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Should you get a home security system with Protection 1 or cut out the middleman and sign up with ADT?
Updated February 11, 2026
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Editor’s Note: This is an archived review. In April 2017, ADT acquired Protection 1, and the latter started selling ADT equipment. Even today, if you try to buy from Protection 1’s website, it leads you to ADT’s packages. We’re big believers that home security shouldn’t be complicated, so our advice is to cut out the middleman – in this case, Protection 1 – and buy straight from ADT. But before you do that, check out our ADT hands-on review.
Protection 1 no longer sells its own equipment, but even at its peak, it was never really a top-tier security system. It was a decent one – pricing was competitive but often edged above industry averages. And while it offered early home automation features and advanced equipment, it still lagged behind leading home automation security systems like ADT and Vivint.
From our experience evaluating its legacy systems, Protection 1’s standout innovation was its triple-redundancy monitoring, which routed alerts to backup centers if a primary station went offline. That was forward-thinking at the time. However, nowadays ADT operates 12 fully redundant monitoring centers across North America, setting a much higher bar for reliability and response times.
The home security landscape has evolved significantly since Protection 1 merged with ADT. To make sense of today’s options, we recommend reviewing our home security buyer’s guide and our up-to-date list of the best home security systems we confidently recommend this year.
The Protection 1 review you’re about to read (if you really want to) is from when we tested the last security system they released in late 2016 and into early 2017.
Check out more recommendations from the SafeHome team:
Protection 1 offers wireless home security packages that employ triple-redundancy monitoring. This means that Protection 1 security systems use sensors throughout your home to communicate activity and potential threats. If an alarm is triggered, the signal routes directly to a Protection 1 monitoring center. If a center is unavailable due to severe weather or power outage, the signal is automatically routed to another center for seamless protection. At the center, a trained Protection 1 employee immediately tries to call you about the disturbance to check for a false alarm. The monitoring center will then evaluate the alarm to determine whether to contact emergency responders like police, fire, or EMS.
Keep in mind that Protection 1 installs and maintains all of their security equipment for the best home security possible. Their licensed security technicians pass rigorous background checks and undergo intensive training before ever stepping foot in your home. When you call for service, a person (not a machine) will answer the phone every time, and unlike most security companies, Protection 1 resolves service calls in just one day.
The best features of this system include:
In the past, Protection 1 could save you money on your energy bills and homeowners insurance. ADT now offers both of those benefits as well. Their Nest Smart Thermostats can manage your home’s temperature to optimize for efficiency. As for your homeowners insurance, most providers offer a discount for owning a professionally monitored security system like ADT. To top it off, if your home is burglarized, ADT pays up to $500 of your insurance deductible.
Just like Protection 1 used to, ADT also offers military discounts. They also provide free evaluations of your home where they’ll recommend a customized system to fit your needs and budget.
Insider Tips: Do you already have a security system? If you give ADT a call and tell them your situation, they may offer to buy out your current security system contract allowing you to switch to ADT without paying a cancellation fee.
