Alternatives to Vivint

Not sold on Vivint? We researched and found three other home security options that may fit your needs.
Best DIY alternative
Frontpoint
Frontpoint
Starting from
$24.99
  • pro
    DIY installation
  • con
    Higher monthly fees
  • pro
    Identity protection
Most trusted alternative
ADT Shield
ADT
Starting from
$28.99
  • pro
    Pro installation
  • pro
    Google Nest devices
  • pro
    Longest money-back period
Most compatible alternative
Abode
Abode
Starting from
$21.99
  • pro
    DIY installation
  • pro
    Lower monthly fees
  • pro
    Apple HomeKit compatibility

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

We picked three alternatives to Vivint that may better suit your needs. Frontpoint topped the list as a DIY alternative. ADT was our choice for a more trusted brand, and Abode is the best choice for home automation and Apple fans.

bullet
Big News: Abode has a NEW DIY home security kit!

Unlock Affordable Security: Is Abode's new budget-friendly kit your perfect diy home guardian? Dive into our review to find out!



Compare Vivint to Vivint alternatives

Security system
Label
Lowest monitoring price
Starter equipment price
Contract required?
Smart home compatibility
Learn more
The challenger $599.00
bulletNo
Alexa, Google, Z-Wave
Best DIY alternative $99.00
bulletNo
Alexa, Google, Z-Wave
Most trusted alternative $0.00
bulletYes
Alexa, Google, Z-Wave
Home automation alternative $279.00
bulletNo
Alexa, Apple, Google, Z-Wave, Zigbee

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Full ADT disclaimer

Best alternatives to Vivint reviews

1. Frontpoint: Best DIY alternative

Best DIY alternative
Frontpoint
Frontpoint
Starts at
$24.99
/mo

Frontpoint offers a high-quality home security system that protects your identity as well as your home. And it doesn’t need professional installation like Vivint

Frontpoint's a good alternative to Vivint if you like Vivint's cameras and smart home capabilities since Frontpoint's equipment is of a similar caliber. But Frontpoint doesn't have any long-term contracts, making it the better security choice for renters

pro
Pros
pro ID theft protection
pro Tamper protection
pro Easy install
con
Cons
con No pro install options
con Higher monitoring fees

Frontpoint's cameras are similar to Vivint's

While Frontpoint's Skybell video doorbell pales in comparison to the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro, the Frontpoint Wireless Outdoor Camera has similar features to the Vivint Outdoor Camera. You'll also pay far less for Frontpoint's indoor camera compared to the Vivint Indoor Camera while getting a similar performance.

(To be fair, if camera quality is your number-one concern, check out Ring Home Security vs. Vivint. But in terms of security, Frontpoint beats out Ring.)

A different installation experience

Vivint charges at least $49 for installation. If you prefer to save cash by installing a system yourself, there’s no better choice than Frontpoint. It’s a 100% do-it-yourself installation, with easy-to-follow instructions on the Frontpoint app and pre-paired sensors. Learn more about installing Frontpoint.

Similar apps and automations

Speaking of apps, the Vivint app is a powerhouse capable of coordinating complex routines between Vivint's proprietary equipment and third-party devices. It's easy to assume that all modern security systems can do the same things, but they don't. 

Fortunately, Frontpoint does play well with third-party brands, lets you set up routines through its app, and offers up some extra smart home equipment for a seamless experience. For example, Frontpoint sells a smart plug and a smart thermostat similar to the Vivint Element Smart Thermostat

Extra value from Frontpoint

Plus, Frontpoint has a couple more perks Vivint can’t match. It offers you Allstate Identity Protection to keep you safe from identity theft. The service is included in all its monitoring packages and can prevent bad actors from ruining your credit. It can even help clean things up after someone accesses your personal information.

Frontpoint also has something called Crash & Smash protection. When a thief tries to disable your security panel, it sends a message to the monitoring center. So, even if they wreck the panel, help will still be on the way.

For more information on Frontpoint, check out our full Frontpoint review or our in-depth comparison of Frontpoint vs. Vivint.

