Compare Ackerman vs. ADT Home Security Systems

Comparing home security companies involves first thinking about your precise needs and budget; and then looking at a variety of different features in order to determine which company can best meet your requirements.

The easiest way to get a concrete answer about how company X or company Z can fulfill the things on your list is to obtain quotes from each, with accurate information about your home, the access points you want protected, and what (if any) extra devices you’d like to include in your system.

Before taking that step, however, it’s best to do some preliminary research, where some weight should be given to each company’s reputation, their financial stability, any certifications they may have, their monitoring and customer service, and of course, their equipment and prices.

Decide whether you’re okay with signing a contract (the industry standard is 36 months), and whether you want professional monitoring or are okay with doing it yourself.

Figuring these things out can help you narrow down which companies to consider for your home security.

In the specific case of ADT vs Ackerman Security, both companies have very similar features across monitoring and equipment, but vary significantly in their pricing and their technological integrations.

It’s also essential to note that Ackerman only services consumers in Virginia, Washington D.C., Georgia, and Maryland.

For more details, read on.

ADT and Ackerman Security offer very comparable basic coverage—both companies require professional installation ($125 for Ackerman, between $99 and $199 for ADT, depending on the selected package).

Likewise, both companies make it feasible for customers to reallocate their system in case of a move, which Ackerman reinstalls at zero cost to the customer (it’s unclear whether ADT offers the same service).

For their part, ADT packages come with a $100 Visa® Reward Card, which can take some of the sting out of the installation cost—as well as the fact that the equipment packages they send are valued at $850.

Both companies’ hardware features a control panel, to which wireless sensors are connected, as well as event-triggered alarms.

However, where ADT equipment is only manufactured by Honeywell, GE, and DSC; Ackerman’s offers a multitude of devices built by other companies as well, including Gemini, Napco, AlarmNet, First Alert, Telguard, Z-Wave, 2GIG, concord, and Kwikset.

This makes sense when you consider that Ackerman offers a good amount of technological integrations, whereas ADT sticks to straightforward security monitoring services.

Neither company provides just monitoring services, as both sell packages which include both the equipment and the monitoring.

The type of sensors you put in your home, and where they’re placed, can make a considerable difference in your safety.

Though most companies always include the standard entry door/window sensors and motion sensors, homeowners may also want to invest in garage door sensors for out of the way or badly lit areas, recessed door sensors for aesthetic reasons and subtler security, and crash & smash protection in case an intruder decides to destroy the central control panel.

Families with infirm or elderly members can also benefit from safety devices such as panic buttons and medical alerts.

For an extra level of safety, environmental sensors that connect to monitors for carbon monoxide, flood, temperature changes, and smoke can mean the difference between a fire engulfing your home and being caught in time while you’re away.

Finally, surveillance devices should also be taken into consideration, as they can be of incalculable help to law enforcement in the case of an actual break-in.

Both ADT and Ackerman offer all of the above options.

However, the difference lies in the specifics of how they build out their equipment bundles. We will discuss pricing further on.

The way a home security company handles threats or potentially dangerous situations is one of the most important elements in choosing a company.

After all, the difference between a 3-minute response time and a 30-minute one is much more than just a zero.

On paper, comparing ADT vs Ackerman Security’s monitoring services is fairly straightforward, as they both require professional monitoring of their equipment, (available over cellular, broadband, or a landline), and can contact a number of emergency responders, including the police, fire department, or medical services.

ADT’s devices also offer two-way intercom which allows customers to speak directly with professionals in the monitoring center, however, and it owns six centers across the U.S. to Ackerman’s one.

This may seem like a small detail, but it also means that there aren’t any backup monitoring available, should Ackerman’s single center suffer a long power outage or other incapacitating damage.

We cannot stress enough that Ackerman’s service is only available to residents of Georgia, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland; though it does claim to be the only security company in America with a guaranteed response time.

While this sort of geographical limitations is not uncommon in home security, industry leaders generally have a nationwide presence.

Ackerman only releases price points and device pack information to customers who are negotiating a contract, so it can be hard to find accurate descriptions.

A quick review of customer testimonials and complaints, however, led us to an approximate monthly fee of $20 as the least expensive Ackerman option, while adding landline and mobile can up the cost to $29 and $35 a month, respectively.

Home automation technology is increasingly becoming more and more popular, as the internet of things has become a catchphrase of the moment.

Features like remotely locking and unlocking your doors, controlling your thermostat or lighting, and even switching appliances on and off are no longer restricted to the realm of sci-fi, but a real possibility for everyday Americans who can afford it—smart home features are usually not standard and do require somewhat of a larger investment than basic security packages.

While home automation may seem like just a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles, there are a lot of very real practical benefits to be had.

There’s also a middle ground between a fully smart home and some automation technology.

For instance, many security systems are able to integrate with computer and mobile devices, still giving a good amount of flexibility and control both when you’re in the home and out.

ADT doesn’t offer automation services with any of its three standard packages, preferring to fold it into an upgrade called ADT Pulse®.

Premium protection with Pulse® begins at $52.99 a month, expanding its pre-chosen plans to include home automation devices.

The upgrade allows homeowners to remotely activate and deactivate their system, sends text and email alerts, and can include any home automation devices. It’s able to connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Nest Thermostat.

Ackerman, on the other hand, builds out its packages together with its customers, taking a customizable approach which can include home automation features.

The cost for these smart home features, therefore, isn’t readily available. However, the company’s website does mention that it can handle integrations with Google Home and Z-Wave technology.

Reputations comprise a lot more than just financial strength and time in business.

They can also include customer service elements, such as how well the company answers questions, communicates important information, troubleshoots any issues, handles complaints, and even how good the purchase experience was.

While complaints are also a factor, of course, it’s important to consider how a company’s negative feedback stacks up against the median number of reports for a business of its size and age.

And while on the subject of age, it’s also good to keep in mind that a company’s years in business aren’t necessarily an accurate indicator of financial strength or reliability.

While older businesses with a household name may offer a sense of stability thanks to their years of experience, newly-seeded companies may embrace technological advances more readily, offer a higher degree of flexibility, or even better terms, as they are striving to establish themselves as players in the industry.

Looking at Ackerman Security vs ADT, it’s quickly obvious that ADT is the longer established of the two companies, having been founded in 1874.

It’s also considerably larger than Ackerman, who only serves three states and the District of Columbia. ADT has simply had a much longer time to accumulate bad feedback, as evidenced by its 214 negative reviews on the Better Business Bureau.

However, it’s worth nothing that the company still has an A+ rating with the organization, despite the poor reviews. This is due to ADT’s good track record of dealing with complaints, and responding to these in a timely manner.

Both companies have comparable certifications with monitoring center organizations.

Ackerman, on the other hand, also holds an A+ rating with the BBB, with a much lower amount of negative reviews.

This may have to do with Ackerman’s just over fifty years in business, but it may also respond to the fact that the company is much smaller, and therefore less likely to have such a large customer base as a national company such as ADT.