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| Secure | Secure+ | Smart Control | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34.99/mo | 44.99/mo | 49.99/mo | 54.99/mo |
| + $99 Upfront Costs* | + $99 Upfront Costs* | + $99 Upfront Costs* | + $99 Upfront Costs* |
| Learn About ADT | Learn About ADT | Learn About ADT | Learn About ADT |
| Services | Services | Services | Services |
| 24/7 Monitoring | 24/7 Monitoring | 24/7 Monitoring | Video Surveillance |
| Intrusion Protection | Intrusion Protection | Intrusion Protection | 24/7 Monitoring |
| Environmental & Life Safety | Environmental & Life Safety | Environmental & Life Safety | Intrusion Protection |
| Monitored Fire & Carbon Monoxide Protection | Monitored Fire & Carbon Monoxide Protection | Monitored Fire & Carbon Monoxide Protection | Environmental & Life Safety |
| Cellular Communication | Cellular Communication | Monitored Fire & Carbon Monoxide Protection | |
| 2-Way Voice | 2-Way Voice | Cellular Communication | |
| Camera Integrated Motion Detector | 2-Way Voice | ||
| Web & Mobile Control | Camera Integrated Motion Detector | ||
| Energy & Home Automation | Web & Mobile Control | ||
| Energy & Home Automation | |||
| Equipment | Equipment | Equipment | Equipment |
| Intrusion protection keypad | Intrusion Protection Keypad | Intrusion Protection Keypad | Intrusion Protection Keypad |
| 3 Door and Window Sensors | 3 Door and Window Sensors | 3 Door and Window Sensors | Indoor, Night-vision Security Camera |
| Motion Detector | Motion Detector | Motion Detector | 3-Door and Window Sensors |
| Smoke Alarm | Smoke Alarm | Smoke Alarm | Motion Detector |
| Carbon Monoxide Alarm | Carbon Monoxide Alarm | Carbon Monoxide Alarm | Smoke Alarm |
| Panic Button | Panic Button | Panic Button | Carbon Monoxide Alarm |
| Environmental Alarm | Environmental Alarm | Environmental Alarm | Panic Button |
| Keychain Remote | Keychain Remote | Keychain Remote | Environmental Alarm |
| Image Motion Sensor | Keychain Remote | ||
| Image Motion Sensor | |||
| Options | Options | Options | Options |
| Video Surveillance | |||
How does your home measure up when it comes to security? Take this quiz to see how you score, and get recommendations to protect your home.
Protection 1 is a full-service security company trusted by banks, jewelry stores, medical centers, and high-profile clients across the United States. The company has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and maintains a 97 percent customer satisfaction score. It is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, and serves nearly 2 million customers. In May 2016, Protection 1 merged with ADT, America’s largest provider of hardwired and wireless home security equipment and monitoring.
MOBILE ALERTS |
With Protection 1’s Smart Control package, you can program your system to send you mobile alerts for any activity or alarms. |
24/7 MONITORING |
All residential security systems are monitored 24/7 at Protection 1 central monitoring centers. Sensors throughout your home communicate activity and potential threats. If an alarm is triggered, the signal routes directly to a Protection 1 monitoring center. |
WIRELESS EQUIPMENT |
Protection 1 uses wireless equipment, so you don't need a landline. You also won’t need to worry about extra wires and cables that potential burglars can snip. |
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS |
Motion sensors from Protection 1 come equipped with cameras that take a color picture if unexpected movements occur inside your home. The system can text you the photo, email it to you, or you can check in on the camera with your smartphone. |
PRO INSTALLATION |
All security equipment is installed by certified security technicians who must pass rigorous training and background checks. |
SMART HOME OPTIONS |
Protection 1's Smart Control package allows you to control your home through automated thermostats, lighting, locks, and appliances. |
DISASTER PROTECTION |
Protection 1 protects against disasters by monitoring for extreme temperatures and flooding. |
REMOTE CONTROL |
Protection 1 allows you to remotely control with your phone or computer anything that you can control from the keypad in your home. You can arm or disarm your system and control any automated devices. |
POWER OUTAGE PROTECTION |
If the security center monitoring your home loses power, Protection 1 automatically routes your security monitoring to another center without interruption. |
MEDICAL ALERTS |
A remote panic button can alert the Protection 1 monitoring center of a medical emergency. |
Protection 1 used to offer a lot to homeowners, but it was never a top-rated security system like SimpliSafe. That said, they still provided a quality professionally installed security system with 24/7 monitoring. It came at a relatively steep price, especially if you wanted video surveillance and other advanced features, but it was a safe bet for your home’s security.
We were pretty impressed with the low $99 up-front cost, which gave you lots of equipment to work with. But the monthly monitoring price, which started at $34.99, certainly added up over time. Not into monthly subscriptions? Not to worry. See our list of the best no monthly fee home security systems of 2026.
