Blue by ADT vs. Frontpoint

You’ve read all the statistics. You know a home security system is vital to the protection of your family and property. There are a lot of home security systems on the market, though, so it’s not easy to decide. The worst — the absolute worst — is when you’ve narrowed it down to two, but you just can’t make up your mind.

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Blue by ADT and Frontpoint are both very popular home security systems — and for good reason. Both systems will protect you, both offer great value, and both appear on our list of the best home security systems on the market. You may be stuck, but we take our jobs seriously — and part of that job is to get you unstuck.

We’ve set up a head-to-head comparison between these two heavyweights. We’ll give you the most important information about both and let you know which one is right for your particular situation. So let’s jump in.

Key Similarities

Part of the reason it can be hard to decide between these two systems is that they have so many things in common. Here’s a list of features you can expect from both.

Equipment

Both Frontpoint and Blue by ADT offer robust equipment packages with lots of optional add-ons. Choose the package that’s right for you or build your own by choosing from standard devices such as entry sensors, motion sensors, and mobile stations. You can even add extras such as smoke detectors, chimes, and keypads.

Cameras

Both companies also offer security cameras, but selection is limited. These aren’t camera companies like Lorex, where you can choose from dozens of models. Both Blue by ADT and Frontpoint offer an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and a video doorbell camera, so you can keep an eye on your house whether you’re home or away. Frontpoint has person detection to cut down on false alerts, while Blue by ADT offers facial recognition. Ultimately we’d call this a push.

Smart Home Integration

Frontpoint and Blue by ADT both provide integration with Alexa and Google Home, which means you can easily operate either system using voice controls. The integration also gives you access to special features and even more equipment. Once you’ve connected to Alexa or Google Home, for instance, you can create routines that connect your security equipment to smart locks, smart light bulbs, and garage doors. We like to use a smart plug to hook up our TV and then set it to come on any time our security cameras pick up movement around our house. We feel pretty confident it would spook any would-be home invaders.

Installation

Whether you sign up with Blue by ADT or Frontpoint, you’ll get DIY installation, which saves money on professional installation. Both systems are remarkably straightforward. Cameras are all plug-and-play. We set up the Blue indoor camera on an end table in the living room and, literally, all we did was plug it in. The Frontpoint system comes preprogrammed so components all work with the keypad hub right out of the box. Neither system took more than a half-hour total to set up. If you need a little help setting up your system, though, you can check out our handy installation guide.

Responsive Apps

A strong app is key for any top-tier home security system. You need to be able to access your system no matter where you are. Both companies offer intuitive, easy-to-use apps that send real-time alerts any time one of its sensors goes off. In addition, they let you pull up live or recorded video. You also have the option to turn both systems on or off using just the app.

One Key Difference: Monitoring

There are some minor differences between Blue by ADT and Frontpoint, in addition to facial recognition and person detection. Blue by ADT stores footage in the cloud, while Frontpoint cameras come with on-board storage in the form of a micro-SD card.

The real difference between the security systems, though, has to do with monitoring. Frontpoint offers only 24/7 professional monitoring, while Blue by ADT offers a choice between professional monitoring and self-monitoring.

If you’ve read any of our other home security reviews, you know we always recommend professional monitoring. We know we’re never going to be available 24/7 to check alerts and monitor footage. Every once in a while, we like to turn off our phones and take a nap under the big elm trees in our local park. And there are all those other pesky things, like dentist appointments, that tie up our attention as well. With professional monitoring, we never have to worry about paying attention. We let trained professionals do it for us.

Normally, we’d give the edge to Frontpoint. However, Blue by ADT offers professional monitoring, as well as self-monitoring. We don’t recommend self-monitoring, but we get it: Some of you are looking to protect your homes at a discount. Self-monitoring means no contracts and no monthly fees. With Blue by ADT, you get the choice — and choice is always good. Going away on vacation? Sign up for a single month of professional monitoring with Blue by ADT, and then cancel when you get home.

You don’t really get to choose with Frontpoint. In the end, we had to give the edge to Blue here.

Like the idea of self-monitoring? Check out our page on the best no-monthly-fee security systems.

Let’s Talk About Pricing

Let’s get to the bottom line: What will it cost to install these two systems, and how do their price points compare?

First, let’s talk about what you pay for with a home security system.

• Equipment: Obviously you have to buy the equipment itself, including door and window sensors, motion sensors, cameras, and hubs.
• Monitoring: If you sign up for professional monitoring, you’ll pay a monthly fee for it. DIY monitoring is free, but you may have to pay for video storage.
• Installation: Some home security companies require professional installation. That costs.

Both Frontpoint and Blue by ADT have DIY installation, so we’ll ignore that cost.

In terms of equipment, the two are pretty comparable. A door sensor from Blue, for example, costs $15. A door sensor from Frontpoint is just $1.50 more. The one place where Frontpoint’s equipment has Blue beat is cameras. Frontpoint’s most expensive camera costs as little as $125, and its indoor cameras are just $50 apiece. All three of Blue’s offerings — indoor, outdoor, and doorbell — are $199, nearly $75 more than Frontpoint’s top price.

Things flip a bit, though, when we talk about monitoring. Frontpoint requires every customer to sign up for its professional monitoring plan, which costs $50 a month. It’s possible to get a Blue by ADT system and pay no monthly monitoring fees if you DIY your security. Even if you get Blue’s monitoring, though, you’ll only pay $20 a month. We’re sure Frontpoint’s product offers more coverage than Blue’s, but $30 less per month is $30 less per month. Blue’s monitoring definitely comes with the following:

• Fire, carbon monoxide, and flood monitoring
• Emergency alerts to police, fire, and medical personnel
• Panic button
• Silent alarm
• Cellular backup

Advantage to Blue by ADT here.

Components Table

Want to compare apples to apples? Both companies offer a variety of packages. In addition, you can add equipment to any of these packages or build your own package from scratch. For comparison’s sake, we compared midsize equipment packages from both companies.

The advantage goes to Frontpoint. Blue by ADT’s Starter Plus system includes an extra motion sensor and door and window sensor, but Frontpoint’s Home Shield includes a smoke sensor, a flood sensor, and an indoor camera all for $30 less than Blue by ADT.

Recap

How does it all shake out in the end? Honestly, there’s not a lot of daylight between them. Both offer solid midrange security equipment, including sensors, cameras, and hubs. Both make use of advanced technology features such as person detection and face recognition. Both require DIY installation, but in both cases that DIY is about as easy as self-installation gets. Both integrate well with Alexa and Google Home ecosystems.

That leaves price and monitoring as the outstanding features. Frontpoint has a bit of an edge on pricing, particularly regarding its cameras. Blue by ADT has a bit of an edge on monitoring since it gives you a choice of professional or DIY.

With the two so close together, you know what we’re going to say: It really comes down to what your home needs.