About SecuritySystems.Net service: The reviews and information expressed on this site are the opinion of securitysystems.net and are subject to change. To keep this valuable service free, we generate advertising revenue from some of the companies listed on this website.
Industry heavyweight ADT, and relative newcomer Frontpoint offer competitive monitored home security systems. Based on 36 month contracts the costs are very similar, but there are some real differences in the type of service and equipment provided.
Frontpoint has aggressively taken on ADT in it's advertising and blogging, stressing the cellular/gsm technology advances of their own technology over ADT's predominantly landline approach.
Frontpoint has determined that the future is free of traditional phone-lines. All of their systems use cellular-GSM communication. ADT is still a landline-centric company unless you make an expensive upgrade. The advantage is clearly for Frontpoint. The savings can also be considerable if this allows you to stop your landline subscription. Exceptions to this are areas with bad cellular coverage. If you live in an area with bad/no cellular reception than ADT becomes the easy choice.
ADT has a B+ Better Business Bureau rating while Frontpoint maintains an A- rating.
We have compared to segments of the ADT and Frontpoint systems. A standard monitored Alarm system, and an advanced system with home automation features from each company.
Two ADT systems have been included since ADT has created a sub brand called ADT Pulse for their systems that are more comparable to Vivint base package.
| Package | Frontpoint "Protection Monitoring" | ADT Essentials Plus |
| Company: |  |  |
| Call for Recent Promotions: | 855-249-9869 | (888)-631-5009 |
| Lowest Possible Price: | Click for Lowest Frontpoint Price | Click for Lowest ADT Price |
| Window/Door Sensors | 2 Wireless Sensors | 2 Hardwired Sensors |
| Motion Detectors | 1 Wireless Detector | 1 Wireless Detector |
| Key Fob Controller? | Yes | No |
| Cellular or Landline? | Cellular | Landline |
| Remote SMS / Email Alerts | No | No |
| Remote Management via Smartphone | No | No |
| Equipment Fee | $99.95** | $0 with 3 year contract |
| Activation Fee | $0 | $25 |
| Monitoring Provider: | Alarm.com | ADT |
| Installation Fee | DIY | $99* Installed |
| Monthly Fee | $34.99 | $35.99 |
| Contract Required? | 36 Months** | 36 Months |
| Average Monthly Costs: | $37.77 | $38.77 |
| Company: | | |
| Lowest Possible Price: | Click for Lowest Frontpoint Price | Click for Lowest ADT Price |
With an ADT package an ADT representative will come to your house for this install.
This is very different with Frontpoint, their packages are completely do-it-yourself. But since Frontpoint's system is completely wireless, install is ridiculously easy. You simply peel the backing from the devices, and plug in the control panel.
Over the course of the 36 month contract, Frontpoint costs $37.77 per month while ADT is $1 dollar more monthly. But you do need to be care with the $250 ADT rebate, follow the instructions closely, otherwise your average monthly cost will skyrocket to $45.71 per month.
For many customers, cellular/GSM use will make Frontpoint's security system the clear choice, if you already have a cell phone only house, this makes the choice easy. But many customers have been using ADT for years, are very comfortable with their brand and service.
The packages above are just a fraction of those offered by ADT and Frontpoint. Our product packages breakdown the extensive packages each company offers: