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ADT Self Setup Home Security System Review (2024)

Smart Integration and DIY Home Security System
By Barry StingmoreBy Barry Stingmore -
Last Updated: May 29, 2023
4,177 reviews
by
logo-ADT SELF SETUP
844-735-6294Visit Site
Price
From $24.99/month
Money-back guarantee
30 days
Mobile
Android and iOS

Our Verdict

Is ADT Self Setup Home Security Services Worth Signing Up For?

ADT Self Setup is a flexible, smart, and DIY home security solution offering security systems that can be bought together or as standalone devices, no long-term contracts, and integrations with smart home apps. While its one-year warranties are shorter than some, ADT Self Setup may be worth considering if you need a customizable, easy-to-install option.

Price
From $24.99/month
Money-back guarantee
30 days
Mobile
Android and iOS

ADT Self Setup at a Glance

9.7
Editorial Score

Products

Indoor, outdoor and doorbell camera; Door and window sensors; Central control unit
10.0

Smart Features

Smart home hub; Complete smart home integration capabilities; Mobile app control
10.0

Monitoring

Choose between 24/7 professional monitoring or self monitoring; Smoke and flood detection
9.5

Installation

DIY installation
9.0

Offers

1 year warranty; 1 free month of professional monitoring; No long-term contract
10.0

ADT Self Setup Pros & Cons

PROS

DIY product installation
Free month of 24/7 monitoring
Standalone security cameras

CONS

No long-term contracts
Smoke alarm doesn’t detect carbon monoxide

Top ADT Self Setup Reviews

GR
GRTJAY
Mike gave me a incredible experience
Mike gave me a incredible experience, reliable, consistent information and great service! I definitely think he deserves a raise! He made this process for me amazing! I can’t wait to try my new products
DP
Dashunda Page
My representative was very helpful and…
My representative was very helpful and informative. He was very fast with getting my needs addressed and handled
Me
Me
Amazing Service
I am in transition to my new home and the first thing I thought of was "I need a security system". I called and was transferred to Mike who was amazing and was extremely knowledgeable in his craft. The suggestions and the trust was like none other I have experienced. He made the process so easy and I appreciate all his time. Thanks.
See all ADT Self Setup reviews

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ADT Self Setup ADT Self Setup Visit Site

ADT Self Setup Features

ADT Self Setup offers several features and highlights to meet its customers’ home security needs.

DIY Installation

ADT Self Setup offers a simple DIY installation solution to its customers, with all the products being easy to set up to begin monitoring your home. You’ll build your own system and get the equipment that can help you maintain a secure environment.

Wireless Sensors

ADT Self Setup's wireless sensors are easy to position inside your home, and they can provide the first line of defense by keeping watch over sensitive or vulnerable areas of your house. Door panel and window sensors detect movement at the doors and windows. Flood and temperature sensors detect water damage in your home due to frozen pipes or leaks.

Remote Monitoring and Control

With ADT Self Setup's free mobile app, you can monitor your home and control it from a distance. For example, if a pet trips the sensors, you can check your phone and dismiss the alarm once you’re satisfied there’s no threat.

Extender + Chime

ADT Self Setup's Extender + Chime device expands the WiFi range of the company’s outdoor wireless cameras. Plus, it can act as an indoor ringer for the Blue doorbell camera.

ADT Self Setup Equipment & Products

Home Security Systems

ADT Self Setup features a Smart Home Hub and Security system that manages all the sensors and cameras connected to your system. It costs $179.99 and comes with an integrated keypad to arm or disarm the alarm. The hub has a battery and cellular backup to keep your system running during power outages and internet disruptions.

The smart hub has a built-in alarm siren and speaker to ward off intruders, and you can control it with your smartphone.

Home Security Cameras

To protect the outside of your house and interior, ADT Self Setup provides outdoor and indoor cameras, which record audio and video, take snapshots when motion is detected, and stream live video in 1080p HD. Since the products are wireless, you’ll need to recharge the battery packs by plugging them into an indoor outlet. 

The ADT Self Setup doorbell camera enables you to know when someone is at your front door, and you can talk to them in real-time using the two-way audio feature. It also works as a doorbell and sends you notifications. All the cameras are for sale at $199.99.

