ADT offers more than just a home security system. Once you sign up for one of their security packages, you get to have top of the range ADT equipment installed in your home to give you the piece of mind you need whether you live there or just need to see what’s happening when you’re away. The brand is also known quite well for its home automation features, since its motion sensors, window sensors, security cameras and alarm systems can be hooked up to other smart home devices or even virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa for easier control. In this security review, we’re going to try and find out if its the best home security system you can fit your home with in 2020, so that you’re fully aware of what to expect when you make your decision.
Why We Like It – ADT Home Security System
ADT has been providing home security service for more than 100 years, so the amount of experience these guys have might help justify the high prices they charge for their security systems. What you do get in return though is A1 customer service, a well tuned ADT Pulse app for remote monitoring, and a large selection of security equipment to choose from. Also, another affordable system, Securmate is a simple scalable security system worth checking out.
- Smart home integration (Alexa only)
- Professional installation
- Top-grade professional monitoring
- Expensive monthly fees
Performance
As with many other security companies, ADT Smart home security offers a range of options (security packages) that you can pick from depending on what you want for a home alarm & how much you’re ready to spend per month for a security system.
The 5 ADT security packages you get to choose from are: The Essential Plan which includes a motion detector, a keypad alarm, a contact sensor, and both the carbon monoxide and the smoke/heat detector as addons. The Complete Monitoring Bundle that follows is based on a landline connection & includes everything in the Essential plan plus a Quality Service Plan which is basically an equipment warranty. The third is the Premium Bundle II, which is the same as the previous one, save for providing a cellular backup. This allows for better home automation since it can integrate with Alexa. Next up is the ADT Command Tier I, which allows for remote access through the ADT control mobile app. Lastly we have the ADT Command Tier III, where all the home automation features are let loose. For a complete security system wrapped in one device, check out the Canary home security review.
Bear in mind that each package will require professional installation (unlike the Frontpoint Home Security System), for which you will have to pay an installation fee. Video monitoring also comes only with the last two plans, and for this to work, your indoor camera and your outdoor cameras as well have to be from ADT. Also, before you become an ADT customer who wants security monitoring, be ready to cough up the highest monthly fees in the industry. On the flipside, the ADT Pulse app keeps you up to date with all the details you need to know about your system ADT, so that you always have your finger on the pulse.
Design
Most of the pieces in the ADT home security kit don’t really have aesthetic appeal (cue the Protect America Home Security System), but we’re not complaining because an alarm system doesn’t really need to look super good. In fact, the one thing that we’re impressed with is that the ADT alarm system has very small and compact pieces. This is probably thanks to a nudge that they might have got from the ADT sales team, having discovered that people prefer these sensors and detectors to be as small as can be. To scare aways lurkers, you could go for a security system that uses light and sound to deter real threats. Read more in our Vivint home security system review.
Value
Even though a good amount of people may shy away from things like the high monthly monitoring fees and the cost of ADT installation, at the end of the day you really get a lot of value for your money (if you don’t look to cheaper alternatives like the LiveWatch Home Security System). A typical ADT system could come with a digital control panel, contact sensors, a keychain remote, a doorbell camera, a motion sensor, glass break sensors, an emergency button, a flood sensor and a smoke detector. It’s probably the only security company that offers that much equipment. What you will have to get used to with the ADT alarm system is the 720p video doorbell that’s not as clear as the 1080p picture you’ll get on other models. Otherwise, the security ADT provides justifies the amount you pay for it.
If you hop onto Amazon.com and read through the ADT reviews, you’ll notice that a good number of buyers opted to forego their monitoring services (professional monitoring) and not choose an ADT plan to begin with just so they could test things out. Some of them who called ADT for various issues were able to reach them, and ask about anything to do with their new home device plus all its automation features. In case you do go ahead and purchase any piece of equipment ADT, you immediately become their customer, and they’ll always be happy to help.
ADT Home Security System Wrap Up
Anyone thinking of securing their new home should have ADT home security as one of their top considerations. With more than 6 monitoring centers, service ADT has a huge advantage over so many other home security systems, and its ease of integrating with your smart home (Alexa based) makes it a force to reckon with in the security industry. If you’re also able to take up the month ADT payments, then you’ll be able to squeeze the most juice from this home security system.
