Scout Alarm vs ADT Home Security: An Expert Comparison
Today we will be comparing ADT with DIY (do-it-yourself) home security company called Scout and see how they match up. Let’s dive right in.
There are many great reasons for you to get an alarm system for your home. Every year thousands of home owners fall victim to home invasions. These types of crimes can cause financial damage that can be hard to recover from - so if you’re looking for a home security system, you’re making a great decision. Let’s get on with our comparison of two of the top home security companies out there, ADT and Scout.
ADT Control Panel
ADT has a few options for you to choose from when it comes to control panels. Both of their control panels allow you to connect and control your security, home automation, and video surveillance devices all from once place.
They have a basic panel that works by connecting directly to a landline. It is powered through your home’s power source by being directly plugged in. All of the features for this basic panel can be controlled through the ADT app or on the push-button keypad.
The next control panel offered by ADT is their digital keypad. ADT’s digital keypad panel has a full colored touchscreen which displays current time, temperature, and system status. This panel can be wall mounted or placed on a desktop.
It is pretty expandable, allowing you to connect 250 total devices including 16 cameras, 32 key fobs, 8 touchscreens or alpha keypads, and up to 224 Z-Wave devices. You can also have up to 99 user codes for this system.
The basic base panel also has the option to upgrade it to include a cellular backup chip for the times that your landline may go down. ADT’s digital keypad panel however works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network, and it includes a cellular backup chip without the need for an upgrade.
The digital keypad is powered through an AC power source, and it includes a backup battery. Both of ADT’s panels offer 2-way communication with ADT’s central monitoring station which allows you to quickly take care of any emergency. You don’t have to install any equipment yourself because ADT offers professional installation on all of their equipment. This does however add to your startup cost as you would have to pay for installation.
To see an alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Scout Alarm Control Panel
Scout Alarm offers a really nice control panel as well that connects all of your security equipment and other devices to one singular place. Their control panel is called the Scout Hub. The Scout Hub is a wireless control panel that connects all of the security sensors and other devices to it wirelessly. It works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network but also includes a cellular backup just in case your internet goes down.
The Scout Hub includes an internal 105-decibel alarm that can be easily heard no matter where you are in your home. Their hub is powered through an AC power source, and it does include a built-in backup battery just in case your power goes out. One really stands out feature that we like about the hub is the way the Scout Hub uses zones. The Hub will tell you exactly which zone (sensor) has been triggered which will give you a better idea of where and what is exactly happening in your home.
The Scout Hub also includes Z-Wave technology which will allow you to expand your system to include the use of some smart home devices. All equipment that is sold to you by Scout Alarm is DIY (do-it-yourself) which means that you will need to set up the equipment yourself.
To see an alternative DIY option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Who wins?
Both ADT’s and Scout Alarm’s control panels are very easy to use. They both include Z-Wave technology that allows you to expand your system with other branded security and home automation devices. Scout Alarm’s however limits you in the ability of what control panel you can choose from seeing that they only offer one type of control panel, while ADT has a few options for you to choose from. Scout Alarm’s control panel however includes the cellular chip included with their control panel while ADT charges an upgrade fee for this feature in their basic panel. Because ADT does offer a few choices for their control panels we are giving the win for this category to them.
ADT Equipment
ADT offers both wired and wireless versions of the devices that are used to protect your home. Their wireless devices are battery operated, and they will connect to your security panel wirelessly.
ADT offers door/window sensors used to protect the entryways to your home. These sensors will alert you any time a door or window has been opened or shut.
They offer motion sensors that are great at providing protection for large areas of your home. Their motion sensors are pet immune for smaller pets, and will alert you any time motion is detected in the area they are placed.
If your home has glass windows, ADT offers glass break sensors to provide protection for these. Their glass break sensor will listen for the sound of breaking glass, and they will trigger your system when this sound is heard.
ADT also offers wired and wireless life safety devices. They offer both smoke and CO2 detectors. Their smoke and CO2 detectors make an audible alert any time smoke or rises in CO2 gases have been detected. When any sensor you have connected to your ADT system is triggered it will also trigger your security system.
Click here to read our full ADT product review >>
ADT additional equipment
ADT has a lot of add-on equipment that really let’s you customize your ADT system. First off, ADT offers automated door locks by Kwikset. These locks allow you to create custom user codes which can be enabled or disabled at any time. You can also remotely unlock and lock these locks through the ADT app.
ADT also offers their own branded smart thermostats. ADT’s smart thermostats work for most HVAC heating and cooling systems. Their smart thermostats allow you to remotely control the temperature in your home. And ADT’s smart thermostats also allow you to set custom timers for when your heating and cooling system comes on and goes off which can save you money on your energy costs per month.
If you have a garage door you can purchase a garage door controller through ADT as well. ADT’s garage door controller will allow you to remotely open and close your garage door, and you will receive push notifications any time your garage door has been opened and shut.
ADT also offers a variety of smart plugs and light switches as well. Smart plugs and smart light switches allow you to control lights and small appliances while on the go, and work by connecting wirelessly to your ADT system. You can set timers as well for when these lights and small appliances turn on and turn off which is another great way to cut down on your home’s energy costs per month.
