Smart Smoke Detectors for Home Security: ADT & Beyond (2026 Guide)
House fires kill more Americans than all natural disasters combined. Most fatal fires happen at night when families are asleep. A standard smoke detector beeps — but if you’re not home, or if you sleep through it, no one calls for help.
Monitored smoke detectors change this equation. They detect smoke or heat, alert you on your phone, and automatically dispatch the fire department — even if you’re asleep, away, or incapacitated. Here’s how they work and the best options in 2026.
Standard vs Monitored Smoke Detectors
| Feature | Standard Smoke Detector | Monitored Smart Smoke Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Detects smoke/fire | Yes | Yes |
| Sounds local alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Sends phone alert | No | Yes |
| Calls fire department | No | Yes (with monitoring) |
| Works when you’re away | Beeps in empty house | Alerts you + dispatches help |
| Nighttime protection | You must wake up and act | Monitoring center acts for you |
| CO detection | Some models | Most smart models |
| Cost | $10-30 per unit | $30-100 per unit + monitoring |
How Monitored Smoke Detection Works
- Smoke or heat detected — sensor triggers
- Alert sent to monitoring center — within seconds
- Phone notification sent to you — push alert on your smartphone
- Monitoring center calls you — to verify if it’s a real emergency
- Fire department dispatched — if you can’t be reached or confirm emergency
- All household members notified — everyone gets the alert simultaneously
This happens whether you’re home, at work, on vacation, or asleep. It’s the difference between a beeping box and an actual safety system.
Best Monitored Smoke Detectors in 2026
1. Abode Smoke Sensor — Best Integration
- Works with the Abode security system
- Monitoring center dispatches fire department
- Integrates with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home
- Part of a complete security ecosystem (intrusion + fire + CO + flood)
- $20/month for professional monitoring (covers fire, intrusion, and all sensors)
- No contract required
2. Ring Alarm Smoke & CO Listener
- Listens for existing smoke/CO detector alarms (doesn’t replace them)
- When it hears your detector, sends alert + dispatches help
- Works with Ring Protect Pro ($20/month)
- Clever solution — works with any brand of existing detector
3. SimpliSafe Smoke Detector
- Dedicated smoke sensor for the SimpliSafe system
- Professional monitoring dispatches fire department
- Monitoring from $17.99/month
4. Nest Protect
- Standalone smart smoke/CO detector
- Split-spectrum sensing (detects both fast and slow-burning fires)
- Voice alerts tell you what and where the danger is
- Phone notifications but no professional monitoring dispatch
- See our full Nest Protect review
5. ADT Smoke Detector
- Professional-grade equipment
- Connected to ADT’s monitoring centers and local fire departments
- Mobile alerts via ADT+ app
- Requires ADT monitoring plan ($28-60/month)
- 36-month contract for professionally installed systems
Comparison: Monitored Smoke Detection Plans
| System | Monthly Cost | Contract | Fire Dispatch | Also Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | $20/mo | None | Yes | Intrusion, CO, flood, cameras |
| Ring | $20/mo | None | Yes | Intrusion, cameras, doorbells |
| SimpliSafe | $18-28/mo | None | Yes | Intrusion, CO, cameras |
| Nest Protect | $0 (no monitoring) | None | No | Self-alerts only |
| ADT | $28-60/mo | 36 months | Yes | Intrusion, cameras, automation |
Do You Need Monitored Smoke Detection?
Yes, if:
- You travel frequently and leave your home unattended
- You have elderly family members who might not react quickly
- You’re a deep sleeper
- You have pets at home when you’re away
- You already have a security system — adding smoke monitoring is usually just one sensor
Standard detectors are sufficient if:
- Someone is always home
- You’re on a very tight budget
- Your local fire department response time is under 5 minutes
The Bottom Line
Every home needs smoke detectors. But a detector that only beeps in an empty house saves nothing. For $20/month, systems like Abode and Ring add fire dispatch to your existing security monitoring — covering intrusion, fire, CO, and flood in one plan with no contract.
If you already have an ADT smoke detector, it works well — but you’re paying $28-60/month on a 36-month contract for what Abode delivers at $20/month with no commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a smart smoke detector call the fire department?
