What Sets Vivint Apart?
Protecting over a million customers across the United States and Canada, Vivint brings a fresh take to the home security landscape with innovative technology. The company offers a wide-variety of smart home and security solutions to make security monitoring easy. Vivint also scores high on pricing, packages and installation. Vivint also gives customers the ability to customize their security systems instead of choosing a pre-made package. Choose from the essentials for intrusion protection, like motion sensors and glass break detectors, or have more convenience with home automation devices like smart thermostats, smart locks, a garage door controller and more. With Vivint, you can expect to pay at least $599.99 for your equipment while Vivint monitoring ranges from $29.99 – $39.99/mo.
Vivint Home Security Review: Our Take
7.7 out of 10
Vivint: Our Recommended Pick for Innovative Features
Vivint has innovative home security solutions as well as smart home features that make the company stand out among other competitors. We go into our Vivint security review of six categories: price, stand-out features, equipment, installation and trial period.
Vivint Packages
- Vivint Starter Kit
- Vivint Smart Sensor
- Vivint Motion Sensor
- Recessed Door Sensor
- Glass Break Detector
- CO Detector
- FireFighter
- Flood/Freeze/Heat Sensor
- Panic Pendant
- Kwikset Smart Lock
- Garage Door Controller
- Element Thermostat
- Nest Learning Thermostat
- Lamp Module
- Vivint Doorbell Camera
- Vivint Outdoor Camera
- Vivint Ping Camera
- Vivint Smart Drive
Our take
Vivint’s Smart Security Service comes with everything you’ll need for basic intrusion detection and home environmental monitoring. This monitoring service includes the Vivint Starter Kit, a motion sensor, recessed door sensor, smoke detector, panic pendant, and much more. The Smart Home Service monitoring plan costs $29.99/mo.
Package Features
Our take
Vivint’s Smart Home Service comes with everything found in the Smart Security Service monitoring plan. You’ll have basic intrusion detection, home environmental monitoring, video surveillance, and home automation. This monitoring service includes a number of cameras and smart devices to include: the Vivint Ping Indoor Camera, Vivint Doorbell Camera, Nest Learning Thermostat, and much more. The Smart Home Service monitoring plan costs $39.99/mo.
Package Features
Compare Vivint Packages
Monitoring price starts at | $29.99/mo. | $39.99/mo. |
---|---|---|
Motion detection | Yes | Yes |
Home environmental monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Security cameras | No | Yes |
Smart home devices | No | Yes |
Video monitoring options | No | Yes |
Compare Vivint to Other Providers
Monitoring price starts at | $29.99/mo. | $38.99/mo. | $44.99/mo. |
---|---|---|---|
Installation | Professional | Professional | DIY |
Monitoring options | Professional | Professional | Professional |
Minimum contract length | 42-60 months – or pay equipment in full | 12 months | No contract required |
Guarantee | None | $500 Theft Protection Guarantee | None |
Warranty | 120-Day Equipment Warranty | Option to extend Lifetime Warranty | 3-Year Limited Equipment Warranty |
Our Review of Vivint
Vivint is a great traditional home security service that offers all of the smart home integrations you need at an affordable price. You’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of equipment to cover smart home, environmental and security needs with one provider.
However, there are a few factors to keep in mind. If you don’t pay for your equipment upfront, you’ll be locked into a 42-60 month contract. Vivint’s service also comes with mixed reviews about customer service, app functionality and the system’s overall ease of use. And, unlike other home security providers, Vivint doesn’t come with a customer satisfaction guarantee in case you’re unhappy with your service. They only have a three-day return policy.
On the bright side, Vivint makes picking a package easy based on your needs and offers affordable monitoring. You’ll also have hassle-free professional installation and help from their technicians.
Pros and Cons of Vivint
Pros
- Offers Vivint Flex Pay program, which gives you an easy financing plan to spread out payments for your home-automation and home-security equipment.
- No activation or installation fees if you opt for Vivint Flex Pay.
- Professional installation ensures you won’t have issues due to a DIY installation process.
Cons
- Expensive monitoring and installation fees if you don’t opt for Vivint Flex Pay.
- Long contract periods make it difficult to get out from under your agreement if you aren’t happy with the service.
- Mixed customer service Vivint reviews mean you could end up unhappy with the way your account is handled.
Sources
FAQ
What is the best Vivint plan?
The Vivint Smart Home Service Monitoring Plan is only $1 more per month, but it covers your needs for everything from basic home intrusion protection to environmental monitoring and home automation. Remember that home automation features aren’t just convenient, they also increase your home’s security. For example, smart lighting deters burglary by giving the appearance that someone is home, while smart locks allow you to grant temporary access to your home without leaving a key under the mat.
Can Vivint be hacked?
Because Vivint home security systems are highly encrypted, it is extremely unlikely that your security system will be hacked. However, there have been some reported incidents of Vivint systems being hacked, so you need to do everything you can to eliminate the possibility. This includes regularly checking your system for hackers and noting anything suspicious. If the positions of your cameras change or you notice strange noises from your cameras, you might want to do some more digging. Both are signs you’ve been hacked. You should also keep an eye on your system settings to make sure no changes have been made.
Is Vivint better than ADT?
This answer depends almost entirely on what your needs are in a home security system. While ADT Home Security has been around for a long time, Vivint is giving ADT a run for the money thanks to the flexible contracts and monitoring fees, which are lower than ADTs.