Our 2026 Review of ADT Doorbell Cameras

Overview: ADT’s Nest Doorbell Options

ADT offers both the Nest Doorbell Battery and the Nest Doorbell Wired as part of their professionally monitored security packages. These aren’t whitebox devices slapped with ADT branding on them, but are genuine Google Nest products. They are the same Nest Doorbells we reviewed, except as part of an ADT system, they integrate directly with your ADT equipment through the ADT+ app.

The battery-powered model launched in 2021 and brought wireless installation to Nest’s doorbell lineup for the first time. This means you can mount it anywhere near your front door without worrying about existing wiring. The latest wired version, however, was released in 2025. While it requires a hardwired connection, it delivers a higher 2K resolution compared to the battery version’s 1080p HD.

Both models share Google’s advanced AI processing. We’ve been testing Nest cameras with AI processing since 2015, and we’ve noticed that Google’s AI has gotten impressively good at distinguishing between people, packages, animals, and vehicles. This is definitely one of Google Nest’s selling points, and as we’ll explain later, one reason why ADT made our list of the best security systems with doorbell cameras.

Design and Build Quality

ADT’s Nest Doorbell Battery has a distinctive tall, vertical design that stands out from the Ring video doorbells we’ve tested before. It measures about 6 inches tall, less than 2 inches wide, and about an inch thick. The wired version is more compact – standing only about 5 inches tall – but it’s slightly thicker to make room for wired installation at the back of the device.

Both models feature weather-resistant construction rated IP54, meaning they can handle rain, snow, and dust. They can also operate in low and high ambient temperatures, but the ADT professional installer advised us that the wired version is better for areas that experience really cold winters. It can operate in temperatures as low as -20 degrees, whereas the battery-powered version only works in areas that go as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

In our opinion, and compared to other doorbell cameras we’ve tested before, Nest Doorbells offer premium build quality. The plastic housing felt thick and durable, not the cheap stuff you find on budget doorbells. We also found the buttons responsive and with satisfying tactile feedback.

Installation Process

The Nest Doorbell installed on our front door.

Installing the battery-powered Nest Doorbell took us about 20 minutes from unboxing to ringing the chime. That is, when we did the installation ourselves. When we bought our ADT package with the Nest Doorbell Battery, the installer did all the work. He simply mounted the plate to our door frame, attached the doorbell, linked it to our Google Home account, and then linked our Google Home account to our ADT+ app. After that, we were able to access the doorbell camera through ADT’s app.

The wired installation is more involved, but nothing to worry about if you go with ADT’s professional installation. They are one of the best security system professional installers we’ve tested, after all. To install the doorbell camera, you’d need to disconnect your existing wired doorbell, connect the wires to the mounting plate, and then secure everything. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour, depending on your existing wiring setup.

Video Quality and Performance

On the surface, it seems that the only difference between the wired and battery-powered Nest Doorbells from ADT is how they are installed. But the truth is, the wired version is now in its third generation, and this specific variant performs better than the latest battery-powered Nest Doorbell.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Two of the main factors we consider when comparing security camera video quality are the resolution and the viewing angle. In both aspects, the wired version clearly wins. It has a higher video resolution and a wider viewing angle. On paper, that should make its videos crisper and clearer, and with a bigger coverage of your front door area.

That said, we have tested the Nest Doorbell Battery and found the 1080p HD resolution just right in terms of picture quality. It kept daytime footage and was detailed enough to clearly see facial features (e.g., beards) from about 20 feet away. Colors were also accurate without oversaturation, and the HDR processing handled mixed lighting conditions well.

Live View and Streaming

Whether on the Google Home app or the ADT+ app, live view loaded in about three to four seconds – not instantaneous, but we find that that’s rarely the case with internet-connected security cameras.

We also noticed that the stream quality adapts to the internet connection. We experienced some minimal buffering on our 100 Mbps connection. The same was true when it comes to two-way audio. It worked well with clear transmission in both directions, though there’s a noticeable half-second delay that made conversations slightly less fluid.

Smart Features and Facial Recognition

Testing package detection on the Nest Doorbell from ADT.

This is where these ADT doorbells really shine. Google’s AI can distinguish between people, packages, animals, and vehicles without a subscription. This made our notifications more accurate. Our ADT doorbells didn’t just tell us that it detected movement – it told us whether it was a person, a vehicle, or an animal.

