SimpliSafe vs ADT 2025: Cost, Contracts, Features
SimpliSafe is a DIY-friendly, affordable security system with no long-term contracts starting at $14.99/month, while ADT is a professional monitoring service with 24/7 agent support requiring professional installation and typically 3-year contracts starting at $28.99/month. SimpliSafe prioritizes flexibility and cost savings, whereas ADT emphasizes professional response and established reputation.
SimpliSafe
DIY smart home security system with flexible month-to-month monitoring plans.
Renters, tech-savvy homeowners, budget-conscious buyers, and anyone wanting flexibility without long-term commitment.
ADT
Professional home security system with 24/7 monitoring and professional installation.
Homeowners seeking established brand reliability, professional setup, and comprehensive support without worrying about installation or equipment costs.
Quick Answer
AI SummarySimpliSafe is a DIY-friendly, affordable security system with no long-term contracts starting at $14.99/month, while ADT is a professional monitoring service with 24/7 agent support requiring professional installation and typically 3-year contracts starting at $28.99/month. SimpliSafe prioritizes flexibility and cost savings, whereas ADT emphasizes professional response and established reputation.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose SimpliSafe if you want flexibility, lower costs, no contracts, and don't mind self-installation—ideal for renters, tech-savvy homeowners, and budget-conscious buyers. Choose ADT if you prefer professional installation, established reputation, comprehensive support, and don't mind long-term contracts—better for homeowners who value traditional service and want zero setup hassle.
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Choose SimpliSafe if
Best pickRenters, tech-savvy homeowners, budget-conscious buyers, and anyone wanting flexibility without long-term commitment.
Choose ADT if
Homeowners seeking established brand reliability, professional setup, and comprehensive support without worrying about installation or equipment costs.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Installation Type:✓ SimpliSafe wins(Self-installed (DIY) vs Professional installation required)
- Starting Monthly Monitoring Cost:✓ SimpliSafe wins($14.99/month vs $28.99/month)
- Contract Length:✓ SimpliSafe wins(No long-term contract required vs 3-year contract standard)
Key Facts & Figures
45 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | SimpliSafe | ADT | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Monitoring Monthly Cost(USD/month) | $24.99-$34.99 | — | — |
| Camera Minimum Resolution(p) | 1080p HD | — | — |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) | $15-30 | — | — |
| Entry-Level System Cost(USD) | $230 | — | — |
| Wireless Sensors(count) | 15+ sensor types | — | — |
| Battery Backup Duration(hours) | 24+ hours | — | — |
| Smart Home Integrations(platforms) | Alexa, Google Home | — | — |
| Professional Monitoring Response(minutes) | <60 minutes dispatch | — | — |
| Base System Cost(USD) | $199 | — | — |
| Monthly Professional Monitoring(USD/month) | $24.99 | — | — |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 17.5 | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 | — | — |
| Mobile App Reviews Count(reviews) | 180,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Purchase Price(USD) | $299-$499 | $0-$200 (often waived) | |
| Typical Contract Length(years) | No contract (month-to-month) | 3-5 years | |
| Installation Time(minutes) | 30-60 minutes DIY | 2-4 hours (professional) | |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(percent) | 4.5/5 (8,200+ reviews) | 3.8/5 (6,500+ reviews) | |
| Years in Business(years) | 15 years (founded 2010) | 82 years (founded 1942) | |
| Monthly Professional Monitoring(USD) | $15/month | — | — |
| Starter Kit Cost(USD) | $229 | — | — |
| Professional Installation Fee(USD) | $0 (DIY) | — | — |
| Wireless Sensor Range(feet) | 700+ feet | — | — |
| Free Cloud Video Storage(hours per day) | 1 hour (requires paid plan) | — | — |
| Base Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) | $14.99 | $28.99 | |
| Professional Installation Cost(USD) | $0 (DIY) | $99-199 | |
| Minimum Contract Length(months) | Month-to-month | 36-month contract | |
