Gabe Turner: Hi, folks. This is Gabe at Security Baron. Today, we're going to be pitting the
oldest security company in the country versus the new kid on the block in our comparison
of ADT and SimpliSafe.
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Gabe: In today's comparison of ADT and SimpliSafe, I'll be going over their key similarities
and differences, the components that they come with, the installation process, the professional
monitoring options, the customer support before finally diving into their mobile applications,
to make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision.
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Gabe: If you'd like to see a list of our list of favorite home security systems, google,
"Security Baron best home security systems." If you have a question about today's comparison,
leave us a comment, and I'll get back to you. Let's kick off today's comparison of ADT and
SimpliSafe by going over a few similarities and differences beginning with the similarities.
Both of these systems are DIY experiences. You're going to be putting them together by
yourself in your home. They each do require you to have professional monitoring. A professional
monitoring is required, meaning you're not going to be doing any self-monitoring with
neither ADT nor SimpliSafe.
Finally, both of these systems does come with cellular backup, which is something you'll
love to see because that means if something happens to your Internet or something of that
nature, you can still get that all important message out to the proper authorities. Cellular
backup does come included with ADT and SimpliSafe.
When it comes to key differences between ADT and SimpliSafe, you'll first note that when
you're getting your professional monitoring for ADT, it's a bit more of a negotiation.
It's going to be depending on exactly what you want, how much you're going to pay for
it. You're typically going to pay between $30 and $60 depending on what you need.
Whereas with SimpliSafe, it's clear-cut. It's going to be $14.99 for the Standard plan or
$24.99 for the Interactive plan, and that's it. It's also a reflection a bit of the actual
contracts, themselves.
ADT, you're essentially going to just have to sign up for a 3-year plan, unless you live
in California where you can sign up for a 24-month plan. With SimpliSafe, it's just
month-to-month, so you can decide to cancel whenever you'd like.
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Gabe: Now that we've gone over some key similarities and differences between ADT and SimpliSafe,
let's check out their components. With our systems, we got the keypad, the motion sensors,
the entry sensors, the glass break sensors along with the key fobs and indoor cameras.
We can build out either system as comprehensively as you like. One thing to note with ADT is
that if you're an apartment dweller, you're going to get a system that's branded Protection
1. The Protection 1 system is a part of ADT. It's the same phone number. Don't be too confused
by that despite how puzzling it can be.
With SimpliSafe, one thing we'll note is that it's generally a less opaque or more transparent
process for building out your system because everything is right there on the website.
You're not doing the negotiation that you might be doing with something like ADT. You're
just going to know exactly how much you're paying for each component.
Additionally, you will be paying, generally speaking, significantly less for each of your
SimpliSafe components than you will be for your ADT system.
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Gabe: Hold on. I hope you're enjoying today's comparison of ADT and SimpliSafe. If you want
to be kept up to date on the newest in smart home security, cyber security, Bluetooth trackers
and more, subscribe to our channel, Security Baron. We're dropping new content weekly.
All right, let's get back to the video.
Now that we know the components for ADT and SimpliSafe system, let's talk about their
respective installation experiences. With ADT, things are pretty straightforward. Devices
come preprogrammed with your ADT base. You have to just go through and make sure they're
all synced before you put them up around your home.
One thing we want to note is that if you're someone who prefers to do everything on their
mobile device, we found it a little bit difficult to set up the ADT system using the ADT Pulse
app. In fact, we find it much easier to use the Web application, so we used our computer
to set up ADT. We probably had it done within 30 minutes or so.
When it comes to SimpliSafe, we found it to be a very simple process. They do live up
to their moniker. No drilling, no tools, nothing required. Just peel and stick. Everything
comes preprogrammed. You plug in your mobile base, and you're ready to go within 15 minutes
with the entire system set up. Those are our installation experiences for ADT and SimpliSafe.
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Gabe: Now that we have our systems installed, let's talk about that all-important professional
monitoring. Professional monitoring is a service that provides those extra eyes and ears to
ensure the security of your home.
You definitely want them to be able to dispatch the proper authorities if you're not home,
or even if you are home and you just need that assistance. It's something we love to
see here at Security Baron.
Let's start with ADT's professional monitoring options. It is not exactly straightforward
how much you're going to pay for your professional monitoring with ADT because of three things.
One, it's going to depend on what you want in terms of professional monitoring, what
services you need. On top of that, it's going to depend on what equipment you have.
If you have a lot of cameras, of course, that's going to go up. If you have a lot of devices,
you may pay a different rate. The final outcome is going to depend on you and your negotiation
skills when you're on the phone with your ADT representative.
