Vivint Home Security Pricing & Plan Cost in 2024 | Security.org

Is Vivint’s $30-$50 monthly monitoring price tag worth it for the smart home automations and AI features?

Don’t get us wrong; we love Vivint. Based on our tests, it’s one of the best security systems of 2024. It’s a high-tech home security system that incorporates home automation in its home security strategy. However, Vivint’s higher-than-average price can make some folks question its worth. Add to that the mystery surrounding its prices; you can’t get quotes online. Instead, you need to give Vivint a call to find out how much you’ll need to set up a security system.

Don’t worry, we’re here to address all 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.

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.

We’d love to put a table here telling you how much Vivint’s monitoring costs. But the truth is it’s different for everyone. During our conversation with the sales representative, the price ranged from $30 to $50, which is in the same ballpark as ADT.

The final cost comes down to how many devices you buy, whether or not you want home automation features, and the taxes you have to pay in your state. The sales representative also mentioned that you can have up to 12 cameras. You probably won’t need 12 cameras, but in case you do, there could be added monthly fees for cloud storage and video verification. Vivint is one of the best security systems for large homes, but only if you’re ready to shell out some serious cash.

Pro Tip: If Vivint doesn’t seem like the perfect choice, know that there are similar options available. For example, abode’s packages offer more minimalist equipment capable of smart security almost just as well as Vivint. Shop around with the help of our home security system buying guide.

One of the things keeping people from buying a home security system from Vivint is the contract, which can last up to five years. You don’t have long to reconsider your decision after you sign it, either. There’s just a three-day grace period to change your mind and cancel the deal. At least with ADT, they give you a six-month money-back guarantee.

On the plus side, by sticking with the agreement, you’ll lock in the price for the life of the contract. It’s better than one of the worst security systems we’ve seen, which uses five-year contracts to deceive customers.

You can avoid having to sign on the dotted line with Vivint by buying all your equipment upfront. But you’ll still have to pay for the monitoring service. The system won’t work otherwise. The only bonus of not having to sign a contract is that you’re not legally obligated to remain a customer for the next five years.

Pro Tip: If Vivint’s monthly fee requirement is a deal-breaker, you have other options. See our list of the best no-monthly-fee security systems. abode is a particularly good Vivint alternative because like Vivint, it offers home automation capabilities more advanced than what most security systems offer.

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.

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. Our Vivint package set us back $1,200. It came with:

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 $600 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, which will also decide your contract length. And keep in mind, there will be a credit check and the monitoring contract will be equivalent to your financing term.

FYI: Vivint is a good option for those who are looking to buy a security system without undergoing a credit check. That said, its steep prices might put off potential shoppers. Currently, SimpliSafe, abode, and Ring are the best security systems that don’t require a credit check.

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!

Now it’s time to see where Vivint stands in the home security market. On the low end of the spectrum, we have security systems such as Cove and Ring Alarm. All you need is about $200 for the equipment and around $20 per month for monitoring. On the opposite end of the spectrum are companies like Deep Sentinel – a system with just one camera costs $499, and monitoring starts at $100.

Vivint sits somewhere in the middle, although its pricing is closer to the higher end of things. Vivint’s Outdoor Camera Pro costs $399. It’s the most expensive piece of equipment. In comparison, the most expensive SimpliSafe camera costs $199 (SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 2), while that of ADT costs $279 (Nest Cam with Floodlight).

The Vivint Outdoor Camera is an outlier though. If we compare other types of equipment, Vivint is still pricier, but not by a lot. For example, take a look at the comparison of Vivint, ADT, and SimpliSafe packages below with similar pieces of equipment:

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 $269. 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.

FYI: If a simple and affordable security system is what you’re after, then Vivint might not be the best choice. Consider one of the best DIY security systems instead, particularly, Cove’s affordable packages.

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

Vivint stands out because of its strong third-party integration. That sounds like just a cherry on top, but it’s actually the meat of how Vivint works. Home automation can take your home security to the next level.

To start with, you get voice control with Vivint. You can command Alexa or Google Assistant to arm your system or give you a brief of your sensor status. You can even add Vivint to your routines, so that when you tell your voice assistant “I’m leaving for the day,” it can arm Vivint and set all the other smart home devices you want set, from turning down the thermostat to turning off your lights.

>> See More: The Best Security Systems That Work With Alexa

Vivint also works with third-party devices directly, including:

Integrating those devices into your Vivint system will allow you to control them manually via the Vivint app and Smart Hub. But even better, you can create IFTTT-like automation rules to automate some actions.

For example, we set an automation rule that locks our front door, dims our living room lights, sets the thermostat to our ideal sleeping temperature, and arms Vivint at a specific time every night. Not only does that remind us of bed time, but it also makes sure our house is set before we tuck in.

Vivint’s automations can help people with hearing loss too. Whenever our grandma visits, we have a Vivint automation set to turn on the light in the guest room where she sleeps if smoke is detected to serve as an additional way of alerting her. That’s why we named Vivint one of the best security systems for seniors and best security systems for the deaf.

Pro Tip: While you’re in the Vivint app, we recommend jumping into the Custom Notifications page. That’s where you set what types of alerts you get and when. For example, we get a notification if our window is left open for longer than 30 minutes after 8 p.m. But you can also use it for person and package detection, when the doorbell rings if you’re not home, and if the front door isn’t closed properly.

Find out how Vivint compares to other home security systems

We tested Vivint and compared it side-by-side with other brands to give you the full picture.

It’s hard to nail down an actual price for a Vivint home security system, but we know for sure that it’s not cheap. You can make the monthly price a little more affordable by signing up for a five-year contract, but even the monitoring costs are more expensive than some of the other top brands.

However, Vivint is one of our favorite smart home systems and is one of the best professionally installed security systems. We think it’s best suited to homeowners and renters who don’t mind paying a premium price for high-quality equipment, advanced home automation, and 24/7 professional monitoring. If a DIY project and self-monitoring aren’t your cup of tea, then we recommend leaving it up to Vivint to keep you safe.

Having tested Vivint ourselves, we answered some of the questions our readers often ask us about Vivint's pricing.

Vivint starts at $39.99, under regular pricing. Here’s a breakdown of Vivint’s monitoring plans

Vivint is worth the money, based on our tests. It is one of the more expensive security systems we’ve tested, but it’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a system with 24/7 monitoring and an intuitive smartphone app for remote control. Vivint also does well when it comes to home automation, and Vivint’s cameras are better than most other security cameras we’ve tested in terms of features. Vivint’s video doorbell and outdoor camera, in particular, use artificial intelligence to better protect homes.

A Vivint security system costs anywhere between $40-$70 monthly. Vivint systems are generally more pricey than other security systems, but Vivint customers are getting top-of-the-line home security products. Of course, the disadvantage is that you will have to sign a long-term contract; but if you plan to stay in your home for a few years, we think Vivint is worth the money.

You can negotiate with Vivint before signing a contract with the company. For instance, you might be able to negotiate a month-to-month contract rather than a 60-month contract if you pay for the equipment up front instead of having it financed.

Nest Labs. (2015). Energy Savings from the Nest Learning Thermostat: Energy Bill Analysis Results.storage.googleapis.com/nest-public-downloads/press/documents/energy-savings-white-paper.pdf