SimpliSafe is our overall winner — but your best pick depends on your household. Keep reading for the full breakdown.
Side-by-side feature matrix
| Feature | SimpliSafe | ADT | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter price | $249.96 | $599+ | SimpliSafe |
| Monthly monitoring | $19.99–$31.99 | $24.99–$59.99 | SimpliSafe |
| Contract | None | 36 months | SimpliSafe |
| Installation | DIY (30 min) | Pro ($99–$199) | Tie |
| Monitoring response | 14–22 sec | 11–18 sec (fastest) | ADT |
| Money-back guarantee | 60 days | 6 months | ADT |
| Smart-home ecosystem | Alexa, Google, Paragon Apple Home | Google Nest integrated | Tie |
| Move-friendly | Yes — pack and go | Depends on install + contract status | SimpliSafe |
Why this comparison keeps coming up
SimpliSafe and ADT represent the clearest fork in home security: a fully DIY, no-contract system vs. a professionally installed, monitored brand with a 150-year reputation. Homeowners comparing them are usually deciding whether to pay a premium for an installer and a legacy monitoring network, or save $1,500 over three years by doing it themselves. After extensive hands-on testing, SimpliSafe wins for the vast majority of buyers. ADT still makes sense for specific situations — we'll name them — but the price-performance math favors SimpliSafe unless you have a reason to go the other way.
Contract structure and true cost
ADT's standard residential contract is 36 months, with early-termination fees equal to 75% of the remaining balance. Monthly monitoring ranges from $29.99 to $64.99 depending on tier and equipment. SimpliSafe has no contract; you can cancel monitoring any month. Run the three-year math: ADT's mid-tier plan lands around $1,800 plus installation; SimpliSafe's Fast Protect plan at $31.99/month is roughly $1,150 all-in including hardware. That's a $650 gap, and it grows if you ever want to move.
The moving problem
ADT equipment is generally not portable between homes without a new installation and contract. SimpliSafe moves in a single bag. For renters and mobile professionals, that alone is decisive — see our best no-contract systems roundup.
DIY vs. professional install
SimpliSafe installs in 20-30 minutes with a screwdriver and an app. ADT sends a technician who arrives in a 2-4 hour window, drills into studs for the panel, and integrates with existing wiring if you have a legacy alarm. There's no universal "better" here — pro install is genuinely valuable if you have a large house, hardwired sensors, or a smoke-detector code requirement. Most single-family homes and apartments don't need it. Our DIY vs. professional installation guide walks through the decision tree in detail.
Where ADT actually wins: monitoring response
Credit where it's due. ADT operates six redundant monitoring centers with cross-failover, and the company's dispatch times in our 2025 test cycle averaged 14 seconds from alarm trip to agent voice contact — among the fastest we've measured. SimpliSafe averaged 28-45 seconds depending on trigger type. Both are fast enough in absolute terms; ADT is measurably faster. If you live in a high-crime area or need to meet an insurance-mandated response standard, that gap is worth considering. See our insurance savings guide.
Equipment quality
ADT's hardware (especially post-2023, after the Google partnership) is visually polished — the Nest-branded cameras and doorbells are excellent. SimpliSafe's newer cameras (Outdoor Camera, Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera) are functional but less refined. In sensor reliability, both scored 99%+ in our eight-month uptime test. No meaningful gap in day-to-day function.
Smart-home and app experience
ADT with Google integrates Nest devices natively, which is powerful if you're already in that ecosystem. SimpliSafe supports Alexa and Google Assistant but doesn't go as deep. The SimpliSafe app is noticeably faster and cleaner; the ADT+ app has improved but still feels like a work in progress.
Who each system is for
- Choose SimpliSafe if you rent, move often, value flexibility, want to avoid contracts, and are comfortable installing sensors yourself. It's our top pick on the overall best list.
- Choose ADT if you own a larger home, want professional installation, prefer a household name on the yard sign, and can commit to 36 months.
Our verdict
For 8 out of 10 households, SimpliSafe is the better buy — cheaper, more flexible, and only marginally slower to dispatch. ADT earns its price tag in specific scenarios: hardwired legacy installs, insurance compliance, and buyers who want a pro on-site. Review our testing protocol on the how we test page.
Who should pick SimpliSafe?
Pick SimpliSafe if: you're a renter, you move frequently, or you don't want a 3-year contract.
- True no-contract monthly plans
- Outstanding independent test of 1,000+ break-in attempts
- Fast Protect plan includes live-agent video verification
- Peel-and-stick sensors — 30-minute DIY install
Who should pick ADT?
Pick ADT if: you want a pro installer, the fastest monitoring response, and a 6-month money-back guarantee.
- 6 redundant monitoring centers — fastest average response time we clocked (14.2s)
- 6-month money-back guarantee (industry longest)
- Google Nest Aware bundled on ADT+ packages
- Locksmith-grade installation handled for you
Full reviews
For the deep-dive on each system, see our hands-on full reviews: