ADT vs. CPI: Which Home Security System Offers the Best Value?

If you’ve looked into home security at all, you’ve probably heard of ADT. They’re a huge nationwide brand with 150 years of history that basically started the home security industry. Sometimes the biggest brands are not always the best, though, and a local provider can beat them out. That’s what CPI Security tries to do by tailoring their service specifically to the Southeast.

Can a local home security system beat out the biggest brand in the nation? That’s what we wanted to find out, so we bought both systems, installed them in our home, and put them head-to-head. To jump to the chase, we preferred ADT, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. We’ll tell you everything we liked and disliked about both brands here so you can figure out which one’s right for you.

ADT vs. CPI Security: An Overview of Home Security Systems

While CPI Security hasn’t been around quite as long as ADT, they still have an impressive 30 years in the industry. That means both of these security systems are ones you can rely on. But, don’t take that as us saying they’re equal. After we put them both to the test, we found that ADT’s done a better job at keeping up with the times.

Off the bat, ADT now offers no-contract DIY security systems that are affordable. It even made our list of the most affordable security systems. CPI Security still requires a long-term contract and professional installation. Sure, they offer free installation for most new security systems, but that can add to the hassle of buying a security system.

Even though CPI Security uses high-tech inTouch devices, ADT still has them beat thanks to their recent Google partnership. Now, ADT offers Google Nest Cams, some of the few in the industry to offer facial recognition capabilities. What we’re trying to get at is that even though these providers can look similar on the surface, ADT just offers that much more nearly across the board. We’ve highlighted a few of the main aspects of each system below to help illustrate this point:

>> Learn About: Best Facial Recognition Cameras of 2025

ADT vs. CPI Security Overview:

• Wireless Systems: For flexibility and ease of use, both ADT and CPI offer wired or wireless system options.
• Professional, No-Hassle Installation: If you’re not a fan of configuring and setting up complicated tech devices, you’re in luck. Both security companies provide free professional installation for most security packages. ADT’s equipment is also DIY friendly, though, making it easier to add onto your system after the initial purchase.
• Security Camera Recording Options: If you’re looking for security cameras that can monitor the full scope of your home, both ADT and CPI Security offer indoor and outdoor cameras with optional cloud storage. Gain peace of mind knowing that your property is protected 24/7.

CPI Security – InTouch™ HD Outdoor Camera

• Cost: Depending on the package you choose, ADT offers specific equipment and affordable monthly monitoring rates. On the other hand, CPI Security requires an upfront equipment fee plus a monthly monitoring fee.
• Contracts: If you don’t like being tied down by contracts, ADT is a good option to consider. While ADT’s monitoring contracts can last up to five years for financed systems, you can also get a no-contract system if you opt to DIY your install. With CPI, you’re stuck with monitoring contracts for 3 to 5 years no matter what.

What are the Main Differences Between ADT and CPI?

Even though they can look similar on the surface, there are some stark differences when it comes to policies and the business management side of ADT and CPI. Here are some of the noticeable differences:

ADT vs. CPI Security: Main Differences

• Communication Options: Something to consider is that ADT offers both cellular and landline options, but CPI only offers a cellular option. We do know that cellular systems provide faster alert transmission, but if cellular signal isn't reliable where you live, consider going with a landline system from ADT.
• Money-Back Guarantee: Unlike CPI, ADT offers a six-month, money-back guarantee. However, ADT’s money-back guarantee is only for issues with your system that ADT can’t resolve. Still, it’s a lot better than nothing, which is what CPI offers.
• Warranty: If there’s wear and tear on your equipment or faulty errors, ADT has an impressive warranty that lasts for as long as you stay subscribed to their Quality Service Plan. CPI’s warranty expires after one year.
• Reputation: This is an intangible benefit, but it’s a benefit nonetheless. ADT has been around since the 1800’s, much longer than CPI Security. And as they say, with age comes experience. ADT has a solid reputation for quality products and reliable monitoring.
• Home Automation: Although CPI Security offers inTouch equipment, ADT’s recent partnership with Google Nest puts their home automation capabilities a step above CPI.
• Customer Support Availability: CPI Security is only available through a phone call or email, whereas ADT is accessible by almost any means from live chat and social media to phone calls and email.

ADT’s white glove installation technician gave us a brown cover for our entry sensors to better match the color of our door.

Main Similarities Between ADT and CPI Security

Like we mentioned, ADT and CPI Security have some commonalities that go beyond a surface level. Here are some of their core similarities:

ADT and CPI Similarities

• Professional Monitoring: For consumers looking for 24/7 monitoring, both ADT and CPI offer quality monitoring services.
• Easy Installation: To simplify the whole installation process, ADT and CPI Security both offer professional wired or wireless installations. Even ADT’s DIY option is easy to install. We set ours up in about 45 minutes.
• Mobile Apps: One of the perks is that you can access your security systems remotely, wherever you are. You can access and control both ADT and CPI via mobile app when you’re out shopping or away on vacation.

ADT’s mobile app provided an intuitive interface to control every aspect of our security system.

• Home Security Devices: Both ADT and CPI offer similar basic equipment packages to meet your home security needs.
• HD Security Cameras: ADT and CPI Security each have top-notch indoor and outdoor security cameras with HD resolution. Talk about deterring intruders and restoring peace of mind.
• Video-Verified Alarms: If you opt for a security system with security cameras, both companies offer video-verified alarms. With this feature, monitoring agents can confirm an alert is real and get emergency personnel to your home faster.

ADT vs. CPI: In-Depth Comparison of Home Security Systems

Now that we’ve given you a high-level overview, let’s dig into the details of both systems. We’ll compare each of the factors our security experts use when assessing the quality of a security system so you can figure out which provider is right for you like a pro.

Mobile Apps

A mobile app will allow you to access and manage your home security system remotely. Here are some of the main differences we’ve discovered between ADT and CPI mobile apps:

Here’s a quick look at two menus in the CPI inTouch mobile app.

• Home Automation: While the CPI mobile app allows you to manage smart devices such as locks and plugs, ADT’s automation features take the edge largely thanks to their partnership with Google Nest. We even used it to automate aspects of our security system based on who was at our front door with our Google Nest Video Doorbell’s facial recognition.
• Remote System Control: Both mobile apps are relatively easy to use when it comes to controlling your security system remotely. ADT gave us a more modern interface, though.
• Paywalled Features: CPI’s entire mobile app can still be used without a monitoring subscription, whereas ADT locks their premium features like home automation behind a monitoring subscription. We think the extra automation capabilities that ADT offers more than make up for the required subscription.

Home Security Contracts

A home security contract will typically highlight everything from costs, penalties, to warranties and contract duration. We’ve broken down some of the main discrepancies between the contracts used by ADT and CPI. Let’s dig in to see what you can expect.

ADT’s Contract Overview

If you’re sold on ADT’s professional installation service, you’ll have to sign a three-year contract. On the upside, ADT doesn’t charge penalties if you cancel the contract within the first six months due to an issue with the system that they can’t resolve. Or, you can go with ADT’s DIY installation option to avoid that contract altogether.

>> Read More: Best No-Contract Home Security Systems of 2025

CPI Security Contract Overview

Unfortunately, CPI requires you to sign a 3 to 5 year contract for its monitoring services no matter what. And if you ever decide to cancel, you’ll need to provide a 60-day written notice, otherwise your contract will automatically renew for another year (ouch). So that’s something you’ll definitely want to consider before pulling out your pocketbook or purse.

They offer an industry-standard, one-year warranty on their equipment, but that’s not even long enough to cover the length of their contract. We expect a security system to offer a warranty at least as long as the contract we’re signing.

ADT vs CPI Security Pricing

Although close in price, ADT offers more flexibility and lower overall costs. ADT also offers a lot more transparency into their pricing, so you know exactly what you’re getting into. Whereas, CPI Security requires you to call for a custom quote. Here are the details.

ADT’s Costs and Payment Options

The monthly monitoring fees for ADT range from $24.99 to $49.99. For some reason, they charge $10 more per month for monitoring if you had your system professionally installed. Even with that added fee, their monitoring rates are still lower than CPI Security’s.

ADT also lets you choose whether you pay for your equipment upfront or spread out your payments with financing. They offer financing plans of up to five years, but long-term financing requires professional installation for most systems. DIY systems can be financed for up to 12 months through Affirm.  When paid upfront, ADT’s packages start at $349, but you should expect to pay over $500 to secure a mid-sized home.

CPI Security Costs and Payment Options

CPI Security charges monitoring fees that range anywhere from $39.99 to $64.99 per month depending on the custom system your agent created for you. Unlike ADT, CPI does not offer financing options, so you need to pay for your equipment upfront, which can easily cost well over $500 for a mid-sized home. You may also have to pay for installation with CPI, though they’ve been known to waive this pesky fee. Overall, CPI Security costs more than ADT.

Main Features and Tech

Quality home security equipment should be designed to help you easily manage your system without losing precious time. That’s what the main features and tech of both ADT and CPI Security aim to provide, although they both offer different innovations.

ADT’s Main Features and Tech

Here we are proudly showing off our ADT yard sign that’s sure to make any burglar think twice.

One of the standout features you get with ADT is access to their SMART Monitoring system. That’s their text-based alerting system, but it goes beyond standard text-based alerts. They let you set up a group for your home who all receive alerts so that anybody who’s home during an alert can confirm the alarm or report it as a false alert — all while keeping everyone up-to-date in real time. This system also allows them to send 911 centers alarms electronically, saving time as they receive the alert immediately instead of after a phone call.

When it comes to convenience features, ADT stands out with their Google integration. We paired our ADT system with our Google Nest Thermostat to make the heating in our house automatically turn down when we armed our security system in Away mode.

CPI Security’s Main Features and Tech

Easily, the biggest standout feature from CPI Security is their Night Guard protection. Basically, CPI Security’s cameras use AI to detect suspicious activity. Once detected, CPI’s monitoring agents can access your camera’s live feed to investigate further and use the two-way audio in the camera to scare away potential threats if any are identified.

It actually works similar to the Active Guard Outdoor Protection feature we tried when we tested SimpliSafe. However, we prefer SimpliSafe’s solution a bit more since they offer a plan for overnight protection or 24/7 protection — CPI Security only offers overnight protection. We dig more into the differences in our CPI Security vs. SimpliSafe comparison. ADT is yet to roll out a comparable feature, so active monitoring is an area where CPI stands out.

>> Learn More: CPI Security System Review for 2025

ADT vs. CPI Security: Installation

ADT’s installation tech did a great job hiding our equipment. Can you see the glass break sensor in the photo above?

If you want to DIY your installation to avoid a long-term contract, you’ll have to go with ADT. CPI Security requires professional installation, whereas ADT offers it as an option. Both charge similar rates for professional installation ranging up to $299, although you can get it included for free with most systems.

Smart Home Integrations

While smart home automation seemed gimmicky a few years ago, today we can’t see how we ever lived without it. Whether it’s our Philips Hue lights that automatically turn on as we come home for work or our washing machine sending us a push notification when it’s done, it makes our life easier. Integrating our smart home devices into our security systems makes our home safer, too. So, let’s take a look at what can integrate into ADT and CPI.

>> Read About: Best Smart Home Automation Security Systems in 2025

ADT Smart Home Integrations

The Google Nest Cams we bought with our ADT system sent alerts that told us who our cameras saw.

