ADT Security System Review

Video Review of ADT

Do you prefer seeing and listening to reading? Watch our video review of ADT, which will show you the system and cameras in action.

Components of the ADT Security System

Everything above should give you a nice overview of ADT, but with home security systems, you have to look under the hood, so to speak, to see how they perform. To start, we assessed every single component that came with our system, which included the following:

• Digital panel
• Contact sensors
• Motion sensors
• Glass break sensors
• Keychain remotes
• Emergency buttons
• Video doorbells
• Outdoor cameras
• Indoor cameras
• Smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Flood sensors

That’s quite a list, but trust us, you’ll want to read our experiences with each one of them.

Digital Panel

The digital panel was our control center. Essentially, it let us control ADT’s arming modes — we could either disarm, arm away, or arm stay.

• Disarm: This mode, which we used whenever we were home and actively moving around, disarms all motion sensors so our movement wouldn’t trigger a call to the monitoring center. The environment sensors (smoke alarms, flood sensors, etc.) remain active to alert us of a safety hazard.
• Arm stay: This is a customizable mode designed for when the user is home but wants to keep some security sensors armed. We set our security system to this mode at night before we go to bed, and we configured it to keep our front door entry sensor and first-floor window sensors armed, but our indoor motion sensors disarmed to prevent alerts when we go for a midnight snack.
• Arm away: As the name implies, this mode is for when the user is away, which was exactly how we used it. Essentially, it turns on all sensors (including motion sensors) so the system is at the ready to report anything unusual, from movements indoors to smoke or flooding.

That was the primary use of the control panel, but it was also responsible for controlling and creating automations through the smart home devices we integrated. Now, this is a two-parter.

First, we were able to control the devices manually, like turning on smart lights or setting the thermostat. Of course, we already had apps for those, so we only ever used the control panel for that purpose when we’re already near it. We didn’t like walking to it (it’s in our hallway near the front door) just to control our smart devices.

Now, the second smart home function was more useful, at least to us. Through it, we were able to create automations and schedules that controlled our smart devices autonomously and automatically. The process was one-and-done. For example, we set the thermostat to go to energy-saving mode whenever we leave, indicated by the system’s “arm away” status. We also set our lights to turn on at exactly 6 p.m. After configuring those automations, they ran without any further input from us.

Features aside, the digital panel’s design also stands out. It’s a literal tablet that is less than an inch thick. It’s thicker than an iPad, of course, but as far as control panels go, it’s sleek. Its exact dimensions are 7.68 x 4.76 x 0.71 inches. It’s also not hardwired. It comes with a power cable that plugs into a wall outlet, and since it has battery backup, it is technically portable. At times, we took it with us to bed, keeping it on the nightstand overnight for easy access to our security system. We still highly recommend plugging it in, though, as you don’t want it to run out of juice.

Contact Sensors

We placed the contact sensors on doors, windows and their respective frames so that we were notified whenever they were opened or closed. Because they are wireless, the sensors were easy to install and test out. Plus, we appreciated the fact that ADT had a bunch of contact sensor options in terms of installation and size. There are the regular ones pictured above, smaller ones if you want something more discreet, and recessed door types, which are completely inconspicuous. Recessed door sensors bore right into your door frame, making it practically invisible. We have one for our sliding glass door.

Keychain Remote

Aside from advanced control options (app, touchscreen panel, voice, etc.), ADT supports more traditional ways to control the system. One example we tested was the keychain remote, which we recommend for households with members not comfortable using smartphones or a touchscreen panel. The keychain also proved to be a much simpler way to arm and disarm ADT.

There’s nothing fancy about the keychain remote — it looks like a remote car key with a button for arming and another one for disarming ADT. It came in handy, however, whenever we had to disarm the system while carrying bags of groceries or whenever our hands were full on the way out. We loved that it was light and that it attached right to our keychain.

The keychain remote is also good for emergencies. It has a panic button that, when pressed within the touchscreen panel’s range, calls ADT’s monitoring center for help. We haven’t had the chance to use the feature in a real emergency, but we thought it would be useful for household members with medical conditions as well.

Motion Detector

Motion detectors are staples of home security systems. They detect movement using passive Infrared, which means they only trigger when the moving subject emits body heat such as humans or pets. The motion sensor from ADT has a 35 by 40 feet detection range, which was more than enough for our living room.

If you have pets, we confirmed with the technician that the sensor can be adjusted to make it pet-friendly, meaning, pets’ movements won’t trigger it. They showed us a toggle switch at the back of the sensor that, when switched to pet-friendly mode, adjusts the sensor’s sensitivity so pets no longer trigger it but humans still do.

