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Vivint Home Security Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)
119 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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Founded in 2002, Vivint is a smart home technology provider that offers home security and safety, home automation and energy management solutions. Their systems are fully customizable, feature 24/7 professional monitoring, and can all be controlled remotely via mobile app. Vivint is headquartered in Provost, Utah.
 
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How is Vivint rated?

Breakdown

4.5/5
Equipment
4.9/5
Monitoring Options and Technology
5.0/5
Value
4.8/5
Contract Flexibility

Overall Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)

Vivint pairs their innovative, self-designed technology for home automation with customizable plans and flexible payment options. Its aim is to provide fully-connected, innovative systems. The company is among the largest home security providers in the US. However, given the complexity of Vivint's systems, equipment costs can mount fairly quickly. Depending on the length of the monitoring contract you choose, monthly monitoring can be on the high side. The Vivint website does advertise a low $19.99 monthly monitoring fee option but it is attached to a high minimum initial purchase and lengthy service agreement.

How does Vivint work?

Equipment - 4.5 / 5

Vivint offers both pre-selected home security packages and fully customizable options. The company offers free professional installation of some system components, but does charge for the installation of outdoor and doorbell cameras.

Hardware options begin with the Smart Hub, to which additional devices are added, such as cameras, smart locks, a smart thermostat, and more. Some—but not all—equipment comes with a lifetime warranty.

Vivint's connected home technology offers a wide variety of optional sensors, such as smoke, glass break, carbon monoxide, and flood, all of which can be controlled via the Vivint app. The company allows customers to customize a feature-rich equipment package.
Installation
Professional
Equipment Manufacturer
Clearlink
Ability to Reallocate System
Wireless Sensors
Control Panel
Event Triggered Siren/ Alarm

Security Monitors, Sensors, & Devices

Intrusion Protection

  • Door & Window Sensors
  • Garage Door Sensors
  • Glass Break Protection
  • Motion Sensors
  • Recessed Door Sensors
  • Crash & Smash Protection

Environmental Protection

  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Flood
  • Temperature Change
  • Smoke

Surveillance

  • Indoor Cameras
  • Outdoor Cameras
  • Doorbell Cameras
  • Tilt & Pan Cameras
  • Live Surveillance
  • Event-triggered Surveillance

Life Safety

  • Panic Button
  • Medical Alert

Monitoring

Monitoring Options and Technology - 4.9 / 5

Vivint provides professional 24/7 monitoring via broadband or cellular data. Its call center can dispatch emergency personnel as needed. The Vivint Smart Hub Panel features two-way communication as part of a complete system, which gives homeowners more options during an emergency.
Monitoring Options
Professional Monitoring
Self Monitoring
Monitoring Technology
Cellular
Broadband
Number of Monitoring Centers
1
Monitoring Center Type
Owned
Professional Monitoring Services
24/7 Professional Monitoring
2-Way Intercom
Police Dispatch
Fire Department Dispatch
Medical Dispatch

How much does Vivint cost?

Contract Flexibility - 4.8 / 5

Vivint's Smart Home plans begin with a monthly monitoring fee of $39.99, while their Smart Home Video starts at $44.99. If a homeowner chooses to purchase their equipment upfront (average of $549.99), these are the only fees they'll pay subsequently, with no need for a contract. But self-monitoring is generally not recommended by security experts.

When choosing the financing option, the monthly cost includes the monitoring fees mentioned above, plus the equipment cost over their 42 or 60-month contracts. These contract lengths are lengthier than the industry standard of 24-36.
Monthly Fee (min)
$29.99
Monthly Fee (max)
$44.99
Number of Available Packages
3
Installation/ Activation Fee
$0.00
Equipment Starting Cost
$649.99
Contract Required
Minimum Contract Length
0 months
Cancellation Policy
Contract term is month-to-month, unless choosing the financing option, in which case terms are 42-60 months.
Warranty
Lifetime

Contract & Price Fine Print

Vivint offers a month-to-month plan with no contract required and contract lengths up to 60 months.