2. ADT: Most trusted alternative

Most trusted alternative
ADT Shield
ADT
Starting at
$28.99
/mo

Vivint has been around only a couple of decades. If you want a security company with more than a century of trusted experience, ADT is the best choice.

pro
Pros
pro 6 monitoring centers
pro Quality equipment
pro Longest money-back period
con
Cons
con Long contracts

ADT is the great-great-grandpa of the security world. It has been guarding people’s homes for over 140 years and currently protects over 8 million people around the world. How does ADT do it? In the United States, it has six redundant monitoring centers.

That means that if one monitoring center is too busy (or down for some reason), you are instantly routed to another monitoring center. No interruption in service no matter what’s going on with their monitoring centers is reassuring.

On top of quality service, ADT gives you something else Vivint is lacking. ADT gives you a whopping six months to opt out of your contract if something goes wrong and ADT can’t fix the problem. That’s the longest money-back period in the industry and far more generous than Vivint's three-day cancellation period.

ADT is also similar to Vivint in that both companies can send local technicians to your home for installation and support. So if you like the fact that you don't have to install or troubleshoot Vivint on your own but want better contract terms, consider ADT.

To learn more about ADT, take a look at our full ADT review or in our in-depth comparison of ADT vs. Vivint.

3. Abode: Home automation alternative

Home automation alternative
Abode
Abode
$21.99
/mo

Abode and Vivint have one big thing in common: Both are for people who want to incorporate smart home automation into their security. The big difference is Abode is compatible with far more devices.

pro
Pros
pro Best for Apple fans
pro Easy to use
pro More affordable
con
Cons
con No pro installation option

If you want to connect a smart device to your home security system to, say, lock your smart lock automatically when your system is armed, Abode has you covered. It’s the only top security system that works with just about every home automation system on the market:

Vivint smart home options are limited to just Alexa, Google Home, and Z-Wave.

Abode is more affordable too. Its starter package is a couple hundred dollars cheaper, and its monthly monitoring fees are more budget-friendly. So if compatibility at a good price makes you smile, Abode is a great Vivint alternative.

Final word

We identified some areas where Vivint may be less than perfect and picked some solid alternatives. Frontpoint is a reliable DIY option, ADT is a more trusted brand, and Abode is a stellar smart home integration alternative.

Want to browse some other choices? Check out our list of the best home security systems.

FAQ

Frontpoint is the best alternative to Vivint. It has many of the same great features and includes DIY installation and identity protection. You can learn more by checking out our article Frontpoint vs. Vivint Security.

You can use Vivint without a subscription, but we don’t recommend going without professional monitoring. Having the system watch over your home and call for help when you can’t is an important reason to have a security system in the first place.

It’s close. We think Abode is a better pick because it’s compatible with just about any smart device you can think of. And Vivint’s smart home system doesn’t work with Apple HomeKit, unlike Abode.

Ring Alarm has many more device options, and its security cameras are top of the line. (We especially like the Ring Video Doorbell.) Overall, though, Vivint is the best home security system. We go into more detail about why Vivint is better in our article Vivint vs. Ring.

Wyze certainly is cheaper. You can get Wyze monitoring for less than a third of what you would pay with Vivint. You can learn more in our Wyze Home Monitoring Review.

SimpliSafe and Vivint are worlds apart. If you're interested in Vivint, chances are SimpliSafe's just too different for your liking. Learn more in our comparison of SimpliSafe vs. Vivint.

No, not yet. The Vivint Car Guard remains 100% unique in that respect.

How we reviewed alternatives to Vivint

Woman testing security devices

Image: SafeWise

We don’t take our reviews lightly. Our selection came from hundreds of hours of hands-on testing, reading through thousands of customer reviews, and weighing the opinions of others in the industry. You can learn more about our review process on our methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimer

*Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Google: Google, Google Nest Secure, [any other related Google Products] and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina Bradford
Alina is a safety and security expert that has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. Her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Her activities aren’t nearly as dangerous today. Her hobbies include fixing up her 100-year-old house, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.

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