How Much Does Vivint Cost?

We’ve tested a wide spectrum of security equipment, from the most affordable security systems like Cove that offer packages for less than $200 to expensive ones like Deep Sentinel that offer professional monitoring for $100 per month. And in that spectrum, Vivint sits on the higher end in terms of pricing.

Now, don’t get us wrong; Vivint is one of the top security systems of 2024. It’s a tech-forward option that uses home automation to improve the security of its users. But Vivint’s higher-than-average price can make some folks question its worth. We’re here to address that once and for all. Having tested Vivint ourselves, we know what it’s capable of. We also know how much it costs, from equipment and installation fees to monitoring. Let’s put it all together to see if Vivint is worth it.

Vivint’s Monitoring Services Pricing

The first thing you should know is that Vivint isn’t like your average security system. It can be best described as a smart security system, because it incorporates AI-powered security cameras and smart home devices to create a safer, more secure environment. But all those advanced technologies come at a steep price, especially in terms of on-going costs.

Vivint Contracts

One of the things keeping buyers from choosing Vivint is the contract. You might have heard that it requires a contract of up to five years. That’s a long time when the industry average is three years. In fact, one of the worst security systems we’ve seen also has a five-year contract, and that’s a big reason why it made the list.

Vivint’s case is different though. We hate the five-year contract from that other company because it forces customers into disagreeable terms like yearly price hikes. With Vivint, the contract locks in your rate so you’ll pay the same amount per month throughout the whole term.

We should also point out that Vivint’s contract isn’t mandatory and it’s not a fixed five years. You only have to sign a contract if you finance your equipment – which is what most people do because of how much Vivint equipment costs. But if you can afford to pay the equipment cost upfront, you won’t have to sign a contract.

If not, you can shorten it. The contract length depends on your financing term. So if you opt to pay off your equipment in three years, you’ll sign a standard three-year contract. If you pay it in four years, it’ll be a four-year contract.

Also remember why people hate contracts – it’s because it forces them to keep paying for the monitoring service even though some systems work without a monthly fee. Vivint is different, because the equipment’s features don’t work without a monitoring plan. That’s not exclusive to Vivint though. Even budget-focused systems like Cove and ADT require monitoring.

So bottom line? If you’re looking to buy a security system from Vivint, you should be willing to keep paying a monthly fee – with or without a contract. And at least with a contract, your monthly rate is locked in.

Vivint’s Equipment Pricing

Quality smart home security means investing in trusted devices that our experts have tried and tested. With Vivint, you can choose exactly what equipment you want, which will determine your monthly fee. If that fee is outside of your budget, don’t worry; you can find plenty of ways to save on Vivint throughout the year. Before you buy, be sure to check out our guide to Vivint’s year-round deals and our guide to Vivint Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Vivint Package Pricing

When it comes to equipment, one of the frequently asked questions about Vivint is, “How much is this all going to cost me?”. Well, the answer depends on what pieces of equipment you’re looking to get and how you’re going to pay.

If you can afford to buy the equipment upfront, you don’t have to sign a contract. And with the equipment fee out of the way, you’ll pay just the monitoring fee every month. That is, if you have at least $800 to spare. And that’s for a basic Vivint system. Expect to pay more if you buy add-ons for your packages.

On the other hand, you could avail financing to offset the upfront cost. You’ll pay close to nothing upon signing up, but the equipment cost will be added to your monthly fee. You can choose a financing term of up to 60 months. And keep in mind, there will be a credit check and the monitoring contract will be equivalent to your financing term.

To give you a rough estimate of how much a Vivint system could cost you, see Vivint’s latest equipment pricing below. We broke down their retail prices (what you’ll pay upfront) and financing prices based on a 60-month term (what you’ll pay per month).

Sure, Vivint isn’t the cheapest option around, but home security is an area you don’t want to skimp on. Make sure to check out our review of Vivint before making any hasty decisions either way!

Vivint Pricing vs. The Competition

Vivint and ADT are very much alike. They require a contract, professional installation, and professional monitoring. They are not like the DIY security systems like SimpliSafe and Frontpoint at all.

We’re not impartial on either traditional or DIY security systems. There are good options from both sides. But admittedly, traditional systems like Vivint and ADT charge steeper prices than their DIY counterparts. That’s one thing you have to keep in mind. For example, a basic Vivint system can cost at least $800, whereas a basic SimpliSafe system costs $250. That’s a huge price difference.

Of course, by paying more, you also get more from Vivint. Vivint offers a wider range of equipment. Vivint offers smart home products like smart thermostats and smart locks and smart bulbs, neither of which are available from SimpliSafe. You also get white-glove professional installation from Vivint, whereas SimpliSafe is DIY.

>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint

What about compared to ADT? Well, ADT is currently our highest-rated security system. It’s a little bit cheaper – a basic system costs around $500. But we do get Vivint’s higher pricing. Many of its products trump their counterparts from ADT in terms of features. To name one example, the Vivint control panel can control smart home devices; ADT’s control panel offers limited control.

Vivint’s status as a premium security system becomes more pronounced if you look at its security cameras. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, for instance, costs $399. That’s double the industry average cost of outdoor cameras, but it’s backed by AI and can actively deter burglars. Similarly, the Vivint Video Doorbell Pro costs $299.99, which is nearly double the $180 industry average for video doorbell cameras, but it offers the same A.I. and crime deterrent features as the outdoor camera.

