What ADT does and who offers it

ADT is a home security company that installs and monitors alarm systems in residential and small business properties. The company operates monitoring centers that respond to alarm signals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a sensor detects motion, a door opening, or smoke, the system sends a signal to ADT's monitoring center, which can contact you, emergency services, or both depending on what you've set up.

ADT is owned by Apollo Global Management and operates in all 50 U.S. states plus Canada and the United Kingdom. You contract directly with ADT for equipment, installation, and monitoring. The company does not receive government funding and is not a government program — it is a private business that charges monthly fees for its service.

ADT competes with other home security companies including Vivint, Frontpoint, Cove, and local alarm installers. Some people choose ADT because of its long operating history (founded in 1874) and widespread availability, while others prefer smaller companies or systems they install themselves.

Key Takeaways

  • ADT charges an upfront cost for equipment and professional installation, then a monthly monitoring fee that typically ranges from $28 to $60 depending on the plan you choose.
  • You sign a contract with ADT that usually locks you in for 36 months; breaking the contract early can result in early termination fees of several hundred dollars.
  • ADT's monitoring center can dispatch police, fire, or medical responders when your alarm triggers, but you must tell them which services to contact during setup.
  • You can control your system through ADT's mobile app to arm and disarm the alarm, check sensor status, and receive alerts when doors or windows open.
  • ADT offers both traditional hardwired systems (installed in walls and connected to phone lines) and wireless systems (battery-powered sensors that communicate by radio).

Equipment, installation, and upfront costs

ADT's upfront costs vary depending on which system you choose and whether you bundle services. A basic system typically includes a control panel (the main hub), door and window sensors, a motion detector, and a keypad. Professional installation by an ADT technician usually takes two to four hours and is included in most packages.

Upfront equipment and installation costs range from around $99 to $500 or more, depending on the promotion running at the time you sign up and the size of your home. ADT frequently advertises discounted or waived installation fees for new customers, but these offers come with the requirement that you sign a long-term contract. If you see an offer for "$99 installation" or "free installation," read the contract terms to understand what monthly fee and contract length you're committing to.

Wireless systems (where sensors run on batteries and communicate by radio) generally cost less to install than hardwired systems (where wiring is run through walls and connected to phone lines), because hardwired installation requires more labor. However, wireless systems require you to replace sensor batteries every few years, which is an ongoing cost you manage yourself.

Monthly monitoring fees and contract terms

ADT's monthly monitoring fee is what you pay to have the company watch your alarm 24/7 and respond when it triggers. These fees typically range from $28 to $60 per month, depending on which plan you choose. The difference between plans usually comes down to what features are included — for example, whether you get video recording, professional installation, or a mobile app.

Most ADT contracts run for 36 months (three years). Some promotions offer shorter contracts of 24 months, and a few offer month-to-month terms, but these are less common and often come with higher monthly fees. If you cancel before your contract ends, ADT will charge an early termination fee, which is typically calculated as the remaining balance of your contract — for example, if you have 24 months left and your monthly fee is $40, the fee could be around $960.

Your contract also specifies what happens if ADT's service is interrupted. Most contracts state that ADT is not responsible if the alarm fails to transmit a signal due to power outages, internet problems, or equipment failure. This is standard across the industry and means you should not rely solely on ADT for life-safety situations — you should also have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors that do not depend on the alarm system.

How monitoring and emergency response work

When your alarm triggers, the control panel sends a signal to ADT's monitoring center through either a phone line or internet connection (depending on your system type). An ADT operator receives the alert and attempts to contact you using the phone number you provided during setup. If you answer and give a code word or PIN, the operator knows it is a false alarm and cancels the dispatch.

If you do not answer, or if you tell the operator there is an emergency, they will dispatch the emergency service you designated during setup. This is usually the local police department for burglary alarms, the fire department for smoke or fire alarms, or emergency medical services for medical alert buttons. The operator provides the dispatcher with your address and the type of alarm that triggered.

Response time depends on your local emergency services, not on ADT. Police may take 10 minutes or 45 minutes to arrive depending on how busy they are and how far away the nearest unit is. ADT's role ends once they have dispatched the emergency service — they do not control how quickly responders arrive.