As a partner of Google, of course ADT integrates with all of Google’s smart home devices. They’re some of the best on the market, so we definitely appreciated this integration. And, needless to say, ADT’s our favorite security system with Google Home compatibility. It also integrates with Alexa for voice control over your security system.

Beyond that, though, ADT offers a lot of their own smart home devices. That makes it a great choice if you don’t already own home automation devices. If you opt for professional installation, your technician will install all of those smart home devices for you and help you set them up.

If you already own a bunch of smart home devices, don’t rule out ADT yet. They also offer Z-Wave compatibility — one of the most common communication protocols for smart home products, supporting over 4,000 different smart home devices.

CPI Security Smart Home Integrations

While CPI Security offers some smart home integrations, ADT offers a lot more. They also don’t offer any integrations that ADT can’t support. Here’s a quick list of CPI Security’s integrations:

• AeoTec
• Apple TV and Watch
• EATON
• Fire TV
• Jasco
• Kwikset
• Lennox
• Leaviton
• LiftMaster
• Linear
• Lux
• Schlage
• Yale

Remember, ADT supports over 4,000 different devices through its Z-Wave compatibility, so there were too many integrations for us to list.

Security Cameras

Having security cameras throughout your house can help deter crimes such as vandalism, break-ins, or theft. If you have a way to record the footage of your security cameras, they also gather the evidence you need to pursue charges and submit insurance claims. Here are the main differences between ADT and CPI’s security cameras:

ADT Security Cameras

We mounted our Google Nest Cam on the side of our house overlooking our driveway so we could see who was coming and going.

ADT now offers Google Nest Cams. We tested their system before and after this transition, and we must say, we prefer the Google Nest Cams by a lot. They power the Trusted Neighbor feature we talked about earlier. Plus, they’re all-around high-quality cameras with all the features we look for, like enough resolution to make out a license plate in our garage and two-way talk.

ADT Indoor Camera

CPI Security Cameras

We like the Google Nest Cams that ADT offers a bit more for their facial recognition, but CPI is no slouch when it comes to their security cameras. They use Intelligent Video Activity Notifications (IVAN) technology that enables the system to identify people, animals, and vehicles. This is similar to what we see in modern security cameras with artificial intelligence, which is certainly a good thing as it cuts down on false alerts by a lot. IVAN also powers the Night Guard monitoring service we talked about earlier where a potential threat prompts a monitoring agent to use your camera and scare them away.

Professional Monitoring

Both ADT and CPI employ a team of experts whose duty it is to monitor home security systems. In the event of an emergency, your security system will alert the monitoring team, and they can dispatch police if needed. The professional monitoring services of ADT and CPI are fairly similar. Here are a few of the standout features both offer:

• 24/7 Monitoring: Both ADT and CPI Security offer 24/7 professional monitoring services.
• Response Times: In our experience, we’ve seen 30-second response times with ADT and CPI.
• TMA 5-Diamond Certified: Both brands hold the TMA 5-Diamond certification, which is the gold standard in the home security industry for fast and reliable monitoring.

The main difference between ADT and CPI’s professional monitoring service is the number of monitoring centers they have. CPI only has one monitoring center located in Charlotte, NC, while ADT operates six redundant monitoring centers spread across the U.S. That really exemplifies CPI’s focus on the Southeast region, whereas ADT’s a nationwide brand.

How To Decide Which Security System Is Best for Me?

Overall, we like ADT more than CPI Security. They offer higher-quality services, more advanced technology, and a better buying experience with transparent pricing. That’s not to say it’s always better, but, for most cases, you’d be better off with ADT.

The only exceptions we see where CPI Security outperforms ADT is with their Night Guard monitoring feature and if you want to support a local company. If you find people regularly lurking around your house at night, the Night Guard monitoring feature will come in handy. And, if you make it a point to shop local, CPI Security offers that. Other than those two cases, we’d always recommend ADT over CPI.

FAQs About ADT vs. CPI Security