How Much Does Vivint Cost?

We all want to keep our families and homes safe, but to do that, we need to invest wisely in a home security system. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Price and quality don’t always correlate, so buying an expensive security system doesn’t always mean getting premium protection. At the same time, you risk missing out on important features if you go with a cheap system. So how do you choose?

The right security system has to be perfectly balanced, but you wouldn’t know if that’s the case by just skimming through a company’s website. You need to take a closer look at the pricing and the features. On this page, that’s exactly what we’ll do with Vivint. It’s no secret that Vivint is pricier compared to most security systems, but does it offer enough value to justify its price?

Let’s find out the answer by taking a close-up look at Vivint’s equipment, monitoring service, features, and contracts.

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.

To enjoy Vivint’s protection, though, you need equipment and a monitoring plan, both of which will cost you money.

The fees will depend on your equipment and the features you want to access. Expect to pay a higher monthly fee if you want the whole nine yards, meaning, security sensors, environment sensors, security cameras, and home automation.

That said, every Vivint package delivers more than just basic home security. All packages include professional monitoring and access to the Vivint app. That means you’ll be able to monitor Vivint with just your smartphone, whether you’re relaxing on your couch or on a beach in Cabo.

Of course, there are optional add-ons. You can add home automation features and video security, for example. These add-ons will increase your monthly fee and more pieces of equipment may be required, but they can also greatly enhance your home security. Just be careful not to go overboard. The key to getting the most value from Vivint is buying exactly what you need – nothing more, nothing less.

You also have to consider if Vivint is really the right choice for you. The company recently reached two million active subscribers, so it’s clear that Vivint is a good option for many. However, if the equipment and monitoring price doesn’t seem right for your budget, there are other options. Abode’s packages, for instance, are more minimalist but are almost just as capable as Vivint’s smart security systems. Shop around with the help of our home security system buying guide.

Breakdown of Monitoring Packages

The one downside with Vivint is the monitoring contract. You can pay the entire equipment fee upfront for a contract-free experience, but as you’ll soon find out, Vivint equipment doesn’t come cheap. That’s why most Vivint customers avail equipment financing, which requires signing a long-term contract. The contract is as long as your financing term, which can be anywhere from three to five years.

Now, in our post about the worst security systems, we mentioned one company that has a five-year contract and that was one of the reasons why we recommend staying away from it. Vivint’s case is entirely different. The contract actually works in our favor, because without it, we’d have to pay the entire equipment fee upfront, which again, isn’t cheap.

Besides, Vivint offers options. If you can pay the equipment fee within three years, then you get a three-year contract — the industry average. If you can pay it upfront, then a contract is not necessary at all.

Also remember that a monitoring subscription is needed for Vivint to work, and if you cancel your monitoring service, you’ll lose access to your equipment’s features. That’s why, even though we’re not big fans of security systems with contracts, we’re fine signing the Vivint contract.

In any case, it’s always good practice to ask your sales rep about your contract’s details when buying a security system.

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.

Discounts aside, Vivint does have financing plans so you can pay over time. We recommend choosing a package, as that’ll save you money compared to buying each piece of equipment individually, but for your convenience, we’ll share the pricing for both.

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, but also on how you’re going to pay.

With Vivint, you can pay for your equipment upfront or you can have it financed following a credit check. If you opt for the former, you’ll be able to forego the monitoring contract. That is, if you have enough cash to spare on an $800 (or more, depending on size) security system.

The standard option is to finance your equipment, which will lock you into a contract but allows you to spread out the equipment fee (sometimes $2,000 or more) over four or five years. Considering Vivint’s high equipment cost and the fact that the system only works when you have a professional monitoring subscription, financing makes more practical sense. Here’s how it works:

By financing with Vivint, users will pay one flat monthly fee (usually under $60 per month) for equipment and monitoring over the term of the finance period. Then, after the financing period ends, the equipment will be completely yours and the monthly costs should drop significantly. If you’re looking for a lower monthly fee on the entire system, we suggest looking at Cove’s DIY security kits, or even a super-low-cost package from Ring Alarm.

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 more closely resembles well-established security companies like ADT than the young DIY security options we see these days. There are pros and cons to that.

The advantage, clearly, is that Vivint offers best-in-class features that you can get only from a well-established company. With Vivint, you have more types of equipment to choose from, you have better sets of features at your disposal, and you can access top-shelf monitoring service. You also get white-glove, professional installation service.

On the other hand, Vivint is less flexible than most DIY security systems. That is true in terms of price and contracts. You’re not allowed to self-monitor Vivint, so a monthly monitoring fee comes standard with any security system. On top of that, there’s a contract you need to sign that locks you into the service.

In terms of equipment, Vivint’s prices are also up there, although some components’ pricing is negotiable. Take the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, for instance. It costs $399.99, and although it’s at the top of the line in terms of quality, most outdoor cameras cost around $200. Similarly, the Vivint Doorbell Pro costs $299.99, a bit more expensive than the industry average of around $188. So if you’re considering Vivint, expect to pay hundreds for equipment and at least $39.99 more per month. It’s certainly not for everybody, but if you can afford Vivint’s premium pricing, you’ll enjoy premium features and equipment as well.

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.
• 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.