Pricing is the next most important factor outside performance and equipment offerings. Brinks has the lowest monitoring price, starting at just $29/mo. Its equipment starts at $199 with the Smart Security Essential Package. A three-year contract is required if you choose to finance a Brinks security system. Vivint’s monthly prices start at $29.99. Vivint’s equipment cost is higher—you’ll have to pay at least $599.99 in equipment to use Vivint’s service. This can be financed into a 42- or 60-month agreement, but this higher price point gives Brinks the slight edge here.

Brinks offers DIY installation for all of its equipment, and the average person can have the system up and running in half an hour or less. That said, you can opt for professional installation from a local dealer if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. On the other hand, Vivint requires professional installation. The flat rate is $49.99 (which isn’t included in the initial costs), but it can go even higher than that if you have more sophisticated equipment that needs installation. For the budget-conscious buyer, Brinks is the way to go. Saving that extra money by installing the system yourself can go a long way.

Vivint requires a 42- or 60-month contract and offers only three days to return the security system without penalty. That hardly qualifies as a trial period and makes it difficult for potential customers to decide whether they want to stick with the system. Brinks requires a three-year contract, but it also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. While that isn’t the longest trial period available for home security systems, it’s a long enough time to get a feel for whether Brinks is the right choice for you.

Both Vivint and Brinks have powerful home security equipment, but Vivint excels in one particular area: home automation. While Brinks does offer products like a smart thermostat, smart lock, Vivint has a larger lineup. With Vivint, customers can choose between two different smart thermostats, purchase a lamp module, and garage door controller. Vivint’s options give it an extra appeal for the tech-savvy buyer in today’s world.

Both Vivint and Brinks offer financing options to help customers with purchasing a home security system. Vivint provides financing through FlexPay and offers up to 60 months of 0% APR for qualifying customers. Brinks offers financing through Green Sky Credit with options of 0% APR for up to 36 months.

Both Vivint and Brinks offer a variety of different equipment, with only slight differences in how these pieces of equipment operate. Brinks provides four main package options: the Nest Secure Package, the Smart Security Essentials package, The Smart Security Complete package, and the Smart Security Ultimate package. Vivint doesn’t offer any preset packages, but you can choose from a variety of equipment to include sensors, security cameras, home environmental monitoring equipment, and smart home equipment. In the end, Brinks’ larger variety of package options makes it the better choice for the buyer that wants an easy-to-buy, all-in-one solution.