Free yourself from the expensive contracts typically associated with professionally monitored security. With Abode, you choose the service that works best for you and change whenever you need without penalty
Abode has made everything about home security easier and more user friendly. We offer professional monitoring without locking you into minimum-term contracts and let you cancel anytime without penalty
table below reflective of professional monitoring services. Abode does its best to ensure the information in this table is accurate and up-to-date.
Required Contracts
With minimum terms for monitoring services
Monthly Cost
For professional monitoring service
Cancellation Fees
For terminating monitoring services
Installation Fee
Often dependent on location and complexity
ADT is the biggest name in home security — they’ve been around since 1874. But their model is built on long-term contracts, professional installation fees, and monthly costs that add up fast. Abode represents the modern alternative: professional-grade security with DIY setup, no contracts, and dramatically lower costs. Here’s the full comparison.
Choose Abode if: You want to save thousands over the life of your system, install it yourself in 15 minutes, and keep full flexibility with no contracts.
Choose ADT if: You specifically want a technician to install your system and don’t mind paying significantly more for a legacy brand name.
| Cost | Abode | ADT |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $130-$300 | $200-$600+ |
| Installation | Free (DIY) | $99-$199 |
| Monthly Monitoring | $24.99/mo | $45.99-$59.99/mo |
| Contract Length | None | 36 months required |
| Cancellation Fee | None | 75% of remaining contract |
| 3-Year Total Cost | $1,030-$1,200 | $1,955-$2,759 |
Over 3 years, Abode saves you $900-$1,500+ compared to ADT — and you own your equipment outright.
ADT requires a 36-month contract. If you need to cancel early (job relocation, moving to a new home), you’ll pay 75% of the remaining balance. That could be over $1,000.
Abode has zero contracts. Cancel anytime. Upgrade, downgrade, or pause your monitoring at will. You even have the option of self-monitoring for completely free — something ADT doesn’t offer.
Abode: True DIY. Unbox, plug in the hub, peel-and-stick sensors, pair in the app. Most people are fully set up in 15 minutes. No appointment, no waiting, no installation fees.
ADT: Requires professional installation ($99-$199). You’ll need to schedule an appointment and wait for a technician. The equipment is often proprietary and may not work if you switch providers.
Abode supports HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, Z-Wave, Zigbee, and WiFi devices — all included free. The CUE automation platform lets you create sophisticated rules connecting your security system to smart lights, locks, thermostats, and more.
ADT has improved its smart home features in recent years, but compatibility is more limited and many features require the most expensive plan tier. ADT does not support HomeKit.
Abode: You own your equipment. Take it with you when you move. Use it with or without monitoring.
ADT: Equipment is often leased or subsidized through the contract. If you cancel, you may not be able to use it with another provider.
Both Abode and ADT offer UL-listed, 24/7 professional monitoring with fire, police, and medical dispatch. ADT has its own monitoring centers, while Abode partners with a third-party professional monitoring provider. Both deliver reliable emergency response.
Abode lets you self-monitor for free — get real-time push notifications, view camera feeds, and control your system from anywhere without paying a cent. ADT requires a minimum monthly payment for any functionality beyond basic local alarm.
ADT built its reputation in an era before smartphones and smart homes. Today, you can get the same professional monitoring, better smart home integration, and complete flexibility — at less than half the cost — with Abode.
No contracts. No installation fees. No proprietary equipment traps. Just modern security that works the way you want it to.
