Vivint Smart Home Security: Comprehensive Review & Costs

Whether you own a home or an investment property, it’s crucially important to provide maximum security and safety for yourself, your family, your tenants/guests, your pets, and your property. Vivint is one of the most popular names in the smart home security industry in the US market.

In this article, we will review the Vivint smart home security system including how it works, what products and services are available, what integrations Vivint offers, how much it costs, and what the most important pros and cons are. We will also compare Vivint to seven well-known alternatives to provide owners with more options to choose from. 

Ultimately, we will answer is the Vivint security system is worth it? In brief, yes, Vivint is worth it as it provides all must-have features of a smart and secure home from a single platform.

What Vivint Is

Vivint Smart Home Inc. is a leader in the provision of smart home security in the US and Canadian market. Keith Nellesen and Todd Pedersen founded the company in 1999, with headquarters in Provo, UT. Vivint is a subsidiary of NRG Energy.

The company offers all-in-one smart home security systems that are custom designed and built to meet the exact needs of every home and every homeowner. They bring together smart home features and security tools into an integrated system that works seamlessly to provide homeowners and real estate investors alike with a smart, well-protected property.

Vivint’s mission is to not simply detect and address safety and security issues when they occur, but to actually prevent them from happening altogether. That’s why their home security systems focus on proactive protection and prevention.

How Vivint Works

Getting started with a Vivint home security system is easy. Homeowners and real estate investors who are interested in the Vivint services should follow these steps:

• Fill in an online form on the Vivint website : You can get in touch with Vivint and get started.
• Have a phone call with a Vivint Smart Home Pro: You need to answer a few questions over a call with a Vivint professional so that they can understand the exact needs of your home and your personal requirements.
• Design a customized system for the home: The Vivint team will customize a smart security system for your property, starting with the Vivint Smart Hub, Vivint Security Sensors, and 24/7 monitoring. They’ll choose the most appropriate cameras, door locks, and other smart home products.
• Professionally install the smart home security system: A Vivint technician who is certified, trained, and knowledgeable will schedule a time, install the system in your home, set it up, ensure that everything is working, show you how to use the system, and clean up.
• Sign up for Vivint 24/7 monitoring services: You can choose a monthly home monitoring package ranging from smart security monitoring to smart home video monitoring to ensure that the safety and security of your property are well taken care of.

Vivint’s Cancellation Policy acknowledges that sometimes customers might need to cancel their services because of unexpected and unfortunate circumstances. In case of extenuating circumstances, customers can call the company to see if they qualify for a cancellation.

Vivint also offers the option to take your smart home security system with you when you move to a new home, both within the same city or across the country.

How Much Vivint Costs

There are two costs associated with getting a Vivint smart home security system: 1) The onetime cost of the security equipment which includes installation and 2) The recurring monthly fee for 24/7 smart security monitoring.

Vivint does not provide a range of prices for the smart home security systems provided by them as the cost depends on the specific home, the focus on smart home or security or both, the number and type of selected devices, and others. Homeowners and investors will get a quote when they talk to a Vivint professional to discuss the specific needs and requirements of their home.

The Vivint system installation and activation fees are included in the overall start-up cost, so owners don’t need to budget for that.

The cost of a Vivint smart home security system equipment can be paid upfront or financed through one of Vivint’s third-party financing partners.

Vivint provides 24/7 home monitoring services for properties that use their systems only; they do not offer this service for homes with other security systems. Only monthly subscriptions are available, starting at $19.99 plus required equipment purchase, so the minimum monthly cost adds up to $29.99. The minimum qualifying system purchase is $599.99. This number can serve as an estimate of what upfront equipment cost homeowners can expect.

Vivint offers three monthly monitoring packages:

• Smart Security Monitoring: Starting at $29.99/month
• Smart Home Monitoring: Starting at $39.99/month
• Smart Home Video Monitoring: Starting at $49.99/month

Vivint Security Products

Vivint offers several different product categories to provide a smart and secure home experience.

These Vivint smart home security products include:

Vivint Cameras

One of the most important features of a secure home is the presence of security cameras. Vivint security cameras come with a smart built-in threat detection and deterrence system which allows them to detect genuine threats and scare away trespassers with light and signal. This means that these cameras do not simply record crime (as most competitors), but proactively prevent crime from happening.

