When it comes to protecting your home, you want a security system that is strong enough to prevent break-ins but not so expensive that it breaks the bank.
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Vivint
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
Yes
Lowest Monitoring Price
$19.99
1
Vivint
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On Vivint's Website
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Frontpoint
Customer Reviews
Great
Contract Required
No
Lowest Monthly Pro Monitoring Fees
$34.99
2
Frontpoint
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On Frontpoint's Website
3
Simplisafe
Customer Reviews
Great
Contract Required
No
Lowest Monitoring Price
$19.99
3
Simplisafe
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On SimpliSafe's Website
Both Vivint and ADT offer a robust catalog of features and equipment that will ensure your home is well protected.
As our two top-rated home security systems overall, you can’t go wrong with either. ADT boasts the longest track record, with 146 years in the business and excellent customer reviews that prove it’s still got it. While Vivint doesn’t have a century-long track record, its emphasis on smart home integration and month-to-month contracts have made them the security system darling of the 21st century.
We’ve scoured dozens of data points to provide you with a detailed comparison of where Vivint and ADT stand on pricing, contracts, professional monitoring, installation, home automation, and equipment, weighing the pros and cons so that you can get a sense of which company will best fit your needs.
On Vivint's Website
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
No
Lowest Monthly Fees
$29.99
Vivint
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
No
Lowest Monthly Fees
$29.99
Learn MoreOn Vivint's Website
Pros & Cons
With over 20 years of security system experience, Vivint is by no means a newbie to the security system world. While not considered to be an inexpensive system, Vivint is known for being a great value for the price tag with a strong emphasis on home automation and connectivity. All of their monitoring plans offer 24/7 professional monitoring as well as round-the-clock customer support via phone or live chat, as well as a useful blog on their website to help address more frequently asked questions.
When it comes to equipment, Vivint offers top-of-the-line options and all plans include a panel and entry sensor, motion sensor and voice control. If you’re in the market for a more advanced system, Vivint also offers 1080p HD cameras complete with night vision, two-way audio and 24/7 professional video monitoring.
Vivint’s most modern feature is not, however, the equipment itself, but rather its month-to-month monitoring contract. If you choose to purchase your equipment upfront, you can live contract-free, paying only your monitoring fee each month. Those initial equipment costs can be hefty, however, so if you prefer to finance your equipment, you have the option to pay overtime on top of your monthly monitoring costs. Either way, you own your equipment outright.
All in all, Vivint’s robust connectivity for the price tag, as well as the other host of features on offer, makes it our top choice overall for home security systems.
Speaking of their month-to-month monitoring, Vivint’s most basic monitoring package starts at $29.99 a month and includes remote control of your system through their top-rated app, smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring, two-way voice features, cellular connection and all of their standard home automation and connectivity options.
If you want to opt in for cameras with video monitoring, your costs will start at $44.99 per month for one camera, with each additional camera adding $5 per month to your monitoring costs. Their maximum allotment is for six cameras, topping out their monthly costs at $69.99 per month.
Vivint offers 24/7 professional monitoring in their base $29.99 per month package, including environmental monitoring for smoke detection and carbon monoxide. If at any point your alarm is triggered, they will alert you and send updates as to what is occurring at home. They will also alert emergency services if they are unable to reach you, so you know that your home is always secure.
Vivint offers professional installation for $49 to $199 depending on the complexity of your system. This cost is also looped into the initial equipment cost and can be paid for upfront, or be included in your monthly payments.
Vivint is the clear winner when it comes to automation and smart home integration. Their devices easily connect to Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant and, unlike ADT, don’t require an upgrade to your monthly payments.
Vivint provides a warranty for all its equipment for the first 120 days after installation, during which all repairs are free. After this period, service calls for repairs are charged at $49 each. It’s important to note that Vivint’s monitoring plans can be canceled without charge within the first three days, and all equipment must be returned within 30 days to avoid fees. For more detailed information on Vivint’s warranty, you might want to directly consult their support or official resources.
