ADT vs. Honeywell

When looking solely at the price of equipment, ADT’s packages are cheaper than Honeywell’s. However, purchasing a Honeywell home security system will ultimately lead to savings because there are no monthly fees. ADT not only has a monthly monitoring contract, but its home automation services require additional monthly payments.

Honeywell wins this category for offering its equipment and mobile apps with no contract. ADT, on the other hand, requires a contract that typically requires a minimum commitment of 36 months. The monthly cost of an ADT contract is for professional monitoring services and does not include the cost of the equipment. 

ADT requires professional installation for its home security systems, whereas Honeywell’s equipment is designed for a user-friendly installation. If you’re more comfortable choosing professional installation, especially for the central Lyric control panel that is only available from professional installers, Honeywell provides a list of local service providers that can assist you. Due to the flexibility of choice, Honeywell wins this category.

An ADT package can be customized to suit your needs, but typically includes a digital panel, entry sensors, key fob, motion sensors, and environmental detectors. Honeywell’s Lyric panel is comparable and also includes a siren and glass-break detector. Both companies offer a variety of additional equipment to supplement their packages, including indoor and outdoor cameras and smart doorbells. ADT offers their own panic button and carbon monoxide detector, giving it a slight edge over Honeywell.

When it comes to comparing ADT and Honeywell in terms of professional monitoring, there is no contest. Honeywell does not offer professional monitoring services, but ADT’s established network of certified monitoring centers can call emergency services on your behalf 24/7/365. 

Both Honeywell and ADT offer home automation integration, but Honeywell’s comes at no extra cost, whereas to use features on ADT’s home automation app and video remote control costs $57.99 per month after a $99 installation fee. With Honeywell, you can integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assist, and IFTTT for free. ADT Pulse connects you to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Kwikset, Z-wave, and Apple Watch.