Cove vs ADT Home Security: An Expert Comparison
Today we will be comparing ADT with a new DIY home security company on the block called Cove and see how they match up. Let’s dive right in!
Security systems are becoming more popular with home owners across the United States, and there are a lot of options out there. Today we will be taking a look at two popular companies in the home alarm space, ADT and Cove. We will compare their control panels, basic/add-on equipment, monitoring services, and apps.
ADT Control Panel
ADT doesn’t just have one control panel for you to choose from, they instead offer two control panels. First up, ADT offers a basic panel with somewhat limited features. It is powered directly by your home’s AC power source. All features for this basic panel are controlled through a separate push-button keypad or through the ADT app.
The next control panel offered by ADT is their digital keypad. ADT’s digital keypad has a full colored touchscreen that displays the time, temperature, and your system’s status, and you can also control your system right from the touchscreen.
ADT’s digital keypad can be wall mounted or you can place it on a desktop, but you don’t have to worry about setting it up yourself because ADT can have a professional installer come out to set up all your equipment for you.
ADT’s digital keypad is pretty expandable, and it allows 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 create custom user codes for this system which can be enabled and disabled at any time. ADT gives you the option to upgrade their basic panel to include a cellular chip for backup.
The digital keypad works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network, and includes a cellular backup without the need for you to upgrade. It 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 for quick responses to emergencies.
To see an alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Cove Control Panel
Cove only offers one control panel. The Cove Touch Alarm is a central hub that connects all of your Cove security devices wirelessly to one place. It has a full colored touchscreen that easily lets you arm and disarm your system with a push of a button.
The Cove Touch Alarm is a wireless panel that is powered through an AC power source, and it comes with a 24-hour backup battery just in case your power goes out. It also includes a built-in audible alarm that will be triggered when your Cove security system triggers an event. You can have up to 20 customized user codes for the Cove Touch Alarm panel which can be disabled and enabled at any time. It also includes a 2-way audio feature that allows you to directly communicate with your central monitoring station just like ADT’s control panels.
The Cove Touch Alarm will also make sure your system is working properly by using its self-diagnosing software that constantly makes sure your hub and security devices are working properly.
To see our recommended DIY home alarm option, check out our home security system at Link Interactive >>
Who wins?
ADT and Cove offer really great hubs to connect all your devices to one place. ADT offers two hubs from you to choose from. Cove offers a full colored touchscreen control panel that is easy to use. Because ADT offers at least 2 panels for you to choose from, and the fact that their digital keypad has so many features, we are giving them the win for this category.
ADT Equipment
ADT has made sure that they offer all the basic security products that you need to give your home complete protection. Not only do they offer all the basic equipment to keep your home protected, but they also offer both wired and wireless versions of their basic security equipment. 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. They offer motion sensors that are great at providing protection for large areas of your home. If your home has glass windows, ADT offers glass break sensors to provide protection for the glass windows in your home.
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. All equipment that is connected to your ADT security system will trigger your system when an event is triggered.
Click here to read our full ADT product review >>
ADT additional equipment
ADT mainly offers other branded home automation devices when it comes to additional equipment. ADT offers automated door locks that are made by Kwikset. These automated door locks allow you to remotely unlock and lock them, and you will also be able to create custom user codes.
ADT offers their own branded smart thermostats as well, but you can also use other branded smart thermostats with your ADT system. ADT’s smart thermostats work for the majority of HVAC heating and cooling systems. Their smart thermostats allow you to remotely control the temperature in your home, and set custom timers for when your heating and cooling system comes on and goes off.
ADT offers garage door controllers that allow you to remotely open and close your garage door. You will also receive push notifications any time your garage door has been opened and shut. Their garage door controllers work by connecting wirelessly to your home’s WIFI network.
ADT has a selection of smart plugs and light switches for you to choose from. Smart plugs and smart light switches allow you to control lights and small appliances while on the go. You can set timers for when these lights and small appliances turn on and turn off.
ADT has a few different options when it comes to video surveillance equipment. 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 HD video resolution, and their doorbell camera even includes a 2-way audio feature that allows you to directly communicate with whomever is around your doorbell camera.
Cove Security Equipment
The first type of security sensor that Cove has to offer are door/window sensors. Cove’s door/window sensors are battery-operated and wireless. They can easily be installed on either your door or window frames.
