ADT Cost Per Month — Complete Pricing Guide

ADT pricing is more complicated than a single number because there are two separate product lines, equipment sold separately from monitoring, installation fees that vary by installer, and contract terms most people don’t fully read before signing. The most-searched questions are answered straight below.

• 1
  How much is the monthly bill for ADT? DIY/Self Setup: $24.99–$39.99/month · Professionally installed: $44.99–$59.99/month · Basic plan (no cameras): starts at $24.99/month · Full video + smart home: up to $59.99/month

  ADT’s monthly monitoring cost depends primarily on which product line you’re in and which tier you choose. The ADT Self Setup (DIY) line starts at $24.99/month for basic monitoring — no professional installation required, and the contract is more flexible. The traditional professionally installed system starts around $44.99/month for the base Secure plan and goes up to roughly $59.99/month for the Video and Smart Home tier that includes live video access, cloud storage, and home automation. None of those prices include taxes, which add roughly $3–$8/month in most states. ADT also reserves the right to increase monthly rates during your contract, which is buried in the fine print and catches many subscribers off guard. The rate that appears in the marketing is a starting rate, not a locked-in rate for your full 36-month term.
• 2
  What does ADT cost in total — including equipment and installation? Equipment: $269–$1,449 upfront (or finance over 60 months) · Installation: $99–$199 labor fee · First-year total cost: roughly $1,100–$2,200 depending on package · 3-year total: $2,700–$5,000+ including all monitoring fees

  The monthly monitoring fee is only part of what ADT actually costs. Add the upfront equipment purchase — which ranges from $269 for a basic hub-and-sensor starter kit to $1,449 for a full package with cameras and a video doorbell — and the installation fee of $99–$199 charged by the ADT-authorized dealer who installs your system. Over a full 36-month contract at $49.99/month monitoring, the monitoring alone totals $1,799.64. Tack on equipment and installation and your true 3-year cost runs anywhere from roughly $2,700 to $5,000 depending on package. ADT does offer 0% APR financing on equipment over 60 months for systems costing $599 or more, which eliminates the big upfront payment — but you’re still paying every dollar of equipment cost, spread over time. One legitimately good deal currently running: ADT is offering a $100 Visa Reward Card with all professionally installed systems as of mid-2026, and periodically runs equipment discounts of 25–60% during promotional periods. Always ask the rep what’s currently on sale before finalizing the order.
• 3
  Is ADT worth the money? Worth it if: you want professional installation, prefer not to manage a DIY system, and value the longest-established monitoring network in the U.S. · Not worth it if: you’re budget-conscious, a renter, or comfortable with DIY — Ring ($20/mo) and SimpliSafe ($18/mo) deliver strong monitoring for half the price

  Whether ADT is worth it comes down to one honest question: what are you actually paying for that a cheaper alternative doesn’t offer? ADT’s genuine advantages are its six redundant monitoring centers (Ring and SimpliSafe use third parties), its 150-year institutional track record, professional installation by licensed technicians, deep Google Nest integration, and the keychain remote that seniors in particular find genuinely useful — it lets you arm, disarm, and call for help without touching a phone or app. Research consistently shows that 60% of convicted burglars said they would choose a different target if they saw an alarm sign or camera, and ADT’s recognizable blue octagon sticker carries that deterrent weight more than unknown brands. What you’re not getting that cheaper alternatives provide: no contracts, lower monthly costs, and easier cancellation. SimpliSafe at $18/month and Ring at $20/month both offer real professional monitoring — not the equal of ADT’s infrastructure, but adequate for the vast majority of homes. For homeowners who want a completely hands-off setup they’ll never have to troubleshoot, ADT justifies its premium. For renters or anyone who might move in the next three years, the 75% early termination fee makes ADT a risky choice.
• 4
  Is ADT the most expensive home security system? Among major national brands: ADT is in the middle-to-upper range · Vivint costs more ($50–$80+/month) · Ring is cheaper ($10–$20/month) · SimpliSafe is cheaper ($18/month) · ADT’s real cost premium is the equipment + contract structure, not just the monthly fee

  ADT is not the most expensive home security company — Vivint consistently charges more, with professionally installed plans running $50–$80+ per month and equipment financing packages that can push total 5-year costs to $6,000 or more. What makes ADT feel expensive to many people is the combination of the upfront equipment cost, the installation fee, the long contract, and the 75% early termination fee if you leave early. Ring and SimpliSafe have fundamentally different pricing structures: no long-term contracts, lower equipment costs, and monthly monitoring at $10–$20 — roughly half of ADT’s standard rate. The tradeoff is that Ring and SimpliSafe use contracted third-party monitoring centers rather than ADT’s owned-and-operated network, and their DIY installation isn’t for everyone. For pure monthly cost comparison: ADT Pro Install runs about $45–$60/month, SimpliSafe runs $18/month, and Ring runs $20/month for professional monitoring — a gap of $25–$40/month, or $900–$1,440 over three years.
• 5
  Why is my ADT bill so high? Most common reasons: mid-contract rate increase (ADT can raise rates during your term) · Equipment financing rolled into monthly bill · State and local taxes · Add-on sensors or cameras billed separately · Automatic contract renewal at a higher rate after 36 months