Life Safety Alarms

A home security system needs life safety alarms, and ADT Self Setup offers a smoke detector at $39.99. As soon as fire or smoke is detected, you’ll receive an alert on your mobile app or the alarm will sound. The smoke detector doesn’t have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, though.

The smart hub has a panic button, which you can hold for a few seconds to alert authorities during an emergency, but there’s no medical pendant support available.

Smart Home Automation

ADT Self Setup provides many smart home security features by pairing its smart home hub with third-party devices, such as Google Nest Mini ($49.99), Google Nest Hub ($99.99), and Amazon’s Alexa. The smart home hub uses the Z-Wave wireless protocol, which enables control of lighting, locks, thermostats, and other devices.

You can issue instructions through Nest or Alexa and tell the smart home hub to arm or disarm the system or check the status of your DIY smart home security.

ADT Self Setup Services

ADT Self Setup provides alerts through SMS, email, and push notifications. If an active alarm is triggered, you’ll receive a call from its monitoring station, and you’ll be prompted to provide the passcode you were given during activation. If they can’t reach you, they’ll try calling two of your contacts, and if there’s no response, they’ll dispatch the police. 

The Panic button on the smart home hub or the silent alarm will bypass the monitoring station and contact the authorities directly. If the alarm went off accidentally, however, you can cancel it by typing the passcode on the keypad.

Monitoring

ADT Self Setup customers can choose to monitor their home security system on their own or select experts to handle it. The professional monitoring option offers the following.

  • 24/7 monitoring and protection
  • Panic and duress modes of getting help 
  • Silent alarm to notify authorities of danger
  • Police, fire and medical dispatch
  • Fire, CO, and flood monitoring
  • Custom alerts

Mobile App

The ADT Self Setup mobile app provides 24/7 remote access to your home security system. You can arm and disarm the system and add or change security codes through your smartphone. Moreover, you can check the sensors and cameras and speak to people through the two-way talk feature.

The app enables you to control other smart devices, such as lights and smart doors. Plus, you can get notifications from your smart home hub to stay informed about everything happening inside and around your home. 

Mobile Alerts

Once you install the ADT Self Setup mobile app, you can set push notifications in the settings. For both Android and iOS, check the settings in the notifications page and select the ADT Self Setup app. Check that the notifications are enabled. You’ll receive alerts if there’s an alarm event, when the system is armed/disarmed, or if a device or sensor has an issue.

ADT Self Setup Installation

Installing ADT Self Setup products is easy, taking a minimum of 20 minutes to complete. There are no installation fees and no technicians or heavy-duty tools needed. It’s a simple, easy-to-install DIY solution.

Contracts & Warranties

ADT Self Setup does not set any long-term contracts. Your relationship will be based on the month-by-month subscription to its packages and services. It has a one-year warranty on its items and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

When returning products, you’ll receive a label via email to return defective products, but you’ll have to pay the shipping fees. If you don’t return the faulty item, you’ll have to pay the company the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). 

ADT Self Setup Support & Customer Service

ADT Self Setup offers live chat with a digital assistant as the first point of contact. We tested the response time and found that a human agent logged on immediately when the digital assistant couldn’t provide a solution. We tested the email response as well, and it took several hours to get an answer. 

ADT also has support and customer service via phone, where agents are available 8am-12am ET Monday to Friday and 8am-9pm ET Saturday to Sunday. There’s a detailed knowledge base with clearly labeled topics and easy setup videos and guides. Furthermore, there are informative FAQs spread throughout the ADT Self Setup website.

ADT Self Setup Home Security Services Pricing

Pricing & Special Offers

ADT Self Setup Home Security offers two monitoring plans: Self-monitoring and 24/7 professional monitoring. There are no installation fees since it is a DIY home security package. In addition, there are discounts available, for example, 35% off if you pay for the system and pro monitoring together.


Professional 24/7 Monitoring
Self-Monitoring
Price
From $19.99 per month
$0
Installation Fee
X
X
Mobile Access
Professional 24/7 Monitoring
X
Smart Home Integrations
Video Surveillance
Entry, Smoke, and CO Detection
X
Panic and Duress mode
X

ADT Self Setup also bundles its DIY products and tools into four packages: Build Your Own System at $179.99, Starter System at $219.99, Starter Plus System at $299.99, and Premium at $419.99. Each package includes a base station—the smart home hub—plus a set of products designed to create a complete home security system.

