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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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Jerri H
7/9/2017
Took a deposit. Scheduled installlatiin. Gave 3 hour window. Never showed. Did not seem sympathetic about breaking appointment

L
laszlo
6/2/2017
I wasn't even looking for an upgrade, came across Dave going door to door, at 8pm its when I came home from work. He explained what the offer was. I accepted. Techs were there within the hour. and by 1200, they were done. Had cameras on backyard, front door and garage entrance done. I freakin love them already......................

J
junperez03
5/19/2017
I am not satisfied with the kind of service they have. i tried to update my system and i agreed to it but they did not upgrade the system and they they said that they will upgrade it but i have to pay $300.00. so i cancelled my service.

D
Dave
5/12/2017
Worst experience I've ever had with a company. I had a very expensive hard wired system before I agreed to go with Vivint. I was promised they would leave my system hard wired as it was plus add some wireless monitors, Instead they just cut my wires and shoved them into the walls and put in wireless, tried to do this without my knowledge but I caught them and they said they had never done a system this big and they couldn't figure out how to do it. Also had to have people come back 3 times because they didn't activate all the monitors. The left areas unprotected that were secure before. Left holes in my walls. After much complaining to their customer satisfaction people I was promised... Read More

J
Jesse
5/8/2017
I've had Vivint for a year and every time my alarm gets triggered they respond within seconds. I trust them so much more than ADT with their insanely inconsistent response times, and HORRIBLE customer service. This site is a little misleading because Vivint is the actual leader in the industry - after doing research I know that Vivint has the awards from the Consumer's Digest Best Buy award, Security Dealer Magazine award for best equipment, best warranty, and the People's Choice best customer service award.... FrontPoint, ADT, and SimpliSafe don't have any of those awards so why are they rated higher here?

Michael G
5/5/2017
So to continue with my rant against Vivint Alarm company. I am not sure if any of you have this company or have ever looked at them for service, but here is the scoop. I contacted the company last week to find out why I was being charged more than I originally agreed to pay. As the conversation progressed I was informed that it was due to a tax that was being passed on. I told the representative that I couldn't wait until October was here, because I was moving my service to Simply Safe Alarm company. I was passed off to another person who was in the locality group. I was told that I could have a reduction in monthly service cost and add cameras to our home for a fixed prices, which I... Read More

G
Galen R
4/29/2017
I have been a vivint customer for over 8 years and I don't think there has been 1 year that I didn't have some kind of problem. They aren't interested in you once you sign up. They give their new products to new customers, but you are stuck with the old ones that doesn't work I live in Alaska and go south for the winter and every year The thermostats stop working or the remote lock quits working. Last year it turned my furnace off and I couldn't lock the door back after my neighbor came over and turned on the heat. Vivint's response is always the same "you need to be there for us to help"I need it to work when I'm gone. That's what it's for. When I get back they come reset it and it... Read More

Ron R
3/23/2017
Customer service A+, Smart home features A++, 24 hours security monitoring A+, Bottom line nothing to complain about would recommend to everyone. Couldn't be happier with the over all service from Vivint!!

A
Andy
3/18/2017
Vivint has horrible customer service. They missed my appointment to install the system. They apologized like it didn't matter. The customer service manager was terrible sounded like a young kid who could careless about Vivint or customers. Pretty amazing. They seem to be too big as they are forgetting they have jobs because of their customers.

A
Andy
3/17/2017
Vivint has horrible customer service. They missed my appointment to install the system. They apologized like it didn't matter. The customer service manager was terrible sounded like a young kid who could careless about Vivint or customers. Pretty amazing. They seem to be too big as they are forgetting they have jobs because of their customers.

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