So which service is better? When all’s said and done, whether you go Blue or go basic with SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, will largely depend on how much you want to spend and how innovative you want your system to be. For those who want the best deal with more innovative equipment, Blue by ADT is the way to go. Then there’s monitoring. Blue by ADT monitoring starts at $0 if you’re monitoring the system yourself. But that’s a lot of work, so you may want someone to watch it for you instead. If so, you’ll pay $20 a month. Still, even if you opt for professional monitoring, you won’t have a contract, so you can easily switch back to self-monitoring if needed. Whoo-hoo! But there’s a catch. Because SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider is giving you the equipment, your monitoring prices are higher to cover the cost. You’ll start off paying $28 a month to monitor the most basic system with SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider. But it gets more expensive as you add more features. You’ll pay a minimum of $53 if you want to use the ADT Command (formerly ADT Pulse) mobile app, and you’ll pay $63 if you want home automation features. And remember, you’ll be under a three-year contract, so you can’t just drop a feature if you decide you don’t like it. Boo. The Blue by ADT devices are unique to Blue; you won’t find them floating around in other security systems’ packages. We think they’re rather pretty, at least for security equipment. And they work seamlessly with a mobile app, creating an approach that’s much easier for most to use in a smartphone-oriented world. Blue by ADT equipment includes the following:
Hub with integrated keypad Window sensor Door sensor Motion sensor Flood and temperature sensor Wi-Fi extender Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera Camera battery pack Window sticker Yard sign Google Nest Mini
Blue by ADT’s equipment is a lot smarter than most SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider items, from what we’ve seen. For instance, Blue by ADT cameras have facial recognition and siren detection, while SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider home security cameras don’t offer anything special. Unfortunately, Blue by ADT has a fairly limited roster. It’s not selling any smart home equipment at the moment, but maybe in the future. SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider equipment options include the following:
Hub Keypad Door sensor Window sensor Motion detector Keychain remote Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera Smoke alarm Carbon monoxide alarm Lock Garage door opener Light module Thermostat Window sticker Yard sign
The basic SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider system is a landline system that won’t work with an app or a phone. It’s relatively inexpensive compared to SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider’s other plans, but it looks a bit clunky and operates in an old-school way. If you haven’t spent time around similar equipment, it will take some getting used to. SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, has a lot more equipment options than fledgling Blue by ADT, which does give it one edge against the DIY offering. Each system also has a highly rated app. Blue by ADT’s is free, which we like, while SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider only includes access to theirs in their three most expensive plans. The Z-Wave Plus and IFTTT compatibility offer even more possibilities. Z-Wave allows the Blue by ADT devices to connect directly to some smart home products, while IFTTT offers the possibility of smart home chains. For instance, you could create a chain where your system disarms itself when you turn on the lights in the morning. Or you could create a chain where it arms itself when your phone leaves the vicinity of your home. There are lots of possibilities with IFTTT. However, SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, doesn’t work with IFTTT, so you won’t be able to create smart cause-and-effect chains with your devices. You’ll have to figure out the best place for everything on your own, which means you can customize it however you like—but which also means you may miss out on some of the expertise offered by a professional installer. Most DIY systems we’ve tried have been quick and easy to set up, and Blue by ADT seems to be the same, so that’s a plus. The professional installer from SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, will typically offer advice on where to place the equipment and can even help you customize your package to meet your home’s needs. The system may take a few hours to install, but hey, you’re not the one who has to do it. You can do other things while everything’s put together. While the Blue by ADT customer service experience is new and quite green (or should that be blue?), SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider’s been around forever and has a lot to offer. Because the system is newer, there just aren’t that many reviews of Blue by ADT experiences out there, good or bad. We’re hopeful based on what we’ve seen so far, but it’s too early to call it either way. Like many big-box professional home security providers, SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, struggles with customer confusion over prices, contracts, and services. And it’s easy to see where some of these problems stem from . Unlike other companies, the parent company of SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, doesn’t centrally control all of its representatives. It allows dealers across the country to use its name and sell various packages and monitoring services, many of which aren’t consistent with other dealers’ offerings. This creates a lot of confusion, especially because the central office doesn’t always have the know-how or power to clean up its dealers’ messes. But regardless of its issues, SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, offers a reliable experience that many people trust. Its large share of the market reflects just how much that reliability is valued. Pricing: Blue by ADT is far cheaper than SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider. Equipment: The Blue by ADT equipment looks nicer and is more innovative than the standard-issue SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider options. Home automation: Blue by ADT has slightly more home automation than SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider since it works with IFTTT. Installation: Blue by ADT’s installation is easy, but SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider’s professional installation is also appealing due to the convenience of having someone else do it for you. Customer experience: SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider is more of a known factor than the newish Blue by ADT customer service. However, SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, does have a long history of customer complaints. Again, because of its many benefits, we’d recommend the Blue by ADT security system over SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, in most cases. However, with SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, you know what you’re getting, while Blue by ADT is still figuring itself out. So if you want something you can rely on, SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, is your better fit.