| DIY Installation Time(minutes) | 15-30 minutes | Professional (120-240 min) | |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5 stars | 3.8 stars | |
| Professional Monitoring Response Time(seconds average) | N/A (optional self-monitor) | 90 seconds | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating (2025)(percent satisfied) | 82% | 71% | |
| Number of Monitoring Centers(count) | 8 regional centers | 15+ nationwide | |
| Monthly Monitoring Fee(USD) | $14.99 | — | — |
| Starter System Cost(USD) | $299 | — | — |
| Annual Monitoring Cost(USD) | $179.88 | — | — |
| Average Emergency Response Time(seconds) | 60 seconds | — | — |
| Entry System Cost(USD) | $299 | — | — |
| Monthly Monitoring Fee(USD) | $24.99/month (included) | — | — |
| Cloud Storage Included(days) | 1 day (with monitoring) | — | — |
| Smart Home Compatible Devices(count) | 15+ third-party integrations | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) | $14.99 | $28.99 | |
| Annual Monitoring Cost (Standard Plan)(USD) | $239.88-$299.88 | $347.88 | |
| Upfront Equipment Cost(USD) | $99-$199 | $0 (included) | |
| Contract Length(years) | No contract required | 3-year standard | — |
| Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2024)(score out of 1000) | 782 | 801 | |
| Number of Monitored Customers(millions) | 1.2+ million | 6+ million |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Self-installed (DIY)(winner)Installation TypeProfessional installation required
- $14.99/month(winner)Starting Monthly Monitoring Cost$28.99/month
- No long-term contract required(winner)Contract Length3-year contract standard
- Available with paid plan24/7 Professional MonitoringIncluded standard
- 782/1000Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2024)801/1000(winner)
- $99-$199Equipment Cost (Starter System)$0 (included with monitoring)(winner)
- 2006Year Founded1971(winner)
- Installation Type
SimpliSafe
Self-installed (DIY)(winner)
ADT
Professional installation required
- Starting Monthly Monitoring Cost
SimpliSafe
$14.99/month(winner)
ADT
$28.99/month
- Contract Length
SimpliSafe
No long-term contract required(winner)
ADT
3-year contract standard
- 24/7 Professional Monitoring
SimpliSafe
Available with paid plan
ADT
Included standard
- Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2024)
SimpliSafe
782/1000
ADT
801/1000(winner)
- Equipment Cost (Starter System)
SimpliSafe
$99-$199
ADT
$0 (included with monitoring)(winner)
- Year Founded
SimpliSafe
2006
ADT
1971(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | SimpliSafe | ADT |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Monitoring Monthly Cost(USD/month) | $24.99-$34.99 | — |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) | $15-30 | — |
| Entry-Level System Cost(USD) | $230 | — |
| Base System Cost(USD) | $199 | — |
| Monthly Professional Monitoring(USD/month) | $24.99 | — |
Show 14 more attributesEquipment Purchase Price(USD) $299-$499 $0-$200 (often waived) Monthly Professional Monitoring(USD) $15/month — Starter Kit Cost(USD) $229 — Professional Installation Fee(USD) $0 (DIY) — Base Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) $14.99 $28.99 Professional Installation Cost(USD) $0 (DIY) $99-199 Monthly Monitoring Fee(USD) $14.99 — Starter System Cost(USD) $299 — Annual Monitoring Cost(USD) $179.88 — Entry System Cost(USD) $299 — Monthly Monitoring Fee(USD) $24.99/month (included) — Starting Monthly Monitoring Cost(USD) $14.99 $28.99 Annual Monitoring Cost (Standard Plan)(USD) $239.88-$299.88 $347.88 Upfront Equipment Cost(USD) $99-$199 $0 (included) | ||
| Professional 24/7 Monitoring Included | Yes, in-house trained monitors | — |
| Wireless Sensors(count) | 15+ sensor types | — |
| Free Cloud Video Storage(hours per day) | 1 hour (requires paid plan) | — |
| AI Video Detection Capabilities | Motion and activity alerts only | — |
| Local Processing Support | Cloud-only | — |
Show 1 more attributeMobile App Available Yes (iOS & Android) Yes (iOS & Android) | ||
| Outdoor Camera Night Vision Type | Color night vision | — |
| Camera Minimum Resolution(p) | 1080p HD | — |
| Two-Way Audio | Yes, standard feature | — |
| AI Person Detection | Yes, with facial recognition limitations | — |
| Smart Home Ecosystem Integration | Limited third-party support | — |
| Smart Home Integrations(platforms) | Alexa, Google Home | — |
| Smart Home Platform Support | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit | — |
