Compare Brinks vs. ADT Home Security Systems

There are so many good home security companies out there that choosing a new one can be challenging.

Modern home security companies are more versatile—and important—than ever, offering services that consumers might not expect based on knowledge of traditional home security.

Home security companies now offer features like home automation, environmental protection, and technology integration.

In this article, we will be comparing Brinks vs ADT, two well-known, and reputable home security companies.

When comparing ADT vs Brinks, we chose certain factors to see how the companies stacked up against each other.

The factors we looked at were: equipment, monitoring, reputation, contract & price, and technology integration.

ADT is one of the most well-known and trusted home security companies in the country. The company boasts over 140 years of experience and owns 6 certified monitoring stations across the US and Canada.

ADT is a Better Business Bureau-accredited business and carries an A+ rating on their website.

The company specializes in home and business security and offers 24/7 professional monitoring, home automation, technology integration, and environmental protection and monitoring.

Founded in 1994, Brinks Home Security has been servicing consumers for nearly 25 years. The company specializes in home security equipment which is sent straight to the consumers’ homes, ready for self-installation.

Although the company encourages customers to self-install, the company also offers professional installation depending on the consumer’s location.

The company also offers smart-home integration capability and a risk-free 90-day trial.

Consumers thinking about purchasing services and equipment from either company are highly encouraged to research the company thoroughly and to get quotes from said company in order to get the best price and the equipment that best meets their specific needs.

Read on below, to see how these companies compare in terms of equipment, monitoring, reputation, contract and price, and technology integration.

When comparing Brinks vs ADT in terms of home security basics (type of installation offered, equipment manufacturer, ability to relocate system, wireless sensors, control panel, and event triggered sirens or alarms), what we discovered is that both companies offer very similar equipment and features: both use equipment manufactured by Honeywell and General Electric, both allow for ability to relocate their systems, both provide wireless sensors and control panels, and both offer event-triggered sirens and alarms.

With such similar equipment and features, the factor that should help consumers decide on equipment when comparing ADT vs Brinks is whether they want it professionally installed or self-installed.

ADT’s equipment has to be professionally installed, while Brinks Home Security highly encourages consumers to self-install their equipment (which is mailed to their home).

Brinks’ system is also wireless which, coupled with the ease of self-installation, makes it easier to move.

Brinks also helps consumers arrange for professional installation, but this depends on whether or not Brinks has certified installers in the consumers’ area.

ADT does allow consumers who move into a home that already has a home security system to install ADT’s monitoring services for a low price ($19.99) but this depends on the system’s compatibility.

Having a home security system has many benefits. Studies have shown that the mere presence or the apparent presence of a security system can be enough to deter a possible intruder from making a house their next target.

A study published on Security Journal found that, “Individual security devices confer up to three times greater protection against burglary with entry than no security.”

Apart from the obvious protection they bring to your house and your family, the best modern home security systems also allow for live-video monitoring, home automation, and environmental protection.

Live-video monitoring is an especially popular feature since it allows consumers to supervise children, grandparents, babysitters, etc. from any location, as long as the consumers have access to the internet.

Some companies (like ADT and Brinks) also offer medical alert and panic buttons, which could be very helpful for senior citizens or consumers with disabilities or illnesses.

In the case of Brinks vs ADT sensors and devices, both companies offer an excellent variety of sensors and features. Both companies offer a feature that we look for in home security companies, the crash and smash protection.

This means that if an intruder breaks or damages your home security system, it still sends out a signal out to the monitoring center, preventing you and your family from being disconnected.

Both companies also offer environmental protection (carbon monoxide, flood, temperature change, and smoke sensors) and indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras.

One of the differences between the companies is that Brinks does not offer window sensors, although the company claims their door sensors can be used as window sensors.

The main and most important difference when comparing ADT vs Brinks devices and sensors is the installation process.

Even though both companies offer similar devices, consumers will either have to install them all themselves if they go with Brinks or have someone professionally install the equipment for them if they go with ADT.

ADT stands out in the monitoring department. The company owns and operates 6 different monitoring locations scattered around the U.S. and Canada.

Brinks, on the other hand, only has 1 monitoring station.

