ADT Self Setup Review 2025

ADT Self Setup 101

As we note in our exhaustive ADT review, the company offers high-quality, traditional home security systems. That means you’ll pick up the phone, talk to a sales representative, have someone out to the house to install everything, plunk down the credit card, and continue to pay a not-insignificant monthly fee. Thumbs up from the not-so-hands-on crowd, thumbs down from folks looking to save money by doing it themselves.

That’s why Self Setup exists: to appeal to the DIYers. But the Self Setup isn’t the first ADT system built for that purpose. From 2020 and up until early 2023, ADT had a security system called Blue by ADT, which we also tested. And much like the Self Setup system, Blue by ADT was completely DIY. So what’s the difference?

First, Blue by ADT existed separately from ADT. It had its own website, for instance. Self Setup exists within ADT’s traditional offering. In fact, it offers the same equipment as what you would get from ADT if you sign up for professional installation. And not to get ahead of ourselves, but that equipment includes Google Nest security cameras. With Blue by ADT before, the security cameras were ADT-branded, and they were frankly not that great.

Unlike Blue by ADT’s cameras, the Nest Cams that come with Self Setup pack a lot of features in a relatively small body.

There are a few other distinctions as well. ADT Self Setup uses the ADT+ app, which is the same app for other ADT security systems. Blue had its own app back then. Self Setup also uses the updated hub and sensors from ADT, which are more contemporary compared to Blue by ADT’s equipment. We’d say they’re influenced by the discontinued Nest Secure we reviewed, which is a security system made by Google.

So yeah, while ADT might have gotten the idea for Self Setup from Blue by ADT, it’s a completely new and better DIY security system.

ADT Self Setup Systems Side by Side

ADT offers Self Setup in packages, and there are three you can choose from. They range in value from $350 to $720, but really, you can get them for much less depending on the deal ADT is running. For example, the $719 Front Door Protection package can go for as low as $279. We saw it ourselves during the ADT Black Friday 2024 sale. So check out ADT’s current package pricing; you might just like what you see.

Really, though, the “packages” are a bit of a misnomer. They’re actually just suggested starting points, and you’re encouraged to add additional equipment, because sensors and cameras aren’t all that ADT offers. You can even buy a smart thermostat, smart speakers and displays, smoke and gas leak detectors, and a bunch of other home security equipment. Basically, if you see it offered by other companies, there’s a good chance ADT offers it as well.

We’d have to warn you though that Self Setup’s pricing is similar to ADT’s normal pricing for its professionally installed security systems. Now, ADT equipment has gotten a lot more affordable in recent years, but it still costs more than your average DIY system such as Cove or abode. ADT Self Setup isn’t going to be your most affordable DIY security system, but at least you’re getting ADT equipment – one of the best security systems right now – without having to pay installation fees.

ADT Self Setup: Build It Yourself

From our years of experience testing DIY security systems, we know that the best way to protect your home is to customize a security system tailored to your specific needs. And to do that, it’s typically best to build a security system from scratch rather than relying on pre-customized packages.

You can do just that with the ADT Self Setup, and below is the price list of available equipment. That being said, there’s a $269 required initial cost, which covers the price of the ADT Smart Home Hub and one entry sensor. This is, once again, par for the course for if not a tad pricier than other DIY systems. The build your own package option from SimpliSafe, for instance, starts at $199.98, which has one base station and one keypad included.

ADT Self Setup Equipment Options

We like that ADT now gives Self Setup users the same options as those opting for professional installation. That wasn’t always the case, especially when Self Setup had just launched. But now, anything you can have installed by ADT, you can install yourself with Self Setup. This goes to show that ADT is committed to providing as good a DIY experience as possible.

Google Products

The use of Google Products itself isn’t a drawback at all. As you may know from our review of Google’s cameras, they’re great pieces of equipment. In many ways, the Google Nest and ADT partnership is beneficial to customers. It’s pretty much like the relationship between the Ring Alarm system reviewed and Ring security cameras. You can monitor, view, and control Google Nest cameras using the same app you use to monitor the Self Setup system, called the ADT+ app. You can even use advanced features like Familiar Face Alerts.

Among its many features, facial recognition is one of the biggest selling points of the Google Nest Cam.

Our gripe with this arrangement has to do with the pricing. With Ring, you get discounts if you bundle the Ring Alarm with a Ring security camera or doorbell. With the Self Setup, you’ll still pay retail costs for the Google products you add to your package.

