A recent review at Maximum PC compares the differences between ADT Pulse, FrontPoint Security and Vivint – three well known security alarm and home automation systems that offer similar features to suretyCAM’s 2GIG Alarm.com system. In this article we’ll compare ADT Pulse and Vivint to suretyCAM and show why suretyCAM gives you a better security and home automation system at a better value.
The comparison chart shows suretyCAM vs ADT Pulse vs Vivint in both features and pricing. The pricing is based on similar systems with 1 control panel, 3 door/window contacts, 2 wireless cameras, 1 smoke detector, 1 thermostat, 1 plug-in lamp module and 1 door lock.
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suretyCAM $348 |
ADT Pulse $1,599 |
Vivint. $348 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Monitoring Fee | $57.95 / month | $57.99 / month | $68.99 / month |
| Contract Length | 36 months | 36 months | 42 months |
| iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry |  |
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| Crash & Smash Protection | |
- | |
| Instant Notifications | |
|
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| Home Automation | |
|
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| Z-Wave Lights and Thermostats | |
|
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| Z-Wave Doors Locks | |
- | |
| LCD Touch Screen | |
|
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| Camera Motion Detection | |
- | |
| Outdoor Cameras Available | |
- | - |
| High Definition Cameras Available | |
- | - |
| Door Frame Reinforcement Available | |
- | - |
| Window Reinforcement Available | |
- | - |
| Integrated Car Alarm Available | |
- | - |
The ADT Pulse system does not include a door lock because ADT does not support door locks.
Alarm.com was introduced in 2000 as the first remotely accessible home security alarm service. ADT Pulse was introduced 10 years later, in 2010, in an attempt to compete with the hugely successful remote interactive services from Alarm.com. Pulse is a security alarm with a 7″ LCD touch screen, all the usual security alarm sensors and Z-Wave control of lights and thermostats. It does not support controlling Z-Wave door locks. Pulse does not come with a wireless GSM communicator to report alarm signals via the cell phone towers which stops burglars from defeating your alarm system by cutting your land line telephone. A GSM backup module can be purchased in addition but it’s not cheap, ADT charges $300 for it.
The best way to defeat a home security alarm is to kick in the front door and immediately find the main security alarm panel during the 30 or 45 seconds while the system is waiting for you to enter your code to disarm, and destroy the alarm system before it calls out to the police. suretyCAM’s Alarm.com service has a feature called crash and smash protection which is able to detect this type of attack and call the police anyway, ADT Pulse does not have this capability.
ADT Pulse has security cameras just like suretyCAM but the ADT cameras do not support motion detection like suretyCAM’s cameras do. suretyCAM also offers high definition security cameras while ADT Pulse is limited to the picture quality of standard definition television.
A major difference between ADT Pulse and suretyCAM Alarm.com is the smart phone app and website for interacting with the system remotely. Alarm.com’s site has been honed and improved over the past 11 years while ADT’s interactive capabilities are less refined and more rudimentary, meaning it takes you more work to get things done when using your ADT Pulse system than it does with suretyCAM’s Alarm.com system.
Vivint was originally known as APX Alarm. Earlier this year they changed their name to Vivint (which means live intelligently) to reflect their push into the home automation market. Vivint is known for it’s summer sales program in which is sends college kids around doing door to door sales during summer break.
The technology Vivint uses is identical to the technology used by suretyCAM. Alarm.com provides the Internet remote control and 2GIG makes the equipment, although Vivint rebrands the 2GIG equipment so it looks like their own. Both suretyCAM and Vivint are far ahead of ADT Pulse in terms of technology. Some differences between suretyCAM and Vivint are
- When you deal with suretyCAM you’re dealing with a trained security engineer, when you deal with with Vivint you’re usually dealing with a college student who will be back in class in a few months and not thinking about your security at all.
- suretyCAM’s D Fence helps protect you with a lot more than just an alarm system, such as door/window reinforcement and integrated car alarms. Vivint is limited to home alarms and home automation.
- suretyCAM is headquartered right here in Columbus Ohio so you get a local company with with top notch customer service who is far more motivated to keep you happy.
The Maximum PC article says Vivint has become the company to beat. I think suretyCAM has them beat.
In conclusion, ADT Pulse is advertised the most, offers the least functional technology and costs the most. Vivint sells door to door better than anyone, has better technology than ADT Pulse and costs slightly less. suretyCAM is your own local security company right here in Columbus Ohio, offers the best technology and costs the least. That’s what I call a great value!
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Did your rep tell you why Vivint changed their name from APX? I’ll give you a hint… it wasn’t because they wanted to leverage their great reputation. I appreciate your advice but I prefer honest and assertive over humble and out of business. Best Regards, Ryan
About the Author:
Ryan Boder founded suretyCAM with a single goal – to shake up the security industry and show customers that it can be done differently, that it can be done better. The security industry needs a shot in the arm. Ryan brings a fresh perspective that is based on common sense as well as advanced engineering. His background as a software, electrical and computer engineer developing top secret military systems has given him the ideal technical foundation on which to build the next generation of security and automation services. suretyCAM is not a sales organization, it is a security engineering firm owned and managed by engineers. Our mission is to help you protect yourself by providing you with the tools and the knowledge to do so. Ryan’s experience in home security includes designing and installing custom security systems for the high-end residences of the rich and famous. Millionaires and even billionaires have trusted Ryan to design their home security systems and now he’s applying those same concepts to your home. Receiving a B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, from Carnegie Mellon University and a M.S. degree in Computer Engineering, from Ohio State University, Ryan’s work has been featured in the United States Army and Navy systems as well as Israeli, French, South Korean and Italian defense systems. Ryan’s areas of expertise are security and automation systems, the cohesive integration of heterogeneous devices, QoS in wireless networks, instrumentation radar and motion control, distributed system design, real-time operating systems, reliable embedded systems, discrete event simulators, Internet and web based software, and project management. Contact Ryan at Ryan.Boder@suretyCAM.com or 855-787-3891 x 500.