Vivint Home Security Review 2025

Not only did I test the Vivint security system, I have one in my home. After all of the home security systems I've tested, I've found Vivint is one of the most versatile home security systems on the market. 

With Vivint home security, your imagination sets the limits. Vivint security systems offer killer customization, high-end smart home integrations, and professional installation.

In fact, Vivint tops our list as the best professionally installed security system. We believe in this brand so much that it's one of our top picks for best security system.

Here's everything I learned from testing a full Vivint security system and how it stacks up to its competitors that we've tested.

When trying out Vivint, I found out there's a lot to love. Here are a few things that set Vivint apart from its competitors.

What I really love about all four Vivint camera models is that they actually do something most security cameras don’t—they deter troublemakers. The smart deterrent technology is hands down my favorite Vivint feature. When you turn on Deter Mode, the cameras whistle and flash lights at anyone lurking around, which is usually enough to send them running.

Even better, the doorbell camera will ask if you want to activate Deter Mode when it spots a package on your porch, helping keep those pesky package thieves away.

Vivint is a little on the pricier side, but it offers a lot for your money. Here's how much Vivint costs and how it stacks up against competitors.

Vivint monitoring starts at $39.99 per month if you pay for your equipment upfront. If you finance your equipment, the financing will be added to your monthly bill, making it more expensive. If you want 24/7 recording, you can add the Vivint Playback DVR monthly subscription. It's $6.99 per month (or a one-time purchase of $299.99).

All of Vivint’s professional monitoring plans come with a $49 installation fee (or you can intall it yourself for free) and the option to get started for $0 down with third-party consumer financing. The contract length for all plans is 60 months, or if you pay up front, there's no contract at all. You can learn more in our Vivint costs guide and Vivint cancellation guide.

When comparing the best home security systems, SimpliSafe stands out as the best overall, with both DIY and professional installation, a moderate monthly fee, self-monitoring and competitive starter equipment pricing. On the other hand, Vivint focuses on professional installation and high-end security at a higher cost and equipment price, but it doesn't offer self-monitoring. ADT Shield is recognized as the most trusted brand that provides self-monitoring with professional installation, although it requires a contract. Finally, Cove offers a flexible installation option and the most affordable monthly fee with high customer ratings, though its equipment price varies based on a custom quote.

Vivint offers a few payment options. You can choose Vivint Flex Pay and finance the cost of equipment (which will be on top of your monthly monitoring fee), or you can pay for your equipment up front and pick up monitoring on a month-to-month basis. If you go the contract route, you’re looking at a commitment of 60 months. (That’s five years!)

But Vivint recently told us that you can put $0 down when you choose to finance, so that long-term contract might be worth it for little to nothing due up front. (We've got the scoop on how to get out of your Vivint contract too.)

I’ve said it before (and now I'm going to say it again!)—you won’t find a security system with more smarts than Vivint. From security cameras and smart thermostats to automatic door locks, Vivint has a variety of home automation devices to choose from.

Vivint offers a smart thermostat, smart lock, indoor and outdoor security cameras, smart plugs, smoke/CO detector, smart doorbell, garage door openers, key fobs, emergency buttons, smart lighting, and more. You can learn more about all the devices offered by Vivint in our Vivint equipment guide.

Here’s a rundown of the smart home perks that make Vivint stand out in the field of home security and home automation.

• Watch and listen from anywhere. All of Vivint’s smart security cameras use motion detection, two-way communication, night vision, and instant alerts to keep you in the know both inside and outside your home. Plus, the new Smart Deter feature catches “lurkers” in the act and shoos them away with sound and light.
• Keep things locked up tight. With smart locks, you can control access to your home even if you’re across town (or at the beach). Whether you have kids coming home after school or need to let in the pet sitter, you can skip making copies of keys thanks to easy keyless entry. Vivint smart locks are Kwikset locks. Learn more in our Kwikset smart lock review.
• Save money and cut down on waste. Vivint's smart thermostat can help you save money every month. You can use the app to turn on the air conditioning as you leave work, or turn off the heat if you forget to while on vacation. Plus, Vivint has teamed up with Reliant Energy to provide personalized energy insights.
• Put a lid on oven fires (or any fires). Vivint's smart smoke alarm comes with a built-in transmitter that instantly connects you to the Vivint monitoring center when triggered. The best part is that the Vivint smoke detector can actually shut down airflow through your AC unit to choke out flames while help is on the way. 
• Never leave the garage door open again. Vivint’s Garage Door Controller lets you know if you drove away without putting the door down—and you don’t have to turn around to go home and close it. You can use the remote control to close the garage door from the gym, the grocery store, or your office.

Surprisingly, Vivint Home Security has limited compatibility with third-party brands, but they make up for it with their full suite of proprietary smart home products.

The downside is if you've already started down the smart home path you might be disappointed to find out you need to buy duplicate items because the Vivint system isn't compatible with what you’ve already got.

On a broad scale, Vivint is currently compatible with only Google Nest and Amazon Echo.

Learn more by checking out our Vivint compatibility page. 

For years, Vivint was a standout with its innovative Vivint SkyControl Panel, the first to offer built-in two-way voice communication. And Vivint has made smart home and security history again with its Smart Hub, which acts as a smart home hub.