SimpliSafe has two clear-cut options when it comes to professional monitoring. You have
your Standard plan at $14.99 a month and your Interactive plan at $24.99 a month. Both give
you 24/7 professional monitoring, but that Interactive plan does bring new interesting
elements like secret alarm.
Secret alarm is an alarm that goes off and notifies you but doesn't notify the person
who has done the act. If you have a particular cabinet that you want to know when it's been
opened but you don't necessarily want the person to know that you know that it's been
opened, you can do that with secret alarms.
On top of that, they have a service called video verified alarms where they send a clip
of whatever has taken place to the proper authorities when they dispatch them to your
home. These are a couple of interesting elements that come with the SimpliSafe professional
monitoring services.
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Gabe: Now let's check out the contracts and moving policies of ADT and SimpliSafe. With
ADT, you're going have to sign a three-year binding contract, unless you're in California
where you can get a two-year deal. That's something to keep in mind if you're not one
for a commitment.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have SimpliSafe that is a monthly contract that
you can cancel at any time. Don't worry when it comes to moving. They both make it really
easy on you.
If you want to move, you simply take apart your system, tell ADT or SimpliSafe your new
address, and because they're do-it-yourself only, take it to your new home, set it up,
and you're ready to go. It's very easy to move with both ADT and SimpliSafe.
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Gabe: Now I want to talk about the customer support offered by ADT and SimpliSafe beginning
with what they have in common. They both have a phone support option, an email support option
so you can give them a call, write them an email.
They both have these useful help centers that you can find online. Those are some of the
commonalities between ADT and SimpliSafe when it comes to customer support.
Now I want to talk about some of the places where ADT and SimpliSafe distinguish themselves
when it comes to customer support. ADT provides 24/7 phone support. No matter the hour, no
matter the day, you can give them a call. They also have a live chat option which allows
you to chat on your computer to a representative as if you were Google-chatting with a friend
or colleague.
Finally, they do have some very helpful instructional video guides on their website that may help
you solve any issues you may have in that nice visual format.
When it comes to SimpliSafe, they do provide you seven days a week with phone support from
9:00 AM to midnight. Additionally, they have some very helpful user forums that can be
found at SimpliSafe.com. Those are some of the ways that one can distinguish between
the options offered by ADT and SimpliSafe when it comes to customer support.
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Gabe: The final element I want to talk about today in my comparison of ADT and SimpliSafe
home security systems is their mobile application experience. When it comes to the ratings,
you can not set these things apart from one another.
The ADT system has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating in the Google Play Store and a 4.8 out of
5-star rating in the Apple App Store. Mighty impressive. The SimpliSafe system has a 4.6
out of 5-star rating in the Google Play Store and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating in the Apple
App Store. The only distinction here is a 0.1 better score for SimpliSafe in the Android
store.
Generally speaking, people seem to be liking their experiences, but let's talk about me.
[laughs] Personally, I find them both to be intuitive. They work pretty well. You can
understand quickly how to livestream your footage, how to unlock your locks, how to
arm and disarm your system.
When it comes to ADT, what's interesting is you have the ADT Pulse app, and you have the
Alarm.com app. We were able to use them interchangeably. In fact, they're basically the same app. You
can have both apps on your phone and control your ADT system. That's OK, I guess. It's
different and something to note.
When it comes to SimpliSafe, I've been an early adopter of the SimpliSafe system. I
will state that they have vastly improved their mobile application. They've made it
much more intuitive and generally palatable to the nontechnical consumer. Overall, I'm
happy with the mobile application experience with both ADT and SimpliSafe.
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Gabe: All right. We've come a long way in our look at ADT and SimpliSafe home security
systems. You may be wondering, "Hey, what are some things that make it right for me?"
I hope I can elucidate that for you a bit. If you're someone looking for a wide range
of devices to protect you and your family, then you might want to go with ADT.
They've been in the game for a long time and have a catalog to reflect it when it comes
to the sheer number of services and devices available. They also have a number of customer
support options. They have not only the 24/7 phone support, but you can also live chat
them, and useful instructional video guides on their website.
If you're someone looking for transparent pricing, you might want to go with SimpliSafe.
Everything is clear on their website. You just click and decide on what you want and
what you need for your home.
On top of being more transparent, it is going to be less expensive, just more affordable,
not only when it comes to the equipment but the monitoring services that they provide.
You're going to pay $14.99 or $24.99 a month, and that's it. You know exactly what it's
going to cost you.
Ultimately, both of these home security systems have really strong feature sets. If you've
been paying attention to today's video, you're going to be able to pick the exact one that
works for you and your family's security.
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Gabe: That concludes our comparison of the ADT and SimpliSafe home security systems.
I'd be curious to know what works best for you and your family, so leave us a comment
below. Don't forget to like and subscribe. As always, this is Gabe at Security Baron.
Be secure.