Thankfully, a Nest Aware subscription is included in the $39.99 Self Setup monitoring package. That means advanced features and cloud recording will be automatically added to your Google Nest cameras without having to pay Google another subscription fee. Facial recognition is also a feature you’ll unlock by signing up for that subscription plan.

The good news is you won’t have to have multiple apps to control the equipment in your package. The ADT+ app has native controls for Google Nest equipment, so you’ll be able to monitor your video feeds and check notifications all from one place. That’s definitely a step in the right direction.

High Prices

If we look at Self Setup’s pricing for its own equipment, it’s a little pricier than your typical DIY security systems. For example, a motion sensor from Cove costs as low as $15 per piece, whereas ADT’s motion sensor retails for $40. But Self Setup won’t break the bank either. We actually think it’s justified, given that they’re the same components as you would get if you go with a professionally installed ADT security system. Self Setup’s pricing is competitive, especially if you’re sticking with just basic sensors, like if you live in an apartment and don’t need outdoor or front door video monitoring.

Although simple, our testing reveals that ADT sensors can effectively detect and help deter intruders, burglars, and home invaders.

The cost starts to balloon up, however, if you add in security cameras and other smart equipment. Google Nest cameras are known for being not-so-affordable. They’re mid- to high-end in terms of security camera pricing. Without partnership discounts, you may end up paying more with ADT Self Setup than a cheaper security camera provider like Ring Alarm or SimpliSafe.

To demonstrate the difference, here’s how much a system with one doorbell, one indoor camera, one outdoor camera, one keypad, two motion sensors, and four entry sensors costs from each provider.

To be fair, that’s just the equipment costs. When you go with ADT, you’ll also receive professional monitoring from one of the best names in the business. We named ADT the best home security system with home monitoring this year. So let’s talk about what that entails.

Monitoring With ADT Self Setup

ADT is one of the largest security providers in North America, servicing nearly 6.5 million subscribers.3 It makes sense that its home monitoring is among the best we’ve seen. ADT’s Self Setup system works on the company’s SMART Monitoring platform, which electronically connects you to the police eight times faster than traditional voice. In the event of a break-in, you and your family will be covered.

Whether you sign up for professional monitoring or not, ADT Self Setup can alert you to potential security breaches via the ADT+ app.

The secure text platform allows you to manage alerts, requesting police assistance or labeling it a false alarm. This makes alert management a little easier, especially if you’re living with family members. It coordinates your alarm response with the rest of the family, eliminating confusion during potential emergencies.

There’s also a one-tap emergency-request button in case you or a family member is in an emergency and needs immediate help. ADT says it handles more than 95 percent of its critical alarms within 60 seconds, which means help will get to you a lot faster than if you were on your own.

In that respect, this security system does exactly what you want a security system to do: alert the authorities quickly if there is a break-in and send help as quickly as possible. Is that enough to make the ADT Self Setup system worth it?

The Verdict: Is ADT Self Setup Worth It?

Overall, we rate ADT Self Setup with a SecureScore of 8.6 out of 10. That’s its score in five crucial metrics:

• Customer Service (8.6/10): ADT’s customer service is superb, but it’s a large company, so it’s pretty common for the service to feel impersonal.
• Value (7.9/10): ADT equipment is affordable, but if you add in Google Nest cameras to the mix, the value goes down as the price goes up.
• Equipment (8.2/10): There’s really not a lot of options from ADT Self Setup, and that contributed greatly to its mediocre equipment score.
• Features and technology (8.9/10): ADT is always ahead of the curve in terms of technology, and the addition of Google Nest products further amplifies that.
• Ease of use (9.5/10): DIY installation, an easy-to-use app, and top-notch monitoring service – that’s really all we want in a security system.

ADT is a great security company, and it’s really difficult to go wrong with any of its systems. Its equipment is high quality, and its monitoring is superb. It really is the Cadillac of home security. That was true 100 years ago, and it’s still true today.

That said, not everyone wants a Cadillac. Some people want a Jeep, and if you stick a Jeep owner in a Cadillac, they’ll wonder what all those buttons do and why you can’t take the thing off road.

OK, that’s not a perfect analogy, but we think you get the point. If you’re looking for a DIY home security system, you’ll be looking for things such as inexpensive options, tons of flexibility, self-monitoring plans, and reasons to break out the power tools. Is ADT Self Setup a solid system for protecting your family? Sure. It’s actually one of the best DIY home security systems. We don’t think it’s going to work for everybody though. It’s not the most affordable, and it’s also not the best if you’re planning to self-monitor. But otherwise, it’s a really great DIY home security system, especially if you’re after ADT’s top-notch monitoring service.

ADT Self Setup FAQs