Vivint Reviews

Vivint Smart Home is a home security and automation company. It designs integrated smart home security systems, including features such as professional installation and 24/7 monitoring. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Provo, Utah.

How does Vivint work?

Vivint uses advanced technology to keep your home secure. Here’s a quick breakdown of how some of the components work:

• Wireless sensors: Detect activity around doors and windows to provide alerts.
• Smart thermostats: Allow you to control the temperature remotely via the Vivint app.
• Smart locks: Enable you to lock or unlock doors remotely and manage access codes.
• Doorbell cameras: Provide video footage of your entryway and allow two-way communication.

The Vivint Smart Hub is the central control panel that runs on a cellular connection and connects to the Vivint app. Through the panel or app, you can monitor and control all your integrated devices, including arming or disarming your home, viewing live camera feeds and customizing notification settings.

You need a wireless connection to use a Vivint system because the Smart Hub uses Wi-Fi to connect. However, Vivint has a cellular backup that allows the system to work if your Wi-Fi or power goes out.

Vivint’s security packages range from $349.99 to $1,899.99. Monthly monitoring costs range from approximately $24.99 to $57 a month. The total cost of a home security system from Vivint varies based on the package and equipment you choose. There’s no option for do-it-yourself installation, but installation costs are typically waived.

Vivint offers four standard packages, but each can be customized to include the equipment you need.

• Vivint Security Starter, $749.99: Includes Smart Hub control panel, two door/window sensors and a motion sensor. Professional monitoring services for this package are approximatley $47 per month.

• Vivint Doorbell Security, $849.98: Includes a Smart Hub, four door/window sensors, a motion sensor, and a doorbell camera. Professional monitoring services are approximatley $52 per month.

• Vivint Safety & Security, $1,899.99: Includes Smart Hub, four door/window sensors, a motion sensor, a doorbell camera, a water sensor, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, and an outdoor camera. Professional monitoring services are approximatley $57 per month.

• Vivint HomeProtect, $349.99: HomeProtect has two payment options. Includes the Vivint app, motion sensor, three door/window sensors, keypad and Security Hub.

  • $349.99: This option requires no contract. You only pay a $29.99 monthly monitoring fee and have the ability to cancel at any time. Installation is an additional $199.

  • $199: This option gets you free installation if you sign a three-year contract. You also get a reduced monthly monitoring fee of $24.99.

Equipment can be purchased upfront at the listed cost or financed. Financing terms can vary. Vivint offers APR as low as 0%, and terms typically range from 36 to 60 months. Vivint also occasionally runs substantial promotions on its equipment packages, so keep an eye out for those.

Vivint’s base equipment includes its Vivint Smart Hub panel, motion sensors and door/window sensors. You can add more equipment options to your security or smart home automation package to personalize your system.

Vivint’s equipment is compatible with many of the most popular smart home products, including Google Home and Google Nest.

Vivint has a wide range of equipment available for purchase. Options include:

• Outdoor Camera Pro: It is high-definition and has a 140-degree field of view and night vision. If the camera detects someone, it activates an 85-decibel speaker and lights up.
• Indoor camera: The indoor camera records when it detects people present and sends notifications to your phone. It also has a two-way talk feature.
• Doorbell camera: Vivint’s doorbell camera has Smart Deter technology to stop package theft: If it sees someone trying to take a package, it activates a 90-decibel speaker and LED ring. The camera has a 180-degree-by-180-degree field of view and night vision.
• Door and window sensors: The wireless sensors communicate with the hub and app, sending alerts and sounding alarms. They have a five-year battery life.
• Smart lock: The Kwikset smart lock lets you assign up to 50 unique access codes for family members and friends. You can also stay informed on who’s unlocking and locking doors and use the Vivint app to lock and unlock remotely.
• Smart lighting: Manage your lights without flipping switches. You can set custom lighting schedules and save on energy costs.
• Smart garage door controller: Use the app to open and shut your garage from anywhere. The app also notifies you if you leave the garage door open.
• Smart thermostat: Control the temperature in your home from anywhere.
• Smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector: The smoke alarm shuts off your HVAC system in a fire to help slow the spread and automatically unlocks your doors, while the carbon monoxide detector connects you to monitoring if there’s a harmful level of the odorless gas.

The majority of Vivint customers would recommend the company to a friend, but its customer support has received mixed reviews. Most report positive experiences, but some have expressed concerns about long hold times, cancellation policies, billing issues and technical assistance. That said, Vivint's system and services have a lot of great tech, and we think they’re an excellent option to consider for your home security needs.

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