The key features of the Vivint cameras include unmatched video quality, intelligent smart detection (when a package arrives or a thief lurks) and alerts, face detection, 180x180 degree view field, and weather-resistant technology. There is also continuous video recording with footage stored in the Vivint Smart Drive for 30 days.

Vivint offers a few different security cameras including doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras, spotlight cameras, and indoor cameras. The three types of outdoor security cameras come with various features to provide crime detection and prevention. The indoor cameras allow homeowners to not only protect their home but also to connect with and communicate with family members and pets.

Vivint Security Sensors

The second must-have device in a home security system is security sensors. Vivint security sensors are designed for every entry point in order to monitor both doors and windows and protect homes from intruders.

Vivint provides three main types of security sensors:

• Vivint door and window sensors know who’s coming and going, detect unexpected motion, sound an alarm, and send an alert to both the homeowner and the Vivint 24/7 monitoring team that is ready to react if needed.
• Vivint motion sensors use infrared technology to detect body heat. In this way, they can trigger a motion alarm, notify the homeowner, and alert the monitoring team. They can also communicate directly with Vivint smart thermostats to adjust temperature, smart lighting to turn off lights, and security cameras to activate recording.
• Vivint glass break sensors have three-level sensitivity and dual-shatter recognition to detect glass breaking by an intruder rather than by accident in order to sound an alarm and send instant notifications.

Vivint Safety Alarms

Besides detecting security and safety incidents, an excellent system should set off required alarms. Vivint safety alarms use light and signal to scare away potential intruders and to protect against fire, carbon monoxide, and flood. As soon as an alarm sounds, the system sends a notification to the homeowner and the Vivint monitoring team. The owner is connected with the team to decide if emergency personnel need to be sent.

Together with the sensors discussed above, Vivint provides a few types of detectors:

• Vivint smoke and carbon monoxide combo detectors protect against both fires and carbon monoxide leaks. This device detects threats early, uses the app to send alerts, and communicates with the Smart Hub to shut off the HVAC system to stop the spread of fire flames or turn on the HVAC fan to clear the carbon monoxide.
• Vivint water sensors identify water leaks and standing water, send instant alerts, and connect homeowners with emergency water mitigation services if needed. In this way, the sensor prevents one of the most costly home damage causes.

Vivint Smart Home Control

The Vivint smart home and security tools can be controlled through the Vivint Smart Hub available as a mobile app as well. This smart home control panel allows homeowners to manage all aspects of their smart home from a single place. This includes but is not limited to arming the security system, locking and unlocking for visitors, communicating with household members, viewing camera video footage, and speaking to Vivint monitoring team and customer support.

Vivint Smart Lock

The Vivint smart home system works with Kwikset smart locks to not only ensure that the front door is secure but also to provide access to smart home features. With the front door smart lock, homeowners can use up to 30 unique access codes to let friends and family in and monitor who goes in and out of their door. This makes this security system a good option for landlords and Airbnb hosts too.

Owners can control the smart lock and garage door controller remotely to instantly let visitors or delivery people in without preset access codes. Once they leave, owners can lock behind them.

Additionally, the smart lock can automatically turn off lights, adjust the thermostat, and arm the security system.

Garage Door Control

The Vivint garage door control allows homeowners to open and close the garage door remotely, from their phone. In this way, they can easily access their garage or let visitors in and out. The garage door control can be voice activated through an integration with a smart home system and can close the garage door automatically when using the Vivint car guard.

Vivint Smart Thermostat

The Vivint smart thermostat helps property owners maintain a comfortable temperature inside their home while saving energy. The thermostat syncs with the Vivint sensors to automatically adjust the heating or cooling based on the preset preferences. This includes turning on, off, up, and down. Furthermore, the temperature can be controlled remotely through instant access via the mobile app.

Vivint Smart Lighting

The Vivint smart lighting feature allows homeowners to control the lights of their home from the same app where they monitor and ensure home security. The Vivint system combines Philips Hue smart light bulbs and Vivint smart plugs to deliver this option. Owners can turn on and off lights through the app or with their voice, and they can also choose settings to automatically switch on and off of the lights of their home.

