Vivint monthly costs typically range from $40 to $80+, depending entirely on your equipment financing and the monitoring plan you choose. Your monthly bill breaks down into two categories:
Whether Vivint is cheaper than ADT depends on whether you are looking at upfront equipment costs or long-term monthly fees. ADT is generally cheaper upfront (often with lower entry-level equipment packages), while Vivint often offers lower month-to-month monitoring fees once your equipment is paid off.
Neither system is universally "better"; the choice depends on your budget and installation preferences. Ring is perfect if you want affordable, do-it-yourself (DIY) equipment with flexible monitoring. Vivint is the best choice if you want premium, professionally installed smart home automation with 24/7 professional monitoring.
Yes, you can use Vivint equipment without a subscription, but your functionality will be extremely limited.
To lower your Vivint bill, contact their customer retention or loyalty department directly to negotiate better rates or remove add-ons.
Canceling Vivint is notoriously difficult. The process often requires a mandatory phone call to their retention department, where you must navigate long wait times and aggressive sales pitches. You must also pay off your entire equipment balance and any early termination fees to successfully cancel.
Yes, Vivint is considered a premium, expensive option compared to DIY brands like SimpliSafe or Ring. Costs generally break down into three areas:
Vivint Smart Home offers advanced automation, but its primary drawbacks include premium price tags, mandatory 3-to-5-year monitoring contracts, and aggressive sales tactics.
Yes, you can use your Vivint camera after canceling, but you will lose all app access and remote viewing. Vivint equipment is proprietary and designed to work exclusively with their network and touchscreen panels.
Vivint Smart Home has faced several major lawsuits and regulatory actions in recent years centered around deceptive sales tactics, spam calls, and severe labor disputes.
People are removing their Ring doorbells due to rising subscription fees, privacy concerns over how footage is shared, and a desire to avoid cloud reliance in favor of local storage.
If you find Vivint's high equipment costs, long-term contracts, and subscription tiers too restrictive, several competitors offer better value, flexibility, or camera selections.
SimpliSafe is widely rated as the best overall home security system for 2026. It offers the perfect balance of DIY-friendly installation, robust optional 24/7 professional monitoring, and reliable cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity without requiring long-term contracts.
2026 Rankings: The Top Security Systems of the Year
Ring Alarm is less expensive than Vivint when it comes to equipment, installation and monitoring services. Vivint uses in-house technicians for installation services. You must use a third party for Ring Alarm. Ring Alarm has a longer limited warranty and free trial period than Vivint.
ADT packages start at $199, after discounts. Monthly professional monitoring starts at $24.99, while the top-tier plan starts at $39.99. If you opt for professional installation, you'll need to pay a $100 fee and expect a three-year contract.
Your camera feed is private and not monitored or accessible by Vivint. To learn how to access this video feed, follow these steps: From the home screen of the Vivint Smart Home app, tap the Cameras icon from the middle of the bottom navigation bar. To view a live feed, tap the thumbnail of the desired camera.
Reduce Services and Negotiate with Customer Service
If everything on your bill looks correct, then another option is to reduce your services or try and negotiate with customer service to get a lower rate on the services you already have.
Yes, Vivint security systems do work without Wi-Fi. The core security features operate on a built-in cellular connection, while Wi-Fi is primarily used to stream video to your phone.
Vivint Equipment not Working Properly
In some cases, customers claim that the equipment never worked, yet they are billed for the full service. Others report that the equipment, such as the thermostat, the doorbell camera, or the security camera stops working or doesn't connect properly.
Are wired security cameras more secure than wireless ones? Yes, wired security cameras are generally more secure than wireless ones because data transmitted via cable is less susceptible to hacking than data sent over a Wi-Fi network.
Do I own Vivint equipment once it's paid off? Yes, this equipment is yours once you pay for it in full.
Finding the Right Alternative to Vivint in 2021
If your panel loses power due to being unplugged or a home power outage, the backup battery will keep your system running. However, you may receive a panel low battery alert if your panel goes without power for too long. You can acknowledge the alert to stop the panel from beeping.
A Vivint security system is designed to fit your life and protect what matters most—starting at $199.99, with flexible options to own your equipment or pay over time.