Reviews Report
- ADT’s professionally installed monitoring typically falls around $45–$65 per month across its Secure, Smart, and Video & Smart tiers (equipment/fees extra; contracts apply), while Brinks Home commonly advertises roughly $35–$60 per month across Essential, Complete, and Ultimate (ADT packages; Brinks plans).
- Both brands primarily use cellular and internet (dual-path) for monitoring communications; landline is no longer the default. ADT also offers a DIY option, ADT Self Setup, with lower entry monitoring and flexible terms (ADT Self Setup).
- Brinks provides DIY or professional installation; ADT offers professional installation for its pro packages (installation fee often applies) and a DIY Self Setup path with optional month-to-month monitoring (ADT packages; Brinks plans).
Pricing, fees, and terms vary by location, credit approval, and equipment. For current offers and disclosures, verify ADT’s packages, ADT’s residential terms, Brinks Home’s plans, and Brinks Home legal. For recent satisfaction research, see J.D. Power’s latest U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study (1,000-point scale).
Our comparison focuses on current monitoring price bands, installation options, contract terms and early termination, video storage, and smart-home integrations (ADT’s Google Nest alignment and Brinks’ Alarm.com ecosystem). Where applicable, we cite official provider pages and recent industry research to help you choose with confidence (ADT + Google; Alarm.com ecosystem).
Compare ADT vs. Brinks
| Reviews.com Score | Starting Price | Installation | Equipment Available | |
| ADT | — | about $45–$65/mo. | Professional; DIY via ADT Self Setup | ADT hub/keypad, door/window sensors, motion sensor, backup battery, high-decibel siren; Google Nest cameras/doorbells for video packages |
| Brinks | — | about $35–$60/mo. | DIY or professional | Qolsys IQ touchscreen panel, wireless sensors, Alarm.com indoor/outdoor cameras and video doorbell |
Pricing bands reflect current national offers on provider pages; actual rates, equipment costs, and fees vary by market, credit, and promotions. See ADT packages and Brinks plans for details.
ADT
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Google Nest video integration via ADT+ app
- Choice of pro install or DIY (ADT Self Setup)
Cons
- Pro install requires a multiyear contract (early termination fees apply)
- Installation fee commonly applies unless waived by promotion
- Cloud video storage is via separate Nest Aware subscription unless bundled
Equipment Available
- ADT hub/keypad, door/window sensors, motion sensors, backup battery, siren
- Google Nest cameras and video doorbells for video packages (ADT + Google)
- Compatible Z-Wave accessories (locks, lights, thermostats) depending on panel
Contract Plans & Pricing
- Secure: about $45–$50/month (pro install); standard 36-month contract (24 months CA). See ADT packages.
- Smart: about $50–$55/month (adds automation). Installation fee often applies unless waived.
- Video & Smart: about $60–$65/month (adds video); cloud recording via Nest Aware unless bundled.
- Early termination typically requires paying a large portion of remaining obligation; review ADT terms.
Brinks
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Lower entry monitoring than many pro-installed peers
- DIY or professional installation options
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Broad Z-Wave and partner integrations via Alarm.com
Cons
- Contracts commonly 36 months; early termination charges apply
- Video features and storage depend on higher-tier packages
- Activation/installation fees may apply depending on offer
Equipment Available
- Qolsys IQ Panel (Z-Wave Plus), wireless door/window sensors, motion sensors
- Alarm.com indoor/outdoor cameras and video doorbell; Alarm.com Video Analytics in supported tiers
- Z-Wave accessories and cloud partners (e.g., myQ garage, Lutron lighting) via Alarm.com ecosystem
Contract Plans & Pricing
- Smart Security Essential: about $35–$40/month
- Smart Security Complete: about $45–$50/month
- Smart Security Ultimate: about $55–$60/month
- Typical monitoring agreement is 36 months; see Brinks Home legal terms for contract and early termination details.
*J.D. Power’s U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study (latest wave). Based on a 1,000-point scale; top brands typically score in the upper-800s.
Compare ADT and Brinks Home Security Plans
| Basic Plan | Mid-Tier | Top-Tier | |
| ADT | Secure: about $45–$50/mo. | Smart: about $50–$55/mo. | Video & Smart: about $60–$65/mo. |
| Brinks | Essential: about $35–$40/mo. | Complete: about $45–$50/mo. | Ultimate: about $55–$60/mo. |
Figures shown are nationally advertised bands before equipment, taxes, and fees. Contracts and installation/activation fees may apply. Verify current offers at ADT and Brinks Home.
