ADT vs. Ackerman: Home Security System Comparison

If you live in the Metro Atlanta area, ADT and Ackerman are two alarm companies you probably hear a lot about. ADT is one of the largest alarm companies in the U.S., and it’s also the oldest. Ackerman, on the other hand, is local to Atlanta and offers ample home security options. If you had to guess which is better, which would you pick?

You actually won’t have to guess, because we’re comparing ADT and Ackerman for you based on the results of our hands-on tests for both systems. Our comparison covers everything from home security installation to after-sales customer support. By the end of this article, you’ll have a pretty good idea of which alarm company offers better equipment, features, and apps. Let’s get started!

ADT and Ackerman: Birds of a Feather

Both ADT and Ackerman are traditional home security businesses, so the two alarm companies have a lot in common. From a high-level perspective, here are Ackerman and ADT’s most striking similarities.

• Custom packages: Both companies give their customers the option to create custom home security packages for their homes. ADT also has pre-existing package options.
• Professional monitoring: Ackerman and ADT offer monitored security systems, which generally don’t work without a monitoring plan. With professional monitoring, their respective security monitoring centers will notify you if your system detects a breach.
• Professional installation: Both security systems require professional installation to ensure that every system is installed correctly. That means a technician will come to your house to install the system for you. ADT now offers both professional installation and a DIY option through their ADT Self Setup line, giving customers more flexibility.
• Renter-friendly: Traditionally, home security systems that require professional installation aren’t renter-friendly, but ADT and Ackerman made efforts recently to ensure their systems are suitable for homeowners and renters alike.
• Home automation: ADT and Ackerman both updated their security systems to offer home automation features. They each have a touch-screen control panel from which you can control your system, and the same panel connects to home-automation devices such as smart thermostats, smart locks, smart lights, and more.
• Indoor and outdoor video surveillance: Both companies offer video surveillance solutions for indoor and outdoor use. Like their security systems, you can customize your video-monitoring solution with both companies.

ADT and Ackerman: What Sets Them Apart

Of course, ADT and Ackerman aren’t exactly alike. Pay close attention to these differences, since they will most likely be the biggest deciding factors.

• Monitoring cost: ADT systems generally start at about $34.99 per month for their traditional systems, though their self-setup options begin at $24.99 monthly. Ackerman’s monitoring costs start at $27.99.
• Local presence: Ackerman has an in-house monitoring center located in Atlanta. ADT, on the other hand, has nationwide coverage and monitors security systems from its six fully-redundant monitoring centers spread across the United States.
• Theft protection guarantee: Ackerman takes pride in its No Theft Guarantee — if you’ve been burglarized with an armed security system, the company will pay your insurance deductible in full and give you the exact same amount in cash. ADT has a similar guarantee — the Theft Protection Guarantee — but it will pay only up to $500 in insurance deductibles.
• Money-back guarantee: ADT prides itself in its industry-best money-back guarantee. Most companies, including Ackerman, will give you 30 days to try its system, but ADT gives users up to six months.
• Voice control: Both systems offer voice control through third-party smart assistants, but ADT works with Alexa and Google Assistant, whereas Ackerman works only with Alexa.

ADT vs. Ackerman In A Nutshell

Which Has Better Equipment?

Armed with a general knowledge of ADT and Ackerman’s similarities and differences, let’s zoom in and talk about what they offer — starting with the equipment.

ADT Equipment

Every ADT security system starts with a control panel, which is usually a touch-screen device that pairs with sensors wirelessly and connects your home to ADT’s monitoring centers.

The control panel that came with the ADT system we reviewed was a tablet-like device that housed controls that allowed us to arm and disarm the system conveniently, create home-automation scenes and schedules, and manage the system’s overall operation. It also paired with third-party smart speakers for voice control.

From there, we added door sensors, motion sensors, and glass-break sensors that would notify us in case of a break-in. ADT also installed monitored fire and carbon monoxide sensors, as well as flood and freeze sensors that we monitored ourselves.

