SimpliSafe vs ADT (2026): Which Home Security System Should You Get?

I've reviewed the SimpliSafe security system and the ADT home security system individually, and in this review I'm putting them head to head. These two systems couldn't be more different in how they approach home security. SimpliSafe is the DIY system that kind of pioneered mainstream self-install home security. ADT is the biggest and longest-running security company in the country, built around professional installation and monitoring.

The short version: ADT is the better overall system. It has a touchscreen panel, professional installation, straight cellular monitoring, two-way voice through the panel, non-proprietary Nest cameras, and smart home automation that SimpliSafe can't touch. But it costs more and requires a minimum 12-month agreement. SimpliSafe is the better pick if you want easy DIY installation, no contract, and their Active Guard live video monitoring feature, which ADT doesn't offer. SimpliSafe has also gotten more expensive over the years, so it's not quite the budget option it used to be.

Here's the full breakdown.

SimpliSafe vs ADT At A Glance

Feature	SimpliSafe	ADT
Monthly monitoring	$32.99 - $79.99/mo	$42.99 - $48.99/mo
Upfront equipment cost	~$500 (on sale)	~$700 comparable setup
Installation	DIY	Professional
Contract required	No	12-month minimum
Panel type	Basic push-button keypad	7" touchscreen
Cameras	Proprietary (SimpliSafe only)	Nest (non-proprietary)
Smart home automation	Door lock only	Full Z-Wave support
Monitoring connection	Wi-Fi first, cellular backup	Straight cellular
Two-way voice on panel	No	Yes
24/7 continuous recording	No (clips only)	Yes (upgrade available)
Records without Wi-Fi	No	Yes (up to 1 hour)
Active Guard live monitoring	Yes ($49 - $79/mo)	No

Security Equipment And Panels

My SimpliSafe system came with the base station, push-button keypad, door and window sensors, motion sensor, glass break sensor, indoor camera, outdoor camera, doorbell camera, and an automatic door lock attachment that connects to your existing deadbolt. The whole system cost about $965, but I got 50% off during a sale and paid around $519.

My ADT system came with the 7-inch touchscreen command panel, door and window sensors, motion sensor, glass break sensor, the Nest doorbell camera, and the Nest outdoor camera. Comparable equipment would run about $700.

The panel difference is the first thing you notice. SimpliSafe uses a traditional push-button keypad. It works, but it's extremely basic. ADT has a 7-inch touchscreen command panel, and I find it much easier to use. Changing settings, bypassing a sensor, adding new devices, checking camera feeds. It's almost like using an iPad. The SimpliSafe keypad feels dated next to it.

The other equipment difference worth knowing: ADT can use sensors and equipment from other companies. If you moved into a house that already has a hardwired security system, ADT can take it over. They can also use wireless sensors from companies like Honeywell and 2GIG. That can save you real money on equipment. SimpliSafe can only use SimpliSafe equipment. If your house already has sensors from a previous system, SimpliSafe can't use them.

SimpliSafe vs ADT Monitoring And Connection

Both systems monitor 24/7 for police, fire, and medical dispatch. Neither requires a landline, and both have cellular connectivity with battery backup. But the way they connect to the monitoring center is different, and it matters.

SimpliSafe connects to your home Wi-Fi first and uses cellular as a backup. If your power goes out and your internet goes down with it, SimpliSafe has to fail over to the cellular connection. That handoff can cause a small delay in response time.

ADT goes straight to cellular. It doesn't rely on Wi-Fi to reach the monitoring station. No handoff, no delay. If the power is out and the internet is down, ADT is already on cellular without needing to switch. That can mean faster communication with the monitoring center during an actual emergency.

Two-Way Voice Through The Panel

ADT has two-way voice built into the touchscreen panel. If the alarm goes off, a monitoring agent can communicate with you through the panel itself. That's a real advantage during a break-in. You're probably not going to calmly answer your phone while someone is in your house. If the agent hears people running around or shouting through the panel, they know there's an emergency and can relay that to police immediately.

SimpliSafe doesn't have this. Their agents just call your phone. If you can't answer, they have less information to work with.

ADT Monitoring Plans

ADT's base professional monitoring starts at $42.99 per month with app access. Smart home automation bumps it to $42.99 (included in the same tier). Adding cameras brings it to $48.99 per month. ADT also has six different monitoring stations, so if one goes down, you still have five backing you up. There's something reassuring about that. ADT has been around the longest, they're the largest, and if you've been in business that long, you're doing something right when it comes to monitoring.