Glass Break Sensors

Although it may seem redundant with the motion and entry sensors, some intruders will break in by smashing glass, and for those instances, there’s a glass break sensor, which has a 25-foot range. We adjusted the sensors’ sensitivity, as we tend to be a bit clumsy with glasses, to the lowest sensitivity out of four options. Like the motion detector, the glass break sensors are wireless with a five-year battery life and tamper protection, which was confirmed in our testing.

Emergency Button

The emergency button, otherwise known as a panic button, gave us quick and easy access to emergency services. Thankfully, we didn’t have to use it, but if you or someone you live with is prone to medical emergencies, this button can come really handy.

Through the control panel, you can set up which emergency services the two buttons will connect you to. You can contact the police, fire department, and medical responders. Since no one living in our house has a serious medical condition, we opted to set the buttons to call the police and fire department.

We like the simplicity of the emergency button. You can clip it to your clothes, wear it as a necklace, or put it on a wristband. Those wearing options make it so that the button is easy to access wherever you may be within the house. Of course, you can also keep it on your night stand in case of a late-night robbery. In fact, that’s where we kept the button most of the time. One nifty feature of the panic button is the recessed button itself. Thanks to this, it’s not prone to accidental “butt dials” and false alarms.

ADT Video Doorbell Camera

ADT offers two options for video doorbells. We love video doorbells in general because they let us answer our doors from anywhere, but ADT’s first option, the ADT-branded video doorbell, wasn’t a big hit in our home. It features a 720p HD camera, not as clear as our preferred 1080p HD like that of the Ring Video Doorbells. However, as far as the field of view went, it was 180 degrees, giving us the widest possible picture of our front yard. We were also impressed with the camera’s infrared night vision and two-way audio, which actually reduced the amount of background noise we heard compared to similar models.

Another downside was that the doorbell requires hardwiring. It wasn’t the process itself that we didn’t like because ADT sent professional technicians for the installation; rather, it’s that it requires that your home has an 8-24 VAC doorbell setup. If you don’t have that kind of setup, you’re better off with the second doorbell option.

ADT Video Doorbell vs. Google Nest Doorbell

ADT’s second option is the Google Nest Doorbell, which comes in wired and wireless (battery-powered) options. ADT has a standing partnership with Google, so some Google Nest cameras work with ADT systems.

The Nest Doorbell features a 1080p camera with HDR (fights glary and shadowy pictures), has person and facial detection, can detect packages dropped on your porch, and has a ton of security features built-in. It’s actually one of the best doorbell cameras in the market right now, which is fitting for ADT, one of the premier home security systems.

Between the two options from ADT, we recommend getting the Google Nest Doorbells. And sometimes, with ADT deals, you can get one for free or at a highly discounted price.

ADT Outdoor Security Camera

Of course, having a camera at our front door wasn’t enough. For us, we also wanted to get an outdoor camera for our backyard. ADT’s outdoor camera features an impressive line of technology. For starters, it has a 1080p HD resolution (much better than the ADT doorbell and the older outdoor camera they used to offer). It also sports a wider camera lens – 130 degrees, to be exact – which is just right for our yard (and maybe yours, too, unless you have a wide front yard).

The camera also includes person detection, which it uses to deliver insightful alerts. It doesn’t just tell you when motion is detected in your yard, it also tells you if it’s a person, pet, or vehicle. We found this feature reliable, and thanks to it, we didn’t have to check our camera footage all the time. After all, there’s a neighbor’s dog that likes sniffing around our yard, so we only really want to know if there’s a person walking to our door or a vehicle pulling up.

Of course, since it’s an outdoor camera, the ADT Outdoor Camera has to be rugged. As long as you don’t submerge it in water, it should be fine. The device has IP 66 protection (dust tight and water tight), it works in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, and its mounting stand is secured to a surface through screws.

Reading those descriptions alone might conjure up an image of a large and bulky outdoor camera, but in reality, the ADT outdoor camera is compact. It measures just 3.15 by 4.6 inches, and it has a thickness of about 1.5 inches. It didn’t look out of place at all when we installed it on a wall facing the street.

ADT Indoor Security Camera

Finally, there’s the indoor camera. The indoor camera actually looks exactly like the outdoor camera; bonus points for uniformity. However, its features are slightly different.  It has the same 1080p HD resolution, but it has a wider, 140-degree field of view. It’s also not weatherproof and it only works if the temperature is between 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

One feature we really appreciated was the Zones. With it, we got to limit the motion detection range of the camera to only the area where monitoring was necessary. We set it up in our living room, facing the TV. Without the Zones feature, we would have been bombarded with alerts anytime we were watching TV. But since we set up the motion detection range to exclude the couch and TV from the detection range, we didn’t have that problem.