ADT partners with Google to offer several Nest security camera options, making it easy to integrate advanced video surveillance into your system. There’s an indoor wired Nest Cam that provides reliable 24/7 monitoring for under $100. For more flexibility, the battery-powered Nest Cam works both indoors and outdoors. You can place these cameras anywhere without worrying about outlets. You can even get the wired Nest Cam with a built-in floodlight for extra nighttime security.

ADT offers Nest’s doorbell, too. The Nest Doorbell (battery) offers package detection and familiar face alerts without any doorbell wiring required. All Nest Cams and Nest Doorbells deliver crisp 1080p HDR video quality with wide fields of view to minimize blind spots.

>> Learn More: 2025 Nest Cam Reviews & Ratings

ADT’s equipment is well built, hardy, and sleek. ADT’s software is also great, since all the system’s parts connected to each other seamlessly and we were able to control them in numerous ways, including with our voice.

Ackerman Equipment

Ackerman security systems are also built around a touch-screen control panel. It’s different from what ADT offers, but the idea is the same: It connects to sensors and smart-home devices, and then controls them.

Ackerman offers roughly the same types of equipment as ADT, including security sensors, security cameras, and environmental detectors.

One advantage of Ackerman’s equipment lineup is its dual-path monitoring capability. The control panel uses both cellular (LTE) and broadband internet connections for alarm communication, creating built-in redundancy. This means if your home internet goes down, the system automatically switches to cellular backup to maintain continuous monitoring. This is a critical feature for ensuring your security never has gaps.

Not many local companies have cellular monitoring, but this feature is crucial. With it, Ackerman can monitor your home for emergencies whether the system is connected to Wi-Fi or not. Add that to the integrated battery backup and you get a system that works 24/7, 365 days a year. That means even when your power goes out, your security stays on.

Winner

Both systems deliver reliable performance, but ADT edges ahead with superior equipment options. ADT’s partnership with Google brings cutting-edge Nest cameras and smart home devices to their lineup, while their frequent equipment updates mean you’re getting the latest security technology. Plus, ADT’s generous six-month money-back guarantee shows they stand behind their equipment quality, giving you plenty of time to ensure everything meets your expectations.

Who Monitors Security Systems Better?

ADT and Ackerman both require professional monitoring, but which does it better? Are you better off with monitoring centers spread out throughout the nation or a defined local presence?

ADT Monitoring

ADT operates six interconnected monitoring centers across the United States. They’re sophisticated command centers staffed by trained professionals who follow strict alarm response protocols. Each facility runs on redundant power systems with backup generators and mirrored servers, ensuring they stay operational even during power outages or natural disasters.

What really sets ADT apart is how these centers work together. If severe weather or technical issues affect one location, the other centers instantly take over without any interruption in service. This geographic distribution means your home stays protected no matter what’s happening locally — whether it’s a hurricane in Florida or an earthquake in California, ADT’s monitoring network keeps running smoothly.

Ackerman Monitoring

Ackerman’s strongest asset is its local presence. It operates an in-house monitoring center in a local location, which means the monitoring agents are more likely to be familiar with the local terrain. You simply don’t get that from an alarm company with national coverage.

Ackerman’s monitoring center holds the prestigious Five Diamond certification from The Monitoring Association (TMA), placing it among the elite monitoring facilities nationwide. This certification, renewed annually since 2023, validates that Ackerman meets rigorous standards for operator training, facility redundancy, and emergency response procedures. Only about 200 monitoring centers across the entire country have achieved this designation, demonstrating Ackerman’s commitment to excellence despite being a regional provider.

The Winner

Overall, ADT shows more promise because of its redundancy. Ackerman may have the local edge, but nothing provides more peace of mind than knowing several monitoring facilities have your back in case of an emergency.

Which Professional Installation Service Is Better?