Vivint Car Guard

The Vivint car guard allows customers to protect not only their home but also their vehicle. The GPS technology tracks the exact car location at all times and can send notifications when the vehicle moves to know when someone from your family is on the go. It also detects when a car is bumped, towed, or stolen and sends notifications. In addition, the Vivint car guard detects the exact issue when the engine light comes on. Importantly, this device syncs with the rest of the Vivint smart home security system parts to provide an extra level of safety for your vehicle.

Vivint Solar

The Vivint smart solar energy system allows homeowners to generate their own renewable energy. This gives access to clean, low-cost, guaranteed energy. Vivint provides a 25-year production guarantee. The solar energy system includes solar panels, solar batteries, and solar inverters. Similar to the Vivint smart home security system, the solar energy system is designed and customized based on each home’s size and features.

Vivint Security Services

Vivint provides three different services:

• Creating a smart, secure home: Designing, customizing, and creating a smart security system for all types of homes is at the core of the Vivint business.
• Installing a smart home security system: As part of the provision of customized home security systems, Vivint installs all smart and security devices, sets them up, ensures that they work properly, and teaches homeowners to use them in the best possible way.
• 24/7 home monitoring: The long-term services which Vivint offers to homeowners are related to constant home monitoring to ensure that their property is always safe and secure. Vivint monitoring and support specialists monitor homes and are ready to respond as soon as an alarm is triggered. There are three different plans: Smart Security Monitoring starting at $29.99/month, Smart Home Monitoring starting at $39.99/month, and Smart Home Video Monitoring starting at $49.99/month.

Vivint Security Integrations

Vivint integrates seamlessly with both Google Home and Amazon Echo. This means that homeowners can use Google Assistant and Alexa to control and automate the Vivint smart home security system. Voice control of locks, temperature, and lighting is also possible through these integrations.

In addition, the Vivint smart home security system integrates with Nest thermostats. In case your home already has a Nest thermostat, there is no need to change it with the Vivint one.

Reviews of Vivint Security

There are thousands of online reviews of Vivint, which show various experiences.

You can find Vivint reviews on:

• Trustpilot: Currently 3.9/5 stars based on 30,838 reviews
• ConsumerAffairs: Currently 4.7/5 stars based on 4,338 reviews

Happy Vivint customers praise the smooth installation process followed by clear explanations of functionalities, the reliability and durability of the security system, the knowledgeable and professional service representatives, and the responsive customer support team. Many online reviews have been written by homeowners who switched to Vivint from competitors (like ADT) and have had much more positive experiences with the former. Some customers have used Vivint for over a decade and have no intention to change.

Meanwhile, unhappy customers complain about the slowness and sluggishness of the security system, the lags in the mobile app, the glitches in the devices, the inability to cancel services, higher-than-expected costs, and terrible customer service.

Pros and Cons of Vivint

Like any other home security system, Vivint comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Vivint Pros

The most important benefits of the Vivint smart home security system include:

• Providing both a smart home and a secure home from a single platform
• Fully customizable design options
• Coverage of every aspect of home security and safety
• Integration with Google Home and Amazon Echo for a truly smart home experience
• Additional services like a smart solar energy system

Vivint Cons

The main drawbacks of choosing Vivint are:

• Limited third-party integrations outside Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Nest thermostats
• Unclear pricing structure
• High cost (as reported by homeowners)

Vivint Alternatives

Before opting for the Vivint smart home security system, homeowners and real estate investors should consider Vivint competitors and the products and services that they provide.

Here we’ve reviewed the top 7 Vivint alternatives in the US market:

Vivint vs ADT

ADT allows homeowners to choose between a self-setup and a professional install. Both options come with three different plans: Starter ($479.99), Premium ($579.98), and Build Your Own (starting at $194.98). All ADT home security systems include a smart home hub, a door/window sensor, and the ADT + app. Additional products include Google Nest cameras, Google nest doorbells, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood detectors, emergency panic buttons, Nest thermostats, Nest Wi-Fi routers, and ADT smart lights. This means that homeowners can simultaneously build a smart home (through Google Nest products) and a secure and safe home. ADT also provides solar energy systems. ADT offers 24/7 Smart Monitoring.

