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With Vivint home security, your imagination sets the limits. Vivint security systems offer killer customization, high-end smart home integrations, and professional installation.
Vivint can come at a high price, but impressive new security cameras and one app for everything are just two reasons that Vivint’s smarter home security systems are worth the price of admission. We believe in this brand so much that it's our number one pick for best security system.
Total customization
Pro install, maintenance, repairs
Month-to-month contract option
$0 down with consumer financing
Quality equipment, advanced security features 
Higher overall costs
Lingering customer service woes
Limited third-party smart home integration All of Vivint’s professional monitoring plans come with a $49 installation fee and the option to get started for $0 down with third-party consumer financing. The contract length for all plans is 42 to 60 months, or if you pay up front, there's no contract at all. You can learn more in our Vivint costs guide.
Package | Photo | Monthly fee | Smart security features | Learn more |
| Smart Security Monitoring |  | $29.99 | Vivint app | View Packages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Home Monitoring |  | $39.99 |
Vivint app Voice commands Smart thermostat Smart lighting Smart door lock | View Packages |
| Smart Home Video Monitoring |  | Starts at $44.99 | All Smart Home plan features plus: Smart Deter Package protection Live video streaming | View Packages |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
When we call Vivint a high-end, full-service home security system, we’re not kidding around. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll get from a Vivint home security system:
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 $31 monthly pro monitoring cost among the security systems we’ve tested and reviewed.
That said, we think this is a case of “you get what you pay for”—and with Vivint, 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 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 42 or 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.)
Vivint's Canada pricing is the same as its US pricing, and it's always in USD. The only difference is financing: Canadian customers must finance systems for only 12 months rather than 60.
If you pick the no-contract option, the up-front equipment cost can run you upwards of $1,000 to outfit your home with the basics. That’s a lot of sticker shock, especially when you look at DIY security companies like SimpliSafe that offer basic equipment packages starting under $300.
We’ve said it before (and now we’re going to say it again!)—but 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.
Image: SafeWise
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
For busy families, Vivint’s smart home capabilities can do everything from increasing face time after school (thanks to Vivint’s interactive smart cameras) to cutting down on wasted electricity with a smart thermostat. These can be programmed to routines or adjusted remotely via the Vivint app.
No matter how busy you are, Vivint smart home technology helps you manage (and protect) your home from anywhere and at any time. Because Vivint Home Security has integrated smart home with home security, all the different pieces work together—without having to buy different devices from a multitude of companies (and crossing your fingers that they’ll work together).
Here’s a rundown of the smart home perks that make Vivint stand out in the field of home security and home automation.
If you're worried about video footage being uploaded to the cloud, Vivint has you covered. We asked them how they protect customers' privacy.
Vivint doesn't track data from customer’s video footage. Video footage is encrypted from the Vivint Smart Hub all the way to the cloud and back. Only customers can decide who is allowed to access their Vivint system, including their video feeds.
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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.
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For years, Vivint was a standout with its innovative Vivint SkyControl Panel that was the first to offer built-in two-way voice communication. And now Vivint is making smart home and security history again with its Smart Hub that acts as a smart home hub and can support up to six security cameras.
The most impressive part is that Vivint has solved the problem of multiple cameras bogging down your home Wi-Fi connection. Because security cameras use Wi-Fi to stream live security video, the more cameras you have, the slower your Wi-Fi gets.
But the Vivint Smart Hub has home video technology that lets you set up all the cameras you need to keep an eye on your home without eating up all your bandwidth.
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 arm and disarm the Vivint alarm system from your phone.
The app is comparable to the navigation you’ll find 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 its smart home automation.
Of all the home security apps we've reviewed, Vivint's is our favorite.
Vivint has a handy feature for the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro that aims to make your backyard safer. It lets you create an additional detection zone around your pool using the Vivint app. When someone enters the detection area, the camera will automatically record a clip and send a notification to your phone.
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Professional installation is your only choice with Vivint Smart Home. But we think that’s a good thing, especially when you’re dealing with this level of home security technology and smart home integration.
We like that you get to see exactly what’s happening. Plus, the added perk of a personal training session on how to operate your new Vivint home security system is a valuable bonus.
The biggest downside of pro installation is the time commitment—and if you work full time, that could mean using up precious PTO hours. Vivint doesn’t have the best track record for quick installs, either.
Depending on where you live, you could wait up to a week to get your system installed. That’s a long time for people who are eager to have their home and property protected after a break-in or buying a new house.
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.
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As part of its top-tier offerings, Vivint Home Security is one of just a few companies that provides 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.
*Ratings as of March 25, 2022
Vivint is a best home security system top pick 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.
Yes, Vivint is available in Canada. In fact, Vivint has a corporate location in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Vivint security equipment, hardware, and service are the same in Canada and the US.
We spoke with Vivint to confirm. They told us the only difference is in financing: Canadian customers work with Vivint directly instead of a third-party lender, and their financing contracts are limited to just 12 months.
No, it doesn't.
No—unlike many of its competitors, Vivint does not have a money-back guarantee.
Yes. According to customer reviews, the Vivint smart home app is very user-friendly and offers an intuitive feel. Both iOS and Android users rate the app high, which isn’t always the case.
Yes, they were named the TMA Monitoring Center of the Year for 2021.
Yes, it uses a cellular connection, so it will still work if your Wi-Fi is down. You won't be able to check the system or camera footage using the Vivint app until the Wi-Fi is up and running again, though.
Vivint and ADT are our two luxury, full-service home security brands. Here's a snapshot of how they stack up.
Similarities:
Differences:
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For our Vivint Home Security review, we got our hands on Vivint equipment, went through demos with Vivint technical experts, visited Vivint's headquarters for a behind-the-scenes look at how Vivint tech is developed, and participated in multiple interviews with Vivint representatives.
We didn't just test our Vivint security system once, though. Our Vivint system is undergoing long-term testing in a real home.
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 listed below.
Learn more about how we rate and rank home security services in our full methodology.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
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