Additionally, both doorbell cameras from ADT have facial recognition and package detection. But here’s the catch: to unlock both features, you’ll need a Google Home Premium subscription. With facial recognition, the system learns familiar faces over time. You can label people (like “Sarah” or “Mail carrier”) and receive specific notifications like “Sarah is at the front door.” In our testing over three months, the facial recognition accuracy improved noticeably after the first few weeks, correctly identifying regular visitors about 85 to 90 percent of the time.

ADT Integration and App Experience

So far, we’ve talked about the hardware side of things – what the Nest Doorbell versions that ADT offers can do. Next up, let’s discuss our experience using the Nest Doorbell with the ADT home security system we reviewed.

First of all, the Nest Doorbell is integrated with our ADT security system through the ADT+ app. This is one of the best home security apps we’ve tested. It gave us a unified interface for our cameras, sensors, locks, and doorbell, all in one place. We were able to view doorbell footage alongside other security cameras and create automation rules like “arm the system when everyone leaves” that factor in doorbell activity.

However, one slight caveat is that you’ll still need the Google Home app for initial setup and certain configuration options. Some features, like creating detailed activity zones or adjusting video quality settings, only work through Google Home. This dual-app requirement felt clunky at times, but once our Nest Doorbell was all set up, we found the integration straightforward.

Trusted Neighbor

Trusted Neighbor is one of ADT’s standout smart-access features, and it worked reliably in our testing with a Nest Doorbell and compatible ADT smart lock. Instead of sharing a door code or spare key, we were able to grant temporary, rule-based access to a trusted contact directly through the ADT+ app. Setup took only a few minutes, and access rules – such as time windows they are allowed to enter or event triggers like doorbell presses – were easy to configure.

In real use, the automation felt seamless. When the doorbell detected a familiar face during the approved window, the system temporarily disarmed, unlocked the door, and then re-armed itself after the person left. We received clear notifications for each step, along with a complete entry log in the app. During testing, Trusted Neighbor handled short visits and package pickups without triggering false alarms or leaving the system unsecured, making it a genuinely useful feature for ADT doorbell owners who rely on trusted visitors.

Pricing and Subscription Costs

Pricing for ADT doorbell cameras varies depending on whether you’re as part of a new system or adding to existing equipment. If you’re new to ADT, we recommend starting with a bundle that includes a doorbell camera, such as the Outdoor Video Bundle. ADT doesn’t show the exact pricing breakdown of each included device’s cost, but we estimate that when bought as part of a bundle, both doorbell cameras cost around $100 to $150. That’s discounted compared to the $179.99 retail price.

ADT Monitoring and Google Home Premium Subscription Costs

As we mentioned earlier, advanced features like facial recognition and package detection require a Google Home Premium subscription. That’s still true even if you buy your doorbell camera from ADT, but you don’t need a separate subscription. Google Home Premium is included in ADT’s top-tier monitoring plan, priced at $49.99 per month.

We think that’s a good deal. Google Home Premium costs $10 per month from Google, so it’s like you’re paying ADT $39.99 for professional monitoring. Besides that, ADT will be able to use your doorbell camera for video verification. This speeds up police response, as a quick review of your video history can reveal if someone really breached through your front door.

>> Related: ADT Home Security System Pricing

ADT Doorbell Camera: Battery vs. Wired

After taking a close look at ADT’s two doorbell camera options, it’s clear that choosing between them comes down to your preferred installation and video quality.

We suggest choosing the battery model if you’re renting, don’t have existing doorbell wiring, or want maximum installation flexibility. It’s perfect for apartments, homes with unusual door locations, or situations where running new wiring isn’t practical. While it has a lower resolution and slightly narrower field of view, the wireless design means you can relocate it if you move or want to monitor a different entrance.

As for the wired model, we recommend it if you have existing doorbell wiring, want 2K video quality, or don’t want to worry about battery maintenance. The wiring requirements might limit who can use it, but in our experience, most homes have the 16 to 24 VAC doorbell wiring the Nest Doorbell Wired needs.

Final Verdict

Are ADT doorbell cameras any good? Read our verdict below.

In testing ADT’s Nest Doorbell options, we found that they are solid choices if you’re building or expanding an ADT security system. They deliver excellent video quality, impressive AI-powered detection, and reliable performance that meets the standards you’d expect from established brands in the security space.

For ADT users specifically, these doorbells integrate well with the broader ecosystem and provide professional-grade monitoring at competitive prices. If you’re comparison shopping and not committed to ADT, other platforms like Ring or Eufy might offer better value depending on your specific needs. But if you’re already in the ADT ecosystem or appreciate the Google Nest platform’s polish and AI capabilities, either of these doorbells will serve you well for years.

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