From the hub, you can access all of your cameras, control your Vivint thermostat, check the weather, and arm or disarm your system.

The Vivint Smart Home app is an easy way to keep tabs on your home 24/7 no matter where you are. You can check the live video feed from your home’s security cameras or remotely control alarm system from your phone.

The app’s navigation is comparable to that on the control panel, which makes flip-flopping between the two a bit easier. Plus, Vivint told us they have a whole team dedicated to keeping its app user-friendly, easy to use, and packed with features that boost both your home’s security and smart home automation.

With the app you can:

• Access all of your cameras.
• Set up shortcuts that let you do multiple things at once, like arm your system and turn off your smart lights. 
• Control your Vivint thermostat.
• See all of the events that have happened and search for particular events by people, packages, and more.
• Shop for new Vivint equipment.

Of all the home security apps we've reviewed, Vivint's is one of our favorites. See how it stacks up in our full review of home security phone apps and check out our review of the Vivint app.

Vivint’s installation fees used to run from $99 up to $199. But Vivint changed its installation pricing to a flat $49 fee no matter which monitoring plan you choose or the amount of equipment installed. We’re not sure if this is a permanent change, so be sure to verify your installation costs when you schedule your installation appointment.

As part of its top-tier offerings, Vivint Home Security is one of just a few companies that provide a complementary security consultation. A Vivint security technician conducts an assessment that identifies security risks and offers solutions. The consultation ensures you have all the equipment you need to protect your home. And it makes sure that equipment (like window, door, and motion sensors) is installed in the right location to maximize your home’s security.

The assessment takes place in tandem with your professional installation. The plus side is that you can add equipment you overlooked or eliminate extras you don’t really need. But the biggest drawback is that this opportunity for positive customer interaction can come across as salesy, which makes it hard for some customers to trust the recommendations.

This used to be one of Vivint’s weaker points. The company got off to a bumpy start when it first hit the home security scene, but it’s made big strides in this area over the past few years.

Vivint told us that customer feedback is a top priority for Vivint support and the company works hard to implement recommended changes. Those efforts seem to be paying off. Vivint has received many accolades and higher ratings from both home security system review third-party sources and Vivint customers, though they still have some work to do:

• Trustpilot rating: 3.7 stars out of 5; Great
• Vivint Smart Home app on Google Play: 3.6 stars out of 5
• Vivint Smart Home app on Apple App Store: 4.6 stars out of 5

When I contacted Vivint through the chat feature, the rep was very fast and friendly.

You can learn more in our Vivint customer service guide.

When I call Vivint a high-end, full-service home security system, I'm not kidding around. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll get from a Vivint home security system:

• 24/7 professional alarm monitoring
• Professional installation
• Total customization to fit your home
• Personal introduction to the system and the Vivint app
• Vivint smart home app to control everything
• Smart security cameras, including a doorbell camera, with advanced safety features
• Professional security system maintenance and repairs
• Lifetime equipment warranty
• Hidden sensors
• Tracks and deters threats
• Multiple contract options

Even though Vivint systems have made big improvements to its customer policies, including a $0 down financing option and the chance to go contract-free with an outright equipment purchase, it’s still a pricier security system.

To take full advantage of Vivint home security systems' advanced tech and high-end security features, you’ll pay upwards of $40 a month, compared to the average $32 monthly pro monitoring cost among the security systems we've tested and reviewed.

That said, I think this is a case of "you get what you pay for"—and with Vivint smart home security, you get a whole lot of security innovation and quality service for your monthly fee.

If you’ve got room in your security budget and want the reassurance that comes with professional installation and cutting-edge home security equipment, Vivint should top your list.

Vivint’s going to cost you more overall. But you get what you pay for, and Vivint is one of the only home security companies that’s constantly innovating and adding new bells and whistles to its equipment and app offerings.

Instead of delivering the same white-label equipment and cookie-cutter app that many other companies do, Vivint made its own—a big reason why the company’s higher prices are worth it.

And the addition of a no-contract option for professional monitoring shows that Vivint’s listening—and responding—to the demands of home security customers, unlike some of its competitors. 

Learn more about how Vivint compares to the competition in our head-to-head reviews:

• SimpliSafe vs. Vivint
• Vivint vs. Ring Alarm
• Frontpoint vs. Vivint
• ADT vs. Vivint

For this Vivint security review, we also dove into dozens of expert reviews and hundreds of customer reviews. Some of the top points of comparison we used to evaluate Vivint are:

• Overall value
• Equipment and monitoring costs
• Smart home features and compatibility
• Mobile app control and functions
• Customer service
• Company reputation

Learn more about how we rate and rank home security services in our full methodology.

Vivint is a top pick for best professionally installed system because it lets you take the wheel when it comes to putting together the right security system for your needs. Everything is 100% customizable, and you won’t find a smarter home security solution. But Vivint’s high-end equipment comes at a price and requires the expertise of professional installers.

Thankfully, the company has brought its monthly monitoring fees in line with industry standards, so you’re not going to pay much more for 24/7 protection from Vivint. Even so, DIYers and budget-constrained folks may want to look elsewhere for the right home security solution.

Need more help? Here's how to choose a new security system.