ADT Self Setup Home Security Services Alternatives

How ADT Self Setup Compares to Other Home Security Services

Here’s a quick comparison chart that sets ADT Self Setup's services against other home security providers.


ADT Self Setup
SimpliSafe
Ring
ADT
Cove
Best for
Smart, DIY home security
DIY home security solutions
 Remote monitoring
Professional installation and monitoring
Easy installation and customer service
Price per month
From $19.99
From $9.99
From $3 ($20 for professional monitoring)
From $28.99
From $14.99
Money-back guarantee
 30 days
60 days
30 days
Six months
60 days
Warranty
 One year
Three years
One year
Extended limited
Lifetime
Mobile
iOS, Android
iOS, Android
iOS, Android
iOS, Android
iOS, Android

ADT Self Setup vs. SimpliSafe

ADT Self Setup and SimpliSafe both have a DIY approach to setting up a home security system. SimpliSafe offers 30 more days with their money-back guarantee and a three-year warranty versus one year for ADT Self Setup. Simplisafe has a slightly more expensive monitoring fee than ADT Self Setup, and its home automation is not at the same high level.

ADT Self Setup vs. Ring

Ring has a better monitoring plan than ADT Self Setup and more camera options, but it has a higher base price for setting up its system. ADT Self Setup also doesn’t have Ring’s neighborhood watch approach, even though the feature is becoming popular.

ADT Self Setup vs. ADT

ADT is the parent company of ADT Self Setup. However, ADT security offers a three-year contract and a professionally-installed system, whereas Blue by ADT is DIY. ADT also has an extensive monitoring network, but its monitoring fee is high.

ADT Self Setup vs. Cove

Cove offers a lifetime warranty on its equipment, whereas ADT Self Setup only provides a one-year warranty. Furthermore, Cove’s professional monitoring costs less than ADT Self Setup's offerings. They both share some similarities: neither have contracts, and they are both DIY.

ADT Self Setup ADT Self Setup Visit Site

Bottom Line

ADT Self Setup offers excellent features and solutions with its easy-to-install products and customizable options for building your own system. Its cameras can either be installed as part of a larger system or as standalone items. You’ll gain access to an extensive knowledge base and customer support to guide you as you set up your device. 

Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable, DIY, and flexible home security system, ADT Self Setup is worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions
How much is ADT Self Setup Home Security per month?+-

Professional monitoring from ADT Self Setup costs $19.99 per month. However, you can also buy devices without subscribing to a monitoring plan.

Who owns ADT Self Setup Home?+-

ADT Self Setup Home Security is owned by ADT and Lifeshield.

Does ADT Self Setup need WiFi?+-

Yes. For the ADT Self Setup Home Security products to work, you’ll first need to connect your smart home hub to the internet, then pair it with the sensors and smart devices.

Barry is a veteran who has served as a front-line officer for 10 years. Responding to hundreds of residential burglary incidents during his career, he has built up a wealth of experience surveying crime scenes. Today he shares his knowledge by delivering crime prevention advice on publications such as Top10.com.

ADT Self Setup reviews

Poor • Reviews 4,177
on
Excellent
61%
Great
9%
Average
7%
Poor
6%
Bad
18%
Sort by
GR
GRTJAY
2 years ago
Mike gave me a incredible experience
Mike gave me a incredible experience, reliable, consistent information and great service! I definitely think he deserves a raise! He made this process for me amazing! I can’t wait to try my new products
DP
Dashunda Page
2 years ago
My representative was very helpful and…
My representative was very helpful and informative. He was very fast with getting my needs addressed and handled
Me
Me
2 years ago
Amazing Service
I am in transition to my new home and the first thing I thought of was "I need a security system". I called and was transferred to Mike who was amazing and was extremely knowledgeable in his craft. The suggestions and the trust was like none other I have experienced. He made the process so easy and I appreciate all his time. Thanks.
mi
mib
2 years ago
Brandon Simpkins is a wonderful Blue…
Brandon Simpkins is a wonderful Blue ADP Rep. He is patient, kind, detailed oriented. He answered all my specific questions about the product, and believe me I had a lot. He worked at getting me the best deal. It is because these qualities, I purchased the product.

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