Both ADT and Ackerman primarily offer professional installation, though ADT now provides a DIY option through their Self Setup line. With professional installation, a certified technician visits your home to properly install and configure your system. This typically costs between $99 to $200 depending on system complexity, but it ensures everything works perfectly from day one.

Normally, we’d say you’re more likely to get better service from a local company, but that doesn’t apply to ADT, which is the best professionally installed security system. ADT operates a franchise business, so it has local dealerships that handle the installation. Even though ADT is a national corporation, its dealers are able to provide a localized service much like Ackerman. The experience you’ll get from local ADT dealers may vary, however.

It’s pretty much a tie between ADT and Ackerman in terms of professional installation, but your chances of getting a more consistent installation service quality is higher with Ackerman. On the other hand, ADT’s nationwide coverage means its technicians can help you transfer your system if you move outside Atlanta. Are you staying put or moving in the future? Your answer will determine which installation service is better.

Which Is More Budget-Friendly?

The cost is one of the biggest deciding factors when choosing a home security system. It often includes the costs for equipment, installation, and monitoring.

Equipment Cost

ADT and Ackerman both offer customized security packages. The downside is that you usually won’t find out the final equipment cost until you’ve gone through the purchasing process.

ADT recently improved transparency by allowing customers to build and price packages online. On their website, ADT packages start at $350 for basic systems, with the ability to customize and see real-time pricing as you add components. This online configurator lets you see exactly what you’re paying for before committing. Because of that transparency, ADT is the clear winner.

Installation Cost

ADT wins on installation cost too — also because of its transparency. A typical installation costs $99, but the fee may increase as you add more components to the system. There are usually ADT deals, however, that can help you offset the installation cost.

With Ackerman, you won’t find out the installation cost until you’ve customized your security system. It’s simply much more practical to know how much the installation will cost you before investing your time customizing a security system.

Monitoring Cost

Ackerman maintains competitive pricing with monitoring plans starting at $27.99 per month for basic protection. ADT’s traditional monitoring begins at $34.99 monthly, though their Self Setup line offers plans from $24.99 per month.

The price difference reflects the features included. Ackerman’s entry-level plan covers basic intrusion detection with landline connectivity. ADT’s plans, even at the starting price, include cellular backup, smartphone app control, and basic smart home integration capabilities. If you want advanced features like video verification and home automation, ADT typically provides better value despite the higher monthly cost.

Ackerman is simply the more practical choice if you’re going for a basic security system. If you want a system with advanced features, however, you’ll get more value from an ADT monitoring plan.

Which Has the Superior App?

ADT and Ackerman have both adopted smartphone controls to allow users to monitor and control their security systems from anywhere. Whether you’re in the bedroom, at the office, or halfway across the globe, you can manage your home security.

ADT’s primary app, ADT Plus, consistently earns high marks from users with a 4.7 rating on iOS and 4.6 on Android. The app functions as a complete command center in your pocket, offering the same comprehensive controls.

In our experience, the app is easy to use. The controls are intuitive, with easy-access arm and disarm buttons on the home screen, widgets for iOS and Android, and voice-control integrations.

Ackerman’s mobile app maintains respectable ratings of 4.0 on iOS and 4.1 on Android. The interface is clean and straightforward, with quick-access controls prominently displayed on the home screen. A particularly thoughtful feature is the battery status indicator for each sensor — you’ll know exactly when it’s time to replace batteries before they die. The app also supports push notifications, activity history, and basic automation scheduling.

Ultimately, though, ADT’s app is slightly superior, which is also reflected in its near-perfect app rating.

ADT or Ackerman: Which One’s for You?

Each home is unique, and neither ADT nor Ackerman is a universal choice. ADT won in most areas, but your final decision will depend on your preferences and security needs. What we can do for you is lay out each company’s strongest selling points.

Have you made a decision? If not, we recommend that you give our review of the best security systems a read. It will give you more options. After all, ADT and Ackerman aren’t the only alarm companies offering services in the Metro Atlanta area.