- Vivint
Vivint
check_circle VerifiedVivint Smart Home offers comprehensive home security and home automation solutions for more than one million customers across the United States. Vivint provides wireless home security systems with 24/7 professional monitoring and a lifetime equipment warranty. Its systems are professionally installed and supported by 24/7 customer service teams.
The company has been in business for 20 years and has received various industry awards, including the PCMag Editors’ Choice Award, U.S. News & World Report's Best Home Security System of 2019, Business Intelligence Group Excellence in Customer Service Award, and more.
Continue reading for The Good, The Bad, and The Bottom Line about Vivint Smart Home, and check out customer reviews of its home security and home automation.
Go Directly to Vivint Smart Home Customer Reviews
the following special promotion:
- FREE Installation
To redeem this offer, call NOW and use
promo code "BESTCOMPANY"
The Good
- Vivint Product Ecosystem
- Professional Installation
- 24/7 Professional Monitoring
- Vivint Equipment Warranty
- Compatibility with Smart Home Devices
- Product Financing
- Vivint App
- Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro with Smart Sentry™
Vivint Product Ecosystem
Vivint offers a comprehensive smart home solution, including a control panel hub, security cameras, home automation devices, a connected car device, and security and safety sensors. Customers can also finance their products to get a complete smart home at the start without paying for everything upfront. Here's a detailed list of Vivint's offered products:
- Vivint Smart Hub — Single touchscreen hub to connect and control your entire smart home. Easily check the status of your system, and quickly communicate with emergency services.
- Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro — Video doorbell that lets you answer your door from anywhere. Integration with locks and garage doors gives you full control of access to your home.
- Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro — Vivint's video surveillance camera that can intelligently identify and automatically deter a true threat. It doesn’t just record the crime; it helps prevent it.
- Vivint Indoor Camera — Indoor camera that lets you see, speak, and stay connected to your home and loved ones.
- Vivint Playback — Playback ability that lets customers record 30 days of continuous video from up to four cameras to their Vivint Smart Drive and access it remotely from their mobile device.
- Kwikset Smart Lock — Smart lock that provides secure, keyless access from anywhere and can even tell you who unlocked a door and when.
- Garage Door Controller — Garage door remote that allows customers to open or close their garage door remotely from Vivin't mobile app.
- Vivint Thermostat — Smart thermostat that lets you control the temperature in your home from anywhere. It can also automatically adjust to keep you comfortable when you’re home and save you money when you’re away.
- Vivint Car Guard — A way to monitor whereabouts of your vehicle, car maintenance updates, or mechanical issues, all through the same mobile app.
- Vivint Smart Sensor — Window and door sensor that enables customers to ensure doors and windows are secure.
- Vivint Motion Sensor — Equipment that lets customers track movement in their homes with the passive infrared motion detector.
- Smoke Detector — Sensor that sends a signal to the panel when smoke is detected, sounding a loud smoke alarm and alerting monitoring immediately to dispatch authorities.
- Carbon Monoxide Detector — Sensor that sends a signal to the panel when excessive carbon monoxide levels are detected, sounding a loud local alarm and alerting monitoring immediately to dispatch authorities.
- Vivint Water Sensor — Water sensor that notifies customers of leaks and floods inside the home, as well as freezing indoor temperatures that may lead to bursting pipes.
- Glass-Break Detector — Sensor that alerts customers if a window is broken in the home.
Professional Installation
The home security company offers security systems that are professionally installed by a Vivint smart home pro. This means that your sales rep will schedule a smart home pro to come to your home, consult with you on what your home might need, and help you determine where all the products should go. The technician connects your entire system for you and then shows you how to use it before leaving.
24/7 Professional Monitoring
Vivint includes 24/7 professional monitoring by security certified agents. If homeowners want peace of mind that their houses will be protected at all times, monitoring is an important part of proper home security.
24/7 monitoring means that your alarm will send a signal to a professional monitoring center when a sensor detects a break-in, smoke, or carbon monoxide. The monitoring center will then contact you through the system's cellular two-way communication to verify whether the alarm is an actual emergency or a false alarm.
Vivint Equipment Warranty
All Vivint equipment is under a lifetime warranty, while installation comes with a 120-day warranty. After 120 days, service calls are $49.
Compatibility with Smart Home Devices
A useful offering from Vivint is its compatibility with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which allows homeowners access to voice-controlled control features. Vivint is also compatible with other popular technology, including the Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Thermostat E, Philips Hue lightbulbs, and Z-Wave Alliance certified products.
