Best ADT Alternatives for 2026 - My Top 2 Recommendations

If you're an existing ADT customer who wants to change home security providers, or you're just shopping around and considering ADT, this guide is for you.

I've tested the ADT security system in my own home, as well as all the other major home security companies, such as SimpliSafe, Ring, Vivint, and Cove, and I'm here to share my top 2 adt alternatives.

Here is the tl;dr

• If you want everything that ADT has, plus more, just from a different provider then check out Vivint
• If you want to save money, but keep the same core security features look at Cove

Whether you're leaving ADT because of the high price, the customer service, or the equipment, this review covers the best alternatives to ADT to make sure you find the best fit for you.

PROMOTION: $0 Activation with Professional Installation

$0 Activation with Professional Installation

4.5

• Month-to-month contract option
• Professional Installation
• Advanced Equipment & Feature Set

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PROMOTION: 70% OFF + Free Indoor Camera

70% OFF + Free Indoor Camera

4.5

• Best Value. High Quality Equipment for the Price
• Touchscreen keypad panel
• Super easy DIY installation

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What To Look For In An ADT Alternative

When you have an ADT security system, there are certain features that you're used to having. And when you start to look at ADT alternatives for your home, you'll want to make sure that you're not compromising on these:

• Professional monitoring over a cellular connection
• Two-way voice communication through the panel's keypad
• Remote access to your security cameras and recorded video through the app
• Smart home capabilities: lights, thermostats, locks

Two-way voice is the one I'd push hardest on. If the alarm trips while someone is in the house, an agent talking through the panel is a real safety feature, and most cheaper DIY home security systems skip it.

ADT Alternatives Compared

Here's a quick comparison of the most popular alternatives:

	ADT	Vivint	Cove
Starting monthly price	$42.99	$29.99	$23
Installation	Professional	Professional	DIY
Contract	12 months minimum	Month-to-month (if you pay for equipment upfront)	Month-to-month
Touchscreen control panel	Yes	Yes	Yes
Two-way voice through the panel	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cameras record without Wi-Fi	Yes (1 hour max)	Yes (unlimited)	Yes (unlimited)
Option to record cameras 24/7	Yes	Yes	No
Control smart home devices	Yes	Yes	No

Both Vivint and Cove are month-to-month services so there is no contract. They also offer the core security features I mentioned above. The main different is that Cove offers a lower price, but doesn't include home automation. Whereas Vivint, can do everything ADT can do but the equipment cost is priced slightly higher.

Vivint: ADT's Biggest Competitor

Vivint is ADT's closest competitor. It has all the same features as the ADT system, plus a few extras.

Cellular Monitoring And A Touchscreen Panel

Vivint provides 24/7 professional monitoring to police, fire, and medical. The system communicates over a cellular connection, so there's no landline or Wi-Fi required just like ADT. It comes with a smart touchscreen hub and has two-way voice communication built right in.

So if a burglar is in your house and the alarm is tripped, you can communicate with the monitoring agent through the panel in addition to being called.

Cameras With "Deter" Mode

Vivint security cameras are a big step up from ADT. When someone walks into the frame, the camera will play a whistling noise, and the LED light around the lens will start to flash.

Add the floodlight attachment and it lights up the whole yard. Somebody who knows they're being recorded doesn't stick around.

These cameras also have a big advantage over ADT cameras in that they can record everything and save it to the hub without an internet connection.

ADT's cameras stop after about an hour without Wi-Fi.

Smart Home Automations In The App

The Vivint smart home app is my favorite out of any of the security companies. It's so well designed and you can get very specific when setting up automations.

On paper the two systems look identical. Both connect to anything Z-Wave compatible, so your smart locks, lights, and thermostat work with either. The difference is the app. Set a rule to arm the system, kill the lights, and lock the doors every weeknight at 9 p.m., and Vivint's flow is quicker and more granular.

The Vivint app has a more refined user experience and better design.

Vivint vs ADT Pricing And Who It Suits

If you're leaving ADT because of their customer service or the equipment, Vivint is the company for you.

Their monitoring costs a bit less than ADT, starting $29.99 per month for standard security compared to ADT's $42.99, but the equipment is more expensive, $599 minimum compared to $369 for ADT. You can pay month-to-month if you purchase the equipment upfront. This means you can cancel whenever you want with no penalty.

So the ADT vs Vivint pros and cons: more upfront, better cameras and app, no 12-month minimum. One con: Vivint's cameras are proprietary and stop working if you cancel, and ADT's Nest cameras don't. My full Vivint review has the equipment breakdown.

> > Vivint Promo: $0 Activation with Professional Installation or call (833) 606-2573

Cove: The Most Affordable Alternative To ADT

The other major alternative to ADT that I recommend is the Cove security system.

Cove is a DIY home security system with no contract. It costs less than ADT and Vivint without dropping the core security features you're used to.

This is the best option for those who want great security at a more affordable price.

Here are the pros and cons of Cove:

Touchscreen Panel And Cellular Backup

Like ADT and Vivint, the Cove system comes with a smart touchscreen panel and two-way voice communication. You get 24/7 professional monitoring to police, fire, and medical. The system uses your Wi-Fi connection, but has a cellular backup in case your internet or power goes out.

So even if your power or Wi-Fi goes out, you'll still have monitoring.

Cove Cameras And Their Limits

The Cove cameras have all the basic features that you'd expect: you can view them live through the app, talk to people at your front door, and they'll record when they detect motion. They also have a built-in SD card so they can keep recording even if your Wi-Fi goes down.

The only con is that the Cove cameras only record when they detect motion. There's no option to have them record 24/7. ADT and Vivint both have this as an upgrade option.

Cove also skips home automation, so no locks, thermostat, or lights tied into the system. If you use those with ADT every day, Cove isn't for you. The cameras aren't proprietary, though, and you can add as many as you want without raising the bill. I cover the camera setup headaches in my Cove review.

Cove Pricing (It's Cheaper Than ADT)

Where the Cove system really shines, though, is the low price. You can get the alarm system with professional monitoring for just $23 per month. Add cameras and it's $33 per month.

When I purchased my Cove system I paid $250 upfront for a full system with 3 cameras, a panel, door and window sensors, a motion detector, and a glass break sensor, and I pay $33 per month for monitoring and camera access.

Of that $33 per month, $5 is put towards a credit on your account that you can use to purchase additional equipment.

So your true out-of-pocket cost is about $28 per month with cameras, against $48.99 for ADT. That's roughly $250 a year, about what my whole Cove system cost. When I recorded my video, Cove was running 70% off equipment with a free indoor camera.

So if you're leaving ADT because of the high monthly fees, Cove is the company for you.

> > Cove Promo: 70% OFF + Free Indoor Camera

Why Didn't Ring Or SimpliSafe Make The List?

Both Ring and SimpliSafe are solid home security systems, and I've tested both in my own home, but they lack some of the core features that you get with ADT.

Specifically, they don't have two-way voice communication built into the control panel like ADT, Vivint, and Cove do. And their cameras won't record if you don't have Wi-Fi.

A few more notes from my Ring review and SimpliSafe review:

• Neither has a touchscreen keypad. Both use push buttons.
• Ring's monitoring starts at $20 per month and SimpliSafe's at $32.99.
• Both are DIY home security systems with no contracts.

Which ADT Alternative Should You Pick?

If you want a company with all the same features as ADT, plus a few extras, get Vivint. It's also the one I'd pick if customer service is why you're leaving and you still want professional installation and a full smart home setup. But if you're trying to cut back on your monthly bill and can live without the smart home features, get Cove. You'll keep the core security features you have with ADT for a lot less each month.