Blue by ADT vs. Cove
Part of the reason these two brands differ so much lies in their origins. Formerly LifeShield, Blue by ADT was rebranded by home security giant ADT, giving it the advantage of 140+ years of experience and an existing infrastructure of security tech and monitoring. Cove has humbler roots, starting in 2018 with a small team. The startup’s goal has been to provide people with effective and economical security coverage.
Compare Blue by ADT vs. Cove
Price
Winner: CoveIt's difficult to beat Cove's affordability. It offers price flexibility via numerous package options. Equipment-only packages start at $229 and Cove's Economy Plan costs zero upfront, only $24.99–$34.99/mo. for a 36-month monitoring contract. Some of its bundles come with monitoring plans as low as $14.99/mo. with no contract. Blue by ADT's equipment is much more expensive, with its smart cameras costing $199.99 each. However, Blue's professional monitoring plan is usually cheaper than a few of Cove's offerings though, at just $19.99/mo, with no contract.
Professional Monitoring
Tie: Blue by ADT vs. CoveBlue by ADT has 24/7 professional monitoring for $19.99/mo. You get one day of video storage, plus emergency notifications, authority dispatches and three layers of backup coverage (Wi-Fi, cellular signal and cellular text). It is quite comparable to Cove's monitoring features. Despite the company's small size, Cove offers a robust 24/7 professional monitoring service for $14.99-$34.99/mo. This coverage includes InstaText and Live Assist features. Cove also claims that its emergency response time is 10 times faster than its competitors.
Trial Period
Winner: CoveCove offers a generous trial period of 60 days. If you need to return your equipment within this period, you will not be charged for the shipping cost. Blue by ADT's trial period is more restrictive. You get 30 days risk-free, but you will be responsible for return shipping expenses. Blue also offers a 30-day free trial for its professional monitoring service.
Warranties & Guarantees
Winner: CoveCove equipment is covered by a one-year warranty, and if you need to make a claim, the company will pay for all associated shipping. Plus monitoring plan subscribers get upgraded to a lifetime warranty. While Blue by ADT also offers a one-year warranty, its policy isn't as customer-friendly. Although the company covers return shipping, you will be charged for shipping replacements.
Installation
Winner: CoveEven though both Blue by ADT's and Cove's products permit simple installation, Cove wins out because its products come with the option for noninvasive sticker-mounting. Blue by ADT's cameras requires screw-in brackets. Neither brand offers the option for professional installation, so you will have to do it yourself. If you need help, both companies do have instructions and tutorials on their websites.
Security Cameras
Winner: Blue by ADTBlue by ADT definitely offers higher-quality security cameras. Their various models all come with 1080p HD, 130-degree field of view, and advanced features such as facial recognition. There are both indoor and outdoor cameras available. Cove's catalog is currently limited to one camera, indoor only. Like Blue's cameras, Cove's has 1080p HD, motion detection, and night vision. However, it doesn't have any image analytics. The one perk is that you can get add-on cameras for only $29.95 each.
The Winner: Cove
 Blue by ADT | Winner  Cove Security | |
|---|---|---|
Monitoring starts at | $19.99/mo. | $14.99/mo. |
Contract length | No contract | None |
Extended no-risk return period | 30 days | 60 days |
Installation | DIY | DIY |
Guarantees | None | None |
Warranty | 1 year | 1 year (lifetime with Plus monitoring) |
BBB Score | A+ | A |
Safety Score | 8 | 7.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Blue by ADT and Cove
Blue by ADT has an outdoor camera kit priced at $449.97. Cove has a number of equipment packages (starting at $229), as well as custom options.
Blue by ADT’s monitoring service is $19.99/mo. with no contract. Cove has two plan types: Basic for $14.99-$24.99/mo., or Plus for $24.99-$34.99/mo. The latter plan includes equipment at no upfront cost.
Both Blue by ADT and Cove allow for self-monitoring and professional monitoring options are available
Neither brand requires overly invasive installations, but Cove’s peel-and-stick options make it the superior choice for renters.