| Smart Home Compatible Devices(count) | 15+ third-party integrations | — |
| Active Guard Real-Time Response | Yes, proprietary feature with trained monitors | — |
| Battery Backup Duration(hours) | 24+ hours | — |
| Professional Monitoring Response(minutes) | <60 minutes dispatch | — |
| Contract Requirement | Month-to-month available | — |
| Contract Term Required | None (month-to-month) | — |
| Contract Options | Optional 3-year contract | — |
| Contract Length(years) | No contract required | 3-year standard |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 17.5 | — |
| Data Processing Location | Cloud-only (AWS servers) | — |
| HomeKit Integration | Not supported | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 | — |
| Mobile App Reviews Count(reviews) | 180,000 | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(percent) | 4.5/5 (8,200+ reviews)(winner) | 3.8/5 (6,500+ reviews) |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5 stars(winner) | 3.8 stars |
| Contract Type | Month-to-month only | — |
| Typical Contract Length(years) | No contract (month-to-month)(winner) | 3-5 years |
| Installation Time(minutes) | 30-60 minutes DIY(winner) | 2-4 hours (professional) |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | Yes (UL-certified) | Yes (UL-certified) |
| Mobile App Control & Alerts | Full real-time control, live video, instant alerts | Full real-time control, live video, instant alerts |
| Years in Business(years) | 15 years (founded 2010) | 82 years (founded 1942)(winner) |
| Wireless Sensor Range(feet) | 700+ feet | — |
| Minimum Contract Length(months) | Month-to-month(winner) | 36-month contract |
| DIY Installation Time(minutes) | 15-30 minutes(winner) | Professional (120-240 min) |
| Wireless Setup Required | 100% wireless | — |
| Professional Installation Option | DIY + Professional available | — |
| Professional Installation Available | Optional ($99-$150 extra) | Included standard |
| Professional Monitoring Response Time(seconds average) | N/A (optional self-monitor) | 90 seconds |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating (2025)(percent satisfied) | 82%(winner) | 71% |
| Number of Monitoring Centers(count) | 8 regional centers | 15+ nationwide(winner) |
| Z-Wave/Zigbee Support | Not supported | — |
| Average Emergency Response Time(seconds) | 60 seconds | — |
| Primary Camera Resolution(pixels) | 1080p (1920 x 1080) | — |
| Cloud Storage Included(days) | 1 day (with monitoring) | — |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | Standard included | — |
| Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2024)(score out of 1000) | 782 | 801(winner) |
| Number of Monitored Customers(millions) | 1.2+ million | 6+ million(winner) |
Show 14 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
SimpliSafe
Pros
- No long-term contract or early termination fees
- Self-installation reduces costs by $100-$300
- 24/7 professional monitoring available at $14.99-$24.99/month
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit
- Mobile app control and SMS alerts included
Cons
- Lower customer satisfaction rating (782 vs 801 J.D. Power 2024)
- Requires upfront equipment purchase ($99-$199)
- Limited professional technician support compared to ADT
ADT
Pros
- Established brand since 1971 with 6+ million customers globally
- Professional installation included at no extra cost
- 24/7 professional monitoring and rapid emergency dispatch
- Higher customer satisfaction (801/1000 J.D. Power 2024)
- Free equipment bundled with monitoring plan
Cons
- Requires 3-year contract with potential early termination fees ($200-$500)
- Higher starting cost at $28.99/month for monitoring
- Less flexible for renters; professional install may not be permitted
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
SimpliSafe is significantly cheaper overall. With no contract and monitoring starting at $14.99/month, SimpliSafe costs approximately $180-$240/year for monitoring alone. ADT's standard plan starts at $28.99/month ($348/year), and you must sign a 3-year contract. However, ADT includes free equipment, while SimpliSafe requires $99-$199 upfront. Over 1-2 years, SimpliSafe is 20-30% cheaper; long-term costs depend on contract penalties.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
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