Compatibility with these smart home products is especially helpful for improving energy efficiency in your home.
Product Financing
Customers have the option of a zero-percent interest loan for 42 or 60 months, so they can get a complete Vivint security system without having to pay for everything upfront (as with DIY systems). The accompanying service contract matches the term of the loan so that customers have service while they are paying off the products. Once a customer pays off their equipment loan, they have the ability to go to a month-to-month service subscription.
Vivint App
The Vivint Smart Home app is available in the app stores for both iPhone and Android devices, and you can use it to manage and control your Vivint system from anywhere. Customers can also use the Vivint app to set up rules for certain events to happen automatically when triggered by other products or at specific times during the day. For example, you can have your doors automatically lock every night at 10:00 PM or have your indoor camera record a clip whenever the front door is opened.
Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro with Smart Sentry™
Vivint has an outdoor camera called the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. The camera includes two-way talk, hybrid wired Wi-Fi connection, a customizable surveillance zone, a 4K sensor with 1080p quality with HD zoom, a wide-angle lens with a 140-degree view, and night vision. The camera even includes what Vivint calls Smart Sentry™, which is an LED ring light on the camera that lights up and plays an alert sound to let intruders know they've been spotted.
When the camera detects motion and a person is in the camera's view for too long, that's when Smart Sentry™ is triggered. You can customize notifications so that the camera will notify you when any person approaches. If you want notifications to be more specific, you can set the alert to only notify you when someone may be loitering. The camera also automatically records 20-second auto recordings whenever something triggers the camera's motion detectors.
By using the Vivint Smart Home app, you can also access live feed of your camera at any time as well as past footage that is stored in your Vivint Smart Drive. The drive saves continuous footage for up to 30 days.
If you don't want to install the camera(s) yourself, the alarm company offers professional installation and will synch your Wi-Fi, your outdoor camera(s), and your Vivint Smart Home products together, so all of your devices are connected.
The Bad
- $99 Moving Fee
- Lengthy Contracts
- Vivint Home Security Cost
$99 Moving Fee
Vivint charges customers a $99 move fee if you transfer services to a new residence within the first year of a signed contract. Many home security companies offer moving services completely free of charge.
Lengthy Contracts
Vivint requires 42- or 60-month contracts for its security services if you choose to finance your products. Although contracts are common within the home security industry, typically they only last up to 36 months.
The upside to a long contract is Vivint gives you the choice of a zero-percent interest loan for the length of the contract, which may make the long-term contract worth it for some customers.
Vivint Home Security Cost
Customers can get a Vivint alarm system starting at $29.99 per month for monitoring, with no activation fee or equipment fee. This basic monitoring also requires the purchase of a Starter Kit, which includes one touchscreen hub, two door/window sensors, one motion sensor, and $100 in sensors.
Although this is a relatively low monthly monitoring fee, expanding to home automation products and adding cameras will increase this monthly service cost and require you to either pay upfront for or finance the product cost. Like some other security providers, Vivint does not list its specific pricing for its home security system on its website, so you will need to call Vivint's customer service reps to gather all pricing information.
The Bottom Line
Vivint home security systems feature a comprehensive selection of home automation smart home products, video surveillance with security cameras, and energy management features with professional installation and 24/7 professional monitoring. The company's most unique offering is its Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, which automatically detects and deters crime.
In addition to Vivint's robust product offerings, the company has its own mobile app that allows customers to manage their home security system and smart home products from anywhere at any time.
Vivint products are ala carte, meaning every system is completely customizable to the homeowner's needs. The home security provider's equipment is also compatible with most smart home devices, including the Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Nest Thermostat, and more. You can find the complete list in "The Good" section above.
A downside to Vivint is the company has a long-term contract that lasts 42 or 60 months if you choose to finance your products rather than pay for them upfront. This is longer than most home security companies out there. However, the fact that Vivint offers product financing for the length of the contract may be a benefit.
You can find Vivint security reviews located below if you want to learn more about the customer experience.
Call our recommended rep over at Vivint below.
1-(855) 866-8028
Vivint Frequently Asked Questions
What comes as standard equipment in Vivint home security packages?
Vivint provides customized systems based on each customer’s unique needs, so it’s difficult to define standard equipment. That said, there is a Starter Kit that most customers begin with as a solid baseline.