The next sensor that they offer are motion sensors. Their motion sensors are also wireless and battery-operated with a battery life of up to 5 years. Cove’s motion sensors are pet immune which means that as long as your pets are under 45 pounds they will not trigger these sensors.
Cove also offers glass break sensors to help protect the windows of your home. Cove’s glass break sensors are also wireless and battery-operated with a battery life up to 5 years, and they have a detection range of 360-degrees. Cove’s glass break sensor can cover multiple windows so you shouldn’t have to add a lot of them to your security system.
Cove offers keychain remotes that are battery-operated with a battery life up to 5 years. Their keychain remotes have a four button push button design. You can arm your system in stay, away, or home mode with this keychain remote. It also includes a built-in panic button that will immediately alert your central monitoring stations that there is an emergency.
Cove also offers wireless and battery-operated smoke, CO2, and flood sensors. These sensors will make audible alerts when rises in these environmental factors take places. They will also trigger your system when these rises are detected. All equipment offered by Cove is DIY (do it yourself) which means you will need to set up all the equipment yourself. Cove does offer instructional videos on their website as well as a step by step installation guide for all of your equipment making for an fast and easy installation.
Cove additional equipment
Cove doesn’t really offer a lot of add-on equipment. They unfortunately do not offer any home automation equipment, and they only offer video surveillance equipment. When it comes to video surveillance equipment Cove is a bit limited. Cove does not offer their own branded video surveillance camera, but they do offer the YI Indoor Camera. The YI Indoor Camera is packed full of features. It has a video resolution of 1080p HD with a 107-degree wide viewing angle. It has night vision technology that allows you to capture images even when there is no light around. You can use the YI Indoor Camera’s zoom feature to zoom in on images up to 4X which allows for crystal clear images.
One really cool feature of the YI Indoor Camera is its Baby Cry Detection technology. With the YI Indoor Camera’s Baby Cry Detection technology, it will listen for the distinguishing sound of a baby’s cry, and ignore background noise. If this noise is detected by your YI Indoor Camera, it will alert you. It also includes a 2-way audio feature that allow you to hear and respond to whomever is around your camera.
The YI Indoor Camera is powered through an AC Power source, and it works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network wirelessly. Video clips can be stored on a Micro SD card or viewed through the Cove app.
Who wins?
ADT and Cove offer all the basic equipment you need to give your home complete protection. ADT offers both wired and wireless versions of all the basic equipment which gives you some options. Cove offers a really nice keychain remote that includes a built-in panic button which is really handy to have around. This category was really close, but because ADT offers wired and wireless versions of their basic equipment, we are giving them the win for this category.
When it comes to video, ADT and Cove vary more drastically. ADT offers a ton of home automation equipment for you to use with their systems. Cove however doesn’t offer any home automation equipment, but the video surveillance camera they offer has a lot of great features. Seeing that ADT has so much more addon equipment than Cove we are giving them the win for this category.
Cove vs ADT App
ADT and Cover both offer professional, self, and video monitoring services. Their self-monitoring services are done through their apps. Their apps are free to download and work for Apple and Android devices. Their apps will also allow you to remotely control your system and all the equipment you have connected to your system while on the go. You will also receive push-notifications whenever your system or any equipment that is connected to your system is triggered. You can also view and stream video through their apps.
ADT however does offer home automation services with their app which is something Cove does not have. Their professional monitoring services work the same. You will have a professional monitoring station watching over your home 24/7. All basic equipment and services offered by both companies come with contracts. With Cove you will not be able to use any of your equipment without one of their monitoring service plans.
However, if you want a better way to control your safety, look at our security system here at Link Interactive. Our system comes complete with Crash & Smash protection, and all the best and whistles of a modern day home security system!
Cove vs ADT vs Link Interactive
ADT and Cove offer great personalized security solutions design to fit your specific needs. ADT has a ton of products that not only protect your home, but also allow you to covert your home into a smart home. Cove offers easy to use security products that are high quality and affordable. ADT does have a better selection of security, home automation, and video surveillance products so we are making them our overall winner here. But, if you are interested in purchasing a system that offers the best of both worlds and a lot more in the way of smart home automation and app control, give our Link Interactive security system a look.
Why you should get Link Interactive instead
Link Interactive and ADT are very 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 also offer cutting-edge video monitoring services.
We have thousands of 5-star reviews on various reputable third party review sites complimenting our awesome after-sales support! 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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