Ring Alarm vs ADT Home Security: An Expert Comparison
Today we will be comparing ADT with the DIY (do-it-yourself) home security system by Ring Alarm and see how they match up. Let’s dive right in!
There are many different reasons why home owners decide to invest in a home security system. Maybe you live in a high crime neighborhood, or you might be taking preventive measures to keep your family safe. You may have been a victim of a home break-in and you’re desperately in need of some peace of mind. No matter what the reason there are a lot of home security options on the market that can provide you with some security protection for your home. Today we’ll compare ADT and the Ring Alarm home security system.
ADT Control Panel
ADT is well known for being one of the top providers of security for homes and offices across the United States. Unlike many other security companies, ADT actually offer two control panels for you to choose from.
They have a basic panel which is powered directly through your home’s power source, and it works through your home’s landline. This basic panel is ADT’s most basic panel, and it doesn’t have a lot of fancy bells and whistles like more modern-day control touchscreen control panels. This basic panel’s functions are controlled through a separate push button keypad. Yes, ADT will give you the option to upgrade their basic panel to include a cellular chip so you do not have to worry about having a landline connection.
The most advanced panel offered by ADT is their digital keypad. This keypad is powered through an AC power source, includes a cellular chip, a backup battery, and connects wirelessly to your home’s WIFI network. It has a full colored touchscreen that allows for quick arming and disarming of your system. The full colored touchscreen also displays system status and the time and temperature.
ADT’s touchscreen panel also includes Z-Wave technology which means you can use it with other branded security and home automation devices. It also supports a lot of zones so that you can add other security or home automation devices.
Both of ADT’s panels let you create custom user codes. They also both allow for 2-way communication with their central monitoring station for fast and quick responses to emergencies. And any equipment purchased through ADT is installed through one of their professional technicians.
To see an alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Ring Alarm Control Panel
Ring is well known for their wide variety of video surveillance devices, especially doorbell cameras. In recent years Ring has branched out their product line to include other products such as a home security system which they call the Ring Alarm Security Kit.
The control panel that is used with this alarm kit has a basic white design. It is a wireless panel which means it works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network wirelessly. It also includes a cellular chip as a backup just in case your internet is down. It is powered by an AC power source, and it does include a 24-hour backup battery just in case your power goes out.
The Ring Security Kit’s control panel has an LED indicator light that changes color and shows different system statuses. It has Z-Wave technology too which allows it to be used with a variety of other home security and home automation products.
The control panel itself is controlled by a separate keypad. The keypad for the control panel is powered by an AC source but it also includes a backup battery. The keypad allows you to quickly arm and disarm your system with a touch of a button, and it includes an illuminated push button keypad. The keypad also displays system status with an LED indicator light.
To see an alternative DIY option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Who wins?
The control panel offered with the Ring Alarm Kit is pretty similar to ADT’s basic panel. Both of these panels don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, and need to be controlled through a separate keypad. ADT however does offer their digital keypad control panel with a full colored touchscreen with tons of features. Because ADT offers such a superior control panel to that of what Ring has to offer, we are giving them the win for this category.
ADT Equipment
ADT has a lot of great basic security equipment that will work with their basic panel and digital keypad panel. The sensors we are about to go over come in both wired and wireless versions.
ADT offers door/window sensors that will work with a variety of types of door/window frames. These sensors will alert you and trigger your system when a window or door opens or shuts.
ADT offers motion sensors which are great at protecting large areas of your home as well. ADT’s motion sensors will detect motion in a room and alert you and trigger your system when this event takes place.
ADT also offers glass break sensors that are great at protecting areas that have a lot glass. ADT’s glass break sensors will listen for the sound of breaking class and will alert you and trigger your system when this event takes place.
ADT also offers wired and wireless smoke, CO2, and flood sensors. These sensors have an audible alert that will trigger when any of the environmental factors such as rise in CO2 gas take place. They will also send you an instant alert, and you can even have them trigger an event with your system.
Click here to read our full ADT product review >>
ADT additional equipment
ADT has a huge variety of add-on equipment. A lot of the equipment that ADT offers is third-party branded equipment from other companies. For starters, 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 then 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. They also allow you to set custom timers for when your heating and cooling system comes on and goes off.
If you have a garage door you can purchase a garage door controller through ADT. 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.
ADT has a few different options to for video surveillance equipment as well. They offer indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras that are 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.
