Pros & Cons
-
- Tight integration with Google Nest, Yale devices
- DIY or professional installation
- Helpful Trusted Neighbor service
- Z-Wave compatible
-
- Requires 24/7 monitoring plan
- Some add-on components are pricey
ADT Front Door Protection Specs
| Cellular Backup | |
| Environmental Sensors | |
| Monitoring Contract Required | |
| Monthly Fees | Start at $39.99 |
| Power Outage Backup | |
| Upfront Costs | Start at $349 |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | Google Assistant |
| Z-Wave/ZigBee |
When we reviewed the ADT Self Setup Home Security, it earned high marks for its easy installation process and strong integration with Google Nest and Z-Wave devices, but we thought some components were a bit overpriced. Now, we’re taking a look at ADT's Front Door Protection Security System ($738.98 as reviewed), which offers updated hardware and adds the company's Trusted Neighbor service that allows you to grant access to your home to friends, neighbors, and workers. It still offers support for lots of third-party devices and is easy to install, but additional components remain expensive. This smart home security system is a solid choice if you already use the Google Home platform, but you can save money on monitoring and components with the Editors’ Choice-winning SimpliSafe Home Security System (starting at $249.96).
Design and Features: Mix and Match Components as Needed
ADT offers several preconfigured packages that can be customized with additional components, as well as a totally customizable à la carte system where you choose the devices and services that you want. You can choose to install the system yourself or have an ADT pro do it for you. Installation prices range from around $200 to $400, depending on the system and its complexity.
The $349 Security Starter system comes with a base unit (ADT's equivalent of a hub), three door/window sensors, a motion sensor, and assorted yard signs and stickers. It requires at least one month of the ADT Secure Monitoring plan ($24.99 per month), which gives you 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular connectivity, and the ability to control the system and receive alerts with the ADT+ mobile app (available for Android and iOS).
Stepping up to the next package, the $529 Video Essentials package comes with everything in the Security Starter system and also gives you a choice of a Nest Doorbell or a Google Nest Cam. This system requires at least one month of the $39.99 monthly ADT Complete Monitoring plan, which offers everything from the Secure Monitoring plan, plus 24/7 live camera viewing and a Video Verification feature that lets you view a video clip of an event to determine if an emergency response is warranted. The Complete Monitoring plan also includes intelligent alerts and smart home automation features.
The Front Door Protection system reviewed here comes with a base unit, three door/window sensors, a motion sensor, a Nest Doorbell, and a Yale Assure Lock 2 (available in Black Suede or Satin Nickel). This package also requires at least one month of Complete Monitoring and supports ADT’s Trusted Neighbor service (more on this below). You can cancel your plan at any time, but if you do, you'll lose 24/7 monitoring and will have to call for help by yourself if there’s a break-in or another event that requires an emergency response.
The Front Door Protection configuration costs $738.98, but ADT constantly offers money-saving promotions. During one promotion, the Front Door Protection System was available for 60% off (bringing the price down to $279). A similarly configured system from SimpliSafe will cost you $571.93 (before any discounts) and comes with a free outdoor camera.
(Credit: John R. Delaney)The ADT Base unit is the brain of the system. It’s a white cylinder that measures 5.7 by 4.5 by 4.5 inches (HWD) and has a backlit keypad on top that contains buttons for 0 to 9 as well as Arm Stay, Arm Away, and Arm Night. Here you’ll also find Police, Medical, and Fire buttons, as well as a Cancel button. Indicators let you quickly see whether the system has power, a door or window is open, or there's an error. An LED ring around the keypad displays green, blue, and red colors to indicate various states, such as when the system is armed or disarmed, the firmware is updating, or an alarm has been triggered. On the inside, it features a Bluetooth radio, a dual-band Wi-Fi radio, a Z-Wave radio, an 85dB siren, and a lithium-ion backup battery that will last up to 24 hours in the event of a power outage. The base station works with the Alexa and Google voice assistants and contains a proximity sensor that wakes up the system when you approach it.
Each door/window sensor is a Z-Wave device that measures 2.9 by 0.9 by 0.8 inches (HWD), and can be installed using screws or double-sided adhesive, both of which are included. Each one has a built-in shock sensor that will detect a forcible entry, an LED indicator, and a bypass button that lets you open the door without triggering an alarm.
The Motion sensor measures 4.0 by 2.3 by 1.3 inches and has a 90-degree horizontal and 50-degree vertical field of view. It runs on a single CR123A battery and can be installed using the included screws or double-sided adhesive strips.
Additional ADT components are a bit more expensive than SimpliSafe counterparts. For example, an ADT glass break sensor costs $49.99, while a similar component from SimpliSafe costs $39.99. ADT door/window sensors are $20 for an entry-level unit or $40 for a premium sensor with shock sensing and a bypass button. SimpliSafe door/window sensors are $15.99 each. An additional ADT motion sensor will cost you $40, while a SimpliSafe motion sensor sells for $34.99.