Third-Party Security Camera Options

Besides its own equipment, ADT entered a partnership with Google Nest to integrate Nest Cams into the ADT system. We’ve mentioned the Google Nest Doorbell above, but two more Nest cameras work with ADT, namely, the Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Cam (wired).

This was a good move, in our opinion, because it gives us options when it comes to cameras. ADT cameras are impressive, but since Google Nest is a tech company, it has more resources and time to create even better and more feature-rich products. Those are exactly what the Nest cameras are.

The Google Nest security cameras are on our list of the best security cameras because of their impressive video quality (1080p HD with HDR) and their artificial intelligence — but don’t fret, it’s not the type of AI that could potentially destroy us. The AI on the Google Nest Cams make it  possible for them to detect people and recognize faces, which are certainly useful in home security.

ADT offers the Google Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Cam (wired), both of which offer similar features but with different setups. The former is an indoor/outdoor camera powered by batteries, while the other is a plug-in type indoor camera. Additionally, ADT offers the Google Nest Doorbell.

Smoke Detector

If a smoke detector goes off and no one is around to hear it, does it even matter? Well, if it’s a WiFi-connected smoke detector from ADT, then the answer is a resounding yes. To test this out, we burnt toast and can confirm that we, along with ADT’s monitoring team, received an alert.

We’re glad we did this test. Because of it, we discovered that ADT smoke alarms are interconnected, meaning, if one goes off, all the others installed in your home go off too. That’s a small but potentially life-saving feature. No matter where the fire started, everyone in the house will be made aware.

Carbon Monoxide Detector

While we couldn’t exactly test the carbon monoxide detector by producing a dangerous amount of CO, we can tell you that ADT’s version is tamper-protected, has an LED light and alarm, plus a hush button, which seems like it would definitely come in handy.

Flood Sensor

Finally, there was the flood sensor, which can detect water leaks before they turned into full-blown floods.

ADT also offers other smart home products like smart light bulbs, thermostat, plugs, and garage door controls, but since they’re only tangentially security-related, we didn’t test them out for this review.

Home Automation with ADT

Our ADT system worked with the Amazon smart home ecosystem, meaning we could tell Alexa2 to control it, including arming and disarming the systems and controlling smart lights, locks and thermostats. The same applied to the Google Nest smart home ecosystem and Google Assistant. Using our Nest Hub Max, we were able to control our ADT system with our voices. Unfortunately, if you’re using Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem for your smart home, it doesn’t work at all with ADT.

Now, aside from voice assistants, we were also able to set up our system with Internet of Things, or IoT devices from Kwikset, Liftmaster, and Sonos.3 And as detailed earlier, we used the ADT control panel to manage those devices. Besides the examples we gave above, we also had the smart locks open our doors when the smoke and CO alarms went off so we could quickly get out if necessary. This all occurred automatically, which was not only convenient but super safe.

Recently, ADT also started working closely with Google Nest, a smart home powerhouse that makes the Nest Cam Battery we reviewed as well as smart thermostats, smart doorbells, and smart smoke alarms. This partnership allowed us to integrate top-quality security and smart home products into our ADT system seamlessly.

All in all, we were satisfied with how ADT fit into our existing smart home, but it might not be the best choice for those already in the Apple HomeKit ecosystem. As far as Apple goes, the only security system we’ve reviewed that works with Siri is abode. Learn more in our abode review.

ADT’s Monitoring Plans

One thing you have to remember before buying an ADT system is that professional monitoring is and will likely always be a part of the deal. There are no options to self-monitor ADT security systems.

Professional monitoring means monthly fees, and ADT’s pricing ranges from $40 to $60 per month, although the exact number will differ based on your equipment and services.

Truth be told, those prices aren’t the lowest in the industry. If you’re looking to save money, there are companies that offer monitoring for as low as $19.99 per month (looking at you, SimpliSafe! Read more in our SimpliSafe review.) That said, ADT’s pricing isn’t half bad. It actually falls around the industry average, and it could make sense to go with ADT despite it seeming expensive if you’re looking for premium professional monitoring and cellular backup. Besides, there are ADT deals all throughout the year to help you offset the cost.

Also, if you want access to ADT’s monitoring network but don’t want to spend as much as an average ADT customer does, you could go with ADT Self Setup. Basic monitoring starts at $24.99 per month, but if you have Nest Cams in your system, an additional $10 per month fee will apply. The $10 fee enables video verification and gives you access to Nest Aware, Nest’s subscription service that unlocks cloud backup and smart features like Familiar Face Alerts. Learn more from our page all about Nest’s subscription and equipment pricing.