Technology Integrations

Technology Integration - 4.4 / 5

Vivint offers a high level of technology integration. Customers can select systems that combine home security, environmental safety, and energy efficiency features. The company manufactures some of its equipment itself, which is unusual in the industry.

Customers control their systems through the Vivint mobile app. Vivint can interface with Amazon Alexa and Echo, Google Home, IFTTT, and Z-Wave. They also have a cloud storage unit called Space Monkey, which holds 1TB of data and can be accessed remotely.

Compatibility

Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Google Home
IFTTT
Z-Wave
ZigBee
Z-Wave Plus

Mobile Access & Alerts

  • iPhone App
  • Android App
  • Email & Text Alerts
  • Live Surveillance Feed
  • Remote Arm/Disarm

Home Automation

  • Lighting Control
  • Thermostat Control
  • Appliance Control
  • Electronic Door Locks
  • Event-triggered Automation
  • History Log
  • Unique User Codes

Vivint Reputation

Reputation - 4.7 / 5

Vivint has excellent ratings across various certifying agencies, including the Central Station Alarm Association, the Underwriter's Laboratory, and the Electronic Security Association. Their customer reputation was historically poor, but they have made serious efforts in that arena, and currently offer support via various channels, including their mobile apps, website, and phone.
Trust Pilot Rating
3.8 out of 5
BBB Rating
D+
Number of BBB Positive Reviews
194
Number of BBB Neutral Reviews
28
Number of BBB Negative Reviews
485
Date Collected
2021-01-28
Year Founded
1999

Certifications & Associations

  • Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA)
  • Underwriter's Laboratory (UL)
  • Electronic Security Association

Vivint Summary

In Conclusion

Vivint Inc. is one of the largest home security companies in North America and currently provides services to over one million customers. The security company is known for “smart home” products and advanced alarm technology.

Unlike most companies that offer restrictive, pre-packaged plans, Vivint focuses on a customized approach. With Vivint’s base security package, customers receive a touchscreen control panel, a smoke detector, a door/window sensor, a motion detector, and a key fob. The key fob can be used to arm or disarm the system without having to enter the home. Additional equipment is also available, including recessed door sensors, glass break detectors, flood/freeze sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, tilt sensors, small appliance controls, doorbell cameras, smart thermostats, panic pendants, and more.

The Vivint Smart Home service packages smart home products across different brands, professional installation and monthly security monitoring. In June 2018, Vivint added two Google Home Minis to each starter kit. At CES, Vivint introduced Streety, a new neighborhood watch app.

Vivint equipment and monitoring are a bit pricey. There are two service plans. The Smart Protect plan is $39.99 per month and gives you 24/7 professional monitoring and full use of the mobile app, including alert notifications. If you add things like door locks, doorbell cams, and thermostats, you'll need the $49.99 per month Smart Home plan, which lets you control home automation devices using the app and Amazon's Alexa voice commands. Again, a service plan is not mandatory, but without one, you have to monitor your home yourself, and you don't get remote access to the system. Regardless of the payment plan you choose, Vivint simplified its three packages down to just two. The Smart Home package gets you home security and home automation only, and the Smart Home Video package adds video surveillance.

Rather than employing a third-party distributor, Vivint designs most of the equipment that’s included in each company package. Also, all devices function using Z-Wave and are wireless (including cameras and smart thermostats), so you don’t have to fumble through a problematic installation.

While Vivint’s systems are tailored to fit your needs, reviewers stated that Vivint struggles with delivering dependable customer service—both for user questions and in emergency situations. On the other hand, Vivint is highly receptive to customer feedback and works hard to implement recommended changes. Sales practices in the past damaged the company’s reputation, but it remains a leader in innovative home protection.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
https://www.vivint.com/
Company Phone
(855) 562-0243
Headquarters Address
4931 N 300 W, Provo, UT, 84604
Mailing Address
4931 N 300 W, Provo, UT, 84604

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119 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Patricia L
10/13/2017
Set up an appt. tech never showed called and was hung up on 3 times these people are rude and unprofessional . Before I got the appt . had to call 3 times because they could not reach anyone should have been my first clue.