ADT has a few different options for video surveillance equipment as well. They offer indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras that are all wireless. Their cameras work by connecting wirelessly to your home’s WIFI network. All their cameras have excellent video resolution, and their doorbell camera even includes a 2-way audio feature that allows you to directly communicate with whomever is in front of your doorbell camera.
Scout Alarm Equipment
Scout Alarm offers a nice variety of basic equipment that you can use with their control panel. You can purchase their Door Panel which is a pretty different type of intrusion sensor compared to other intrusion sensors that are out on the market today. The Scout Alarm’s Door Panel is a larger sensor meant to be placed on the outside of an entryway door. This sensor will alert you any time it has been opened and closed. This sensor can also be used to quickly arm and disarm your system by tapping an RFID sticker to the Door Panel or using Scout’s key fob. These stickers can be placed on anything that is easy to move around. When you tap these stickers on your Hub or Door Panel, they will automatically arm or disarm your system. The Door Panel also includes a 105-decibel alarm built in.
The next basic sensor that is offered by Scout is their Access Sensor. These sensors are used to protect the door and windows of your home. They are battery operated and will alert you to anytime a door or window has been opened.
Scout also offers motion sensors that are wireless and battery operated. Scout’s motion sensors use PIR technology to detect motion and have a 90-degree field of view.
Scout Alarm offers glass break sensors that are wireless and battery operated. Scout Alarm’s glass break sensors are used to detect the sound of glass breaking within a 15 ft. range of the sensor.
Scout Alarm offers key fobs that are battery operated and have a push button design. Their key fob remotes allow you to quickly arm and disarm your system with the touch of a button.
Lastly, Scout Alarm offers Smoke, CO2, and flood sensors to help protect your home from environmental disasters. These sensors are battery operated and wireless, and they will make an audible alert any time they are triggered. These sensors along with Scout Alarm’s other sensors will all trigger your system to cause an event any time they are triggered.
Scout Alarm additional equipment
Scout’s control panel has Z-Wave technology which means you can use other branded home automation and security products that are not offered by Scout. For example, one of the most popular Z-Wave devices used with the Scout system are Yale automated door locks. The Yale automated door lock has an illuminated touch pin pad that allows you to create custom user codes. It is battery operated and allows for quick one-touch locking and unlocking of this lock. The Yale automated door lock can also be unlocked and locked on the go, and any user codes for it can be enabled or disabled at any time.
Scout Alarm also offers an indoor camera as a part of their line of add-on equipment. Scout Alarm’s indoor camera is wireless which means it works by connecting wirelessly to your home’s WIFI network, and it is powered through an AC power source so make sure you have one nearby. Their indoor camera records in full HD (1080P) video resolution so that you will receive crystal clear images. This indoor camera has a 155-degree field of view and comes with night vision so that you can view video even when there is limited or no light. The Scout indoor camera also has a built-in motion detector that will trigger the camera to start recording whenever motion is detected near the camera.
Who wins?
ADT has a larger selection of what they actually offer for add-on equipment than that of Scout Alarm. ADT really strove to be a one stop shop when it comes to putting together your security system, and thus why they offer a larger variety of add-on equipment. The automated lock offer by Scout Alarm is really nice, and we really like its quality and design. Seeing that ADT has a larger variety of add-on equipment offered directly through them gives them the win for this category.
ADT vs Scout Alarm App
ADT and Scout Alarm offer self, professional, and video monitoring services. Their self-monitoring services are done through their apps which are free to download and work for Apple and Android devices.
Both apps will allow you to receive push notifications any time your sensors or system has been triggered. They allow you to also remotely control your system and devices connected to it while on the go. You can arm and disarm your system, stream and view video, and customize settings and alerts right through the apps.
The biggest difference between the two companies comes with their pricing per month for their monitoring services/app usage and contracts. ADT’s pricing for their monitoring service fees tend to be on the high side while Scout Alarm’s monitoring service fees tend to be much cheaper. Also, ADT requires a contract with their monitoring services while Scout Alarm’s monitoring services are contract free.
However, if you want a better way to control your safety, look at our security system here at Link Interactive.
ADT vs Scout Alarm vs Link Interactive
ADT and Scout Alarm are great companies that can provide you with great security, home, and video surveillance equipment along with monitoring services that are meant to keep your home totally protected. ADT has a great reputation and has been in the business for a long time. Scout Alarm is an up and coming security company with great reviews from their customers. Today we are choosing Scout Alarm as our overall winner due to their pricing, high-quality products, and ease of use.
However, if you’re interested in something far more advanced and feature-laden than both of these security solutions, give Alarm.com powered Link Interactive a look. If you want a system that is comparable to Scout, but has better reviews and pricing, you must give our Link Interactive Alarm.com system a chance. We do great when it comes to customer service as well, with 5-star reviews across several review sites on the internet!
Why you should get Link Interactive instead
Link Interactive and ADT are pretty similar in terms of equipment and monitoring services. At Link we offer the Qolsys control panel, Alarm.com self-monitoring and third-party professional monitoring. We both also offer home automation control and cutting-edge video monitoring services. The difference is in the experience. With our Alarm.com security system, you open yourself up to more features and compatibility with various on-market smart devices.
We encourage you take a look at our offer here, get a quote and compare. You can also call us direct at 1-877-826-5443 for further details and speak with a rep!
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