ADT Pro Install home security pricing

Is ADT worth the cost?

ADT Pro Install’s packages start at around $500 (and can balloon up to nearly $1,000 or more) up front, and its monitoring plans range from around $45 to $60 per month, depending on which package you choose. If you don’t want to pay for your equipment outright, you can finance it for 60 months, which will bump up your monthly fee by $15 or so.

All things considered, ADT’s costs are higher than nearly every other home security brand out there—and if you’re looking for more basic protection, you’ll probably want to consider a DIY competitor, such as SimpliSafe, Cove, or ADT’s DIY alternative, ADT Self Setup. But taking into account how robust the typical professionally installed ADT system is and its track record in the industry, ADT Pro Install might be worth the cost for you.

ADT Pro Install offers three distinct packages, each with its own equipment and monitoring cost. But bear in mind that these prices may vary, depending on whether you add extra devices.

• The Build Your Own package offers the basics with no smart home devices or cameras and costs around $45 per month, plus another $8 or so if you finance the equipment.
• The Smart package includes smart home add-ons, such as a smart door lock. With this plan, monthly monitoring jumps to around $50 per month along with another $11 or so for equipment.
• The Video & Smart Home package includes all of the above, plus a Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery). If you finance, you’ll tack roughly $15 onto the monthly monitoring fee of about $60.

In our opinion, ADT can be worth the cost—but only for its upper-tier packages. Its basic package, with higher-than-average equipment and monitoring costs, simply doesn’t hold up against similar systems you’ll find out there. On the other hand, we find tremendous value in solid smart home compatibility and quality cameras, so the Video & Smart Home package could be worth the price, provided you’re willing to shell out for it.

How ADT stacks up on value

While traditional home security was once a status symbol, DIY competitors have made it far more accessible. Most people can afford to install systems in their homes for around $300. Because of this, ADT and other pricey, professionally installed home security providers don’t retain the same value they once did.

Our rating system for value explores the price of equipment, monthly monitoring costs, contracts, and other tangible fees associated with the service. But we also recognize that certain brands might charge more based on the quality of their devices and their reputation.

ADT stacks lower than most of the industry on value due to its higher equipment and monitoring costs. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to be valuable for many people. We’ve found ADT to be extremely trustworthy and its monitoring services to be more robust and reliable than much of the competition. So, for the homeowner who might feel a deeper peace of mind with an industry stalwart like ADT, it might be very valuable indeed.