ADT’s new DIY Blu Kit shows how far the major security company has fallen

ADT Blu is the newest 150-year-old security company DIY system,Available for self-installation with sensors, cameras and 2026 release of the ADT Plus app. I’ve tested Starter Kit ($249)A Blu Outdoor Camera ($89)) and Blue Video Doorbell ($109) To see what’s new. In theory, I’d love to see more Affordable security kits From ADT that does not require professional setup. In practice, it’s a disaster, especially compared to Great DIY security devices I tested this year.

The problem isn’t really that ADT Blu is competing with Matter’s budget-backed innovations; Like IKEA’s new smart security line or The latest sensors in Aqara. It also faces ADT’s tangled services and poor support, and is losing. This system more than any other system Previous ADT security I’ve testedIt shows why the security giant needs to change sooner rather than later.

ADT Blu Design: Direct Hardware

First, the good: There’s nothing noticeably wrong with the actual hardware in the ADT Blu. My kit comes with a hub, three door and window sensors, a motion sensor, and a 2K and 2K video doorbell External camera.

The central axis of the ADT is the same version I’ve been testing ADT Plus for a couple of years now. I generally like the design, which combines an illuminated touchpad for entering arm/disarm codes with a siren. There are also buttons to instantly call emergency services, as well as cellular backup support if you’re willing to pay an extra subscription for these features. HUB REQUIRED TO SUPPORT ALL ADDITIONAL DEVICES: Unlike some newer kits, you can’t use an existing Matter hub — like the HomePod Or echo display – As an alternative.

All additional hardware was easy to unpack and included everything necessary for installation, including screws or adhesive tape where applicable. There are no written instructions. You’ll have to use the app for setup steps (something I’ll discuss below), but there’s a quick start guide, and the sensors aren’t difficult to figure out.

Build quality was good, although I prefer some brands Longer and thinner door and window sensors Compared to the shorter ADT versions, since it’s easier to connect to my sometimes complex story. Once set up, basic sensor functions are accurate and quick to update with alerts and app history.

I was impressed by both cameras with their sturdy, rechargeable design, and I liked seeing the ADT upgrade to 2K resolution. In the past few years, ADT has relied on Google nest cameras for her collections, but these new releases feel like a strong shift towards her production. They can also detect people and packages, have an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view and two-way audio, all things that sound great on paper.

Then I delved into the installation process, and found that the quality of the device wasn’t backed by the software support it needed.

ADT Blu setup: Failures abound

The more you try the ADT Blu kit, the more things go wrong. The ADT Plus app had some bugs when I first tested it in 2024, but I thought there was a good chance it would improve over time. Instead, it got worse.

At first, it was little things. The ADT Plus app wouldn’t let me log in properly and sent weird error messages until I changed my password a few times. Once the sensors are installed, the app’s settings buttons refuse to indicate actions, so you can tap them repeatedly without knowing whether your changes take effect.

Then there are weird decisions like posting a confusing “System Problem”! A warning sign is when a door or window is currently open, which is completely normal In hot summer Or when guarding the inner rooms. There are also missing features: The door/window sensors are supposed to chime “any time the door or window sensors are opened or closed,” but I was never able to get that feature to work, no matter what I tried.

Then I tested the new ADT cameras, or tried to. Setup proved impossible because the ADT Plus app doesn’t have an option to add a camera where the instructions say it is (or anywhere else), and devices like the Blu video doorbell don’t have a QR code to scan to begin the process. Re-downloading the app, switching to the browser app, and restarting everything still results in the same issue.

I went to customer service to solve the problem. After a frustrating conversation with an AI assistant who couldn’t understand my problem, I spoke with a real person who couldn’t understand it either. So I set up a support call, where I explained to the representative that I couldn’t install my Blu cameras because, in fact, there was no camera installation option in the app.

The representative said this was likely a problem with the backend of my app, and directed me to the customer service number to fix it. This was the wrong number, but they directed me to a different number, where another support rep said “this is weird” multiple times and eventually opened another support ticket to try to fix my app in some unspecified way. It’s been a few days. I haven’t heard back from ADT, and I’m not hopeful.

In short, ADT Blu is broken, at least for me. From my experience, it’s not ready for consumer release and I wouldn’t wish customer support on anyone. Even if the problem is limited to certain people, I can’t recommend a system where you have to roll the dice to see if it will work for you.

This failure becomes more apparent when you experience something new DIY security devices This year it can be set up in minutes, work on multiple home platforms and offer intuitive customization, From cheap motion and door sensors from IKEA to Free magnetically mounted Eufy outdoor camera. Speaking of subscriptions, let’s talk about prices.

ADT Blu Subscriptions: A feed that can’t be beat

One advantage of ADT Blu is that you don’t need long-term ADT contracts to use it. However, there are subscription requirements that you should know before purchasing.

ADT Blu requires a $15 monthly monitoring plan To use. This plan will automatically renew after one month, but you can cancel it if you don’t want to pay. However, if you only have an ADT Blu camera, it looks like you can take advantage of the $10 Video Connect plan instead, which can also be canceled after a month.

The problem is that ADT has made canceling pretty much impossible if you want to use ADT Blu, especially with cameras. Plans allow for live video streaming, motion alerts, the ability to disable the security system when you’re away from home, and additional ADT Plus app features — all features generally necessary for a modern security system. You wouldn’t really want to use Blu without the monthly fee.

The closest comparison I can make is SimpliSafe self-monitoring plan (SimpliSafe is one of my top DIY picks if you don’t mind a subscription), which also includes requested features like push notifications and scheduled arming. But the SimpliSafe plan starts at just $10 per month, so the ADT version is more expensive and offers less overall.

Note that you can also upgrade to the Pro Protect ADT Blu plan, which adds professional monitoring services for $25. You can get the same thing with SimpliSafe for about $23, plus higher tiers like Active Guard outdoor monitoring that ADT doesn’t currently have.

No matter how you look at it, costs are a pain, even if everything in the Blu system works perfectly.

ADT Blue Final Thoughts

ADT’s self-installing Blu system shipped before it was ready for consumers. I can’t recommend it in its current state, although future updates may fix many of these issues.

However, even if everything is resolved in the coming months, ADT continues to fight a losing battle against outdated customer support and pricing. The company is less prepared than ever to handle the latest wave of diverse and free products DIY security systems From other companies such as Ikea, Aqara, Eufy, and Arlo.

Currently, the strength of the ADT brand lies in its familiarity and longstanding presence in the world of home security. How long will brand strength last when a company releases apps that don’t work and prices them higher than competitors’ better-performing alternatives?