Only if connected to a professional monitoring service. Standalone smart detectors (like Nest Protect) send phone alerts but don’t dispatch. Systems with monitoring (Abode, Ring, SimpliSafe, ADT) automatically dispatch the fire department.
Do I still need regular smoke detectors if I have monitored ones?
Most building codes require smoke detectors on every floor and outside bedrooms regardless. Monitored sensors supplement but don’t always replace code-required detectors. Check your local requirements.
What’s better: ADT or Abode for fire monitoring?
Both dispatch the fire department. Abode costs $20/month with no contract; ADT costs $28-60/month with a 36-month contract. Abode also offers broader smart home integration (HomeKit, Alexa, Google).
William is a tech buff and former corporate security officer turned cybercrime analyst. Computers have few secrets left for him, but home security and alarm systems… Well, those have plenty of secrets for their users, which William is now uncovering and explaining. His articles on home security helped many people take the matter seriously, invest in highly performing systems, and avoid becoming victims of burglaries.
Ezekiel Onod says
Thankfully, I made up my mind to buy this ADT smoke detector. And I didn’t expect that this would happen in my house; fortunately, I am being notified when my ADT smoke detector detects smoke and sends a direct notification to the local fire department. I can’t imagine going home without anything the fire left me.
Cherry Gold says
Hi! To everyone who is looking for some informative pages that will help to disarm a smoke system, simply input your passcode and then hit the OFF button. You can also just unplug the smoke detector from the power source if you want to make it easier. That information I read this page because, one hot afternoon, my brother lit up his torch inside the kitchen and set my ADT smoke detector. That exact step is what I did the moment my ADT smoke detector started beeping. Gladly, I bumped into this page.
Tritom Ombao says
I really appreciate the people behind this useful ADT smoke detector. You really don’t know how many people will be saved because of this amazing gadget and this informative page. Night is the most quiet and tiring shift of the whole day, and many people take their break and gain their strength in the night. Some people will not notice what happens to their lives at night because it appears to be a time for relaxation. But with this amazing tool, the ADT smoke detector, I will not panic about what might happen to me and my kids when something is on fire.
Julia Fritz says
Indeed the smoke detector from ADT might make a difference for securing my home. I didn’t have an incident until now but it is always good to keep everything checked. Nice review by the way!
Michelle says
I really like that it alerts to your phone but I’m not excited about the monitor fee. I am trying to decide if it is worth it…
Alarm Reviews says
Any monitored smoke detector will carry a fee with it. If you’re not looking to pay just use the ones you have.
Danielle McAffree says
It’s much more peace of mind to me knowing the smoke detectors are also connected to the home security system. Most people don’t think about fire safety when getting one, glad ADT is on top of their game and has them readily available.
Bonnie says
If I forget to arm the system does the fire alrarm still work
Alarm Reviews says
Yes, great question. Your fire / smoke detectors are always on monitoring as long as your alarm system is online. Then if there is a fire and you don’t have the system armed it will still sound the alarm and notify you and the fire department. Similar to how security cameras and the control panel don’t turn off when the alarm system is ‘disarmed’.
Dennis says
Do ADT smoke detectors have a useful life cycle? When do they need to be replaced? Typical big box detectors need to be replaced every 10 years.
Patty says
So all in all, an ADT smoke detector (actual unit) is no different then what we already have installed. Do they use the same KIDDE brand? Theirs is just connected to the security system so if it does go off, the fire station is alerted whereas the one I have will only make noise. Thanks for the clarification post!
Ren says
Made in America?
Ellen says
I’m guessing the hush button to use while you are cooking would not make the alarm trigger the fire department for a span of time? My husband is a volunteer fireman and several times a year gets called out for “false alarms” from cooking at two different residents nearby. Not sure what brand of fire alarms they are using though. I’m guessing that the hush setting is only active for a space of time so you don’t forget to switch it back on?
Brad D. says
Thanks for this in depth article on ADT’s fire detectors. I’m a big fan of this, if you are going to have your home protected and monitored by ADT I definitely recommend getting a fire detector with them. This way your home is connected with the fire department and you have a much higher chance of them getting to your place and stopping the fire then if you are not home and come back to see it in pieces. There is no extra monthly fee, you may just pay extra for the smoke detectors depending how many you get.