ADT vs. Brinks: Emergency Connections
Both providers are strong choices for professional monitoring, with 24/7 centers and dual-path system communications (cellular plus internet) rather than landline-by-default. Dual-path improves resilience and speed, especially when paired with visual verification.
ADT’s current packages support cellular backup with broadband connectivity and integrate Google Nest video in supported tiers (ADT packages; ADT + Google). Brinks likewise relies on cellular and Wi‑Fi and offers tiers with and without video through the Alarm.com platform (Brinks plans).
Households with robust home internet will benefit from faster alerts and richer video, while cellular maintains critical connectivity during outages. Emerging Wi‑Fi 7 gear further improves throughput and latency for multi-camera setups (Wi‑Fi Alliance on Wi‑Fi 7). In either case, both ADT and Brinks provide 24/7 professional monitoring with optional video.
ADT vs. Brinks: Installation
Scheduling and install method can be a deciding factor. Brinks offers DIY or professional installation, with activation/installation fees depending on the package and promotions (Brinks plans).
ADT supports professional installation for its pro packages (installation fees commonly apply and are sometimes waived by promotion) and a DIY option via ADT Self Setup, which offers optional professional monitoring with more flexible terms than pro install (ADT packages).
ADT vs. Brinks: Monitoring Plans
ADT’s professionally installed tiers are commonly advertised around $45–$65/month across Secure, Smart, and Video & Smart. Contracts are typically 36 months (24 in CA), installation fees may apply, and video storage for Nest cameras is delivered through separate Nest Aware subscriptions unless bundled by promotion (ADT packages; ADT terms).
ADT Self Setup offers DIY hardware with optional professional monitoring that often starts in the mid-$20s/month, with more flexible (often month-to-month) terms; confirm current pricing and terms on ADT’s site (ADT Self Setup).
Brinks Home’s Smart Security Essential, Complete, and Ultimate tiers generally range about $35–$60/month before equipment and fees. Brinks typically uses a 36‑month monitoring agreement; activation/installation fees may apply. Review plan details and the monitoring agreement before purchase (Brinks plans; Brinks legal).
ADT vs. Brinks: Smart Home Automation
Both brands support robust automation, but their ecosystems differ. ADT leans into its Google partnership and ADT+ app for native control of Google Nest cameras, doorbells, and thermostats alongside Z‑Wave peripherals (ADT + Google; ADT+ app).
Brinks Home uses the Alarm.com platform, which supports a wide range of Z‑Wave accessories and select cloud partners (e.g., myQ garage, Lutron lighting) managed through the Brinks Home app (Alarm.com ecosystem). Interoperability via Matter continues to improve for locks and sensors, but native camera support isn’t part of current public Matter releases (Matter 1.4), so camera ecosystems remain vendor-specific.
If you want deep Google Nest integration within a monitored system, ADT offers the most seamless path. If you need broad Z‑Wave accessory support and dealer-enabled cloud partners, Brinks (via Alarm.com) is a strong fit.
ADT vs. Brinks FAQ
Methodology
We evaluated ADT and Brinks Home based on advertised monitoring price bands, equipment costs, installation options, contract length and early termination, video storage, smart-home integrations, and customer satisfaction research to inform our comparisons. Source materials include official provider pricing pages and legal terms, plus independent satisfaction studies.
- Monthly Price: We referenced nationally advertised monitoring rates and disclosed that equipment, taxes/fees, promotions, and credit approval affect totals (ADT; Brinks).
- Equipment/Fees: Noted installation/activation fees where applicable and that ADT video recording uses Google’s Nest Aware unless bundled (ADT packages).
- Contracts: ADT’s standard residential contract is typically 36 months (24 in CA); Brinks commonly uses 36-month terms. We linked to each provider’s current legal terms (ADT terms; Brinks legal).
- Customer Satisfaction: Using J.D. Power’s latest U.S. Home Security Satisfaction Study (1,000-point scale), we summarize current satisfaction patterns rather than citing outdated numeric scores.
- Installation: We prefer providers that offer flexible installation (DIY or professional) and disclose any associated fees (ADT Self Setup; Brinks plans).