On the brighter side, Vivint’s monitoring pricing is somewhat more reasonable. It ranges between $30 to $50, but you might have to pay more as you add more security cameras to your system. It’s on par with ADT in that area.

>> Learn More: Vivint vs. ADT

How Does Vivint Fit Into Your Smart Home?

Aside from working with Philips Hue smart lighting and Nest thermostats, Vivint primarily works with Alexa and Google Assistant, the two most popular voice assistants. Let’s talk about the commands you can use with each.

Alexa

Vivint, one of the best security systems for Alexa, has more than one Alexa skill. We recommend the Vivint.SmartHome – Complete Alexa skill, as it lets us control most of our connected Vivint devices using our voices alone, making for a much more convenient home. Here are some sample commands:

• Alexa, turn on my lights.
• Alexa, arm my security system “away”.
• Alexa, set the heat to 70 degrees.
• Alexa, increase bedroom temperature.
• Alexa, close my garages.
• Alexa, lock my front door.
• Alexa, show me the doorbell camera.

This is a super-comprehensive list of capabilities, so if you’re in the Amazon ecosystem, you’ll surely enjoy integrating Vivint into the mix.

Google Assistant

Vivint’s integration with the Google Assistant is also super comprehensive, allowing control for cameras, garage doors, lights, locks, thermostats, and of course, security systems. In fact, Vivint is also one of the best Google Assistant-compatible security systems. Here are a few commands:

• OK Google, turn up the thermostat.
• Hey Google, unlock the front door.
• Hey Google, arm security.
• OK Google, show the front door camera on the living room TV.

The integration between Google Assistant and Vivint security cameras particularly impressed us. It let us watch live footage coming from our cameras on our Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max easily. You can read our Nest Hub review and Nest Hub Max review for more details on how camera integrations work.

Other Smart Home Devices

Vivint also offers a number of add-on equipment pieces that integrate into its smart home security system so you can control them with the Vivint app, control panel, or your voice. Examples are:

• Kwikset Smart Locks: In addition to using a key, you can control Kwikset Smart Locks using the Vivint app, your voice, with the help of voice assistants, or numerical codes. That means the chances of you getting locked out of your house will go way down. Plus, you’ll get notifications if you or anyone else left the door unlocked, relieving you of the anxiety of trying to remember if you locked your door. On top of that, you can program the lock to trigger other connected devices; for example, having the security system disarm when the door unlocks. You can also let people in when no one is home. You can create up to 30 unique codes for guests to use, which is much more secure than leaving a key under the welcome mat.
• Garage Door Controller: Got a garage? This controller will let you open and close your garage doors remotely and notify you if you leave your garage doors open. As cases of package theft continue to rise, garage door controllers can be quite useful. Instead of having delivery people leave packages on your porch, you can let them into your garage and have them leave your packages there, instead. Plus, Vivint’s garage door controllers have tamper alarms, so you’ll get alerts if anyone tries to mess with it. Let’s be honest: your garage is part of your house, and Vivint understands that it needs protection, too.

>> Also check out: Best Security Systems for Garages

• Vivint Element Thermostat: Smart thermostats are some of our favorite types of connected devices. The reason? They can save you money on heating and cooling costs by using schedules, sensing your location using the GPS on your phone, and even incorporating information about the weather outside of your house. Obviously, you’ll be able to control your home’s temperature through Vivint’s app or voice commands, but you can also receive alerts of any temperature changes (like if your wife turned the dial up again). The Element Thermostat even detects humidity, not just temperature, as this can be a major factor in how hot the room feels.
• Nest Thermostat E: Vivint also offers a smart thermostat from Google Nest, one of the best smart home companies on the market. Or if you own one already, you can integrate it with your new Vivint system. Over time, the Nest Thermostat can learn your schedule without you even having to program it, a rare feature when it comes to smart thermostats. By sensing motion as well as passive infrared heat, this thermostat knows when someone is home and even what room they’re in! Aside from that, you’ll be able to hook it up with the GPS on your phone, control it manually through the Vivint or Nest apps, or use your trusted voice assistant to control your home’s temperature. With so many easily accessible options, it’s no wonder that Nest thermostats can save you an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating and up to 15 percent on cooling, according to an independent study1.

• Philips Hue Smart Lighting: Philips Hue is perhaps the best-known lighting brand in the country, and smart lighting is its forte. Take the Philips Hue White and Color Bulb, for example. Not only will you be able to dim it and set it to 16 million different color options, but you can also schedule your lights just as you do your thermostats. Or, you can sync them to other connected devices, like having your mudroom’s lights turn on when your garage door opens. You can even sync your lights with the sunrise and sunset, or the GPS on your phone!

Although many of Vivint’s smart home products come from third-party brands, the beautiful thing is that you’ll be able to control everything in the Vivint Smart Home app and touchscreen panel, as well as through voice assistants. Vivint is more than just a security company; it’s a smart home brand that’s passionate about making your life easier. With all the equipment and smart home integrations it offers, it has the potential to make your life more convenient.

Recap/ Value

Having tested and used Vivint for over a year now, we like how it helps keep our home secure. With 24/7 professional monitoring, we know that someone is always there for us in case of an emergency – that is why Vivint continues to be one of our top smart home systems each year. While Vivint may not make much sense as a local alarm system only, for those who want 24/7 professional monitoring, remote control, notifications, and other features of a smart home security system, Vivint is a viable option.