How much does Vivint cost?

We researched to find out exactly what customers pay for Vivint home security systems, including monitoring fees, moving fees, cancellation fees, and more.

Vivint’s home security system monthly monitoring fees range from $29.99 to more than $44.99 per month, with the cost of Vivint equipment running from around $35 to $300. (The most expensive is the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro security camera.) 

Vivint’s starter pack can set you back around $600. This package includes a Vivint smart hub touchscreen panel, a water sensor, two door or window sensors, and a motion sensor. 

Home security system companies, like SimpliSafe, typically charge around $250 for starter packs, so Vivint charges more than double the average. Keep in mind that Vivint does offer high-quality proprietary equipment, and its startup package includes a few more devices than other brands. 

Want to go beyond the basics? Larger Vivint packages can cost you upwards of $1,000.

If you finance through Vivint Flex Pay or a third-party financer, you pay $0 down for your equipment. Don’t like the idea of financing? Vivint also takes up-front payment for its home security system.

With Vivint pricing, there are two types of monthly fees:

• When you enter a contract, your monthly fee covers monthly monitoring and paying off your security equipment.
• When you pay up front for all of your equipment, your monthly payments are for just monitoring.

If you finance, your monthly payments can vary depending on how much equipment you ordered. Your fees for monitoring are easier to predict.

Vivint’s basic monitoring plan is called Smart Security Monitoring. It costs $29.99, which is comparable to ADT. The plan gives you access to the Vivint app (formerly known as the Vivint Sky App), but you can’t use any home automation features. You also can’t add cameras to your alarm system with this package.

The next tier is the Smart Home Monitoring plan. It comes with access to the Vivint smart home app and the ability to control your Vivint devices, like the Vivint Element thermostat, with voice commands. This plan costs $39.99 per month.

The most expensive plan is the Smart Home Video Monitoring plan. It starts at $44.99 per month and allows you to add cameras to your system, along with all of the features offered through the smaller packages. 

There’s a catch, though. The $44.99 only covers one camera. Additional cameras will cost you an additional $4.99 per camera every month. Even worse, your system can only have a total of six cameras. That’s bad news if you have a big home and a lot of property to cover. 

With a total of six cameras, you’ll be paying $69.94. That’s the most expensive monitoring plan on the market.

Vivint equipment prices are high compared to competitors. A basic sensor or motion detector ranges from $50 to $100 when the average is closer to $30. Why so high? Vivint equipment has lifetime warranties (with the Premium Service plan) and proprietary equipment, which could account for their higher costs.

• Element smart thermostat: $169.99
• Nest L Thermostat: $249.99
• Nest E Thermostat: $169.99
• Appliance control module: $49.99
• Lamp module: $50.00
• Vivint camera for indoors: $199.99
• Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro: $249.99
• Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro: $299.99
• Smart Drive: $249.99
• Car Guard: $199.00

When you sign up for a Vivint system, expect a $49 installation fee. Other pro-install brands like ADT charge more if you add smart home equipment or security cams, so it's actually a pretty good deal.

To get out of your Vivint contract, you’ll need to pay off what you owe and potentially the remaining monitoring fees. This could be thousands of dollars if you have a longer contract. 

Can’t afford to pay off your system and need out of your contract? Vivint offers a cancellation service if you’re facing unfortunate and unexpected circumstances (death, active military service, bankruptcy). You’ll need to contact Vivint customer service to see if you qualify, and you’ll need to provide proof of your circumstances.

You can also transfer your contract to someone else. Transfering is helpful if you can’t afford the system anymore, but a friend or family member needs a security system. If you’re selling your home, you can even transfer the system to the buyer. You may need to pay a $99 transfer fee and pay off any financing before making the transfer.

When you move, the Vivint home security company charges $149 to remove your system and an additional $149 to get your system up and running in your new home if you choose to have everything done by a professional. DIY types can avoid fees by doing it all themselves. If you sign a new agreement when you move, Vivint will waive the professional installation fee.

As mentioned above, Vivint offers a lifetime warranty on its products with its Premium Service plan. If you don’t choose the Premium Service plan, your equipment has a warranty of 120 days.

If a device is glitching out, Vivint will send in a professional to fix it (free of charge) for up to 120 days after the installation, even without the protection plan. After 120 days, service calls are $49 per visit, and replacement of defective equipment is free. Each service visit has a 60-day guarantee, so if you need another visit, they’re free for three months after the first visit.

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