ADT Security Camera Pricing and Costs
Full-service or DIY, ADT has cameras that suit your needs.
- Professional installation on all systems
- 24/7 monitoring centers nationwide
- 145+ years of home security innovation
You want a security system and you want security cameras. There are lots of options, but after testing over 50 of them, we concluded that the best security system right now is ADT. That’s because of its well-made equipment, dependable monitoring service, and home security innovations like Trusted Neighbor.
Security cameras are a big part of the ADT offering, and it uses top-of-the-line cameras from Google Nest. These aren’t normal Nest Cams, either. They’re the same hardware, but they offer additional features as part of an ADT system. Are they worth buying?
Overview of ADT Security Cameras
You can buy Nest Cams from the Google Store or even Amazon, but if you’re buying an ADT security system anyway, you’re better off buying from ADT. ADT frequently offers deals that can markdown the price of your Nest Cam by up to 30-percent – better than most deals we see from Google. And remember, the Nest Cams from ADT are the same hardware as the Nest Cams you can buy from Google. Check out our Nest Cam review for the full specs.
Another advantage of buying from ADT is that you can get them to install the entire system – cameras included – for a fee. Professional installation ensures that all your equipment is wired up and connected properly.
You can still install your ADT equipment DIY though, especially the latest system called ADT Plus. Better yet, you can do the installation for free and still have an ADT expert over the phone guide you on the process.
The short of it is that the best option for most people is to buy their security cameras from ADT itself.
>> Related: ADT Self Setup Review
ADT Camera Options
You don’t have to look long and hard to learn about ADT’s home security pricing. That information is readily available on ADT’s website, including ADT’s current deals and other promotions you might want to check out. But since you’re already here, let’s see the options.
Three Cameras
ADT offers three types of security cameras – indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, and video doorbells or doorbell cameras. All those cameras are from Google Nest. Here’s an overview of the Nest Cams you can get with your ADT security system:
Camera Type | Available options |
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Indoor camera |
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Outdoor camera |
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Doorbell camera |
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The Nest Cams are some of the most advanced standalone cameras on the market. These are cameras capable of person detection and facial recognition, features that can add a lot of value to your home security. When we reviewed the Nest Cam (battery), for example, we used facial recognition to monitor the comings and goings of friends and guests.
FYI: The cherry on top? All Nest Cams record in high-clarity 1080p at 30 frames per second. That’s the perfect balance, in our opinion. They capture better-quality videos than the ADT cameras we previously tested (720p) but require less internet bandwidth to stream and record. Each Nest Cam requires only 2 Mbps internet to stream videos fluidly.
You’ll Need a Subscription
Nest Cams bought from ADT work differently, though. They still have all the goodies – person detection, facial recognition, intelligent app alerts, etc – but while Nest Cam users aren’t required to buy a subscription, those who buy their cameras from ADT are. And what’s more, the monthly fee costs $2 more than if you buy it directly from Google Nest. You’ll see why in a second.
First, all ADT users are required to pay a monthly monitoring fee. The base price for that is $29.99 per month, which is on the affordable side. However, if you have security cameras, the price goes up to $44.99. There’s an additional $5 charge for smart home features, and the remaining $10 goes to your Nest Aware subscription. Nest Aware includes 30 days of video history from all your Nest Cams and advanced features like facial recognition. However, if bought from Nest, Nest Aware costs only $8 per month.
Well, ADT isn’t trying to nickel-and-dime its users – at least we assume. There’s a difference in using Nest Cams as standalone cameras versus using them with ADT. That difference is video verification. If an alarm triggers, ADT’s monitoring center can access live Nest Cam footage to confirm the incident. If there’s a real crime in progress, they can relay more information to the police, which in turn speeds up police response. Nest Cams don’t offer professional monitoring when used by themselves, so that extra $2 you’ll pay ADT is worth it, in our opinion.
FYI: We’ve tested video verification ourselves, and it’s not the privacy risk many folks think it is. The system automatically sends the clip to the homeowner first, so you have the first shot at verifying the alarm. You get one minute and 20 seconds to do so. Only if you don’t respond will the alarm be sent to a monitoring agent for visual verification.
