ADT Review | Fast Installation and Superior Monitoring

On this page

• Pros and cons
• Compare plans
• Price
• Features
• Equipment
• Customer service
• Our recommendation

Overview

But ADT isn’t cheap. Sure, there’s a $27.99 per month option—but we don’t recommend it. This low-priced plan has extremely limited features and supports only landline monitoring, which is less convenient and secure than cellular monitoring. To get a plan worth paying for, you’ll have to spend closer to $50 each month.

Pros and cons of ADT

Protect Your Home—an ADT authorized premier provider

ADT works with a network of third-party dealers and installers to provide security systems all over the country. This means your equipment options and monthly prices could vary slightly from one dealer to the next.

Monitoring plans and equipment can vary slightly from one dealer to the next, but in this review, we focus on what you’ll get through Protect Your Home because we think you deserve to work with a provider that knows the security industry inside and out.

Compare ADT plans

Data effective 11/20/2018. Offers and availability subject to change.
*Lifetime equipment warranty is valid only if you have an ADT monitoring plan.

ADT price

Professional monitoring

ADT monitoring will run you anywhere from $27.99 to $59.99 per month. We don’t think those prices are unreasonable—especially when you look at all the features that come with the top-tier packages—but ADT’s prices are certainly on the higher end for the security industry.

Installation fees

Installation costs $99 no matter which plan you get. This is right on par with other security companies.

Features

Industry-leading monitoring

ADT has more experience and more reach than most security companies in the industry, and that has its benefits.

One of the biggest benefits is extra protection in an emergency. ADT has six independent monitoring stations scattered across the country, which means if a power outage or emergency shuts down one monitoring center, your home will still be protected by five other monitoring stations.

A central app for security and smart home devices

Lots of security systems sync with third-party devices, but in many cases, you still have to open half a dozen apps to use all those devices. ADT’s app controls your system and smart devices in one place so you can lock your doors, turn off your lights, arm your system, and make sure your windows are shut—all without getting out of bed.

ADT equipment

What’s available?

Protect Your Home offers most of the security equipment you’d expect including entryway sensors, smoke and CO alarms, glass break sensors, indoor cameras, and motion sensors.

As of right now Protect Your Home’s biggest drawback is that it doesn’t offer an outdoor camera—but we hope to see that change in the near future.

What can you get for free?

When you purchase a system through Protect Your Home, you get a basic security kit included, which could save you hundreds of dollars in up-front costs.

The Essentials Kit includes the following:

• Keypad (1)
• Backup battery (1)
• Siren (1)
• Motion detector (1)
• Door/window sensors (number varies depending on available promotions)

Installation

Protect Your Home will install your ADT system for you. In fact, you can usually get your equipment installed within 24 to 48 hours of your call. The installation process usually takes between two and four hours.

Your installation will include:

• A discussion of your home and where you want equipment installed
• A personalized risk assessment with custom security recommendations
• A chance to select the equipment you want in your home
• Choosing your monthly monitoring plan
• Installation of the equipment you pick
• Instruction on how to use your security system

Aesthetics

There’s nothing particularly flashy or eye-catching about ADT equipment, but since the equipment is inconspicuous, the simple, white sensors won’t clash with your home décor.

Warranties

Most ADT monitoring packages include a Quality Service Plan. This plan includes a lifetime equipment warranty as long as you’re paying for professional monitoring. It also eliminates fees if you need someone to come to your home and service equipment.

Important note: The cheapest monitoring plan does not include the extended warranty.

Customer service

Availability

When it comes to customer service, ADT stands out by offering more availability than most competitors. Instead of limiting you to business hours, ADT’s customer support team is available 24/7. Plus, since ADT offers both chat and email support, there are even options if you hate talking on the phone or listening to cheesy hold music.

Contracts and cancellation policies

ADT monitoring contracts are 36 months—right around average for the security industry. Once your contract is up, it defaults to a month-to-month plan.

And while you shouldn’t sign a contract if you think you’ll have to cancel before it’s up, we should point out that ADT’s cancellation policy is more lenient than most. If you cancel, you’ll be responsible for paying 75% of your remaining contract. Other companies require 80% to 100%.

Theft protection guarantee

ADT plans include up to $500 of theft protection insurance to pay for your home insurance deductible if a burglary takes place while your ADT system is armed. While a home security system should hopefully prevent any burglaries, we think it’s cool that ADT has your back if something happens. Most other security companies don’t include theft protection.

What customers are saying about ADT

Customer reviews of ADT are quite positive.* People leaving positive reviews often tell stories about a time their system prevented a burglary or helped them catch a fire before anyone was injured. A lot of people also mention getting help quickly when they had trouble with equipment. ADT customers are also happy with the mobile app and like being able to control the system with their phones.

Negative reviews focus mostly on the sales process and miscommunication about monthly costs. A lot of customers expected to get security monitoring for $27.99 per month and only later realized that the base package didn’t include what they needed.

*Based on reviews from Consumer Affairs.

Our recommendation

Ready to make a decision? View ADT plans here.

Still exploring your options? Check out our post comparing the best home security systems.