SimpliSafe vs. ADT

ADT Home Security has long been a major name in home security, but you may have heard a lot about SimpliSafe in recent years. Both companies offer a similar range of home security and smart home equipment, but their business models work very differently.

Keep reading this SimpliSafe vs. ADT comparison to decide which is the best home security for your home.

Here’s our comparison of ADT Home Security and SimpliSafe, including their plans, costs, and equipment. We break down the differences between the two home security companies and make recommendations on who might benefit most from each one.

ADT vs. Simplisafe: Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor	ADT	SimpliSafe
This Old House Score	4.6/5	4.9/5
24/7 Monitoring	✔ Included	✔ Available
Contract Length	36 months	1 month
Installation	Professional	DIY or professional
Mobile App Access	✔	✔
Motion Detection	✔	✔
Smart Home Compatibility	✔	✔
Video Surveillance	Available	With SimpliCam purchase
Video Streaming Capability	Available	With SimpliCam purchase
Money-Back Guarantee	6 months (installation and monitoring fees)*	60 days
BBB Rating	A+	A+

*Certain restrictions apply

SimpliSafe vs. ADT Overview

SimpliSafe Overview

Here are a few SimpliSafe benefits:

Clear and inexpensive pricing
Portable equipment
No long-term contract required for professional monitoring services

SimpliSafe is a relative newcomer to the home security industry, and it offers a different paradigm from traditional companies like ADT. The founders of SimpliSafe couldn’t find a good security solution for renters, so they pioneered their own wireless hardware that’s easy to install and remove.

ADT Overview

Here are some top selling points of ADT:

Longevity and a good reputation in the industry
ADT has the largest nationwide network of monitoring centers
Six-month money-back guarantee on installation and monitoring fees*

ADT Home Security is one of the most experienced and best home security companies in the industry. Originally founded as a telegraph company, the business expanded into security alarms in the early decades of the 20th century, and it now serves over six million homes throughout the United States.

*Certain restrictions apply.

SimpliSafe vs. ADT Packages

SimpliSafe Packages

Feature	The Foundation Package	The Essentials Package	The Hearth Package	The Knox Package	The Haven Package
Base Station	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Keypad	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Entry Sensor	✔ 1 included	✔ 3 included	✔ 3 included	✔ 6 included	✔ 4 included
Motion Sensor	✔ 1 included	✔ 1 included	✔ 1 included	✔ 2 included	✔ 2 included
Siren	–	–	✔	✔	✔
Key Fob	–	–	✔	✔	✔
Smoke Detector	–	–	✔	✔	✔
Panic Button	–	–	–	–	✔
Temperature Sensor	–	–	–	–	✔
Water Sensor	–	–	–	–	✔

SimpliSafe offers five equipment packages, ranging from the basics to a full smart home suite. You can learn more about these packages on the company’s website.

Once you buy the equipment, you can choose to monitor it yourself, using it as a simple alarm system with no monthly fees. SimpliSafe also offers two professional monitoring options:

The Standard Plan connects the base station to a monitoring center.
The Interactive Plan gives you full control over the system with the mobile app, alert notifications, and the ability to stream video camera footage.

ADT Packages

Feature	“The Essentials” Package	“ADT Pulse® Remote” Package	“ADT Pulse® + Video” Package	“ADT Pulse® Home Automation + Video” Package
Keypad panel	✔	✔	✔	✔
Motion sensor	✔	✔	✔	✔
Remote keyfob	✔	✔	✔	✔
Life Safety Equipment	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wireless door and window sensors	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mobile app integration	–	✔	✔	✔
Indoor camera	–	–	✔	✔
Outdoor camera	–	–	✔	✔
Doorbell camera	–	–	✔	✔
Smart lock	–	–	–	✔
Smart plug	–	–	–	✔

ADT bundles its equipment and monitoring services together. If you want the hardware, you’ll need to pay for 24/7 professional monitoring.

