ADT Terms of Service

Last updated: January 2026 | Reviewed: February 2026

Industry leader with extensive monitoring network, but among the most restrictive contract terms including 36-month minimums and 75% early termination fees.

Grade D-

Bottom Line: ADT's terms heavily favor the company with industry-leading lock-in provisions. The 36-month minimum contract with 75% remaining balance as early termination fee means customers could owe thousands to exit. Liability limitations cap damages at a few months' monitoring fees, even for complete monitoring failures. Auto-renewal provisions extend contracts automatically.

Category Scores

Contract Terms 15/100

Cancellation Rights 20/100

Liability Provisions 25/100

Dispute Resolution 38/100

Transparency 40/100

Key Findings

⚠ 36-Month Minimum Contract

ADT requires a minimum 36-month contract for most monitoring services. This is among the longest in the industry and locks customers into paying for three full years regardless of service satisfaction.

"The initial term of this Agreement is thirty-six (36) months beginning on the installation date. After the initial term, this Agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms."

⚠ 75% Early Termination Fee

Canceling before the contract ends requires paying 75% of the remaining monthly fees. For a customer one year into a three-year contract at $50/month, this means paying $900 just to exit.

"If you cancel this Agreement before the end of the initial term, you agree to pay ADT 75% of the remaining monthly monitoring charges."

⚠ Severely Limited Liability

ADT caps its liability at the amount equal to the monitoring fees paid in the six months before the incident. Even if monitoring completely fails during a break-in, maximum damages are limited to a few hundred dollars.

"ADT's liability for any loss or damage arising from ADT's performance or failure to perform... shall be limited to an amount equal to six months of monitoring service charges."

⚠ Auto-Renewal Trap

Contracts automatically renew for one-year terms unless you provide written notice 30 days before expiration. Many customers discover they're locked in for another year when trying to switch providers.

"This Agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless either party gives written notice of non-renewal at least 30 days before the end of the then-current term."

Comparison: Home Security Providers

Feature	ADT	SimpliSafe	Vivint
Minimum Contract	36 months	None	42-60 months
Early Termination	75% remaining	None	Equipment balance
Liability Cap	6 months fees	Limited	Limited
Auto-Renewal	12 months	Monthly	12 months
Equipment Ownership	ADT owns	You own	Financed

Recommendation

For Homeowners: ADT's extensive monitoring network is offset by some of the industry's most restrictive terms. Consider no-contract alternatives like SimpliSafe if flexibility matters. If choosing ADT, negotiate for shorter contract terms and understand the true cost of early exit.

Before Signing: Calculate total cost over the full contract period. Understand that switching providers mid-contract will be expensive. Document the installation date as it determines your contract end date. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before contract end to evaluate renewal.