• Rechargeable backup batteries

The ADT Self Setup doorbell camera is equipped with a customizable motion detector. You can get notifications on your phone when someone steps into your custom motion detection zone.

You also have the option to disable the motion-detection feature and only get alerts when someone pushes the doorbell button.

Facial recognition is the most uncommon feature included with this video doorbell. Ring, which is arguably the top brand for video doorbells, doesn’t even have this plus.

Users say the facial recognition can be erratic, which is a bummer. But we’ve tested facial recognition with Nest (arguably the second-best brand for video doorbells), and we have to say that’s erratic too. During a test conducted by one of our reviewers, the Nest Outdoor Cam IQ struggled to recognize the same person from different angles.

So basically, facial recognition, in general, is still a work in progress. We don’t think you’re gonna get drastically lower recognition quality with ADT Self Setup. Plus, we like that the company isn't charging an arm and a leg for this experimental tech.

With facial recognition, night vision, two-way talk, and cloud storage, this camera is a terrific deal. It’s hard to find all that at the $200 price point.

The $2.99-per-month, cloud-storage subscription is an excellent deal as well. Most companies are charging $5, $10, and even more per month for cloud storage.

Some pieces of ADT Self Setup equipment work with Google Assistant and Z-Wave Plus. However, the doorbell camera is compatible only with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

That’s not the best smart home automation we’ve seen. Still, the flexible nature of IFTTT means that you might be able to set up chain reactions using a Google Home or Z-Wave product.

ADT Self Setup doorbell camera installation

You’re responsible for installing your ADT Self Setup doorbell camera.

Because it's designed primarily to be part of ADT’s DIY security suite, the doorbell camera is self-install only. Luckily, ADT provides a helpful YouTube video.

Your camera comes with brackets, screws, wires, and connectors so you can install it on your own. You’ll also need to open your ADT Self Setup app to complete installation.

If the thought of setting up the camera overwhelms you, you can always hire a professional or bribe a friend to do it.

We recommend the ADT Self Setup doorbell camera to you, especially if you have a ADT Self Setup system. It’s not too expensive, and it includes a lot for the price.

If you aren’t feeling this camera, check out our video doorbell roundup and this Ring video doorbell review. If you aren’t feeling ADT Self Setup in general, we have a lot of alternate home security suggestions.

ADT Self Setup doorbell camera FAQ