R
Richard
10/7/2017
DO NOT USE VIVINT!!! Vivint is extorting me for a service I do not use. I changed companies, had a new panel installed, and called to cancel the service. After getting billed again I called. They claim I entered into a new contract with them until 2020, which is ridiculous since I have service from another company and do not plan to live in this house that long. If I do not pay, they threatened, I will have to pay the entire amount due plus all legal fees which will be extensive. With this threat I'm forced to continue paying them for a service I do not use. PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE.

E
Emmanouil P
10/6/2017
I was looking for a cellular system with remote garage control, smart locks, doorbell, and indoor cameras, ideally with professional installation. Vivint seemed to be the perfect fit. After just 12 hours of installation I had to cancel the service. The doors fail to lock, the garage door would open but not close remotely (I 'd be ok with the opposite), and the indoor cameras (as expensive as the nest system) would not capture and save any videos. I do not recommend this security system. Most of the bad reviews reflected issues with customer service or the contract, but it seems that the core issue is the company's bad equipment.

K
kimberlybrooks
10/3/2017
So far I have loved the system. I have the doorbell camera, door and window sensors/glass breaks, fire alarm alert sensor, etc. I did have to call customer service (technical support) and honestly, outside of technical support, I like the system. The price is about what everyone else is charging so nothing exciting there. Installation was free. Equipment on payment plan. No contract. The customer service/technical support needs work. The guy who did the installation was great...fantastic. He came back out to install a couple of other items that I felt that I needed...great person to person service. I have no complaint. Their technical support needs A LOT OF WORK!!!! I'm not... Read More

D
Dan K
9/23/2017
Stay away from this company. We sold our house and put the contract on hold until we understood if the new place would need a security system, we found it has a internal system so Vivint said they would just charge the monthly rate until the contract was done, I continue to be charged and they said they put us on month to month, even though they were doing nothing for a service, could not make anyone list said the needed to have a official cancellation which was done months ago but they would not accept that. READ THE FINE Print Zero customer service

B
Brenda K
8/19/2017
There is NO service after the sale. They will say you own the equipment - you are responsible for the maintenance. They will try to charge you for fixing a panel that is faulty.. They will not be able to fix problems over the phone -- even after 4 technicians try and you spend 8+ hours on the phone with them.

Salvador B
8/4/2017
The Smart Home works very well but it is quite glitchy. In 4 months we've had several false alarms because the system does not disarm according to rules we set. Then we finally had a security event. The Front Doorbell Camera was stolen without any alarm, notification, recording... and then Vivint would not cover the replacement of their own equipment. We find it absurd that the company you hire to protect your property won't even cover the theft of their own property.

K
karen
8/2/2017
In my opinion-complete waste of an hour. I believe the Agent went over all the features ad nauseam even thought I told him I had a good basic understanding of the working structure of home security. He quoted me a reasonable monthly fee, then in my opinion he finally casually slips in the fact that one camera and a door bell monitor and a couple of sensors will cost $1,100. The, I believe because I didn't want to have a credit check run before I decided to make a commitment to use their services he told me they needed a $550 deposit that they will hold. I believe there is a chance he assumed I am an idiot and I was just going to give him $550 because he told me to. When I told him it... Read More

Mildred P
7/27/2017
i really love vivint, a couple of times my boyfriend was cooking foor on stove on high, arlarm with off, i heard fire trucks start up before i could call and say everything was ok, i love how quick their response is. i feel so safe

C
Cindi J
7/18/2017
STAY AWAY FROM VIVINT! If I could give it a zero rating I would! I had Vivint in our home for a few years. We were moving to a new state and when I called them to advise I would need to shut off my system they let me know that my contract would be up in January or I could see if the new owners would like to take the system over. We decided to pay for the remainder of our contract and went on. Vivint has TWICE now tried to send me to collections and hit my credit score. I call and they correct the situation. Today I just got a call that I would be served with paperwork for Vivint. This has been going on for 3 years now! Their customer service is terrible! I am now looking and having to hire... Read More

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