ADT Control ® vs NorthStar Home
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ADT Control ®
This app provides a unified platform to control and monitor various smart home devices, including security systems, locks, lights, and thermostats. Users can manage their home environment remotely, receive alerts, and view video feeds from a single interface.
- Remote security system control
- Smart lock management
- Lighting and thermostat adjustment
- Garage door operation
- Live video monitoring
- Customizable alerts
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The new ADT Control app delivers on ADT’s commitment to provide new and innovative ways to help protect what matters most. More than a smart app, ADT Control app is the new interactive service that seamlessly connects the key devices in customers’ homes on one platform—so they work together and work smarter. ADT allows customers to control the security system, locks, lights, garage doors and thermostats, watch video and get alerts from a single screen.
NorthStar Home
Monitor and control your home or business remotely from your Apple devices. Manage security, view live video, and automate devices like lights and thermostats. Receive real-time notifications for important events.
- Real-time remote monitoring
- Interactive security control
- Live video streaming
- Home automation management
- Customizable push notifications
- Apple Watch integration
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With a NorthStar Home security system, you can monitor and control your home or business in real-time and from anywhere - from your iPhone, iPad, or your Apple Watch. NorthStar Home's interactive security, video monitoring, energy management, and home automation solutions give you instant awareness and remote control for the places you care about most. With Apple Watch support, your home is always at your fingertips, and on your wrist. Glances let you quickly see home status, and through the watch app you can control your key devices and even view live video from your home. Note: This app requires a compatible system and an interactive NorthStar Home service plan. Feature availability varies based on system, equipment, and service plan. Visit www.northstarhome.com for more information. Remote features: • See what’s happening at your property • Arm or disarm your security panel • Watch live video and recorded clips from your security cameras • Turn on or off lights • Set the ideal temperature • Lock or unlock doors • Search your complete system event history • And much more! With NorthStar Home, you can also receive real-time email, text message, and push notifications for the specific events that matter to you. Beyond important emergency related events, you can also immediately know when: Your kids get home from school
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ADT Control ® at 4.8 against NorthStar Home's 3.2. ADT Control ® also leads on ratings volume (495K vs 59) and chart position (#99 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ADT Control ® holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ADT Control ® has 495K ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of ADT Control ®'s written reviews are positive against 7% of NorthStar Home's.
ADT Control ® ships an update every 4 months, NorthStar Home every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ADT Control ® | NorthStar Home |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (495K ratings) — better | 3.2 (59 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 12.0% of reviews — better | 7.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 495K — better | 59 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #99 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 360 MB | 377 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ADT LLC | Northstar Alarm Services, LLC |
Customer experience
ADT Control ®
NorthStar Home
Bugs and requests
ADT Control ®
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent app freezes and crashes
- Inconsistent camera connectivity
- Inaccurate alarm status reporting
- Inability to change default camera screenshot
Requested features
5 requests- Panic button feature
- Ability to customize camera settings
- Improved video playback and storage
- Seamless integration with other smart home devices
- Automated arming/disarming based on location
NorthStar Home
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ADT Control ®
No in-app purchases
NorthStar Home
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ADT Control ® free?
Is NorthStar Home free?
Which has better reviews, ADT Control ® or NorthStar Home?
Do ADT Control ® or NorthStar Home have ads?
Which is updated more often, ADT Control ® or NorthStar Home?
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