SimpliSafe Monitoring Plans

SimpliSafe starts at $32.99 per month for professional monitoring with police, fire, and medical dispatch plus app access. The Active Guard overnight plan (live agent monitoring your cameras from 8 PM to 6 AM) runs $49.99 per month. Full 24/7 Active Guard is $79.99 per month. There's also a free self-monitoring option where you get app notifications but no professional dispatch.

Plan	SimpliSafe	ADT
Basic professional monitoring	$32.99/mo	$42.99/mo
Monitoring + smart home	N/A	$42.99/mo
Monitoring + cameras	$32.99/mo (included)	$48.99/mo
Active Guard (overnight)	$49.99/mo	N/A
Active Guard (24/7)	$79.99/mo	N/A
Self-monitoring	Free	N/A

SimpliSafe has historically been the affordable option, but the pricing has crept up over the years. At $32.99 per month for basic monitoring, SimpliSafe is about $10 cheaper than ADT. But if you want Active Guard at $49 or $79 per month, SimpliSafe quickly becomes the more expensive system. It's an interesting direction for a company that built its reputation on being the budget pick.

SimpliSafe vs ADT Contracts

SimpliSafe is completely month-to-month. Buy the equipment, sign up for monitoring, cancel whenever you want. No penalty.

ADT has a minimum 12-month agreement, even if you purchase equipment upfront. If you finance the equipment (0% APR for up to 36 months), you're obligated to keep the service as long as you have a balance. I'm not a huge fan of the contract, but ADT has gotten more flexible than they used to be. They used to require a three-year agreement with cancellation fees. A 12-month minimum is a step in the right direction, and honestly, if you're getting home security, you're probably keeping it longer than a year anyway.

Monitoring Verdict

ADT has stronger monitoring infrastructure: straight cellular, two-way voice, six monitoring centers. SimpliSafe has lower base pricing and more flexibility with month-to-month plans. If monitoring reliability is your top priority, ADT wins. If you want the most affordable professional monitoring with no commitment, SimpliSafe is the move. If Active Guard live video monitoring matters to you, that's SimpliSafe only.

SimpliSafe And ADT Camera Comparison

Both security systems have cameras for indoors, outdoors, and the doorbell. Both shoot in HD with night vision, motion detection, two-way talk, and live viewing from the app. The core camera features are pretty much apples to apples.

The big differences show up in how the cameras handle specific situations.

SimpliSafe Cameras

SimpliSafe uses their own proprietary cameras. That means if you cancel SimpliSafe service, your cameras stop working. You can't take them and use them independently. That's a real downside if you ever plan on switching providers.

SimpliSafe cameras only record in clips (when motion is detected). There's no option for 24/7 continuous recording. And if your Wi-Fi goes out, SimpliSafe cameras stop recording entirely. No Wi-Fi, no video. That's a problem.

One thing I noticed during testing: the SimpliSafe outdoor camera would stutter and lag quite a bit when viewing the live feed. If someone was moving around in front of the camera, the video wasn't smooth at all. The downloaded recordings were fine, but the live view was choppy. I didn't experience that with the ADT cameras.

The big plus for SimpliSafe cameras is Active Guard. This is where a live monitoring agent watches your outdoor cameras and can talk to suspicious people through the camera speaker. If someone is lurking around your house, the agent can confront them and even dispatch police before an alarm is triggered. That's a feature ADT doesn't have, and it's genuinely useful for deterring crime before it happens rather than just reacting after the fact.

ADT Cameras (Nest)

ADT uses the Nest cameras from Google. The cameras are not proprietary to ADT. If you cancel ADT service, you still have access to your Nest cameras through the Google Home app. That's a major advantage over SimpliSafe.

ADT cameras record in clips by default, but you can upgrade to 24/7 continuous recording. So you can see every minute of every hour if you want to. SimpliSafe doesn't offer that at all.

The other advantage: ADT cameras still record for up to one hour without Wi-Fi. If your power goes out and your internet drops, the cameras keep rolling. SimpliSafe cameras go completely dark. That's a meaningful difference when your cameras matter most.

The video quality from the Nest cameras is smoother and more stable than what I got from SimpliSafe. No stuttering on live view, cleaner footage overall.

The one downside with ADT cameras: if you want to download video or access certain camera features, you have to switch over to the Google Home app instead of doing everything in the ADT app. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's a little annoying to bounce between apps.

Camera Verdict

ADT wins on camera quality, non-proprietary ownership, continuous recording, and recording without Wi-Fi. SimpliSafe wins on Active Guard live monitoring, which is a genuinely unique feature in the security industry. If camera ownership and reliability matter most, go ADT. If live agent deterrence matters most, go SimpliSafe.

