Everything You Need to Know About Vivint Home Security System

Home security has become an essential part of designing and equipping your home. From simple security cameras to fully-integrated smart home security systems, your options are seemingly endless. One of the major players in the home security space is Vivint. Here’s a look at what you need to know about Vivint home security, including reviews and pricing information.

What is Vivint?

Founded in 1999 as APX Alarm, Vivint changed its name in 2011 when the company expanded beyond basic home security solutions into the smart home arena. Vivint was acquired by Blackstone Group in 2012 and has continued to expand both its customer base and its technological offerings since then. Today, Vivint home security has more than 1.4 million active customers in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. U.S. News & World Report named Vivint Smart Home the Best Full-Service Home Security and Automation Solution for 2020.

The Vivint home security model is simple. The basic Vivint Starter Kit provides a touchscreen control panel, two entry sensors, a water sensor, and a motion sensor. It also includes your choice of additional sensors valued at up to $100 total. You can then select add-ons from an extensive list of home security and smart home equipment on an à la carte basis.

Vivint offers financing at 0% interest if you sign up for a monitoring contract. When your equipment is paid off, or if you pay for it upfront, monitoring is available on a month-to-month, no-contract basis. Both basic and advanced security monitoring are available. All Vivint systems require professional installation.

Vivint notable features

• Vivint Smart Home App: Control not only your home security features but also your entire smart home, with custom actions and full remote access.
• Seamless Integration: Vivint home security integrates fully with a variety of popular smart home products and controllers
• Customization Options: Cameras? No problem. Do you prefer outdoor, doorbell, or motion-triggered indoor styles? Maybe you need smart locks, carbon monoxide detectors, or remote garage door control. Vivint lets you purchase what you need while skipping the things you don’t want.
• Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your service due to extenuating circumstances, just call the company. Especially generous policies apply to those in the military. Several options are also available in the event of a move.
• Look and Feel: The look and feel of Vivint’s home security equipment reflect the company’s status as a major player in smart home technology. Each piece of equipment is thoughtfully designed, elegantly sleek, and relatively unobtrusive.

Vivint packages and prices

Vivint pricing is straightforward. You build your equipment package (the Starter Kit costs $599) and then decide whether to pay for it upfront or finance it for 60 months at 0% interest. Then you simply pay your monthly monitoring fee, plus the monthly cost of any financed equipment.

Monitoring plans offered by Vivint:

Vivint Smart Security Service

• $29.99/mo.
• This basic package includes the SkyControl Panel and Vivint’s app, plus additional customized equipment options.
• Includes 24/7 professional monitoring
• No contract if you pay for equipment upfront, 60-month contract if financing equipment

Vivint Smart Home Service

• $39.99/mo. plus $5/mo. per camera
• This package includes the SkyControl Panel and Vivint’s app, plus additional customized equipment options.
• Includes 24/7 professional monitoring, along with video surveillance and local video storage
• No contract if you pay for equipment upfront, 60-month contract if financing equipment

*Prices as of 1/20/2019

Understanding Vivint pricing

Vivint pricing includes two components: equipment cost and monitoring fees. For a full quote, you’ll need an in-home assessment from a Vivint professional. According to U.S. News & World Report, the basic Vivint Starter Kit costs $599, while add-on equipment is available à la carte. U.S. News notes that add-on prices range from $50 for a smart sensor to $299 for an outdoor camera.  The average Vivint customer spends about $1,500 on equipment, which can be financed at zero interest for 60 months, according to U.S. News. 

Monitoring fees are $29.99 to $39.99 per month and are completely separate from equipment charges.

Vivint equipment

Customer ratings at Consumer Affairs and Trustpilot give Vivint high marks for advanced equipment and integration. According to reviews, the company’s products are high-tech yet user-friendly and integrate seamlessly into your existing smart home. Customers comment that the mobile app is robust and the equipment has a sleek, modern feel. High-tech HD cameras offer infrared night vision, and the system is highly customizable. Quality plays an important role in U.S. News & World Report’s decision to name Vivint Smart Home the Best Full-Service Home Security and Automation Solution for 2020.

Vivint home security system installation

All Vivint home security systems require professional installation. The installation fee is a one-time charge of $49 to $99, depending on exactly which equipment components you choose. A major advantage is that a Vivint home security expert will provide a free in-home consultation to help you design your system.

Vivint reviews

A 2018 J.D. Power study ranked Vivint Smart Home third in customer satisfaction among home security brands. Vivint got an 839 out of 1,000 customer satisfaction index rating, trailing closely behind Brinks Home Security (852) and AT&T Digital Life (847). 

Vivint has a 4-star rating across more than 14,000 Trustpilot reviews and a 4-star rating across more than 2,000 recent Consumer Affairs reviews. In Vivint reviews, customers consistently comment on the friendly and helpful customer service, breadth of customization options, and quality of the equipment. Some customers have noted that the cancellation process is difficult and sometimes requires more than one phone call. Also, depending on the issue, some Vivint reviews report being charged for service calls even when the Vivint equipment is faulty.

Pros and cons of Vivint

Advantages of Vivint home security include package customization, technology, equipment financing, and customer service. Disadvantages include equipment pricing, lack of DIY installation ability, and difficulty canceling contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does Vivint cost?

A starter equipment package costs $599, with add-ons increasing the average equipment bill to around $1,500. Financing is available at 0% interest. Monitoring plans starting at $29.99/mo. are sold separately.

2. Can you get professional monitoring with Vivint?

All Vivint home security systems have professional monitoring. There is no option to purchase the equipment without a monitoring package.

3. How much does professional monitoring with Vivint cost?

The monthly monitoring fee is $29.99 to $39.99, plus $5 per camera.

4. Is DIY installation available?

All Vivint home security systems require professional installation.

5. How much does professional installation cost?

According to U.S. News & World Report, Vivint professional installation is a one-time fee of $49 to $99, depending on equipment.

6. Does Vivint require a contract?

No monthly contract is required if you pay for your equipment upfront. If your equipment is financed, you must sign a 60-month contract.

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