Ring Alarm Equipment
Ring doesn’t offer a lot when it comes to basic equipment that you can use with their control panel. They offer wireless and battery-operated door/window sensors. These sensors will alert you any time your door or window has been opened.
They also offer wireless and battery-operated motion sensors. Their motion sensors can detect motion in large rooms, and will alert you when motion has been triggered.
When it comes to life safety devices Ring offers their Alarm Smoke/ CO2 Listener. Their Alarm Smoke/CO2 Listener is battery-operated and wireless. This device actually listens for the sounds of your existing smoke and CO2 detectors, and it will trigger your system if these sounds are heard.
Ring Alarm additional equipment
Ring is a lot like ADT when it comes to the add-on equipment offered by them. They don’t make a lot of their own branded home automation equipment, but because their control panel has a Z-Wave protocol you can use other branded smart home automation devices. You can use Schlage, Yale, and Kwikset automated door locks. These door locks allow you to create custom user codes that can be enabled and disabled at any time. These locks can also be remotely locked and unlocked while on the go, and you can check their status also while on the go.
You can use a variety of smart thermostats with your Nest Alarm Kit. Brands like Ecobee work really well with the Ring Alarm Kit. You can set customer timers for when your heating and cooling system comes on and goes off with an Ecobee smart thermostat. You can also remotely control your home’s heating and cooling system with an Ecobee smart thermostat.
The Ring Alarm Kit allows you to incorporate smart bulbs and switches into your system. You can use GE branded smart switches and smart bulbs with your Ring Alarm Kit. Smart switches allow you to connect small appliances to them, and these appliances can have custom timers set for when they come on and go off which can be controlled remotely. The same features also apply to any smart bulb you have connected to your Ring Alarm Kit.
The biggest focus in add-on equipment for the Ring Alarm Kit is Ring’s wide range of video surveillance equipment. Because Ring has a such a large variety of video surveillance cameras, we will only be going over the types and basic features of their cameras. Ring offers outdoor, indoor, and video doorbell cameras. They can capture video in stunning HD and they work by connecting to your home’s internet connection via Ethernet cable or through WIFI. They also offer AC powered and battery-operated versions of their cameras. Their cameras include motion sensors along with 2-way audio that allows you to directly communicate with whomever is around your camera.
Who wins?
ADT has a pretty nice variety of basic equipment that you can use with either of their panels. ADT offers glass break sensors, smoke, CO2, and flood sensors which are things that Ring does not offer. Ring however does offer the basic equipment needed to give you a basic security setup. Since ADT has more add-on equipment than that of Ring we are giving the win for this category to them.
Ring and ADT are very similar with their Z-Wave add-on equipment. They both offer other branded home automation products that work with their system. ADT is a bit more limited than Nest in the variety of Z-Wave equipment that can be used with their system. Nest also includes a superior collection of video surveillance cameras to choose from while ADT has a more limited choice. For these reasons we are giving Ring the win in this category.
Ring Alarm vs ADT App
Ring and ADT both offer self, professional, and video monitoring services. Ring’s and ADT’s self-monitoring is done through their apps which are free to download and works for Apple and Android devices.
ADT’s and Ring’s apps allow you to remotely control your security system, security/life safety devices, home automation devices, and video surveillance equipment while on the go. You will also receive instant alerts any time your equipment or system triggers any events.
With ADT’s and Ring’s apps you can stream live and recorded video on the go. The difference between the two is that there is a cost associated to use ADT’s app while Ring’s app is free to use. The only charge with the Ring app is if you want storage for recorded video clips.
Both ADT’s and Ring’s professional monitoring services work the same way. You will have a professional monitoring station watching over your home 24/7. The difference between the two is that Ring’s pricing is much cheaper than that of ADT’s for this kind of service, and you don’t have to worry about any contracts with Ring.
However, if you want a better way to control your safety, look at our security system here at Link Interactive.
Ring Alarm vs ADT vs Link Interactive
Today we took a look at what ADT and the Ring Alarm Kit have to offer and how they compare. The Ring Alarm Kit and ADT offer a pretty sound security setup that will provide your home or office with some security protection. ADT has a few different options when it comes to control panels and types of security sensors offered. Ring has one control panel, but has a wide variety of video surveillance equipment that can be use with their alarm kit.
Because Ring actually has a better overall value for equipment, and their month to month costs are much cheaper, we are choosing them as our winner. But, if you’re looking for something even better than ADT or Ring Alarm, check out Link Interactive’s home security system below.
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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