ADT's Self Setup smart home security system prioritizes ease of installation and compatibility with Google's lineup of Nest doorbells, cameras, and smart displays. It also offers broad third-party support via Z-Wave technology, as well as reliable voice controls. You need to pay for a monthly monitoring plan to unlock remote controls via ADT's companion app, but this is still a worthy choice for home protection if you like Google's collection of smart home devices. Just keep in mind that the Editors' Choice-winning SimpliSafe Home Security System doesn't require a long-term contract, charges less per month if you go the professional monitoring route, and won't cost you as much to get started.
Pricey Base Packages
ADT offers three Self Setup packages. The $194.98 Build Your Own kit comes with a Smart Home Hub and one door/window sensor, plus unlocks access to the ADT+ mobile app. The $479.99 Starter kit I reviewed included the hub, four door/window sensors, two motion sensors, a Nest Doorbell (Battery), access to the ADT+ app, an ADT yard sign, and a pack of four ADT windows stickers. The $579.98 ADT Self Setup Premium kit features everything from the Starter kit but throws in a Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen).
For comparison, SimpliSafe's mid-level Lighthouse package ($464.93) includes one Base Station, one keypad, three entry sensors, one motion sensor, one wireless outdoor camera, and one indoor camera. The company's Video Doorbell Pro adds another $169.
Meanwhile, the base Ring Alarm Pro Security Kit ($299.99) bundles an Alarm Pro Base Station, a keypad, four door/window sensors, a motion detector, and an alarm range extender. The basic Ring Video Doorbell Wired goes for $64.99, and you can get a wired Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) for $59.99.
You can further customize each ADT kit by adding components from ADT, Google, or both. At the high end are the battery-powered Nest Cam ($179.99), the indoor wired Nest Cam ($99.99), a Nest Thermostat ($129.99), and a Nest Hub Max ($229). Sensors for the system are less expensive: Door/window sensors cost $14.99 each, motion sensors sell for $24.99 each, and flood and temperature sensors retail for $34.99 each.
Add-on options for SimpliSafe's system include the Wired Indoor Camera ($99.99), the Wireless Outdoor Camera ($189.99), an Entry Sensor ($14.99), a Motion Sensor ($29.99), and a Temperature Sensor ($29.99). Although the costs seem comparable, remember that some SimpliSafe packages already include cameras, so you might be able to save money with its plans.
The brains of the ADT Self Setup system, the Smart Home Hub, is the same one you get with the Blue by ADT Home Security System. It has a matte white finish and measures 5.9 by 4.1 by 4.1 inches (HWD). The front has a speaker grille, and the top features a keypad with number keys and various function buttons. (Pressing the blank and # button simultaneously sends a panic alarm to the monitoring center, for instance.) Also up top is a thin LED strip that glows solid green when the system is inactive but ready, shows solid blue when the system is active, blinks blue when the system is in entry or exit delay mode, pulses red when in panic mode, and flickers green when the system is not active and not ready (due to an open window or other triggered sensor).
Inside the hub are Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radios; a Z-Wave radio that lets you control third-party devices such as locks, cameras, and lights; and an LTE 4G radio that keeps the system connected to the monitoring service even if the Wi-Fi connection goes down. There’s also an 85dB siren and a backup battery that keeps the system running for 24 hours in the event of a power outage. Whenever something or someone triggers a sensor, the hub emits a chime and generates push, email, and text alerts to inform you of the event. It can also send a signal to ADT’s 24/7 monitoring service. Of course, because this is a Google-centric system, you can communicate with the hub via Google Assistant commands.
Conveniently, the sensors that ship with the system arrive already paired. At 2.6 by 0.9 by 0.5 inches, the door/window sensors are a bit taller but not as wide as the ones that come with the Ring Alarm Pro system (2.0 by 1.5 by 0.5 inches). They are easy to install via pre-attached double-sided adhesive strips and run on CR2 batteries. The motion sensors measure 3.5 by 2.2 by 1.2 inches and rely on CR123A batteries for power. They come with a mounting bracket that you can install using double-sided adhesive or screws (also included). A small LED on the front of the sensor glows red when it detects motion.
The Nest Doorbell (Battery) you get in this package is the same one you can get at any retailer. It's one of the bulkiest doorbells I've reviewed, at 6.3 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches, but it works off battery power, is a breeze to install, offers intelligent alerts, and records detailed 1,280-by-960-pixel HDR video.
When you order a Self Setup system, you must pay $24.99 for your first month of ADT’s Essential 24/7 professional monitoring service, as well as an additional $10 per month for a Nest Aware video storage plan if a camera is part of your kit. For comparison, the Ring Alarm Pro system offers professional monitoring for $20 per month, while SimpliSafe charges just $17.99 per month.