You’ll Need a Package
You can’t purchase a camera without investing in a package deal. All packages include:
- A base station with a built-in keypad
- At least one door/window sensor
- Access to the ADT+ app
There are several packages, most of which are centered around the Nest Cams. For example, there’s the Outdoor Video package that comes with a battery-powered Nest Cam and a video doorbell. There’s also the Front Door Protection package with a Nest Doorbell and a smart lock. Lastly, there’s the Total Safety package that comes with all Nest Cam models and a video doorbell, among other ADT equipment.
ADT Packages | Price |
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Outdoor Video | $648.98 |
Front Door Protection | $718.98 |
Total Safety | $1,573.95 |
Pro Tip: These packages always go on sale. For example, at the time of writing, the Total Safety bundle was being offered for only $823.95, reflecting a $750 savings.
You can also customize those packages with additional equipment, so if you need more cameras than what’s included, you can buy them from ADT. Surprisingly, they’re being sold at retail prices – no markups.
Nest Cam model | ADT price |
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Nest Cam (indoor, plug-in) | $99.99 |
Nest cam (battery) | $179.99 |
Nest Cam with floodlight | $279.99 |
Nest Doorbell (battery) | $179.99 |
Still, Nest Cam pricing starts at about $100. That’s a significant amount that not everyone is willing or capable of shelling out upfront. Fortunately, ADT offers financing options. So if your equipment total becomes too high to pay upfront, you can always finance it for up to 60 months. The Outdoor Video package before any add-ons costs about $18 per month over a 36-month term.
Our Recommendation
Now that you know everything about buying Google Nest security cameras from ADT, let’s talk about our recommendations. When we tested ADT, we actually went with the Build Your Own package. It costs $269 and comes with the base station and a door/window sensor. It was like an open floor plan that we were able to customize with all the components we wanted to test. We racked up a bill of more than $1,200 that we paid upfront, but remember, you can finance your equipment.
We chose the Build Your Own package because all the other packages include equipment we don’t need. But if you think the pre-customized packages could work for you, we’d say go for it. They often have the best discounts.
We particularly recommend the Total Safety package if you’re leaning towards a security system with lots and lots of cameras. It includes all four Google Nest cameras offered by ADT for a little over $1,500, which you can finance. And at the time we purchased our ADT system, it was actually $750 off or only about $830.
Here’s the list of included equipment:
- 1 ADT Base
- 3 door/window sensors
- 1 motion sensor
- 1 Nest Cam (battery)
- 1 Nest Cam (indoor)
- 1 Nest Cam with Floodlight
- 1 Nest Doorbell (battery)
- 1 Smoke Detector
- 3 Water & temperature sensor
- 1 Yale smart lock
- 1 set of yard sign and window decals
That’s a lot of hardware for an $830 system, so we recommend you go for it if you need all those pieces.
ADT Self Setup
Remember when we said you can also DIY the installation? Well, that’s another option if you’re looking to save. ADT previously had a different offering for ADT Self Setup, but now, you can get the same equipment options if you want to DIY. The prices and packages are the same, too, but you can cut back on the cost by skipping the installation fee and installing the system yourself.
ADT’s installation fee is not cheap. It starts at $99 but scales with the size and the types of equipment being installed. If you’re buying security cameras, professional installation will probably cost you $200 or more. And remember, Nest Cams were originally designed for DIY installation, so it’s not like you’d be doing a lot of hard work. We’ve managed to set up the Nest Cam (battery) in under 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: You might have to climb up a ladder though. We recommend placing your security cameras at least eight feet off the ground to make it harder for criminals to get to them.
The only Nest Cam we’d recommend getting professionally installed is the Nest Cam with Floodlights. It requires hardwiring to a junction box, so unless you’re an electrician, we suggest getting your ADT system installed by a technician if it includes that camera.
