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ADT Review 2023

: What To Know Before Buying Services

One of the best-known brands in the field, ADT offers a wide suite of hardwired and wireless security systems. They provide professional monitoring that uses landline and cellular communication with industry standard 3-year service contracts. Monthly monitoring costs start at $36.99/month.

Monitoring Type: Professional
Install Type: Professional

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Well-Established Company
  • 24/7 Professional Monitoring
  • Video Surveillance Options
  • Smart Home Integrations with ADT Control
  • Free In-home Consultation
  • Expert Installation and Repairs

Cons

  • Customer Service complaints
  • High Monthly Monitoring Fee
  • High Cancellation Fee

ADT

Get the best known brand in home security. Monthly monitoring costs start at $27.99/mo.

The Bottom Line

ADT is the standard for a reason. From homeowners to renters alike, their wireless and hardwired equipment offerings meet diverse customers’ security needs. Their services won’t come cheap, however, and customers should be sure they want at least 36 months of service before signing a contract to avoid hefty cancellation fees.

ADT Home Security Plans

ADT offers three security monitoring options: Essentials, Total Protection, and Premium Protection. Each plan offers professional monitoring and comes with a standard equipment package including a Base Unit, Digital Panel, High-Decibel Alarm, Entryway Sensors, Window Decals, and Yard signs — although the number of each will vary by plan.

The Essentials option will cost you $36.99/month and is powered by a phone line connection.

The Total Protection Plan offers the same professional monitoring features, but uses cellular signal for communication and allows access to the ADT Control app plus smart home features.

Finally, there is the highest tier offering, called the Premium Protection Plan. Like the Total Protection Plan, this package comes with professional monitoring, a basic equipment package, cellular connection, and access to the ADT Control Mobile App for remote control. It stands out, however, by offering Remote Video Monitoring from your mobile device. You can purchase this plan for $52.99/month.

Installation Fees

In addition to monthly charges, ADT also charges installation fees. Note that these are also higher-than-average installation fees, which are calculated based on a variety of factors — it’s not exactly transparent. The actual fee paid may vary depending on configuration, services, and accessories selected.

ADT Home Security Devices

Home Security Devices

  • Base Unit – Wall mounted or Desktop
  • Digital Panel – Wall mounted or Desktop
  • Indoor Security Camera – Wireless
  • Outdoor Security Camera – Wall Mounted with Bracket
  • ADT Video Doorbell – Wireless – Multiple Mounting Options
  • Entryway Sensors – Wireless
  • Motion Sensors – Wireless
  • Wireless Keychain Remote

Fire & Life Safety Device

  • Smoke Detectors
  • Carbon Monoxide Detectors
  • Flood Sensors
  • Panic Button

Smart Home Devices

  • Lights
  • Thermostat
  • Garage Door
  • Plugs
  • Door Locks

ADT Go – Free and Premium Levels

Free

  • Family Location Sharing – Real-time GPS location; Private Family Mapping
  • Local Crime Data
  • Multipoint Driving Record

Premium Level ($9.99/mo) All the above plus:

  • Crash Detection – Automatic crash detection not 100% accurate
  • SOS Emergency Response – One touch and hold button to contact ADT
  • 24/7 Roadside Assistance
  • 24/7 Live Agent

ADT

Get the best known brand in home security. Monthly monitoring costs start at $27.99/mo.

ADT Control

ADT Control is a combination of home security and automated features. With Pulse, you can manage, modify, or monitor your home security system from any device you have downloaded the ADT Control App. You can also control smart lights, garage door controllers, smart plugs, and any other smart home product you've connected to your system. ADT Control is available as part of ADT Home Security Control and ADT Home Security Video packages.

  • Z-wave Technology
  • Remote Arm and Disarm
  • Live Video Feed
  • Remote Lock and Unlock
  • Home Automation Control
  • Setup Custom Alerts
  • Remote Thermostat Control
  • Alexa Integration

ADT FAQs

  • Is ADT available nationwide?

