ADT vs SimpliSafe: Which Home Security System Is Better?
The 150-year-old professional-install name against the DIY brand that SafeWise, Security.org, and SafeHome.org all crowned the best of 2026. Six rounds. Real numbers. One honest scorecard.
The verdict
SimpliSafe takes it, 4–2 on rounds.
SimpliSafe wins four of six rounds here — cost, contract, trust, and setup speed — leaving ADT's real edge narrowed to wanting a technician and a slightly higher app score.
Choose ADT if…
- • You specifically want a technician to install the system, not a DIY kit
- • You want the single highest-rated standalone app in the category
Choose SimpliSafe if…
- • You want zero contract risk and the lowest realistic monthly cost
- • You weigh third-party trust and reputation heavily in your decision
Round by round
- Round 1Cost — Equipment & Monthly FeeSimpliSafe winsADT5/10
$49.99-$82/mo
Pro Install monitoring; Blu DIY tier starts cheaper at $9.99/mo
- 0% financing up to 60 months
- Cheaper Blu DIY tier available
- Pro Install monitoring starts at $49.99/mo
Source: ADT pricing data
SimpliSafe9/10$0-$79.99/mo
Free self-monitoring option; 24/7 pro monitoring from $22.99/mo
- Free self-monitoring tier exists
- 24/7 pro monitoring from $22.99/mo, no financing needed
- Top Pro Plus tier ($79.99/mo) is pricey for DIY
Source: SimpliSafe pricing data
SimpliSafe undercuts ADT at almost every price point without needing a financing contract to do it.
- Round 2Contract & CancellationSimpliSafe winsADT3/10
36 months
Early termination fee based on remaining payments
- Blu DIY tier offers a month-to-month path
- 36-month ETF on Pro Install
- Service calls can run up to $160
Source: ADT contract terms
SimpliSafe10/10No contract
Equipment owned outright, cancel anytime, no ETF
- Zero contract on any tier
- Equipment keeps working locally after cancellation
Source: SimpliSafe cancellation policy
One of these companies can lock you in for three years; the other structurally can't.
- Round 3Installation & SetupSimpliSafe winsADT6/10
Professional install, technician network
- Real technician handles placement and setup
- Requires scheduling and waiting for an appointment
SimpliSafe8/10<1 hour typical
No appointment needed, modular a la carte hardware
- Same-day setup, no appointment needed
- Modular a la carte hardware
- No professional installer option for hesitant DIYers
Source: SimpliSafe install data
ADT offers real technician expertise; SimpliSafe offers same-day setup with zero waiting.
- Round 4Monitoring & ResponseADT winsADT7/10
10-15 sec avg
Professional monitoring included by default on Pro Install
- 24/7 professional monitoring standard, not optional
- Published average response time
- Some sources cite response up to ~45s
Source: ADT monitoring data
SimpliSafe6/10$0-$9.99/mo = no dispatch
24/7 pro monitoring requires opting into $22.99+/mo
- Video verification speeds up confirmed police dispatch
- Free/self-monitoring tiers have no dispatch at all
- No published guaranteed response time
Source: SimpliSafe pricing data
ADT bakes professional monitoring in by default; with SimpliSafe you have to choose to pay for it.
- Round 5App & User ExperienceADT winsADT8/10
4.8/5
~48,000 ratings on the App Store
- 4.8/5 App Store rating
- Trusted Neighbor temporary access sharing
Source: ADT+ app data
SimpliSafe7/104.53/5
~32,000 ratings on Google Play
- Video verification built into the app for faster dispatch
- Slightly lower rating and sample size than ADT's app
Source: SimpliSafe app data
Both apps are well-rated; ADT's is just a shade ahead on raw score.
- Round 6Trust & ComplaintsSimpliSafe winsADT2/10
1.2/5 Trustpilot, 5,000+ reviews
- 1.2/5 Trustpilot from 5,000+ reviews
- Widely reported astronomical hold times
SimpliSafe8/103.8/5 Trustpilot, A+ BBB, 4.7 Google
- A+ BBB rating
- 3.8/5 Trustpilot, 4.7/5 Google Reviews
- Recurring Wi-Fi connectivity/hardware complaints
SimpliSafe doesn't just beat ADT on one metric here — it wins Trustpilot, BBB, and Google Reviews all at once.
Which one is for you?
Homeowner who specifically wants a technician to handle install
→ ADT · ADT's nationwide professional install network is unmatched
Buyer who wants the highest-rated standalone app
→ ADT · ADT+ rates 4.8/5 vs SimpliSafe's 4.53/5
Renter or budget buyer who wants zero contract
→ SimpliSafe · No contract on any SimpliSafe tier, ever
Anyone weighing overall trust and reputation heavily
→ SimpliSafe · 3.8/5 Trustpilot and A+ BBB vs ADT's 1.2/5 Trustpilot
ADTSide by side
- 0% financing up to 60 months
- Cheaper Blu DIY tier available
- Blu DIY tier offers a month-to-month path
- Real technician handles placement and setup
- Free self-monitoring tier available
- 24/7 pro monitoring starts at just $22.99/mo
- No early-termination fees, ever
- Owned hardware keeps working after cancelling monitoring
- Pro Install monitoring starts at $49.99/mo
- 36-month ETF on Pro Install
- Service calls can run up to $160
- Requires scheduling and waiting for an appointment
- Top Pro Plus tier runs $79.99/mo
- No professional-install option offered at all
- No radar-based or advanced behavior-detection cameras
- Video Doorbell Pro requires a wired connection only