SimpliSafe vs ADT
SimpliSafe is DIY with no contract. ADT’s main offer is professional installation on a multi-year agreement, though its DIY ADT Blu line now promises no long-term contract. Here’s how the monthly prices and terms compare.
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Quick answer
Choose SimpliSafe Home Security System (monitoring from $22.99/mo) if you want no contract, you’re happy to install sensors yourself or you rent or may move soon. Choose ADT Home Security (monitoring from $34.99/mo) if you want professional installation, you’re staying in your home for years or you want monitoring from ADT’s six company-operated U.S. centers.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check SimpliSafe Home Security System price (opens in a new tab)Check ADT Home Security price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| SimpliSafe Home Security System | ADT Home Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest professional monitoring | $22.99/month (Standard) | From $34.99/month (Secure, 36-month contract) |
| Contract | None | 36 months for pro install (24 in CA); DIY plans are month to month |
| Installation | Self-setup; pro install from $129 | Professional install; DIY via ADT Blu |
| Self-monitoring | $9.99/month with camera recordings | ADT Blu Self-Protect plan (ADT) |
| Monitoring centers | SimpliSafe-operated | ADT says it runs six U.S. centers |
ADT page; and ADT’s offer page (home-protection.adt.com), monitoring, packages and ADT Blu pages.
Our verdict: SimpliSafe is the better choice for most people. Professional monitoring starts at $22.99 a month with no contract, a self-monitoring plan with camera recordings is $9.99, and you can take it with you when you move. Pick ADT if you own your home, want a technician to install and test everything and are happy to sign a long agreement: ADT’s offer page lists pro-installed monitoring from $34.99 a month (Secure) to $49.99 (Complete) on a 36-month contract (24 months in California). If you like ADT but not the contract, ADT Blu is its DIY line with no long-term contract.
SimpliSafe Home Security System vs ADT Home Security: side-by-side
| SimpliSafe | ADT | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest professional monitoring | $22.99/month (Standard) | From $34.99/month (Secure, 36-month contract) |
| Contract | None | 36 months for pro install (24 in CA); DIY plans are month to month |
| Installation | Self-setup; pro install from $129 | Professional install; DIY via ADT Blu |
| Self-monitoring | $9.99/month with camera recordings | ADT Blu Self-Protect plan (ADT) |
| Monitoring centers | SimpliSafe-operated | ADT says it runs six U.S. centers |
| Theft guarantee | Anti-Theft Guarantee up to $500 on Pro and Pro Plus (conditions apply) | Theft Protection Guarantee up to $500 of your insurance deductible (conditions apply) |
| Live camera-based guarding | Active Guard Outdoor Protection on Pro and Pro Plus | — |
| Money-back guarantee | See SimpliSafe’s terms | 6-month money-back guarantee (conditions apply, ADT packages page) |
How much do they cost?
SimpliSafe Home Security System plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Monitoring with Camera Recordings | $9.99/month | 30 days of recordings, up to 10 cameras |
| Standard | $22.99/month | 24/7 emergency dispatch |
| Core | $32.99/month | SimpliSafe’s most popular plan |
| Pro | $49.99/month | Overnight Active Guard Outdoor Protection (8pm–6am) |
| Pro Plus | $79.99/month | 24/7 Active Guard Outdoor Protection |
| Professional installation | From $129 | Optional |
ADT Home Security plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-installed monitoring | Secure $34.99, Smart $39.99, Complete $49.99/month | ADT offer page; 36-month contract (24 in CA) |
| Pro Monitoring with Pro Install (adt.com) | From $49.99/month | ADT’s main monitoring page |
| DIY monitoring | From $24.99/month | ADT offer page; month to month |
| ADT Blu (DIY) | No long-term contract | Pro-Protect, Self-Protect and Video Connect plans; ADT Blu page |
| ADT Door/Window Sensor | $18 | ADT Blu page |
What are the pros and cons?
SimpliSafe Home Security System: pros
- No contract
- Monitoring from $22.99 a month
- $9.99 self-monitoring plan with recordings
- Agents can use outdoor cameras to intervene on Pro plans
SimpliSafe Home Security System: cons
- You install it yourself unless you pay from $129
- Active Guard features need the $49.99 or $79.99 plans
- Pro install isn’t the default
ADT Home Security: pros
- A technician installs and tests the system
- ADT says it runs six company-operated U.S. monitoring centers
- ADT Blu DIY line with no long-term contract
- Up to $500 Theft Protection Guarantee and a 6-month money-back guarantee (conditions apply)
ADT Home Security: cons
- Pro-installed plans come with a 36-month agreement (24 in California)
- Higher monthly prices
- ADT’s main site lists Pro Monitoring from $49.99, while its offer page lists from $34.99
Which should you choose: SimpliSafe Home Security System or ADT Home Security?