Vivint vs SimpliSafe

With SimpliSafe, homeowners can choose one of two options: get a pre-configured security system package or build their own home security system. There are seven different ready packages that cost between $244.96 and $699.90. Each kit comes with a base station, a keypad, an entry sensor, and an extra motion sensor. Other products offered by SimpliSafe include outdoor and indoor cameras, glass break sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, water sensors, temperature sensors, panic buttons, key fobs, and extra sirens. Homeowners can choose whether they want to install the system themselves or they would like a SimpliSafe professional to do that, with prices starting at $124.99. It’s possible to opt in for self-monitoring with camera recordings (for $0.33/day) or interactive monitoring including 24/7 police, fire, and medical dispatch for ($0.93/day). Overall, SimpliSafe is less customizable than Vivint but is a good option for homeowners and real estate investors on a budget.

Vivint vs Ring

Ring gives homeowners the opportunity to build their own home security system through an online interface or buy separate home security items. Products include outdoor and indoor cameras, doorbells, alarm systems, lighting, door and window contact sensors, motion detectors, and smoke and carbon monoxide listeners. Compared to Vivint, Ring has limited options in helping create a smart home while focusing mostly on security. Homeowners can install the system with the help of detailed guides or ask for a professional to do that. Ring offers three different 24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring, ranging from $3.99/month ($39.99/year) to $20+/month ($200+/year). Ring does not require long-term commitment, and customers can cancel at any time.

Vivint vs Frontpoint

Frontpoint provides several different pre-configured packages and the option to build your own package. Each home security package includes a Frontpoint hub and keypad, a door/window sensor, a motion sensor, and a home defense kit. The cost of pre-configured packages starts at $402.96. Additional products include doorbell and indoor cameras, glass break sensors, garage sensors, smart locks, smoke and heat sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, flood sensors, light controls, and smart outdoor plugs. In this way, Frontpoint combines the provision of smart home technology and home security, similar to Vivint. Frontpoint also offers 24/7 monitoring services after the installation of the security system. However, it’s not clear how much the monthly fee is. While Frontpoint has a more transparent pricing structure than Vivint in terms of systems and devices, their team is less involved in designing and customizing the system for your home exact needs, so you have to do more work.

Vivint vs Brinks Home

Similar to Vivint, homeowners need to get in touch with a Brinks Home representative to discuss the specific needs of their home in order to get a customized smart home security system or individual products. Available products offered by Brinks Home include a home hub, motion sensors, door and window sensors, garage door sensors, glass break sensors, security cameras, smart deadbolt locks, smart garage door openers, smoke detectors, and smart thermostats. Prices are not posted on the website as they depend on the products included in the security system. Brinks Home can install the system for homeowners. 24/7 monitoring services are provided, but once again homeowners need to discuss this with a Brinks Home representative before choosing the best plan.

Vivint vs Cove

Cove provides homeowners with the ability to build their own security system online based on the specific characteristics and features of their home. Available products include doorbell, outdoor, and indoor cameras, smoke detectors, and flood detectors. The prices of the home security systems vary widely depending on the type and the size of the home and the chosen products. Installation can be done by the homeowner or Cove’s partner HelloTech, starting at $99. Cove also provides 24/7 monitoring after the installation of a home security system through LiveAssist (a two-way, in-built communication channel), InstaText (a text message system), and Direct Phone Call. The monthly cost of the home monitoring service is not clear. Importantly, Cove offers a 60-day free trial option, after which homeowners can return the entire system if they are not happy with it. However, Cove provides fewer products and options than Vivint.

Vivint vs Next

The Google Nest home automation system allows owners to build a smart and secure home simultaneously. Available products include cameras, doorbells, door locks, displays, speakers, Wi-Fi, streaming, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and thermostats. The total price of building an entire smart home security automation system can vary widely depending on the products and items that go in it. The best feature of the Google Nest system is that it integrates smoothly and seamlessly with the rest of Google products. However, there is no 24/7 monitoring option.

Takeaway

Our review of Vivint shows they check all the boxes of reliable, smart home security systems that can protect both homes and the people who live inside them. The best feature of Vivint is that they meet all the requirements of a smart home and a secure home simultaneously, from a single platform. The system integrates with Google Home and Amazon Echo. Overall, Vivint provides more comprehensive solutions than most of its competitors. That’s why it’s totally worth it for both homeowners and investors in rental properties.