Monitoring Options
Now, after buying ADT Self Setup equipment, you can skip the monthly fee and use it without professional monitoring. However, you also won’t be able to enjoy the system’s full features that way, so we recommend paying for professional monitoring.
With cameras, professional monitoring for ADT Self Setup costs $44.99. It’s actually the same as the monitoring option from ADT Control. $29.99 goes to ADT for professional monitoring while the remaining $10 goes to Nest Aware and video verification. One minor difference is that instead of the ADT Control app, you’ll use the newer and sleeker ADT+ app with ADT Self Setup.
Price Comparison
Now that you know your options, let’s compare them to other brands on the market, specifically, Ring and Arlo. We’ve tested the Ring cameras and found them to be a solid and affordable option. On the other hand, when we tested the Arlo cameras, they were a bit more expensive but with the right features to make them worth the price.
Compared to those two options, the Nest Cams are somewhere in the middle price-wise. However, in terms of features, the Nest cameras are actually on the same level as Arlo, since they are capable of facial recognition, person detection, and other AI-powered detection modes.
Combine that with ADT’s monitoring service, and you can really get a lot of good value from the ADT Self Setup camera options.
Camera Models | Self Setup | Ring | Arlo |
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Indoor cameras | $99.99 | $59.99 | $129.99 |
Doorbell cameras | $179.99 | $99.99 | $179.99 |
Outdoor cameras | $179.99 | $199.99 | $179.99 |
ADT Self Setup Camera Installation
Here’s another thing to consider: As a DIY system, you don’t have to pay an installation fee. You’ll set up the whole system yourself, including the cameras. If that sounds too daunting, let us assure you that Nest Cameras are some of the easiest security cameras we’ve ever had to install.
The Nest Cam (indoor) is a simple plug-in camera, so all you need to do is plug it into an outlet and secure its placement either to a wall or any flat surface. The Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Doorbell (battery) are even easier to deal with. Since they run on batteries, simply charge them overnight before mounting them.
Pro Tip: Consider mounting indoor cameras at choke points like hallways — places intruders must pass to enter different areas of your home.
Customer Support
When it comes to home security technology, we prefer companies that offer immediate customer support. You never know when you’re going to need help installing a new component or updating a piece of software. This is where ADT delivers in a big way, especially with live chat support. This service is available from 7 a.m. to midnight (Eastern Time). Whether you need to make an early call or a late night one, ADT is available to serve you.
Find out how ADT compares to other security cameras
For a closer look at how ADT performs, we compared it with other popular security cameras.
Recap
So which ADT security system is right for you?
The professionally-installed ADT system is a great option if you want to combine ADT’s excellent monitoring service with the power of Google Nest cameras, but note that this is the more expensive route. In return, however, you’ll receive a premium home security experience and a wider range of options for home security.
That said, if you’re on a budget, the ADT Self Setup system is still a viable budget alternative. While you get less choices for equipment, it has access to an indoor camera, outdoor camera, and a video doorbell – all from Google Nest. Its monthly monitoring plan is also cheaper than ADT Control, but again, it’s not as robust as ADT’s full-featured option.
FAQs
Check out our answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about ADT camera pricing.
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How much does ADT charge to add a camera?
The fee depends on the type of camera. Currently, ADT offers Google Nest cameras with prices ranging from $200 to $300 if you add them to a professionally installed ADT system or $100 to $180 if you buy an ADT Self Setup system.
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How much is ADT cloud storage per month?
Cloud storage is included in ADT’s monitoring plans for Video and Smart Home packages, which starts at $61.99 per month. For that price, you get access to professional monitoring, smart home features, video verification, and cloud video storage, among other ADT advanced monitoring features.
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How do you install an ADT camera?
To install an ADT camera, you simply select one of the company’s home security packages and schedule an installation. All ADT packages require professional installation for a one-time fee of $149.
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Do ADT cameras record all the time?
No, ADT cameras don’t record 24/7. Rather, they record on-demand or when there’s movement, allowing users to easily playback important events of the day. However, the cameras are always on, so homeowners can use their smartphones to check on their homes any time of the day.