DIY vs Professional Installation

Installing SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe is completely DIY. They ship everything to your door, and you install it yourself. They've been doing this longer than almost anyone else in the industry, and the process is polished. Download the app, connect the base station, sync up the sensors and cameras. The sensors are peel-and-stick. It's hard to mess up.

My full SimpliSafe installation took about two to three hours. I had almost zero issues. People say you can do it in 30 minutes, but with cameras and all the sensors, plan for an afternoon. The process is straightforward, though. If you've ever set up a smart home device, you'll be fine.

Since everything is wireless with adhesive backing, SimpliSafe is renter-friendly. No drilling, no permanent modifications to the walls. Take it all with you when you move. SimpliSafe even sends a free moving kit with fresh adhesives if you tell them you're relocating.

Installing ADT

ADT sends a professional technician who handles everything. They walked through my home, decided on sensor placement, connected all the equipment, installed the cameras (which involved drilling through the exterior wall and running wires), tested the system, and showed me how to use the app and set up automations.

My ADT installation took about two to three hours, same as SimpliSafe. The difference is I didn't have to climb a ladder and drill through my house to mount outdoor cameras. The technician handled all of that. If you want cameras plugged in on the outside of your house, having a pro do it is worth it.

There's also peace of mind knowing that someone who installs security systems every day set everything up correctly. You know it's done right the first time. Check ADT's current installation deals here.

Installation Verdict

SimpliSafe wins on flexibility, cost (free DIY), and portability for renters. ADT wins on quality and convenience, especially for outdoor camera installation that requires drilling and wiring. If you're comfortable doing it yourself and want to save money, SimpliSafe is great. If you'd rather have a professional handle it and know it's done right, ADT is the pick.

Smart Home Automation

This is where ADT pulls far ahead. SimpliSafe has almost no home automation. The only exception is the automatic door lock attachment you can connect to your existing deadbolt. You can lock and unlock it from the app and set up a basic automation (arm the system and it locks the door). That's it. No Z-Wave light switches, no thermostats, no garage door openers. No third-party device support. SimpliSafe is core security with cameras and a door lock.

ADT can connect to anything Z-Wave compatible. Light switches, thermostats, garage door openers, door locks. It all shows up in the ADT app alongside your security system and cameras. You can set up automations: Monday through Friday at 9 PM, arm the alarm, lock the front door, turn off the lights. Each device can trigger actions on other devices. It's way more capable than what SimpliSafe offers.

If smart home automation matters to you at all, ADT is the clear choice. SimpliSafe will monitor your house and show you camera feeds, but it's not a smart home hub.

Comparing The SimpliSafe App And ADT App

Both apps work well. I don't have a lot of negative things to say about either one.

The SimpliSafe app is really well done. It's well designed, intuitive, responsive. You can arm and disarm the system, watch camera feeds, view motion history, and control the door lock all from one app. Everything lives under a single app, which is nice.

The ADT app (ADT+) is also solid. Arm and disarm remotely, view camera feeds, control smart home devices, set up automations. The app ratings on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store are strong (4.4 and 4.8 respectively).

The one knock on ADT: if you want to download video or access certain Nest camera features, you have to switch to the Google Home app. It's not the end of the world, but having to remember which features are in which app gets a little old. SimpliSafe keeps everything under one roof, and that's a genuine convenience advantage.

SimpliSafe vs ADT Warranty And Support

Both SimpliSafe and ADT offer a one-year limited hardware warranty on equipment. SimpliSafe extends the warranty if you subscribe to a monitoring plan (up to continuous coverage on higher tiers), which is a nice perk. ADT offers warranty extensions through a separate Quality Service Protection plan at an additional monthly fee.

For customer support, both offer phone support, live chat, and online help centers. SimpliSafe also has a community forum where users help each other, which can be useful for questions that aren't in the FAQs. ADT offers FaceTime support, which is unique. If you want to show a support agent your equipment issue rather than describe it, that's handy.

Customer reviews tend to favor SimpliSafe on the support side. ADT's online reviews for customer service are mixed. SimpliSafe's are generally more positive.

SimpliSafe vs ADT Pricing And Costs

Equipment Costs

My SimpliSafe system retailed for about $965, but I got it during a 50% off sale and paid around $519. SimpliSafe frequently runs these kinds of discounts, so watch for them.

An ADT system with comparable equipment (similar sensors, cameras, and panel) comes out to about $700. ADT offers 0% APR financing for up to 36 months, which spreads out the cost but keeps you in a service agreement for the duration.