Regarding customer support, Vivint offers various channels for assistance, including phone and chat support. Their customer service is available for billing, account and technical support, ensuring that help is readily accessible for any issues or queries you might have with your system. The contact number for Vivint in the United States is 801.377.9111, and the company provides a comprehensive support chat for immediate answers. Vivint is known for its professional installation service, which is required for setting up its systems, and sometimes, the installation fee can be waived depending on current promotions.
An additional benefit with Vivint is that their cloud video footage storage is included in their professional video monitoring services. This allows you to review your 24/7 footage from any of your cameras for up to 14 days.
In general, Vivint provides straightforward pricing tiers with a helpful team to assist you in determining what equipment is best suited to your needs. That said, equipment costs with Vivint tend to start at $599.99, which can be detering. A common complaint is also that a security consultation is required in order to get a formal quote for equipment, making it a bit more cumbersome to get a sense of what you will be spending upfront.
Read Forbes' Review
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
Yes
Lowest Monthly Fees
$28.99
ADT
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Contract Required
Yes
Lowest Monthly Fees
$28.99
Learn MoreRead Forbes' Review
Pros & Cons
ADT is the grandfather of security companies. With 146 years under their belt, you know you can count on them for great service. ADT really shines with its professional monitoring services, but they also offer self-monitoring options if you prefer to keep things DIY. Another benefit to having a lengthy track record is ADT’s top tier customer service with 24/7 phone and chat options, as well as ample online resources on how to use, maintain, and in some cases, even install your system.
When it comes to equipment, ADT has the goods, offering professionally installed fully wireless systems with all of your standard components as well as an array of additional features such as security and doorbell cameras, environmental monitoring, medical alerts, gas break sensors and panic buttons. Their 720p HD cameras also include two-way audio and night vision.
With their long history and plethora of equipment and plan options, ADT ranks as our second overall pick for best home security systems, and our top pick for professionally monitored systems.
ADT’s monthly fees start at $28.99 per month and include basic professional monitoring, however, if you want to opt into other features similar to Vivint, such as smart home and app connectivity, you will need to upgrade to their $49.99 per month tier. Cameras will also cost you a premium, with monthly costs for video monitoring starting at $58.99.
Compared to Vivint, ADT is less expensive on the front end, offering equipment and installation for $0 down with a monthly fee for renting equipment. You can also opt to pay upfront if you prefer to keep your monthly charges low. The biggest caveat with ADT is, of course, their three-year minimum monitoring contract, which is required with all monitored systems.
Similar to Vivint, ADT also offers 24/7 professional monitoring backed by a network of nine redundant monitoring centers which ensure that someone is available at any time, for any circumstance. With such a strong track record, they were an easy pick for Best Professionally Monitored System in our roundup for 2021.
ADT’s installation costs run about average, in the range of $99 to $199 depending on your system and location. ADT also offers DIY systems that allow you to install and self-monitor, saving on both initial and monthly costs
While Vivint offers home automation at their most basic price tier, ADT is able to connect to a larger array of equipment (including IFTTT, Rainbird, Sonos, Zipato, Lutron, Google Nest Mini, Kwikset, Z-Wave and Samsung SmartThings), giving you more flexibility with your home automation systems.
ADT offers several customer assurances, including a six-month Money Back Service Guarantee for unsatisfied customers. It also provides a Theft Protection Guarantee offering up to $500 towards your insurance deductible in case of a burglary while the system is armed and a Mover’s Guarantee for customers of at least two years, providing a free comparable system for their new home with a new contract. ADT also offer a Quality Service Plan (QSP) for extended warranty coverage and having an ADT system may qualify you for homeowner’s insurance discounts.
ADT offers a variety of customer support options, including a 24/7 customer service hotline, to assist with any queries or issues you might have. Its extensive FAQ section covers a wide range of topics, from power outages to moving your security system. ADT ensures that customer support is always available, perfect for any emergency situations that might arise.
One of ADT’s unique benefits is that they cover $500 of insurance deductible should a break-in occur while their system is armed, a testament to the confidence they have in their system.