Wireless versus hardwired systems

ADT offers both wireless and hardwired alarm systems. A hardwired system has sensors and wiring installed inside your walls, connected to a central control panel, and communicates with ADT's monitoring center through a dedicated phone line or internet connection. Hardwired systems are more difficult and expensive to install because they require running wires through walls, but they do not require battery replacement and are generally considered more reliable because they are not subject to radio interference.

A wireless system uses battery-powered sensors that communicate with the control panel by radio signal. Wireless systems are faster and cheaper to install because no wiring is required — a technician straightforward mounts sensors on doors and windows and places the control panel in a central location. The tradeoff is that you must replace sensor batteries every two to five years (depending on usage), and wireless signals can occasionally be blocked by metal objects or thick walls.

Most new ADT customers choose wireless systems because installation is simpler and faster. Hardwired systems are more common in older homes that already have alarm wiring in place or in customers who want to avoid battery maintenance.

Mobile app, remote control, and additional features

ADT's mobile app lets you arm and disarm your system from anywhere using your smartphone. You can also receive push notifications when doors or windows open, when motion is detected, or when the system is armed or disarmed. Some plans include video recording from indoor or outdoor cameras, which you can view through the same app.

Additional features available through ADT include smart home integration (controlling lights, locks, and thermostats through the same app), video doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras, and environmental sensors that detect water leaks or temperature changes. Each of these adds to your monthly fee — for example, adding a video camera might increase your monthly cost by $10 to $15.

ADT also offers medical alert buttons that you can wear as a pendant or wristband. If you press the button, it sends an alert to ADT's monitoring center, which contacts emergency services or a family member. This feature is separate from the home security system and requires its own monthly fee, typically $25 to $35.

Comparing ADT to other security options

ADT's main competitors include Vivint (which also uses professional installation and long-term contracts), Frontpoint (which emphasizes wireless systems and shorter contracts), and Cove (which offers lower monthly fees but less customer support). Local alarm companies in your area may also offer similar services with more flexibility on contract terms.

Self-installed systems like Ring Alarm or SimpliSafe let you install sensors yourself and typically charge lower monthly fees ($10 to $25) with no long-term contract. The tradeoff is that you do not get professional installation, and monitoring is optional — you can use these systems to send alerts to your phone without paying for 24/7 professional monitoring.

The choice between ADT and other options depends on what matters most to you: professional installation and 24/7 monitoring (ADT's strength), lower cost and flexibility (self-installed systems), or something in between. There is no single best choice — it depends on your home, your budget, and how much monitoring service you want to pay for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my ADT system if I move to a new house?

ADT can move your system to a new address, but you will need to pay for professional reinstallation at the new location. If your new home is in an area where ADT does not operate, you may not be able to transfer your service. Contact ADT before you move to confirm service is available at your new address and to discuss moving costs.

What happens if my internet goes out?

If your system uses internet to communicate with ADT's monitoring center and your internet goes down, the system will attempt to fall back to a cellular connection (if your plan includes it) or a phone line. If you have neither backup, the monitoring center will not receive signals from your alarm. Check your contract to see what backup communication methods are included in your plan.

Can I cancel my ADT contract early?

You can cancel at any time, but you will owe an early termination fee equal to the remaining months on your contract multiplied by your monthly fee. For example, if you have 20 months left at $40 per month, the fee would be $800. Some states have laws limiting how much ADT can charge for early termination, so check your state's regulations.

Does ADT work during a power outage?

The control panel has a battery backup that keeps it running for 24 to 48 hours during a power outage. Wireless sensors also run on batteries. However, if your system relies on internet to communicate with ADT and your internet router loses power, the system cannot send signals unless it has a cellular backup. Hardwired systems connected to a phone line will continue to work during a power outage as long as the phone line is still active.

What if ADT's monitoring center makes a mistake and does not dispatch emergency services?

ADT's contract states that the company is not responsible for failures in monitoring or dispatch. If an operator fails to dispatch emergency services, you cannot sue ADT for damages. This is why it is important to have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors that do not depend on the alarm system, and to have a backup plan for emergencies.