All plans include the following items:

Digital control panel
Entry sensors
Wireless keychain remote
Motion detectors
24/7 professional monitoring
Yard signs and window decals

Additionally, ADT offers a variety of upgraded equipment depending on your security needs:

ADT mobile app
Voice control
Touchscreen keypad
Indoor and outdoor cameras
Video doorbell camera
Glass break sensor
Panic button
Smoke detector
Carbon monoxide detector
Flood sensor

SimpliSafe vs. ADT Pricing

SimpliSafe Pricing

Pricing	“The Foundation” Package	“The Essentials” Package	“The Hearth” Package	“The Knox” Package	“The Haven” Package
Equipment Cost	$229.00	$259.00	$374.00	$449.00	$489.00

You can purchase SimpliSafe security hardware on its own, but the company offers a 20% discount if you sign up for professional monitoring at the same time. With any of these packages, the Standard Plan is $14.99 a month and the Interactive Plan is $24.99 a month. This monitoring fee is paid month-to-month and can be cancelled anytime; there is no long-term contract required.

ADT Pricing

Pricing	“The Essentials” Package	“ADT Remote” Package	“ADT Video Lite” Package	“ADT Video + Home Automation” Package
Weekly Cost	$7.50/week	$13/week	$15/week	$15/week
Monthly Cost	$29.99/month	$53.99/month	$59.99/month	59.99/month

ADT Home Security costs $99.00 for base package installation for qualified customers, but upgraded packages will require additional installation fees; additional fees may apply for customers requiring a cellular system. Monthly monitoring prices range between $36.99–$59.99 with credit card or automatic bank withdrawal.

SimpliSafe vs. ADT: How Does It Work?

How Does SimpliSafe Work?

SimpliSafe systems can all be purchased online or over the phone. You choose the equipment you need and have it delivered to your door. While the equipment should be easy to install on your own, SimpliSafe does offer professional installation, as well.

How Does ADT Home Security Work?

After you speak to a sales representative and purchase a plan, a professional will come to your house to install the system. The technician will help you set up and test your system, after which you’ll be able to operate everything from the control panel and, for many systems, the mobile app.

SimpliSafe vs. ADT: Similarities & Differences

SimpliSafe & ADT Similarities

While ADT and SimpliSafe tackle home security very differently, they are still similar in some ways. Both offer the latest technology in home security equipment, including sensors, security cameras, smoke and flood detectors, and more. Both also allow you to control your entire home security system via mobile app, as well as receive alerts and stream video.

SimpliSafe & ADT Differences

Factor	ADT	SimpliSafe
Connectivity options	Cellular, broadband, and landline monitoring options	Cellular, broadband, and landline monitoring options
Wireless options	Wired or wireless	Wireless
Contract	3-year contract required on professionally installed systems	Month-to-month payments for monitoring
Self-monitoring option	Unavailable	Available

Our Conclusion

ADT and SimpliSafe are both excellent choices for home security. SimpliSafe may be best for people who want a DIY, portable security system, those who are on a budget, or renters, considering the company has a la carte options and requires long-term contract.

Alternatively, ADT is probably the best choice for homeowners who want a traditional, professionally monitored home security system and have a little extra room in their budget. ADT’s monitoring prices tend to be on the high side, but you’ll get an established name with a nationwide resource network.

More on Home Security Systems:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ADT and SimpliSafe provide professional installation services?

All ADT systems require installation by a professional. SimpliSafe’s security equipment is designed to be self-installable, but the company does offer professional installation for a separate fee.

Does ADT and SimpliSafe require contracts?

ADT requires a 36-month contract for its equipment and professional monitoring options. SimpliSafe’s equipment must be paid for upfront, but its monitoring services don’t require a long-term contract.

What types of packages do SimpliSafe and ADT provide?

ADT provides four different packages, while SimpliSafe offers five packages based on the size of your home and the amount of equipment you need, as well as two monitoring plans.

Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home security recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. Our research includes analyzing product specifications, reviewing service and plan information, speaking with customer service representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score the provider against our review standards for system options, special features, installation options, connectivity and smart-home automation features, pricing, contract terms, warranty, usability, availability of a trial period, and trustworthiness to arrive at a final score out of 100.