    Yes, ADT is available all throughtout the United States and in Canada.

  • When was ADT established and who owns the company now?

    ADT was established as a telegraph company in 1874 before entering the home security business in the early 1900s. Currently, ADT is owned by Apollo Global Management.

  • What security systems and services does ADT offer?

    ADT offers wireless security systems and home automation products. They also offer system installations and professional alarm monitoring.

  • Does ADT offer home automation products and smart home features?

    Yes. ADT offers a number of home automation products that ties with their system through theADT Control App.

Submit Your Review of ADT

Customer ADT Reviews

ADT is a terrible company
Reviewed by Craig on Mar. 28, 2018

Like so many others on here, I am here to tell you of the pushy sales tactics, appalling service, and even worse equipment and installation practices, and overall complete lack of customer service.

  1. When I moved into the house I had just purchased the previous security provider no longer existed, having been an ADT customer in the previous house I opted to give them a chance.

  2. had to endure numerous pushy, unethical, and downright rude sales representatives just to get a system set up.

  3. was made to pay a ridiculous amount of money for the equipment that "had to be installed for my family's safety"

  4. the installer butchered the walls in my home to install the equipment and then evaporated as quickly as he came, more infuriatingly, he did not install the battery back-up leading to an always beeping, forever un-reliable system.

  5. Contacted ADT rep to have the installation issues rectified and, you guessed it, nothing ever happened.

6)Sold the home, called to cancel the service, has taken over a month to do so and have yet to receive a straight answer from ADT on what is required. Was told nothing was owed and the account was closed on my first call only to find they continued to debit my account. Then told I owed over $900 for a contract, then told $700, then told $800, then told nothing owed and on and on and on and on...

I have been run around so many times with this company over what should be a simple account closure that I should have worn through a Nike company portfolio of shoes and still never received two matching answers.

I AM BEGGING YOU ALL, NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!! PLEASE LOOK AT THESE REVIEWS AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE YOU PASS ON THE STREET. SAVE YOURSELVES AND ANYONE YOU KNOW FROM THIS STRESS AND CHAOS!

Goodbye forever ADT, may the karma of your actions be paid in full.

Worst Sales and Customer Service - Lies
Reviewed by George on Feb. 28, 2019

Their entire promotions are based on lies. I would give no stars if that is possible. When we bought a new home we were contacted by ADT with a promotion that for zero dollars we can get equipment's and set up service for a monthly cost of 29$. We were asked for credit card information and told that the technician will come, look at the house and provide details of security service. We can deny the service if we don't like it. During call, we were not told that they are going to deduct 99$. When technicians arrived it was Quentin Dancy, trainee Wil, and regional officer Casey. I mentioned I don't want to set up any service today and that is when they mentioned that our credit card was already deducted for today's service and there is no point in saying no now. The mistake I made was that I should have denied the service even if we're to lose the 100$. They were not transparent from the beginning, only after complete setup of equipments, they revealed that we need to have a landline to avail the 29$ service and if not we have to pay 53$. They set up a lot of equipment that I agreed to install for 600$ and told that they will provide a doorbell camera for free. At that point, I didn't have a wifi and hence they said they will come back to set it up. Today when a new technician came to set up the doorbell he mentioned I have to pay a 299$ one time fee to upgrade to a get that service. I was not informed of this cost upfront. In addition to this, they promised a 300$ gift card since I was not happy before signing the contract. Later I realized that we had to get a gift certificate, take a money order for 5$ per 100$ gift card and mail the documents to MPell. We have mailed the documents and it's been over 1 month and we haven't received the gift cards yet. Every time we call Customer service, we have to wait for hours to get resolutions or updates. During setup, we were also told that if we were unhappy with service we can cancel it up to 6 months. But when we called the customer service, they mentioned that they can cancel service only if there is something wrong with the equipment and they can't fix it in 3 visits. Again these details were not provided to us. My biggest complaint is that they were so caught up in selling the service and getting a customer sign up for a contract, they were not clear on the conditions and transparent in explaining the costs and process involved while subscribing to that service. If I was informed of these in the beginning, I would have denied the service and not signed a 3-year contract. Please be careful when you get into a sales call, make sure to take a day or two to think through and read the complete contract agreements before taking up this service. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the salesperson says, once we sign the contract we have to live with it.