Verdict: SimpliSafe wins for most households. It’s cheaper per month, has no contract and suits renters and anyone who might move. ADT costs more and usually needs a 36-month agreement for pro install, but a technician sets up and tests everything, and ADT backs it with six company-operated U.S. monitoring centers and a 6-month money-back guarantee (conditions apply). Get a written quote before you sign with ADT, because monthly prices and installation charges vary by address and offer.
Choose SimpliSafe Home Security System if…
- You want no contract
- You’re happy to install sensors yourself
- You rent or may move soon
Choose ADT Home Security if…
- You want professional installation
- You’re staying in your home for years
- You want monitoring from ADT’s six company-operated U.S. centers
Monitoring prices
SimpliSafe’s help article lists Standard at $22.99 a month, Core at $32.99, Pro at $49.99 with overnight Active Guard Outdoor Protection, and Pro Plus at $79.99 with 24/7 Active Guard. A $9.99 self-monitoring plan adds 30 days of recordings for up to 10 cameras. ADT’s offer page lists pro-installed monitoring at $34.99 a month for Secure, $39.99 for Smart and $49.99 for Complete, each on a 36-month contract (24 months in California), and DIY monitoring from $24.99 a month with no long-term contract. ADT’s main monitoring page says Pro Monitoring starts at $49.99 with Pro Install.
Contracts and installation
SimpliSafe has no long-term contract and offers professional installation from $129. ADT’s offer page says its pro-installed plans need a 36-month contract (24 in California) and DIY monitoring is month to month. ADT’s own Blu page says its DIY line comes with “no long-term contracts,” sets up in under an hour with the ADT+ app and offers Pro-Protect, Self-Protect and Video Connect monitoring plans. ADT’s packages page lists a 6-month money-back guarantee, which applies only after ADT has tried to fix a system issue and requires continuous monitoring payments.
Who should skip this
Skip ADT Pro Install if you rent, might move within three years or don’t want a long agreement; SimpliSafe or ADT Blu is the safer bet. Skip SimpliSafe if you simply don’t want to place sensors yourself and would rather have a technician install and test everything. Skip both if you only want cameras or a doorbell: a self-monitored camera may be all you need; see our best security cameras and best video doorbells. If you’re weighing a cheaper DIY alarm, compare SimpliSafe vs Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm vs ADT.
Frequently asked questions
Is ADT more expensive than SimpliSafe?
Does SimpliSafe need a contract?
Does ADT sell a DIY system?
Which is better for renters?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- SimpliSafe Support: What are the service plan options? (support.simplisafe.com)
- SimpliSafe: 24/7 professional alarm monitoring (simplisafe.com)
- SimpliSafe: SimpliSafe vs. ADT (simplisafe.com)
- ADT: Monitoring plans and security services (adt.com)
- ADT: ADT Blu DIY security (adt.com)
- ADT: Packages (adt.com)
- ADT: Home security offer and plan pricing (home-protection.adt.com)
Related
SimpliSafe vs Ring Alarm
Ring is the cheaper way to get professional monitoring: Ring Pro is $19.99 a month. SimpliSafe costs more, but its plans add video-verified alarms and, on the top tiers, live agents watching outdoor cameras.
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Wirecutter’s best outdoor camera is the wire-free TP-Link Tapo MagCam C425 ($115 for two), and its indoor pick is the Tapo C120 ($44.99 list; $35.99 on the Tapo store as of Nov 9, 2026). Both record to a microSD card for free, so a subscription is optional. If you own a Tapo camera, install TP-Link’s latest firmware: Tapo posted a security notice in October 2026.
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Wirecutter’s top doorbell is the $199 Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 3rd Gen) for its accurate motion detection. Ring has more models, cheaper hardware and a cheaper single-camera plan, but works only with Alexa.
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Ring’s 5-piece DIY kit is $199.99 (on sale from $244.95) with optional $19.99/mo Pro monitoring. ADT’s pro-installed monitoring starts at $34.99/mo on a 36-month contract, plus equipment.