ADT’s Trusted Neighbor service requires a Google Nest Doorbell, a Yale lock, a subscription to the Complete Monitoring plan, and a Nest Aware plan (starting at $10 a month, or $100 annually). The service allows you to use the ADT+ mobile app to grant entry to friends, neighbors, workers, or anybody else who needs to enter your home. You can assign door lock access privileges based on events, such as a package delivery, an alarm going off, or a water leak, and you can create full-time, part-time, and temporary access schedules that simultaneously disarm the security system to prevent tripping an alarm. If you prefer to grant access without issuing a PIN code, you can use the Google Nest Doorbell’s Familiar Face Detection feature to disarm the system and automatically unlock the Yale door lock when a registered face has been recognized and verified. Designated trusted neighbors must have the ADT+ app installed on their phone.
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Smart Home Security Systems for 2026
The ADT+ App: Granular Access Control
The ADT+ mobile app is straightforward and easy to use. The home screen has large buttons for arming and disarming the system, and below that are panels for the lock, the doorbell, any other connected devices, Trusted Neighbor, and Alerts. The lock panel displays the name of the device and its current status (locked, unlocked). Simply tap the panel to lock and unlock the door. The doorbell panel displays a live view from the camera and has a button for watching in full-screen mode. Once in full-screen mode, you’ll see buttons for initiating two-way talk and muting the sound.
The Trusted Neighbor panel displays the number of registered neighbors and helpers, and the number of pending invitees. There’s also an Invite People button that takes you to a screen where you can add people as Family, Helpers/Guests, or Neighbors and assign access permissions. You can add users from your phone’s contact list or input them manually and send an invite via email or a text message. Family members can be assigned as Admin (granted full access to your security system and all of its devices), Standard (for access to monitoring features with limited management abilities), Basic (so they can arm and disarm the system), and Duress (so they can disarm the system and silently notify the monitoring center in an emergency).
(Credit: ADT/PCMag)At the bottom of the app are Home, People, and History buttons. The Home button returns you to the home screen, and the People button opens a screen where you can add new users and view and edit Family, Neighbor, and Helper entries. Tap the History button to see a list of motion and entry sensor events, lock activity, and arm/disarm events. If you have other devices installed, such as glass break sensors, leak detectors, and smoke/CO2 alarms, those events will be listed here as well.
Installation and Performance: Simple Setup and Reliable Surveillance
Installing the system was fairly easy. I downloaded the ADT+ app, created an account, and tapped Set Up Base. I powered up the base, and when the LED began blinking white, I tapped Next to pair it to my phone via Bluetooth. I scanned the QR code, used the base station’s keypad to enter the 4-digit code shown in the app, selected my Wi-Fi SSID, and entered my Wi-Fi password. The base station instantly connected to my network and performed a firmware update, which took around five minutes to complete.
To add sensors and other components, I tapped Add Device, tapped the plus icon on the devices screen, selected ADT Device, and then tapped Sensors and Detectors. On the next screen, I tapped Door/Window Sensors, selected a placement (door, window), and gave the sensor a name. Following the on-screen instructions, I removed the battery tab and tapped Connect. After a few seconds, the base chimed and the app confirmed a successful pairing. Following the app's instructions, I mounted the sensor and magnet on the window using the double-backed adhesive, opened and closed the windows to test the installation, and then repeated the process for the other two Door/Window sensors. Setting up the Motion sensor required installing a CR123A battery, but otherwise used the same procedure.
To add the smart doorbell, I tapped the plus icon again, selected Google Nest Device, and selected my Google account and Home. I gave ADT permission to access my Google account, tapped Continue Google Nest Setup, and then tapped Set Up New Device (you can also choose to set up existing devices). This opened my Google Home app, where I tapped Devices > Add to set up the doorbell. I selected Nest Doorbell (Battery), scanned the QR code on the back of the device, and followed the instructions to power up the doorbell using the included USB-C cable. After a few seconds, I was prompted to enter my Wi-Fi credentials, and the doorbell was added to my network. I gave it a location, waited about a minute for a firmware update, enabled audio recording, and gave ADT access to the camera. I took the doorbell outside and installed it next to my front door.
I installed the Yale Assure 2 lock by tapping the plus icon once again, but this time I selected Smart Home Device and tapped Locks on the devices screen. I selected the lock, tapped Install Lock, and followed the instructions to install the lock on the door. I plugged in the smart (Z-Wave) module, installed the batteries, and tapped Connect. After a few seconds, the lock was connected to the ADT app, so I entered a programming (admin) code and pressed the black button for five seconds. I tested the lock, and once the handing (direction) was correct, I gave it a name to finish the installation.
The Front Door Protection System worked well in testing. The sensors were very responsive and instantly triggered push and email alerts, and the base station's siren was loud enough to be heard throughout my one-story home. I always received email alerts when the base station lost AC power or was tampered with, or when somebody accepted an invitation to my Family or Neighbors list.
Doorbell press and motion notifications also arrived instantly, and I had no trouble viewing live video and communicating with visitors using the ADT+ app. Locking and unlocking the door using the app also worked without issue.
Setting up Trusted Neighbor to work with the doorbell’s Familiar Faces feature required quite a few settings and permissions tweaks, but once everything was set up correctly, the feature worked as intended. I created a Neighbor user profile with access from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day and added the person’s face to my Google Home faces library. The system had no trouble adhering to the user’s time limitations, and the doorbell camera’s face recognition feature unlocked the Yale lock when it detected the right face.