Compare Xfinity vs. ADT Home Security Systems

ADT is one of the biggest names in home security in the United States, and XFinity is owned by Comcast, one of the country’s largest cable providers. Though both companies are recognized as giants in their fields, this review will attempt to answer the question of whether XFinity’s ten years in home security can measure up to ADT’s near-century and a half of experience. 

If you’re considering becoming a customer of either XFinity or ADT, it’s important to make sure you do two things: get quotes from both, and do some comprehensive research. While asking your friends and neighbors who have systems from either company is a good place to start, we recommend you go a step further, and do some more in-depth sleuthing. Consumer review websites are always a good place to start, as well as with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and J.D. Power, the latter of which conducts a yearly study in home security customer satisfaction.

When you’re looking for a home security company, or shopping around for any other sort of major home decision, it’s always a good idea to start by making a list of what exactly you’re looking for. Think about whether you want add-ons such as surveillance devices and home automation features, or if a basic, no-frills system is more in accordance with your style and budget. Are you moving soon? And if so, do you want to be able to take your system with you?

XFinity and ADT have very similar basic characteristics, though further on we will get into specifics that differentiate them. Both companies require professional installations rather than DIY, although both companies also make their systems fairly easy to relocate. ADT’s and XFinity’s systems both include a central panel, from which wireless devices are controlled. And finally, both companies also feature event triggered or silent alarms. 

The type of sensor that a company uses, in combination with the array of available placement options, can not only make a company better suited to a consumer’s needs, but even make them safer in the long run. For instance, live surveillance and life safety devices such as panic buttons or medical alerts can be particularly useful for elderly or disabled family members. Live surveillance options can also be well suited to these users, as well as allow parents a greater degree of control and peace of mind over their children’s whereabouts. However, consumers should also be aware that the more devices they add to their system, odds are it will increase the overall cost. 

The way in which a home security company handles security threats or alarms is crucial to their customers’ level of satisfaction. After all, the majority of a user’s interactions with their company will probably be during the high-stress situations of emergency situations or false alarms, (other than their monthly payments). How well the company’s monitoring center personnel responds to the crisis goes a long way—staff should be professional and efficient, response times should be quick, and questions or complaints should ideally be handled promptly. 

Though many companies outsource their monitoring services, and this can be a great alternative for smaller companies, larger businesses tend to own their own centers. This means that the company’s professional imprint is guaranteed throughout the whole process. The best centers will usually have multiple backups and types of monitoring technology as failsafes, in case of a wide-scale emergency or power outage. In fact, it’s always a good idea to verify whether your security company has more than one center, precisely for this reason.

Home security companies generally follow one of two types of business models. Either they don’t charge anything upfront, and fold an equipment charge into their monthly fees; or customers purchase the equipment outright, and then only pay for their monitoring services. The former option almost always requires that customers sign a 36-month contract, whereas the latter can be paid according to different schedules. Some companies which focus on DIY monitoring, allow users to only pay for professional monitoring at their convenience, with week-long or monthly plans. Others require a contract, but it’s usually at a shorter term than the industry’s standard 3 years. 

The large upfront fee of the second kind of business model can be discouraging to some consumers, who may not have that kind of available cash. On the other hand, it does eliminate the need for a monthly charge, or the often costly cancellation fee associated with the contract-type arrangement. Consumers should make a careful analysis of their budget in order to determine which type of security is more in line with their financial situation.

Home security companies are increasingly looking to integrate their systems with users’ computers and mobile devices, enabling consumers a far larger degree of control of their system, both while they’re in the home or out. Some companies go even further, incorporating appliances, thermostats, locks, and other features into the same system that controls the home’s security. 

While this may seem like just bells and whistles, or tech for tech’s sake, there are very real benefits these types of features can offer. For instance, a smart thermostat can regulate the temperature in your home automatically, and end up saving you money. Smart illumination can help make you safer, by allowing you to turn on the lights remotely when you’re coming home late at night. Or it can just be convenient, giving you the option of locking and unlocking your door from your phone when the housekeeper or houseguest needs to be let in. Whatever the reason, the fact of the matter is that more and more home security companies are incorporating this type of technology, though not all.

In the case of ADT vs XFinity, their technological offerings are fairly similar. Both companies have apps for iOS and Android, and can send email and text alerts to customers in case of a situation. The companies’ cameras can provide live surveillance for their customers, and both companies also have remote arm or disarm features accessible via app. However, ADT offers geo-location services as well, with a GPS systems connected to your smartphone which can detect when your device is within your home or its immediate environs. As soon as the system detects the phone entering or leaving the house, the settings activate automatically: regulating the temperature in the room, turning light off or on, or sending automatic reminders if you forgot to set the alarm. This functionality is available with the company’s smart-home Pulse upgrade but not with its more standard packages.

A company’s reputation is comprised of many different elements, beyond just its reviews or financial strength. When judging this factor, consumers should think about existing clients’ testimonials regarding the whole purchase experience, from how well the company’s representatives answer questions or communicates important information, to whether complaints are handled promptly, attempting to satisfy the customer. This last point is particularly important, as it’s probably the most contentious interaction a customer will ever have with a company. 

ADT and XFinity both have very similar scores across organizations such as the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot—and neither of these are particularly good, to be honest. If you look closely, you’ll find that XFinity’s number of total reviews is considerably higher than ADT’s, despite having been in business considerably less time. This I because XFinity’s BBB rating is combined with its parent company’s, Comcast. These number can therefore be quite misleading, as both positive and negative reviews may relate to completely different functions, such as internet service or cable TV. 

Another consideration has to do with certifications. Though these may seem superfluous, the industry-standard certifications of monitoring centers given by the Underwriter’s Laboratory, Factory Mutual, or the Electronic Security Association, can all be excellent indicators of the center’s track record and ability to correctly handle emergency situations. In this case, ADT prominently displays its certifications from various different organizations, while XFinity does not.