You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to Vivint alarm security. Smart home integrations, top customizations, and professional installation are all offered by Vivint security systems. While Vivint's smarter home security systems can be pricey, impressive new security cameras and one app for everything make them worth it.
The premium pricing of Vivint alarm packages and plans is not surprising, given its features. Some people won't mind that, especially since the benefits definitely outweigh the costs. The higher price makes it unaffordable for everyone. It's important to know exactly what you're getting. The following guide will cover all the equipment packages, monthly plans, and costs of Vivint's services. Also, we will discuss some of the drawbacks of Vivint, so you can make an informed decision.
Pros
- Highly personalized
- Install, maintain, and repair by professionals
- Contracts that are month-to-month
- Consumer financing with no down payment
- A high level of security with quality equipment
Cons
- Costs are higher in general
- Unresolved customer service issues
- Integration with third-party smart homes is limited
Do you need a Vivint alarm security system?
The Vivint alarm security system is full-service, high-end, and reliable. Vivint alarm security systems offer the following features:
- Monitoring of alarms by professionals 24/7
- Vivint app and system introduction
- To control everything in your home, download the Vivint smart home app
- Cameras with advanced safety features, including a doorbell camera
- Maintaining and repairing security systems professionally
- Warranty for life on all equipment
- Options for multiple contracts
Compared with the average $31 monthly pro monitoring cost among the security systems we tested and reviewed, Vivint's advanced tech and high-end security features will set you back upwards of $40 a month. Vivint provides a lot of security innovation and quality service for the monthly fee, and we believe that "you get what you pay for." Vivint should be on your list if you have the budget and want cutting-edge home security equipment and professional installation. The overall cost of Vivint will be higher. The equipment and apps offered by Vivint are unique since it's one of the only home security companies that's always innovating and adding new features.
The company made its own equipment and app rather than using white-label equipment and cookie-cutter apps, which is why its prices are higher. As a result, Vivint is responding to the demands of its customers, unlike some of its rivals, by adding a no-contract option for professional monitoring.
Security features of Vivint alarm equipment
Car Guard and cameras are Vivint's best security features. You'll know if your car has been stolen or disturbed when the Car Guard tracks its location.
Intruders and lurkers can be detected and scared off using Smart Sentry and Smart Deter features on the outdoor and doorbell cameras. You will hear the cameras making a startling noise if someone remains on your property too long or tries to steal a package from your porch.
Vivint Smart Drive
Vivint Smart Drive is worth considering if you plan to get a Vivint camera or two. (This is not the same as the Vivint Control Panel, which is the base of your security system and the smart hub for your devices.) Smart drives are essentially DVRs for cameras. It allows you to store security footage longer, which is helpful. However, it is the continuous recording that makes this system so valuable.
Your cameras will always record with the Smart Drive, not just in response to motion events. This will prevent accidental missing events (which, unfortunately, happen with most security cameras). According to our understanding, you will have to pay a monthly fee for every camera, even if you have the Smart Drive. Due to the fact that you will have to pay for the drive along with other equipment, the drive won't save you any money. However, it is still useful for many purposes.
Vivint Alexa and Google integration
In comparison to Alexa, Google requires just one integration for full control of the smart home and security system.
It takes specific wording in both cases, however, to get the systems to work. In addition, you cannot disarm your Vivint system without entering your code manually, even though you can arm it with voice control.
Vivint Z-Wave integration
Some of the leading smart home brands are also compatible with Vivint, as it connects to most Z-Wave devices. Vivint's existing connectivity will be able to provide you with more smart home functionality, even though some IFTTT or Zigbee integration would be nice.
Vivint mobile app
Every level of professional Vivint monitoring is included in the Vivint app (formerly known as the Vivint Sky app). Your system can be armed and disarmed, smart devices can be turned on and off, and you can monitor your car (if you have a Car Guard).
Vivint installation
Professionals install Vivint. It will be easy for you to get Vivint in your home without using a screwdriver or wiring a camera. However, you will need to set aside some time for this. During a consultation with Vivint, a professional will determine what equipment you need and where it should be installed. As far as we understand, the consultation and professional installation are done separately rather than following the usual consultation process.
All Vivint plans and packages require professional installation at a cost of $99 per package. It seems like this cost is standard in the industry and shouldn't be considered a deal-breaker. It is important to have a professional install your system, so everything is set up correctly and networked efficiently.
Vivint Add-On Equipment
It is easy to customize a Vivint system to suit your tastes, which is one of the things we appreciate most. Their systems are compatible with hundreds of third-party devices, and they offer a variety of add-ons and upgrades. Smart home integrations such as Philips Hue smart lights, Kwikset smart locks, and Nest thermostats can be integrated with Vivint. The company also integrates smoke detectors, garage controllers, and a growing number of smart home devices.
Customer experience with Vivint
It has been a rocky road for Vivint over the years due to its many ups and downs. Vivint seems to be extremely good when customers have good experiences. As you can imagine, when they have bad experiences, the pendulum swings wildly.
It's very easy to use and very smart, as described in this Vivint review. However, Vivint is frequently criticized for the following:
- Vivint's contract terms or initial estimates are misrepresented through deceptive sales tactics
- Explicitly renewing a contract without the user's permission may result in contract confusion
- The company has taken significant steps to improve its reputation, and we applaud it for doing so. Nonetheless, we continue to receive complaints concerning these issues more frequently than we would like.
Pricing from Vivint
With Vivint, you can choose from three professional monitoring plans: 24-7 monitoring, mobile app control, live customer support, and tech support on demand. There is a monthly fee of $29.99 for the Vivint Smart Security plan. $39.99 per month is the cost of the Smart Home plan. $44.95 per month is the cost of the Smart Home Video plan with video capabilities.
If you finance your equipment, all of Vivint's plans require a 4- or 5-year contract. Whenever possible, we recommend avoiding long-term contracts. Vivint's contracts can only be sidestepped by purchasing the equipment outright.
Conclusion
The equipment and smart home compatibility are excellent, but there is still work to be done to improve the customer experience. Smart home functionality, monitoring, and proprietary equipment all add up to quite a bit for Vivint. Full security and a smart home setup will give you the best value for your money. A lot of the equipment that Vivint offers is of the highest quality. What makes Vivint a top system are its proprietary products and smart functions.
The Vivint smart home platform integrates with a wide range of smart home devices. Your system will be installed by Vivint representatives. There have been some questionable past events that have damaged Vivint's reputation with customers, but it is slowly improving.
You can customize your home security system with Vivint because you have complete control over what you want. It's the smartest home security solution on the market, and everything is 100% customizable. In addition to the high cost of Vivint's equipment, it requires technicians with specialized installation skills to install it.