  This is one of the most common ADT complaints, and there are several specific reasons a bill grows beyond what was quoted at signup. First: ADT’s contract language allows them to increase monthly monitoring rates during your agreement term — not just at renewal. Many customers sign at a promotional $35/month and find themselves paying $50+ within 18 months without changing anything. Second: if you financed equipment, that cost is rolled into the monthly bill separately from the monitoring fee and shows as a line item some customers interpret as the monitoring charge. Third: after your initial 36-month contract expires, ADT automatically renews your agreement on a month-to-month basis — and some customers report this renewal triggers a rate adjustment. Fourth: add-on services like additional cameras, smart home device monitoring, or a Nest Aware subscription through Google can add $10–$20/month that wasn’t in the original quote. If your bill is higher than expected, call ADT at 800-238-2727 and ask specifically for a line-item breakdown of every charge, then ask the retention team what rate reduction is available — they frequently offer discounts to customers who threaten to cancel.
• 6
  What is the ADT complete package — and what does it include? The ADT Video & Smart Home package (top tier) includes: touchscreen control panel · 3 door/window sensors · 1 motion detector · 1 Google Nest Cam Indoor · 1 Google Nest Doorbell · smart home integration · 24/7 monitoring + video verification · cloud video storage · ~$49.99–$59.99/month

  ADT’s top-tier professionally installed package — currently branded as the Video and Smart Home plan — is what most people have in mind when they search “ADT complete package.” It starts with the standard equipment of every ADT system (a touchscreen control panel, 3 door or window sensors, and a motion detector) and adds professional-grade Google Nest Cams for both indoor and outdoor coverage, a Nest Video Doorbell that shows who’s at the door in real time, live video access and cloud storage through the ADT+ app, video verification (where monitoring center staff can view live footage before dispatching police — reducing false alarm fines), smart home automation including remote lock control and lights, and 24/7 professional monitoring across ADT’s owned monitoring network. The equipment for a mid-size version of this package runs $600–$900 depending on the number of cameras and sensors added. Monthly monitoring at this tier runs $49.99–$59.99. As of mid-2026, ADT is offering a $100 Visa Reward Card with all professionally installed systems and occasionally bundles a free Nest Doorbell at higher package tiers — always ask the sales rep what’s currently bundled before finalizing.
• 7
  What is ADT’s cancellation policy — and what happens if I cancel early? Early termination fee: 75% of remaining monthly charges · Standard contract: 36 months (24 months in California) · Cancellation must be done by phone: 800-238-2727 · 6-month money-back guarantee window · After contract ends: auto-renews month-to-month with no termination fee

  This is the ADT detail that generates the most complaints and the most regret. If you cancel a professionally installed ADT system before your contract term ends — which is 36 months in all states except California (24 months) — you owe 75% of all remaining monthly charges. On a $49.99/month plan with 18 months left, that’s a cancellation fee of roughly $674. You cannot cancel ADT online; you must call 800-238-2727 during standard business hours. Before confirming cancellation, ask the rep to calculate the exact early termination fee — and ask the retention team whether any discount is available, since they often offer reduced rates or waived fees to customers who threaten to leave. There are two exit windows with no fee: within 72 hours of signing (a standard cooling-off period in most states) and within the 6-month money-back service guarantee period if you meet the conditions. After your initial contract term ends, ADT automatically renews month-to-month with no termination fee required to cancel — but you must call to stop the renewal. If you’re moving, ADT will transfer service to your new address at no cost if service is available there; if ADT doesn’t serve your new location, you may be able to cancel without the termination fee — get this in writing before your move.
• 8
  Does ADT offer a senior discount? No direct senior discount from ADT · AARP members: 30% off new systems + 5% off monthly monitoring · Military (WeSalute members): free system worth $528 + $100 off monitoring · Insurance discount: most home insurers give 5–20% off premium with monitored alarm

  ADT does not offer a blanket age-based senior discount — there is no “over 65” pricing tier. However, AARP members get meaningful savings: 30% off new system equipment and an additional 5% off monthly monitoring fees, plus free professional installation of a Nest video doorbell. To claim the AARP benefit, either go to ADT’s website through the AARP member portal or call 866-593-4472 and identify yourself as an AARP member. Beyond AARP, two other savings paths are often overlooked by seniors. First, most home insurance companies offer a 5–20% discount on homeowner’s insurance premiums for homes with a professionally monitored alarm system — that’s an ongoing annual savings that partially offsets ADT’s monthly cost. Second, ADT’s keychain remote device — which lets you arm, disarm, and send emergency alerts with a button press rather than navigating a smartphone app — is one of the features security reviewers specifically call out as valuable for older adults. It also includes a help button that dispatches medical, fire, or police assistance directly from the remote, which functions independently of whether you can reach your phone. For seniors who want both home security and medical alert capabilities in one system, ADT’s integration with its own medical alert line (sold separately) means both can be managed under one provider relationship.

ADT currently operates two separate product lines. The Self Setup (DIY) line has lower equipment costs and more flexible terms. The Pro Install line uses professional technicians, higher-end Google Nest equipment, and requires a 36-month contract. Prices shown are base rates — taxes and equipment financing add to the monthly total.

Use the buttons below to find ADT authorized dealers, compare local alarm companies, find locksmith services, and locate electronics stores selling Ring and SimpliSafe equipment nearby. Always get at least two quotes before signing with any alarm company.