Blue by ADT Equipment and Compatibility
Blue by ADT is a no-contract, DIY offering from the world's most recognizable security company. The DIY installation cuts equipment costs drastically and saves you the trouble of scheduling service appointments.
While it doesn't have as many equipment options and services as professionally installed ADT systems, Blue by ADT offers plenty of coverage for most homes. We're big fans of its support for third-party smart home devices—especially Z-Wave.
Here's a quick guide to the equipment options and prices you can expect from a Blue by ADT system. Check out our full Blue by ADT review if you want more information about its monitoring, mobile app, installation, and customer service.
Blue by ADT-compatible equipment in this list
Blue by ADT hub and sensors
Every Blue by ADT starter kit comes with a hub that includes a built-in keypad for arming and disarming your system—with more expensive plans including sensors for doors, windows, and motion. All of the kits are customizable with extra sensors to fit your situation (a sensor for every window, perhaps?).
The Blue by ADT Hub manages your system, tracks connected sensors, and calls professional monitoring for assistance during an alarm event (if you decide to pay for monitoring). It includes a 24-hour battery and cellular backup to keep your system going during a power outage—the cellular backup requires a subscription.
By connecting your hub to Wi-Fi, you can use the Blue by ADT app on your mobile device and connect your security system to smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant*, and IFTTT.
| Equipment |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $24.99 | $14.99 | $34.99 |
| Purpose | Control system and settings, communicate with monitoring center, arm/disarm system, backup battery | Watches for changes in infrared light to detect motion | Uses magnets to detect when a door or window opens/closes | Detects when water leaks and flooding complete an electrical circuit |
Info current as of 03/24/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
In addition to the hub, Blue by ADT sells three sensors: motion detectors, flood sensors, and entry sensors. These sensors are affordable additions to your system and help it cover homes of any size, but you don't have as many options as most other DIY security systems. If you want different types of devices in your system, you can buy one of Blue by ADT's security cameras or a third-party smart home product.
Blue by ADT does not work with other types of ADT equipment.
Blue by ADT security cameras
Blue by ADT has a robust selection of security cameras that cover indoors, outdoors, and the porch. These cameras aren't too different from competitors like Ring and Wyze, but the Blue Indoor Camera is a bit more expensive than similar indoor-only cameras.
We like that you can use the cameras without paying for professional monitoring. Still, Blue by ADT doesn't include video storage in the professional monitoring plan (beyond the free 24-hour cloud storage with every camera). If you want extra storage without a subscription, you can put a microSD card in the Blue Indoor Camera or Blue Wireless Outdoor Camera to keep the local video.
Learn more in our ADT Blue Wireless Outdoor Camera review.
Info current as of 03/24/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Blue by ADT sells two accessories for its security cameras: Blue Extender + Chime ($49.99) and an extra rechargeable battery ($39.99) for the Blue Wireless Outdoor Camera. The Blue Extender + Chime increases the Wi-Fi range of the cameras, but we like it more for its ability to act as an extra siren or doorbell chime to tell you when a camera detects movement.
Third-party smart home devices that work with Blue by ADT
Whether you pay for a Blue by ADT plan or monitor on your own, you can round off your system with smart home devices from third-party manufacturers. You can use some of these devices (Z-Wave) in the Blue by ADT app, while others work independently to control your Blue by ADT gear through smart speakers and voice commands.
Z-Wave
Blue by ADT doesn't sell many sensors and devices compared to other DIY security systems, so Z-Wave devices are the best way to add more gadgets to your system. It works with many Z-Wave devices, including smart lights, smart outlets, smart locks, smart thermostats, and garage door openers.
There are some limitations with Z-Wave on Blue by ADT systems—you won't find support for door sensors, motion sensors, or flood sensors (basically devices Blue by ADT already sells, which isn't competitive for other brands but alternatively might eliminate compatibility issues for vital sensors).
Amazon Alexa
(4th Gen)
†Amazon.com list price as of 03/19/2021 at 12:19 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
By linking Amazon Alexa to Blue, you add voice control to your lights and doors. You can also arm your system. This doesn't directly enhance your security system as much as it links it to your Alexa system for a dizzying amount of smart home product possibilities and extra convenience.
Having Alexa control the show is generally the better play for using everything in one app. Still, you need the Blue by ADT app to add new devices and change settings beyond Alexa's simple voice commands.
Google Assistant
Similar to Alexa, Google Assistant adds voice controls and compatibility with a variety of smart home devices. The spoken commands are essentially the same, so it mostly depends on whether you prefer Google Assistant or Alexa.
IFTTT
Using IFTTT with Blue by ADT opens up compatibility beyond typical smart home products, but it's very niche. The main argument for using IFTTT is if you own a product that's not compatible with your system through Alexa or Google Assistant (or if you don't use them at all).
Blue by ADT's website has several examples of using IFTTT to make your system work with Philips Hue, Lutron, Sonos, and iRobot. We like the idea of a Roomba vacuuming only when your Blue by ADT system is in away mode.
Blue by ADT says it's working on adding Apple HomeKit compatibility soon—but didn't mention a specific timeline.
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*Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
†Amazon.com list price as of 03/24/2021 at 11:50 a.m. (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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