Typically, the Starter Kit will include the touchscreen Vivint Smart Hub control panel, a Vivint yard sign and light, two door/window sensors, a motion sensor, and $100 worth of customizable equipment. Most customers also opt for at least one or two security cameras and a few additional pieces of equipment.
What is Vivint’s cancellation policy?
In most cases, a customer can cancel within their right of rescission (three days) without any penalty. After that, the customer is required to pay the remaining balance of the service and equipment for the life of the agreement.
Does Vivint require an installation or activation fee?
Vivint typically charges a $49 install fee, which is the least expensive professional installation fee in the industry. It does not charge an activation fee.
Does Vivint run a credit check?
Vivint will run a credit check if the customer intends to finance the equipment. If the customer pays upfront for the equipment, no credit check is needed.
How much does Vivint professional monitoring cost?
Vivint’s monthly monitoring service starts at $29.99 per month.
Do you own your Vivint home security equipment?
Once a customer pays off their equipment, they own it. The vast majority of customers finance the equipment over 60 months.
What devices can you use to access your Vivint cameras?
Customers can access their Vivint camera feeds through the Vivint Smart Home app which is compatible with most smartphones and tablets. It is not compatible with Kindle tablets or older flip phones.
Message from
Vivint
User Reviews
Star Rating
5,757 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
Verified Customer
Margie
Worst. Technicians worked on the system 3 times and still getting false alarms 2 times a day.
Verified Customer
Mary Irene Mickoloff
Went above and beyond when installing. They didn't sell us garage door opener since we had My IQ and actually linked our My IQ to our Vivant.
Verified Customer
Dorethea
Ok equipment is way to expensive on top of monthly cost for the service it adds up and equipment don't last long
Verified Customer
laura gale harris
Doorbell Camera is good during the day at night camera is useless
Verified Customer
Lesheena Merrell
The customer service and the camera service is not good
Verified Customer
Julie Ann Allenderq
We like the door bell and the actual service has been adequate. We are not pleased with the amount we have to pay and the fact that we must make two separate payments each month. We won't be re-upping with Vivint when our current contract is completed. Vivint
Verified Customer
Anthony C Smith
The service has been very poor. I have been calling to fix my sensors. Batteries have been change ando still don't work. My son is having the same trouble with sensors. Very disappointing in Vivint. Your rep gave me his word that everything will be different from the other companies but it's the same. We pay our monthly but never can get someone to fix anything
Verified Customer
Pat Sportsman
Not So Good at all. Bad service all around.
Verified Customer
marilyn thompson
Not Good. Customer Service does not know how the Panel operates.
Verified Customer
R. Tatum
Doorbell camera doesn't work at night. Shows static.
Verified Customer
Bangaly bilivogui
The service has not been very professional as new customer service was not good at all am not satified
Verified Customer
Vickie Schultz
My front door camera is very fuzzy. On and off.
Verified Customer
Pat Young
Horrible. The service is the worst I've ever had for an alarm system. 90% of the time it's offline or a camera is down or a sensor. Very close to canceling and going elsewhere. When you need a tech it takes 2.5 months to get one
Verified Customer
Monte Canfield
My equipment doesn't work fully. Allot of my windows say battery low.
Verified Customer
Marcos Nino
If I could get out of this contract I would gladly do so. Or should I say “financing". You literally get stuck with them for years u less you have 4K out of pocket to pay for the equipment, then you're only stuck with their bad service for as long as you want to keep the cameras. The billing department is a joke, I had to remove my card from auto-pay after SEVERAL unauthorized charges totaling almost $800. Took forever to get a refund. You call and talk to people abroad, most of the time you can't understand what they're saying. Their phone hold times are RIDICULOUS. The service is very laggy and I've called multiple times about it to the point that I don't even care anymore, I just deal with it, turned deter off cause you can't see anything in real time anyway. I've never had a company with worst service and worst customer service. BIGGEST REGRET OF MY LIFE. Go with Ring instead, take my word for it.
Verified Customer
Leif Neilson
Other than our doorbell camera not working correctly (which it still isn't) we like the system. As for customer service, I have not had a great experience with them. I got on chat to try to get the doorbell camera fixed and kept getting booted. After 3 times with 3 different people all saying different things, I gave up!!
Verified Customer
Jorge Martinez
Called to have them come service some of the equipment since it's already malfunctioning and then the technician didn't show up, I didn't get a confirmation email with a scheduled serve and no on called to reschedule.