Sales scam
Reviewed by Kirsten W. on Jan. 1, 2018

We moved into a new house with a one-year-old system and called ADT to activate the system. They sent out Safehaven, which the ADT "consumer advocate" said they only do sales, not activation when I called to complain. Safehaven told us that our like-new system does not respond and doesn't work. They wanted to replace it with a cheaper, lower quality system for $3000 - more than double what the previous owners paid for an upgraded system. They removed our system, it has malfunctioned and had to have sensors replaced already within 6 months, and ADT and Safehaven will not do anything to repair their fraudulent representations or return our prior system of one of comparable value. They are an awful company and the "customer service" team is not helpful at all.

ADT! NEVER THERE!
Reviewed by Eric S. on Oct. 10, 2017

Absolutely HORRIBLE to deal with. Don't waste your time with this company! They have no idea what they are doing. 50 different departments and none communicate with the other. They double bill you for no reason and then shut off your service leaving your home or business unprotected without any regard for your safety. You'll spend upwards of 3-4 HOURS on the phone before you get someone that claims to know what the prob is. Then once you lose them you have to start all over again tomorrow. One hand has NO IDEA what the other hand is doing. And when you try to explain your situation for the 30th time you can here them filing their nails on the other end. ADT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THEM!!!!! Bye Bye ADT!

Do NOT even consider ADT!
Reviewed by Frank Wakelin on Feb. 8, 2019

ADT Pulse is outdated and only serves to provide you with a false sense of security. The motion-activated video recording with only record a 30-second clip. Once that clip is recorded you can not trigger another recording to start for another 5 minutes! That's 4 minutes and 30 seconds anyone can do anything in direct view of your camera and you will capture none of it.

That is NEVER explained to customers when they push that garbage on them. It has all the markings of a of class-action law suit.

Pushy with seniors
Reviewed by parry on Nov. 15, 2017

I was recently at my elderly parent's home and they received a call from ADT telemarking. My mom passed me the phone after she tried to tell the lady she was not interested but the lady kept telling her it was about her security. I explained that we were not interested and this phone # was on the federal do not call list and please do not call again. I then hung up the phone. This ADT security specialist called back immediately and said she is security and doesn't care what list the # is on. I hung up again after ignoring her talk for several minutes. The phone # was 416-154-2316 and of course, could not be called back as it is from another country using VOIP. Please talk to your elderly relatives, this is not right, they are pushy, rude and like to intimidate elderly people.

Don't use ADT
Reviewed by Kim H. on Jun. 26, 2017

My service guy told me it was a two-year contract. Two years later, I try to cancel the services and ADT says it was a three-year contract and won't let me out of the contract unless I pay the full amount owed. They refuse to work with me. If you move, you are still responsible for 75 percent of the total contract. They threaten collection agencies and are terrible to talk to. I will never recommend or use their services again.

Not so great
Reviewed by Nathalie on Aug. 8, 2017

Free equipment, salesperson knocking on the door to door. Fee for the doorbell camera. Awful support, long wait times on the phones. It never works, always have issues. And we're locked in for 5 years. What a rip off!

Only the Best
Reviewed by Megan Gunsolley on Mar. 13, 2019

THE best equipment- Love my agent - SAFEST

Makes You Commit to an Overpriced Contract
Reviewed by James on Jan. 16, 2019

Not a good value at all, equipment is expensive and proprietary. Sales people are very high pressure.