If you pay for the ADT system in full at the time of purchase (the only option online, though you can call ADT to set up a payment plan), you can cancel the subscription after one month. If you do, you then have the option to monitor everything by yourself or re-subscribe to monitoring on a month-to-month basis. Just keep in mind that canceling the monitoring plan means you lose access to the ADT+ mobile app. In that case, you control the system directly from the hub, need to be home to hear any alarms, and must call for help by yourself in the event of a security incident.
ADT Self Setup App Experience
The Self Setup Starter kit uses the ADT+ mobile app (available for Android and iOS). The main screen shows the system's current status: Disarmed (everything off), Armed Stay (entry and exit delays are on but motion detection is off), Armed Away (everything is on), and Armed Night (delays are off, motion is off, and door/window sensors are active).
Below the status display are panels for any installed devices such as cameras and thermostats; you can tap camera panels, for instance, to view a live video feed. At the bottom of the screen, the app lists recent security events: doors or windows opening or closing, motion detections, instances of the system arming itself, and Smart Hub communication tests.
For additional settings, tap the overflow icon in the upper left corner. Here, you can add users and assign them roles: Admin (all functions and settings), Standard (monitoring and limited settings), Basic (arm and disarm only), and Duress (disarm and send panic alarms).
Tap the Devices tab to view and configure a list of all installed sensors, cameras, and hubs, as well as the status of each sensor (online, offline, open, or motion detected). You can rename devices, change their location (window, door, other), select an alarm type (Away, Stay and Away, or Convenience), enable a chime alert, and set an entry delay time (between 30 and 240 seconds) that gives you time to disarm the system when you enter your home.
Select the Alerts tab to enable alarms for arming and disarming events or if there’s an issue with a device. Here, you can also create custom alerts for things like cellular and Wi-Fi issues. The Rules tab lets you build automations that involve other Z-Wave devices.
The Google Integration tab is where you can link your ADT account to your Google Home account, as well as manage your Nest Aware account (if you have any Nest cameras). Finally, the Settings tab lets you edit your location, enter emergency contacts and dispatch information, view your billing information, configure exit delay settings, run system tests, and change network preferences.
Straightforward Setup
Setting up the Starter kit was painless. To create an account in the ADT+ app, you need to enter your address and the Activation Code that ships with the hub.
Sensors are easy to install because they arrive pre-paired with the hub and have number labels. For door/window sensors, simply tap the sensor panel in the app, choose an install location, give it a name, and pull the plastic tab to activate the battery. To finish, use the double-sided tape to install the sensor and magnet according to the instructions. To install the motion sensors, tap the sensor panel, give the sensor a name, and pull the plastic tab on the back to pair the sensor with the hub. Install the sensor using the double-sided tape or the bracket screws so that it has a clear view of the area you wish to monitor.
To add the Google Nest Video Doorbell, tap the plus icon in the upper right corner of the Devices screen, select Google Nest Device, and give the ADT+ app permission to access your Google Home account. Return to the main screen and tap Set Up New Device. When the Google Home app opens, tap the plus icon in the upper left corner, pick New Devices, and select the Nest Doorbell (Battery) from the list. Scan the QR code on the back of the doorbell, tap Continue, and sign in to your Wi-Fi network. Once the connection completes, give it a name and install it on your door frame. A video tutorial provides instructions if you need help.
The ADT Self Setup kit worked well in testing. The system sent push and email notifications immediately whenever a sensor detected motion. The siren was loud enough to hear clearly throughout my house and from my backyard, while the hub responded quickly to voice commands to arm and disarm the system.
I always received alerts when someone pressed the doorbell or one of the sensors detected motion, and a Google Nest Cam streamed live video flawlessly to the ADT+ app. However, I wasn't able to configure a Nest camera to begin recording after a sensor detected activity. Competitors, such as Vivint Home Security System and the Ring Alarm Pro, offer that capability.
Protect Your Home With ADT and Google
With the ADT Self Setup Starter kit, you get all of the benefits of ADT’s 24/7 home monitoring service and support for Google's lineup of Nest devices. The kit was easy to install and responded quickly to both sensor and doorbell events. We had no trouble adding Nest devices to the system or controlling it with Google Assistant voice commands, either. The main downside is that you pay a bit more both upfront and for monitoring compared with SimpliSafe's offering. The latter remains our Editors' Choice winner for DIY home security systems, though ADT Self Setup might better suit your needs if you already have existing Nest smart home hardware.