Verified Customer
Rita Fischer
Excellent. The phone app is awesome. I am bad about leaving the garage door up and I can easily check it on my phone.
Verified Customer
Dina McNatt
No problems. Cameras pick up the slightest move even rain drops and snow flakes. Easy to turn turn security on and off
Verified Customer
Tanishs ward
It is great and we are very pleased. Notifications when a package is left at the door and the cameras are awesome and clear.
Verified Customer
Chris Preston
Don't like it at all. Too inconsistent front door won't lock
Verified Customer
Donald Jenkins
It's been great surveillance & awesome notifications! I like when I get notified when a package gets delivered.
Verified Customer
Tameshae Robinson
Terrible and a scam. I've had to literally chase down the man who tried to steal my packages and vivint door cam didn't catch his face. I've had someone else pellet gun my car, vivint didn't catch that either. I've had faulty camera issues since day 1. What's more, there are several times when my wife and I walk in after a walk and arming the system and it doesn't even register us walking in. Your company uses novelty for a gimmick that literally doesn't offer any service but the perception of security. I'm locked into a contract with you all paying for a service that is so watered down efficient I can only warn others to stay away at any chance. I rue the day I believed your salesman and bought this system.
Verified Customer
Ruth morin
We love the system, the keyless entry is the best since sliced bread. access to lock door from cell is another great feature among cameras w/audio capability
Verified Customer
MAGGI SAGNIBENE
Not too good... one of my cameras hasn't worked and they hung up on me then rescheduled me and I'm out of town
Verified Customer
Marjorie Bannister
Not the best camera for the system and the front door range isn't good
Verified Customer
Taylor
It's been a little disappointing honestly. The salesman that came to the house became unresponsive after awhile. It took quite awhile for my stickers and yard sign to arrive, but I did get them. The installer said he was going to throw in a light for the sign for the inconvenience but I have never received it. I called in to inquire about everything, and told the representative on the phone about the items but the light has not arrived. Maybe this letter will get it shipped to me finally. The system overall I am pretty happy with except the price and the garage door system. The garage door open/close feature fails quite often.
Verified Customer
Matt
Not happy. The door bell camera is not clear. The dvr play back is not working.
Verified Customer
James Archie
The speaker tells me my door is open, when in fact it is not open , so therefore i am scared to arm system to keep it from giving me a false alarm.
Verified Customer
Allen Pavolko
I have been enjoying my smart System. A couple of issues I have been having One of them is I'm starting to get "Can't playback Video" When I try to watch a video Clips for the day. Another Problem When I open my Garage then close it I'll get a Message saying " Failed to close Garage" But I just watch the Garage Close. An my Module for my Garage keeps disengaging an It I get a Massage of something like " My Garage lost signal" or something like that an I'll have to Open then close my Garage Manually to get it back active.
Verified Customer
Diane
the sales person was awesome, the products are awesome, customer services is sub par
Verified Customer
Abel
Excellent, vivint has the best monitoring with the best products for a security company... indoor camera design needs improvement, but the outdoor and DBC are very nice. Customer service needs to be made a higher priority, train each department how to transfer and what everyone does so customers don't go through 10 transfers
Verified Customer
Javion
The motion detector doesn't pick up individuals every time when they enter my yard and there's always a delay when trying to view cameras
Virginia Gal
Affordable, but COMPLETE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE/REPAIR! I have been a Vivant customer since 2016. When your system doesn't work, you have to call them and work with them to try to resolve the issue before they will allow someone to come out for a service call. I understand this philosophy, but they are MILKING IT. I have been on the phone with them for 60 to 90 minutes before they agree to have a repair person come out. They even had me trip the breaker on my panel multiple times and have the whole thing reboot - but they asked me to do it 3 TIMES! It was brutal. My office manager was on the phone with them for over an hour last week because it said one of the office windows was open . . . it wasn't. We replaced the batteries in the sensors. Vivant asked us to do it again, we did and it still didn't work. The rep had her reboot the panel multiple times, it still said the window was open. We were told someone would come out this week to fix it. Nobody came and so she called today and was told it would be FEBRUARY 20th before someone could come out. She spoke to 4 different people and was on the phone for 45 minutes (while trying to help patients) just to get a service order scheduled. They told it would be EITHER Monday, Tuesday, OR Wednesday next week between 12noon and 4pm and that SHE had to call to find out which day etc. What in the world!!! I have never seen such shoddy service. They have almost 5000 complaints to the Better Business Bureau!
