# Alarm.com vs ADT Pulse ®

The clearest difference is monetization model: Alarm.com at free against ADT Pulse ®'s subscription. Alarm.com also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months) and chart position (#142 vs unranked). ADT Pulse ®'s advantage is ratings volume (851K vs 141K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Alarm.com against 4.8 for ADT Pulse ®. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ADT Pulse ® has 851K ratings behind it against 141K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of Alarm.com's written reviews are positive against 28% of ADT Pulse ®'s.

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, ADT Pulse ® every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alarm.com | ADT Pulse ® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (141K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649/reviews) | **[4.8 (851K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adt-pulse/id355736423/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 141K | **851K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.0% of reviews | **28.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | — |
| Size | 438 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alarm.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/315010652) | [ADT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/355736426) |

## What reviewers say

### Alarm.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649)

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Connect and protect your home or business with a unified system. Remotely control security, locks, lights, and cameras, and receive intelligent alerts for crime, fire, or water damage. Automate routines and manage your property from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote property control, Intelligent alerts and live video, Security automation, Smart lock and light control, Video camera monitoring, Two-way doorbell communication

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and intuitive app
- 🔒 Provides good security and monitoring
- 👍 Easy to use and control home devices
- 💡 Helpful for remote home management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues and app crashes
- 🔋 Unreliable notifications and alerts
- 👎 Poor customer service and technical support
- 🕰️ Slow response times for arming/disarming

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent display of system status
- Inability to update WiFi settings remotely
- Unexpected resets of user preferences
- Delayed or missing video recordings

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification sounds
- Ability to bypass specific sensors
- Improved video quality and reliability
- Integration with other smart home platforms


### ADT Pulse ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adt-pulse/id355736423)

Control your home or business security and automation system remotely. Manage cameras, lights, locks, and thermostats, and receive alerts for peace of mind. Arm or disarm your system, adjust settings, and set custom automations from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote system arming/disarming, Control lights, locks, and thermostats, View live surveillance camera feeds, Receive security and arrival alerts, Set custom automations and schedules, Remote door lock/unlock

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable system
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🔒 Provides peace of mind
- 🚀 Convenient remote access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues with app
- 🐛 Slow camera feed loading
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 💰 Expensive service

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to security system
- Camera feeds frequently going offline
- Arm/disarm functions not working reliably
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full video history
- Geofencing for automatic arming/disarming
- Tighter integration with smart home devices
- Faster app response times


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alarm.com free?

Alarm.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ADT Pulse ® free?

ADT Pulse ® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Alarm.com or ADT Pulse ®?

ADT Pulse ® is rated higher. Alarm.com averages 4.7 out of 5 from 141K ratings, while ADT Pulse ® averages 4.8 from 851K ratings.

### Do Alarm.com or ADT Pulse ® have ads?

Neither Alarm.com nor ADT Pulse ® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alarm.com or ADT Pulse ®?

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, and ADT Pulse ® every 3 months. Most recently, Alarm.com was updated on September 24, 2026 and ADT Pulse ® on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*