ADT Home Security Cost

Our Approach

We could just bottom-line everything on a page like this, just lay out all the costs associated with an ADT system and be done with it. In the end, though, that’s not going to tell you what you need to know. You don’t just need to know prices; you need to know what you’re getting for those prices. We prefer to focus on value rather than price.

As a result, we talk a lot in these price guides about the home security systems the prices are connected to. We bring up the results of our testing and research. We dig into the finer points of equipment and system features. We talk about monitoring plans. We provide you with other customers’ experiences. All of this concrete information allows you to get a sense of a system’s value, not just its price.

The thing is, you don’t need us to find out what ADT charges for equipment and monitoring. You can just head over to the ADT home page and see for yourself. Raw numbers won’t tell you whether or not it’s worthwhile investing in a system though. That’s why you’re here.

Big Changes at ADT

ADT’s control panel.

Ulysses S. Grant was President when ADT was founded. Think about that for a minute. How do you stay in business for 150 years? You do it by offering the best product and the best service in the industry. ADT is a company defined by its tradition of excellence. And yet, as we note in our full ADT review, this is not a company that’s stuck in the past. ADT is not afraid to reinvent itself. That’s as true now as it was in 1874 when it wired its first home for security.

Here’s just a brief list of how ADT has changed in just the three five years.

• Your home security is now in your hands. You don’t need a customer service agent to help you pick out a system. Choose from three affordable equipment packages or build your own system from scratch, and you can do it all online. Note however, that ADT still offers a home security consultation, and that’s available for free.
• You now have the option to install your home security system yourself as well. You can still sign up for professional installation if you prefer, but self-installation is easy and allows you to save money.
• Some three years ago, ADT partnered with Google Nest and now offers Nest cameras – indoor, outdoor, and doorbell models – as well as Nest thermostats and smart locks. These are among the most sophisticated smart home devices you can buy.
• You now have the option to self-monitor your system, and you can do that for no monthly fee.
• We’ll get into all this in a bit, but ADT has also lowered prices on both equipment and monitoring.

Of course, amidst all this change, ADT retains its most valuable assets.

• You still get amazing customer service with ADT.
• You can still sign up for professional installation if that’s what you prefer.
• You can still subscribe to the best professional monitoring in the business.

The big question, though, now that the dust has settled, what does an ADT system cost?

ADT Packages

First, let’s talk about packages. In an effort to streamline purchasing, ADT now offers just three – the Security Starter, the Outdoor Video, and the Front Door Protection packages. Here’s what each one includes.

Note that these new, lower prices apply whether or not you choose self-installation and whether or not you choose self-monitoring. You can also now build your own system from scratch, which can save you even more money. We’ll get into that next.

Expert Examined

From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert

I always advise purchasing a quality security system and ensure it’s installed correctly. The last thing you want is for your security system to malfunction or just not work when you actually need it. Security cameras are also helpful. As a police officer, the number one thing I would ask burglary victims is whether or not they had video footage of the crime. Video footage helps police to identify and hopefully apprehend the responsible culprits. Having quality cameras can also benefit your neighbors as well. Most modern cameras have a wide lens and can usually pick up footage of your neighbors’ houses or property as well.

ADT’s Additional Equipment Costs

You always have the option of adding individual devices to a package. You can also build your own system, one component at a time. You start with a base station and an entry sensor for $269, and go from there.

This list doesn’t miss much. In fact, Vivint’s the only other company that offers this selection of quality equipment. (For more on Vivint, check out our complete Vivint review). We might even give the edge to Vivint when it comes to smart features, but these two are very close in features and reliability, as you’ll learn if you read through our head-to-head comparison of ADT and Vivint.

ADT’s Monitoring Packages and Prices

ADT has lowered its professional monitoring prices as well. ADT’s lowest-priced plan, for instance, is now just $24.99 a month. That’s (almost) as cheap as SimpliSafe’s cheapest plan. Of course, if you have security cameras in your security system, you’ll need one of ADT’s more expensive, either the Smart Monitoring Plan ($34.99 per month) or the Complete Monitoring plan ($39.99 per month). These prices apply if you install your own equipment. If you choose professional installation, prices are slightly higher.

Here’s a full rundown of what you get with each of ADT’s professional monitoring tiers.

Maybe the biggest change at ADT in the last three years is the introduction of a self-monitoring option. That option is entirely free and includes real-time system alerts and the ability to view live footage any time. We generally recommend professional monitoring because it ensures someone is watching your home 24/7, even when you can’t. Self-monitoring does provide you more control over your system, though, and, maybe more importantly, it’s free. The fact that you can now purchase ADT equipment, but without having to pay another dime is a big, big deal.

ADT’s Installation Fee

We need to talk about changes to ADT’s installation policy as well. For almost all of its 150 year history, ADT has required professional installation. There’s definitely something to be said for that. It’s a white glove service that you just won’t find with many companies any more. And it hasn’t gone away exactly. In fact, it’s a great way to ensure your system is set up right and you understand how it works. Installation was never free, though. Currently, it starts at $99, and the cost gets a lot steeper depending on just what type of system you’ve purchased. Our installation cost us around $150.

You can now install your system yourself, though, and the cost for that is $0. We’ve always found that particular price point very appealing. The thing is, ADT doesn’t just ship you a system and wish you good luck. It has worked hard to create an easy self-installation process, complete with step-by-step instructions, an online database of helpful articles, and a free helpline.

ADT’s Additional Fees

If you’ve spent any time researching home security, you’ve probably come across some companies who charge what might be called Additional Fees. Maybe there’s a network fee or a connection fee or a membership fee. We’ve seen them all.

