ADT & Google Launch Hands-Free Home Security

Imagine arriving home, your front door unlocking on its own and the security system disarming without you lifting a finger. This hands-free Auto Unlock experience comes to life through ADT Plus, the latest offering from America’s oldest security company. Developed in partnership with Google, the system uses your phone’s location and the Google Nest Doorbell’s Familiar Faces feature to confirm your identity, automatically letting you in while keeping your home protected.

Many people avoid arming their alarm systems due to the annoying “beeping pressure” that comes with disarming them. With ADT’s automated features, however, users find themselves consistently using the system. A home that responds to you automatically, without needing voice commands, codes, or app interactions, represents the next level of smart home living. It’s surprising to see such innovation from a legacy company like ADT, though the premium price tag is less of a shock.

ADT Plus marks the company’s first complete security product that supports either professional or do-it-yourself installation. Both options include 24/7 professional monitoring, with video verification available through connected Nest cameras. Choosing professional installation locks you into a three-year monitoring contract, but self-installation comes with no long-term commitment.

For Google Home users, ADT Plus stands out as the best professionally monitored security system available. Its tight integration with Google Nest products, including thermostats and cameras, along with improved hardware and an intuitive app, delivers a seamless experience. However, if your smart home runs on Apple Home or Amazon Alexa, other systems like Abode or Ring offer better compatibility. ADT Plus works exclusively within the Google ecosystem.

A key advantage is the system’s compatibility with Google’s Nest cameras, which use advanced AI to identify people, packages, pets, and vehicles. While many security companies produce mediocre cameras, ADT’s integration with high-quality Nest devices is a major benefit. The Nest Doorbell powers not only Auto Unlock but also a unique feature called Trusted Neighbor.

Trusted Neighbor applies the same principles as Auto Unlock but extends access to approved individuals outside your household. For instance, if a package arrives while you’re away, the system can notify a designated neighbor. It then opens a temporary access window, unlocking the door and disarming the alarm using their phone and optional facial recognition. Once they leave, everything locks and rearms automatically.

Beyond package alerts, Trusted Neighbor can notify your contact about animals, people, vehicles, motion, or safety alarms like smoke or carbon monoxide. Homeowners receive these alerts too, but only life-safety alarms notify ADT’s monitoring center. You can assign different incidents to different people, your neighbor might handle packages and pets, while a family member gets alerts for break-ins or water leaks.

In testing, both Auto Unlock and Trusted Neighbor performed reliably, though unlocking sometimes took a few seconds after arrival. This delay, common in auto-unlock systems, may vary depending on your GPS and cell service. While convenient, some users might still prefer entering a code on the Yale smart lock for immediate access.

Trusted Neighbor requires the top-tier $40 monthly subscription, and depending on your package, you might be locked into a three-year contract totaling around $1,500. This cost includes 24/7 professional monitoring, which is standard for high-end security systems. While you could mimic some features using other smart home brands, ADT’s solution combines professional monitoring with advanced automation in a way others don’t.

Beyond these novel features, ADT Plus delivers on the basics. The system includes a central base, door and window sensors, motion detectors, glass break sensors, a keyfob, and environmental monitors for smoke, CO, heat, and water leaks. ADT has moved away from third-party sensors, building its own devices using DECT ULE, a low-energy, long-range protocol that supports two-way communication and deeper smart home integration.

The base station serves as the system’s hub, equipped with Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, and DECT ULE radios. This lets you connect Z-Wave devices like lights and locks, controlling them through the ADT Plus app. Thread support is planned for future Matter integration.

Starter kits begin at $270 for a base and one sensor, with package deals sometimes dropping to $199. More comprehensive kits, including Nest cameras, start around $700. The Front Door Protection package, which includes a Nest video doorbell and Yale Assure 2 lock, is often discounted and necessary for using Familiar Faces with Trusted Neighbor.

ADT’s new hardware is a clear upgrade from past offerings, though it doesn’t match the elegance of the discontinued Nest Secure. The base station is larger and lacks NFC tap-to-disarm, but with Auto Unlock, that feature isn’t missed. Standard sensors are basic, while premium sensors include a bypass button for temporary disarm. Motion sensors are separate but responsive.

Integration with the Yale Assure 2 Z-Wave lock allows system disarming upon unlocking, a feature reminiscent of the Nest X Yale lock. This only works with Yale Assure 2 models, not other Z-Wave locks. Overall, ADT Plus isn’t a direct Nest Secure replacement, but it’s a robust smart home security system with useful innovations.

The ADT app is clean and customizable, supporting automatic arming and disarming based on time or your phone’s location. It displays live feeds from Nest cameras, though recorded video requires the Google Home app. You can use ADT sensors as triggers for Google Home automations, like turning on lights when a door opens, and control the system via Nest Hub, though not through the Google Home app. Using both apps for full functionality can be cumbersome.

Where ADT Plus falters is its outdated pricing structure. The company is known for strict contracts and steep cancellation fees. To avoid a 36-month commitment, opt for self-setup and pay for equipment upfront. Even then, professional monitoring is essential since the system can’t be self-monitored. The basic $25/month plan doesn’t support automations; you’ll need the $30 Smart package for that. Adding recorded video requires a $35 plan with Nest Aware, while the full suite with Trusted Neighbor costs $40 monthly.

Competitors like Ring Alarm and Arlo offer professional monitoring and video recording for around $25–$35 per month. SimpliSafe starts at about $32, rising to $50 with AI features, while Abode offers a cheaper option without advanced AI.

ADT Plus successfully merges Nest cameras and Yale smart locks with professional security monitoring, creating a smarter, more responsive home protection system. It represents a significant leap forward for a traditional company, blending smart home convenience with robust security. Still, its contract terms feel behind the times. If you can secure a system without a long-term commitment and you’re invested in the Google ecosystem, ADT Plus is a powerful, if pricey, solution.

(Source: The Verge)