Is ADT Monitoring Worth It?

Now we know how much the monitoring service costs, but is it worth it? That’s subjective to your budget and what you’re looking for in a monitoring service, but we can give you a couple of facts that might help you decide.

First, when we tested ADT’s monitoring service by triggering the alarm several times throughout our testing phase, it gave us a response time of more or less 30 seconds each time. That’s the industry average, and although there are faster systems out there, we consider 30 seconds to be the sweet spot. It gives you enough time to cancel the response call if it’s a false alarm, but not too long that it gives burglars a chance to take your stuff and bolt.

Second, ADT has nine fully-redundant monitoring centers. The significance of that is even if one facility fails to operate – for example, if there’s a natural calamity in its area – ADT’s monitoring will continue. These nine facilities are spread out throughout the country, and they are all linked together.

In our book, those are pretty good stats for ADT monitoring.

Our Installation Process with ADT

Since ADT is professionally installed (except for the ADT Self Setup system we discussed earlier), we didn’t have to lift a finger to get our security system up and running. Even better, now that ADT has partnered with Dish Network, we were able to get security and entertainment installed all at once.4 Of course, we did have to pay a negotiable installation fee just as we did for the rest of our equipment and services from ADT. That’s a bit annoying.

We discovered that, in the past, ADT’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have included free video doorbell installation, but that didn’t help us at all when it came to a full-system installation. In the end, ADT is only a good choice for those that definitely want professional over DIY installation.

On the bright side, the ADT technician showed up on time, was professional, and was able to finish installation in more or less an hour. ADT told us in advance to set aside at least a two-hour window in case the technician runs late or the installation takes longer, but we didn’t expect the installation process to be that fast and efficient.

The ADT Control App (Formerly ADT Pulse)

ADT did require us to get professional monitoring, but we still had control over our system similar to self-monitored systems. A smartphone app served as our main point of access to the system. Now, you might notice that there are two ADT apps: ADT Pulse and ADT Control. When we first tested ADT, they had us use the ADT Pulse app.Later, they released the ADT Control app.

Those who started using ADT before the ADT Control app was released are supposed to use ADT Pulse. Meanwhile, new customers get access to the ADT Control app. However, the two apps have the same main functionalities, and besides a few aesthetic improvements, we didn’t notice any significant difference between the apps. Using both apps, we were able to arm our security system, create schedules and automation, control connected devices, receive notifications, and access live footage of our cameras. The only requirement was that we connect our smartphone to the internet.

We found the apps for iOS5 and Android6 really easy to use, and other ADT customers agreed with us, rating it with a 4.8 and 4.6, respectively. The ADT Pulse app was actually one of the least-buggy security apps we’ve reviewed, so this is a great feature of choosing ADT. As for the new app, its 4.8 star rating on the iOS and Android app stores indicates that it works just as well.

The ADT+ App

There’s a new ADT app in town, and it’s called the ADT+ App, which was first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023.

This app allows users to set up, control, and monitor compatible smart home devices both from ADT and Google Nest. It’s also a key ingredient to the new ADT Self Setup system, which unlike traditional ADT systems, will let users install and set up their own home security equipment.

That’s just the beginning. ADT plans to integrate controls for third-party smart home products that use Matter, a royalty-free smart home standard. This will allow users to control compatible smart lights, smart thermostats, smart locks, and other smart home products using just the ADT+ app.

ADT’s Customer Support

ADT offers 24/7 phone support, email support, and live chat, in addition to their online help center7. But in our experience, we found that the quality of the support we received was hit-or-miss. Don’t get us wrong; ADT is far from the worst security system in the market. We received great service from ADT a lot of times, but also less-than-ideal service some of the time. So that’s something to keep in mind.

Speaking over the phone was really time-consuming and we found that most representatives didn’t know how many infrared sensors their indoor camera has, a seemingly simple question. Additionally, it was frustrating to not be told directly how much their products and services cost. However, we found the live chat feature to be superior over the phone line in terms of how quickly we got our answers.

Recap of the ADT Security System

ADT has a huge reputation to uphold, and as far as the actual system goes, we were pretty impressed, save for the indoor and outdoor cameras. But like we’ve said, ADT has already improved its camera lineup since we last tested it, which goes to show that ADT is evolving for the better. They even earned a spot on our best home security system list. When it came to easy functionality and a user-friendly app, the company impressed, but it’s not the most flexible around and therefore only good for some people and not others.