Reply from Vivint
Jan 20, 2021
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with this and would love to investigate this further.
Wayne
If NEGATIVE or ZERO stars were an option, THAT IS WHAT VIVINT DESERVES! ABSOLUTELY THE WORST SECURITY SYSTEM WE HAVE EVER DEALT WITH! The hardware is incredidibly faulty and has never functioned properly in 4 months since installation. The security system does not function properly. The system has alarmed and there has been no response to the alarm. The video, though good quality, is extremely difficult to save, and only a few minutes at a time. Video cannot be saved in blocks more than a couple of minutes searched manually. Door sensors do not operate properly. The mobile app is unavailable more often than it is available. Do not sign for this company! Do not pay for hardware that does not work. Do not pay for an alarm that does not notify police when it is activated! I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THAT YOUR MONEY IS SPENT ON A COMPETITOR MUCH MORE WISELY THAN HERE!!! We may be in court for this,but WE WILL NOT PAY FOR A SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT WORK!
Reply from Vivint
Jan 14, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Wayne. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with your system and would love to investigate this further. Please contact our support team at 1-800-216-5232 so we can assist you as quickly as possible.
Verified Customer
Mireya Trujillo
Not good since my service was install all sensors have been with low battery and called and no one has been able to help me the person went to offer me the service was a total joke and promise me many things , the techian that installed my equipment did a very bad job
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Mireya. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Alexia
The worst ever! They told me I would get 2 week free trial and I didn't like it they'd come pick it up. Little did I know I was opening up a credit loan so I called to cancel it took them over a month to get the equipment and they never closed out my account and I was still getting charged every month through fortiva and there still calling me everyday saying I owe from aug-now when it was only suppose to be a free trial.
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Alexia. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Marilyn Thompson
Lately not good..customer service was poor and un caring
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Marilyn. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Michael Lindsey
Our second go around hasn't been as good as our first. Reaching customer service seems to be next to impossible unless you have more than 1 hour to spend on the phone
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Michael. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Eben
Company lacks customer service nor do they stand behind their products.
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Eben. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Somer
Big mistake. The installation was a nightmare. They trashed my house and the wiring looks horrible. My ring camera never works which I hear is the norm
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Somer. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Lisa Falaniko
When getting the program was unaware of monitoring charges and also product cost
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Lisa. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Thomas
Install and customer service.The installation was fast and the after customer service was excellent.
Verified Customer
William Jones
Terrible, this company has over promised and under delivered; is me being kind in my assessment of vivant.
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback William. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Randy DeLung
Overall fine, but why would I have the police called to my house because a window that cannot be opened have an alarm set off ?
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Randy. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Fermin De Hoyos
Great experience Excellent service and great technicians then install the alarm in my house
Verified Customer
Vanessa Arline
Very good products. Reliable except extra equipment is priced Way Too High
Verified Customer
Robert Moody
I've been trying to get Car Guard off my plan foe over a month now. Nothing but delay, delay, DELAY! It's also a real effort trying to understand some of the agents. My issue has STILL not been resolved! The equipment nay be good, but Customer Service stinks!
Verified Customer
Derrek Harrison
My experience had not been good. I have me equipment for less than 3 months and have problems with it working correctly. I'm not talking about I don't know how to use my system, I work in information technology every day. I'm saying that my panel doesn't keep a VPN connection and I cannot use my app to view my cameras remotely. One of the main reasons I went with this system over others. I have been told they need to send a tech out but it will be 3 weeks from the time they agreed to send one. I've been on the phone with customer support so many times I know the trouble shooting questions they are going to ask before they ask them and I've already done it in the order they request. Also I've got 2 other families to sign up in the first few weeks and never got credit on my account. That is completely poor business!
Reply from Vivint
Jan 11, 2021
Thank you for your feedback Derrek. We appreciate your honesty about your experience with Vivint and would love to investigate this further. So that we can, please contact our Support team at 1-800-216-5232
Verified Customer
Jersey Calaycay
Vivint's products rival the brands out there in terms of quality. The app is easy to use, as well as the touch screen control center. The customer service, however, far exceeds any other company in the industry. I've had 3 different alarm companies, and after switching away from Vivint, I could not wait for my contract to end so I could switch back to Vivint. Cheaper service means exactly that. Vivint offers more for theirs.