Mostly ADT is fairly straightforward with its pricing. The one exception is the company’s Quality Service Plan. It’s what ADT calls its extended warranty.

ADT’s entryway sensors.

Turns out our monthly bill was about nine dollars higher than we’d been quoted. Nine dollars isn’t a lot, especially per month, but it’s still nine dollars. ADT charges that money as a necessary equipment warranty. Basically, it covers the cost of replacing any equipment should it malfunction. OK, but we would have liked to have been told about it upfront. In addition, this warranty cost isn’t fixed. It varies depending on what kind of equipment you purchase, so expect it to be higher than nine dollars if you’re protecting a larger property or you need significantly more equipment than the average home.

How to Save on ADT

We have a lot more on this topic in our guide to ADT’s deals and promotions, but the long and short of it is this: You’re rarely ever going to have to pay full price for an ADT system.

ADT is similar to Cove when it comes to promotions. They’re both usually running some sort of deal. (If you’re looking for a great DIY home security system, check out my review of Cove. Cove is one of the most affordable security systems out there.)

Now let’s move toward the company’s overall value, starting with our personal experience with ADT.

Our Experience with ADT

No matter how affordable a system might be, it’s not worth a thin dime if it doesn’t protect you. We always give you the raw pricing numbers, but we prefer to talk about systems in terms of value. How much value did we see in our ADT system? Let’s put it this way: we were so impressed we ended up hanging on to it beyond the testing period. That’s right, we’re now full-time ADT customers. We’ll touch on certain aspects of the system, but let’s start with some quick pros and cons.

Purchasing ADT

We’ll be blunt. Purchasing an ADT system was a hassle some years back. You had to spend at least an hour talking to a customer service person, building out your system, negotiating the terms of your contract, and avoiding upselling tactics and unnecessary features. It was a massive headache that didn’t align with how great the actual system was in day-to-day use.

ADT’s motion detector.

That’s all changed now. ADT lets you piece out your system, install it yourself, and handle the majority of the transaction online; things are a heck of a lot easier.We were able to buy our test system in a matter of minutes without having to pick up the phone.

Installing ADT

If you go with the professional install, make sure you’re planning in advance. When we had ours installed, it took two days to schedule the consultation and the install. Then the technician was at the house for about six hours. They did a great job, but they didn’t remove any of the older ADT equipment, which had been there since we bought the house. We feel that should have been included as part of the service, especially since they were ADT equipment in the first place. Some of the wiring could have been hidden better as well, to us at least. We didn’t have to lift a finger though, so it’s tough to complain.

My old ADT control panel.

Day-to-Day Life with ADT

A good security system is one that you rarely notice, and ADT fits that bill. After we had the system installed, we never had to think about it again. Frankly, the well-designed and intuitive ADT app steals the show. It’s one of the best home security apps available today. It’s so good we practically never touched the control panel; the whole system can be controlled with your smartphone.

ADT’s glass break sensor.

We also liked the redundancy built into this system. As a top cellular security system, ADT does not rely completely on Wi-Fi. So if your internet goes out (like ours does with frustrating frequency), you’re still protected.

Ultimately, we felt very safe while using the ADT system. We don’t say that about a lot of systems, but ADT is definitely one of the best available.

ADT’s Benefits

There are a lot of benefits to using an ADT system in your home. It’s a robust system that’s customizable to your specific security needs. Their reputation, which has been built over a century and a half, speaks for itself. When it comes to keeping your property secure, ADT is the gold standard.

Our Thoughts On ADT’s New Security System and Features

Before we end this page, we’d just like to give you a quick glimpse at the changes ADT has been making lately, especially the new security system called ADT Plus and the new Trusted Neighbor feature.

Price-wise, ADT Plus changes a lot of things for ADT. It’s a system you can self-install for free or have professionally installed for a price. It finally kills the equipment divide between Self Setup and ADT. No matter the installation route you decide on, you’ll get the same equipment options.

Prices are slightly lower now, too. Unlike previously where the pro-installed ADT system had a markup on equipment pricing compared to Self Setup, ADT Plus costs the same no matter how it’s installed. That might not make much of a difference though because there’s still an installation fee if you take the professional installation route.

Perhaps the biggest change, though, is the Trusted Neighbor feature, which lets ADT Plus users give access to their smart lock and security system to people they trust – be that a neighbor, family, friend, or service provider. Trusted Neighbor automates the process by using the Nest Doorbell facial recognition to verify the identity of a trusted person. Once verified, the smart lock that comes with ADT Plus and the system itself will unlock and unarm.

ADT clearly put a lot of thought into Trusted Neighbor, as it offers useful customizations to make sure your trusted circle can only access your house at times or during events you’ve allowed. You can set time and event triggers – for example, let this person in only from 8 to 10 A.M. or only when the smoke alarm is set off.

We are yet to conclude our testing of ADT Plus and Trusted Neighbor, so the jury is still out. But from what we’ve seen so far, both are upgrades to the previous ADT security system (ADT Control) we tested. Speaking of which…

Is ADT Worth It?

This brings us to the all-important question: Is ADT worth it? We’ve lived with an ADT system, and our answer is “yes.” It’s worth it. From the flexibility of their equipment packages to their powerful professional monitoring, ADT offers everything you could want to keep your home safe.

We can’t say they’re the most affordable option out there, but when it comes to security, you really get what you pay for. And what you’re paying for with ADT is a top-of-the-line security system that offers comprehensive protections.

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