Last Updated: March 2026
ADT is the legacy brand your parents used. SimpliSafe is the startup that ran Super Bowl ads promising to replace them. Both charge more than they should — ADT through contracts and installation fees, SimpliSafe through rising monitoring costs. Here’s the real comparison.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ADT | SimpliSafe | Abode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | Professional ($99+ fee) | DIY | DIY |
| Equipment cost | $0 up front (rolled into contract) | $250-$730 | $199-$399 |
| Cheapest monitoring | $28.99/mo | $0 (self-monitor, limited) | $0 (self-monitor, full) |
| Pro monitoring | $28.99-$45.99/mo | $21.99-$32.99/mo | $6-$20/mo |
| Contract | 36 months typical | None | None |
| Early termination | 75% of remaining balance | N/A | N/A |
| HomeKit | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Smart home | Alexa, Google (via Alarm.com) | Alexa, Google | Alexa, Google, HomeKit, Z-Wave, Zigbee |
| Cameras | Indoor, outdoor, doorbell | Indoor, outdoor, doorbell | Cam 2 (indoor/outdoor) |
| Video verification | ❌ | ✅ (Fast Protect) | ❌ |
3-Year Cost Comparison
| Cost | ADT | SimpliSafe | Abode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $0 (financed into contract) | $300 (mid-tier kit) | $279 |
| Installation | $99-$199 | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly monitoring | $28.99/mo | $21.99/mo | $6/mo |
| 3-year monitoring | $1,043.64 | $791.64 | $216 |
| 3-year total | $1,143-$1,243 | $1,091.64 | $495 |
ADT and SimpliSafe end up costing almost the same over 3 years — roughly $1,100. Abode costs less than half that. The “savings” SimpliSafe advertises over ADT are real but small ($50-150 over 3 years). The real savings come from switching to Abode.
Where ADT Wins
1. Professional Installation
ADT sends a technician to install everything. For people who don’t want to touch tools, this matters. They’ll place sensors, test the system, and walk you through the app. SimpliSafe and Abode are DIY — if you can’t stick adhesive sensors to a door frame, ADT removes that barrier.
2. Brand Recognition
ADT yard signs are recognized by 9 out of 10 Americans. There’s some deterrent value in that — burglars know the name. Whether that’s worth $1,100+ over 3 years is debatable, but the brand carries weight.
3. Equipment Financing
ADT rolls equipment costs into your monthly payment. No $300-$700 upfront hit. The trade-off is a 36-month contract with an early termination fee (75% of remaining balance). If you can’t pay upfront, ADT spreads the cost out.
Where SimpliSafe Wins
1. No Contract
Cancel anytime. This is SimpliSafe’s biggest advantage over ADT. No termination fees, no commitment. If you move or switch providers, you walk away clean.
2. Fast Protect Video Verification
SimpliSafe’s monitoring center can view your indoor camera during an alarm event to verify whether it’s a real break-in. This reduces false alarm dispatches and speeds up police response. ADT has nothing comparable.
3. Lower Monthly Cost
$21.99/month vs ADT’s $28.99/month saves $252 over 3 years. Not huge, but real. The $32.99/month Fast Protect plan with video verification narrows the gap to $144.
Where Both Fall Short
No HomeKit
Neither ADT nor SimpliSafe supports Apple HomeKit. No Siri control, no Home app integration, no geofencing automations through Apple’s privacy-first framework.
Expensive Monitoring for Basic Service
ADT charges $28.99/month and SimpliSafe $21.99/month for standard professional monitoring. Abode offers the same service — 24/7 monitoring with cellular backup and police dispatch — for $6/month. That’s not a typo.
Limited Smart Home
SimpliSafe is a closed system — no third-party sensors, no Z-Wave locks, no Zigbee devices. ADT works with Alarm.com for Z-Wave, but the device selection is limited by your panel model. Abode supports Z-Wave, Zigbee, HomeKit, and Matter natively.
Who Should Buy What
Buy ADT if: You refuse to install anything yourself and want a recognized brand on your lawn. You’re okay with a 3-year contract and $1,100+ total cost.
Buy SimpliSafe if: You want video-verified monitoring (Fast Protect) and no contract. You don’t care about smart home integration or HomeKit.
Buy Abode instead if: You want the lowest cost, best smart home support, or HomeKit integration. At $495 over 3 years vs $1,100 for either ADT or SimpliSafe, the math isn’t close.
Bottom Line
ADT and SimpliSafe cost nearly the same over 3 years. SimpliSafe is slightly cheaper and doesn’t lock you into a contract, which makes it the better choice between the two. But both are 2x the price of Abode for equivalent monitoring. Unless you specifically need professional installation (ADT) or video-verified dispatch (SimpliSafe), Abode delivers more security for less money.
Related ADT and SimpliSafe Alternatives
May 2026 Refresh: ADT vs SimpliSafe Buying Checklist
This comparison is still useful, but 2026 buyers should check three things before choosing ADT or SimpliSafe: contract exposure, camera verification, and how much control they want after installation.
- Choose ADT if you want a known national monitoring brand, pro installation, and do not mind a heavier sales and service model.
- Choose SimpliSafe if you want a lower-friction DIY setup, flexible monitoring, and fewer long-term commitment concerns.
- Compare camera verification carefully because video features and monitoring features can sit in different plans.
- Price the full 36 months, not the first kit offer. Add equipment, monitoring, add-ons, installation, and cancellation terms.
Related comparisons: ADT vs Ring, SimpliSafe vs Ring, and Abode vs SimpliSafe.
With over 20 years of experience evaluating home security technologies, Andrew is a trusted home security expert. He specializes in DIY home security systems, indoor and outdoor security cameras, doorbell cameras, and safety software such as password managers. Andrew uses in-depth research to provide accurate and actionable insights. His work helps you make better decisions to protect your home.
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