The pro for ADT equipment cost: if your house already has an existing hardwired security system, ADT can take over those sensors. That can bring your equipment cost way down, potentially even below what SimpliSafe would cost.

Monthly Monitoring Costs

Plan	SimpliSafe	ADT
Base professional monitoring	$32.99/mo	$42.99/mo
Monitoring + smart home	N/A	$42.99/mo (included)
Monitoring + cameras	$32.99/mo (included)	$48.99/mo
Active Guard (overnight)	$49.99/mo	N/A
Active Guard (24/7)	$79.99/mo	N/A

At the base level, SimpliSafe is about $10 cheaper per month than ADT. But SimpliSafe's pricing goes up fast when you add Active Guard. At $79.99 per month for 24/7 Active Guard, SimpliSafe is significantly more expensive than ADT's top-tier plan at $48.99.

For standard monitoring with cameras, you're looking at about a $16 difference per month ($32.99 vs $48.99). Over a year, that's roughly $192. Whether the extra $16 per month is worth it depends on how much you value ADT's touchscreen panel, non-proprietary cameras, smart home automation, and straight cellular monitoring.

Moving With Your System

SimpliSafe is easy to move. Unplug everything, peel off the sensors, reinstall at your new place. SimpliSafe sends a free moving kit with fresh adhesives. Update your address in the app and you're done.

ADT is harder to move. If a technician professionally installed your system (which most people get), you typically can't take the base station with you. You'll need a new system at the new address and a new installation appointment. Your monitoring contract transfers, but you'll need to purchase new equipment. If you move frequently, this is a real downside.

Pricing Verdict

SimpliSafe is cheaper at the base level for both equipment and monthly monitoring. ADT costs more but gives you professional installation, a touchscreen panel, non-proprietary cameras, smart home automation, and stronger monitoring infrastructure. If you want Active Guard, SimpliSafe is the only option, but it's expensive at the higher tiers. If you need to move your system, SimpliSafe is dramatically easier and cheaper to relocate.

Which Home Security System Should You Get?

After testing both security systems side by side, here's where I land.

Get SimpliSafe If You Want DIY Installation And Active Guard

SimpliSafe is the right pick if you want to install the system yourself, keep things month-to-month with no contract, and potentially use Active Guard live video monitoring. The DIY installation process is one of the best in the industry. It's renter-friendly, easy to move, and SimpliSafe has refined the setup experience over years of being the go-to DIY security company.

Active Guard is the standout feature. Having a live agent watching your outdoor cameras and confronting suspicious people before an alarm even triggers is something ADT doesn't offer. If deterring crime before it happens is a priority, SimpliSafe is the only mainstream security system offering that right now.

The trade-offs: basic push-button keypad, proprietary cameras you lose if you cancel, no smart home automation beyond a door lock, cameras that don't record without Wi-Fi, and no 24/7 continuous recording. SimpliSafe also isn't as cheap as it used to be.

Check SimpliSafe's current offers here.

Get ADT If You Want The Best Overall Home Security System

ADT is the better system overall. The touchscreen panel is easier to use than SimpliSafe's keypad. Professional installation means everything is done right, especially outdoor cameras. Smart home automation lets you control locks, lights, thermostats, and garage doors from the same app. The Nest cameras are non-proprietary (you keep them if you cancel), have better video quality, offer 24/7 continuous recording, and still record for up to one hour without Wi-Fi. And straight cellular monitoring with two-way voice through the panel means faster, more reliable communication with the monitoring center.

The trade-off is cost and flexibility. ADT's equipment is more expensive, the monthly monitoring runs about $16 more, and there's a minimum 12-month agreement. Moving is also a pain with ADT since you typically can't take the professionally installed system with you.

But if you're a homeowner who plans to stay put for a while and wants a complete smart home security system with professional installation, ADT is worth the premium. If your house already has an existing hardwired security system, ADT can use those sensors and save you money on equipment, which is something SimpliSafe can't do.

Check ADT's current offers here.

The Bottom Line

For renters, frequent movers, and people who want DIY installation with no contract, SimpliSafe is the right call. The Active Guard feature is a genuine differentiator. The system works well, it's easy to set up, and you can cancel whenever you want.

For homeowners who want the most capable home security system with professional installation, a touchscreen panel, smart home automation, and non-proprietary cameras, ADT is the better investment. You're paying more, but you're getting a more complete system with stronger monitoring and more features.

Both systems protect your home 24/7 with police, fire, and medical dispatch. You're making a solid choice either way. It comes down to whether you value flexibility and DIY (SimpliSafe) or capability and professional quality (ADT).