What is Blue by ADT?
Blue by ADT is a wireless, do-it-yourself home and small-business security system. ADT is a well-known and large security firm that has been trading in the US for 150 years and operates nationwide, with Blue being their first step into DIY home security. Blue by ADT is a compelling product, providing cameras and sensors to monitor motion, doors, windows, flood, smoke, and temperature. All products link through your wi-fi system, prices are excellent, and professional 24/7 monitoring is available as an option.
The beauty of the Blue by ADT product is that there are no lock-in contracts; you buy your security system hardware and pay a monthly fee. You can cease payments when you need to and start them again when you wish. As a bonus, items like the cameras work independently or with any Lifeshield product, so you’re not locked into proprietary hardware. If you live in an apartment or like to keep on the move, you can easily pack up the system and take it with you. There’s no major drilling, wiring, or installation required.
The core of the Blue by ADT system is the ADT Smart Home Hub, which controls all other components. You then choose which components you wish to add, depending on where you live and the layout of your home. ADT uses a wireless technology called DECT, which stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. It provides almost three times the range of other wi-fi systems, making Blue by ADT ideal for large homes. In addition to the cameras, sensors, keypads, chimes, and keyfobs, you can buy Google Nest hubs to allow voice control of your system or connect to a range of other products, like Amazon Alexa.
A mobile app comes standard, allowing you to manage your security system remotely, monitor your cameras, and receive alerts on changes within your home. Professional monitoring is available using ADT-owned monitoring centers if you choose not to self-monitor. Emergency services are immediately dispatched if you press a panic button, or the monitoring center cannot speak to you. If you have a small business, Blue by ADT is ideal, although ADT advises that if your business area is over 5,000 square feet, you should contact them for a professional solution.
Blue By ADT
What popular features do you get with Blue by ADT?
- Mobile monitoring app
- First-month professional monitoring free
- No contracts
- No wiring or heavy drilling
- System easily relocatable
- No phone line required
- Video doorbell
- Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa compatible
- Night vision facial recognition cameras
- Smoke, flood & temperature monitoring
Who is Blue by ADT ideal for?
If you don’t wish to make permanent changes to your home by wiring and drilling, or you rent and wish to take the security system with you when you go, Blue by ADT is perfect. ADT does not offer an installation service with this product, so you need to be comfortable that you can set it up on your own, but the steps are simple to follow. Blue by ADT is particularly suited to larger homes given their technology allowing longer wi-fi transmission ranges.
Pros and Cons
- Backed by a reputable national security firm
- Great for larger homes
- Professional monitoring is available at a good monthly price
- A large number of integrations with other software systems
- No contracts required
- ADT provides no installation service
- Self-monitoring relies solely on wi-fi, without cellular backup
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Cove Security
- Google Assistant and Alexa integration
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How much does Blue by ADT cost?
*based on information provided by the vendor. Actual cost may vary.
You can choose to build your own system, which begins with the ADT Smart Home Hub, the mobile app, and one month’s free professional monitoring. The starting price is $179.99, although the hub is no good without sensors. You can select sensors and cameras and build your system, monitoring the price as you go.
If you wish to start with a pre-built package, you have three to choose between, the Starter, Starter-Plus, and Premium. The Starter package costs $219.99, which gets you the hub, mobile app, and one month’s free monitoring, plus two entry sensors, a yard sign, and window stickers.
The Starter-Plus costs $299.99 and gives you all in the Starter package plus two more entry sensors and two motion sensors. The Premium package costs $419.99 and adds two more entry sensors and a keypad to what you’d receive in the Starter-Plus package.
If you buy any of the packages, you can choose to add more sensors, cameras, or accessories at an additional price. If you choose the professional monitoring option, it’s only $19.99 a month, which is cheap compared to other similar systems.
Customer Support is available at Blue by ADT
Customers can access comprehensive web-based equipment setup guides, troubleshooting, and self-help articles. For customer support, there is a web chat service, an email address, or a phone number to ring. Clients are generally complimentary about the customer service they receive.
Conclusion
We’re impressed with this product from ADT. It offers all you’d expect from a self-install security system, integrates with Google, Amazon, and other providers, and is backed by one of the best-known names in US security firms. It gives you peace of mind knowing that if you pay for the professional monitoring, it’s done by an ADT monitoring center, not outsourced to a contractor. Better yet, the monthly monitoring cost is much cheaper than other comparable systems.
One of the complaints from other systems clients is that it can be difficult to get coverage for the various sensors throughout your home. Blue by ADT uses a wi-fi technology that gives you almost three times the range of most standard systems, making it great if you have a large home.
We’re particularly impressed that you get not only night vision from the cameras, which is standard, but facial recognition also. The cameras will also push notifications to your phone if motion is detected, allowing you to see footage of what triggered their sensors.
Blue by ADT is an impressive package, at a good price and backed by a reputable security service. We highly recommend you give them a try.