There are a couple of benefits to having multiple monitoring stations: it means the company has a wider coverage and can protect consumers even if one of their monitoring stations goes offline for any reason, like a natural disaster or a technical problem.

If a company only has one monitoring station and it goes down, that leaves their consumers uncommunicated and unprotected.

Both companies own their monitoring stations, instead of outsourcing the service, which is a good thing because consumers don’t have to worry about third parties gaining access to their personal information or monitoring system.

Both companies offer professional monitoring through cellular and broadband networks, which means both have backups in case the communication is interrupted (if the cellular network fails, there’s still the landline, and vice versa).

Both companies allow for 2-way intercom communication and police and medical dispatch services.

As for Brinks vs ADT monitoring contracts, ADT offers three-year contracts, which consumers can cancel in the first 6 months if they are unsatisfied.

ADT’s monitoring rates depend on which package consumers choose, but the prices can range from $28.99 a month to $53 a month.

Consumers do not have to pay upfront for ADT equipment.

With Brink Home Security, consumers have the option to pay $19.00 a month (with a 3-year contract) for the Nest Secure, $39.00 a month for their Home Complete package, or $49.00 a month for the Home Complete With Video package.

Consumers are required to pay a $19 activation fee as well. Brinks also offers a month-to-month agreement of $29.00 a month for the Nest Secure.

Home security companies have different ways of providing their services. Some require consumers sign up for multi-year contracts, while others work on a month-to-month basis.

Both of these setups have their benefits.

Longer term contracts are usually used by companies that specialize in professionally installed equipment and consumers who are homeowners or just sure they won’t be moving any time soon.

Long term contracts usually mean consumer don’t pay full upfront costs of equipment, while month-to-month services usually require consumers pay in full for their equipment upfront.

ADT offers 3-year contracts, with a six-month, money-back guarantee. Their prices can range from $28.99 a month to over $50 a month, depending on what package consumers choose.

ADT also offers monitoring services to consumers who move into a home with a previously installed security system for $19.99 if the system is compatible with ADT.

Brink Home Security has three different packages: the Nest Secure ($19 a month with a 3-year contract or 29.00 on a month-to-month basis), $39.00 a month for their Home Complete package, and $49.00 a month for the Home Complete With Video package.

ADT offers a 6-month money-back guarantee and a 90-day limited warranty.

Brinks offers a 90-day, risk-free trial with no termination fee and a lifetime warranty on “Pro-Install” set-ups, otherwise a lifetime product warranty can be purchased for $49.00.

The best modern home security systems do a lot more than make loud noises.

Home security systems now have the ability to connect to consumers’ mobile devices and their smart homes, and even come with their own applications.

These applications usually let consumers monitor and control their home security systems remotely, regardless of location, as long as consumers have access to the internet.

Many companies allow for home automation features as well as live-monitoring through mobile devices. These features help reduce false alarms and save energy.

ADT offers live-surveillance features, remote arming and disarming, and email and text alerts, as well as their own iPhone and Android apps.

Brinks also features their own iPhone and Android app, email & text alerts, and offers home automation features like garage door control, lighting control, thermostat control, and appliance control, among others.

In this sense, both companies are fairly evenly matched, as ADT also offers a wide range of home automation options.

The main difference, again, is that ADT requires professional installation and Brinks Home Security encourages self-installation.

Both companies offer systems that are compatible with Amazon’s digital assistant, Alexa, and with Z-wave technology.

It’s hard to beat ADT when it comes to reputation. The company has been reliably servicing consumers for over 140 years.

Although age doesn’t necessarily make a company the best or most reliable, ADT has proven itself over these many years as a reliable and reputable home security company—servicing over 6 million customers—through its attentive customer service (ADT has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has closed over 1,000 complaints in the last 12 months) and advanced equipment.

The company and its monitoring stations are certified by the Underwriter's Laboratory, Factory Mutual, Electronic Security Association and the New York City Fire Department.

Brinks Home Security also has a great reputation. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and carries an A+ rating on their profile.

Brinks also has a great rating on TrustPilot with a 7.9 out of 10. These ratings speak well of Brinks Home Security’s customer service.