ADT vs. SimpliSafe: Which Security System Is Right for Your Home?
If you’re ready to protect your home and family with a smart security system, one of the first choices you have to make is whether to go with a DIY system that you configure and install yourself, or one that a professional sets up. Both types of systems have advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before you take the plunge. Here, we compare our Editors’ Choice winners in each category, the DIY SimpliSafe Home Security System and the professionally installed ADT Command system. Read on to see which is better for your home security needs.
ADT vs. SimpliSafe: Price
The most significant difference between the ADT and SimpliSafe systems is cost. SimpliSafe charges $489.86 for its high-end Haven system that includes a base station, a wireless keypad, a key chain remote, two motion sensors, four door or window entry sensors, a panic button, a 105dB siren, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and water and freeze sensors.
SimpliSafe Home Security System components
(Photo: Zlata Ivelva)
A similar system from ADT that includes a digital touch-screen panel, four door or window sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and a flood sensor costs $1,049 upfront. For reference, the ADT Command system that we reviewed totaled more than $3,000, but came fully loaded with two control panels, four cameras with motion sensors, four smart thermostats, a video doorbell, a smart lock, two smart lights, numerous window and glass break sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors for all three floors of the house, two flood detectors, and a Google Nest Hub smart display.
The ADT price includes professional installation, but you must also agree to a 36-month monitoring contract (starting at $45.99 per month) that is subject to early termination fees. SimpliSafe doesn’t require a contract, but it does offer professional installation services starting at $99 (you might pay more depending on the cameras and additional components you choose for your setup). SimpliSafe offers contract-free monitoring plans for $17.99 to $27.99 per month.
Winner: SimpliSafe
ADT vs. SimpliSafe: Monitoring Options
As mentioned above, ADT’s monitoring starts at $45.99 per month for a Build-Your-Own system and…