Likely the biggest rub with ADT is their three-year monitoring contract. Although they offer great options upfront with their full money-back guarantee (including monitoring fees) for up to six months after installation (some limitations apply), being locked into a three-year contract feels a bit antiquated. You can also opt out of your contract with them at any time without a cancellation fee, but you may be responsible for paying up to 75% of the remainder of your contracted monitoring fees, which can be a lot of money, depending on your package.
This is the true kicker. If you’re willing to purchase your equipment upfront, you can opt into a month-to-month contract with Vivint, unlike ADT who requires a three-year professional monitoring contract regardless of whether you paid upfront for the equipment or not.
Even if you opt to finance your equipment with Vivint, you can still cancel at any time as long as you pay the remainder of the balance on your equipment and installation fees, making it a great option for those who want a bit more flexibility.
With Vivint’s basic $29.99 per month monitoring package, you get an excellent array of features including remote control of your system through their app, additional environmental monitoring and all of their standard home automation and connectivity options. For the same “bells and whistles” as ADT your monthly payments will start at $62.99 per month, making it a much less palatable option for the budget seeker.
Both companies offer similar equipment with equivalent capabilities, including environmental monitoring (although with ADT you will need to upgrade to one of their higher monitoring tiers). Both Vivint and ADT also offer home automation connectivity, albeit to different degrees and at different pricing tiers. While Vivint offers home automation at their most basic price tier, ADT is able to connect to a larger array of equipment, giving you more flexibility with your home automation systems.
When it comes to initial equipment costs, Vivint tends to be more expensive, but unlike ADT, you’ll own your equipment outright and aren’t stuck in a long term contract. All in all, both companies offer high-quality components with a similar variety of features.
Both companies offer professional installation of their systems at a fee. Vivint’s installation starts at $49 compared to ADT at $99, but both companies can cost upwards of $199 to install depending on the complexity of your system and your location.
Although ADT has the longest reputation for their professional monitoring services, Vivint has proven themselves as an equal in this area, offering comparable monitoring services at lower costs. The only caveat here is that, unlike Vivint, ADT requires a three-year minimum monitoring contract for their services, a tough sell with a top tier month-to-month option from Vivint.
Although Vivint and ADT have a plethora of similarities in services, equipment and monitoring, Vivint’s month-to-month contract and reasonable prices can’t be beaten. Vivint’s app is top-rated and the capabilities for remote control of your system with seamless connectivity to your home automation gear without paying a premium, is difficult to beat. Even with their most advanced packages, including cameras and additional features, Vivint still wins best security company for top-of-the-line equipment and great prices.
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Find A Home Security InstallerAlthough Vivint is our pick for best security company overall, ADT also makes an excellent choice for your home. Their three-year monitoring contract may seem daunting to some, but if you know you’re in it for the long haul, and aren’t interested in owning your equipment outright, ADT can provide you with excellent service and a plethora of equipment options for a comparable cost. This is particularly true if the bells and whistles of smart home automation don’t fit your needs. All in all, you can’t make a wrong choice by choosing either of these systems.
If you've been considering getting a professionally installed home security system, chances are at some point you're going to narrow down your choices to ADT versus Vivint -- two of the biggest names in the industry. Odds are, too, you have some preconceived notions about these companies and you're wondering if your intuition is correct or completely off-base.
For instance, you've probably noticed ADT's blue octagonal yard signs your whole life, so you know the security company has been around quite a while, but you wonder -- has it kept up with the times? Vivint's bright, bold orange signs have been popping up in trendier neighborhoods more and more lately -- its entire ad campaign feels new and fresh -- but does the quality of its service match its marketing hype?
When comparing ADT with Vivint, there are surprises aplenty. Yes, at 100-plus years old, ADT is the longest-established home security company in the biz, but that reputation has allowed it to keep pace with innovations in the market -- wireless sensors, smart speakers and what have you. Vivint is indeed a relative newcomer, but with emphasis on the word relative -- Vivint has actually been around for over 20 years now -- almost as long as CNET, in fact.
And yet, when it comes down to deciding which service we'd recommend over the other, the difference between "old school" and "new school" turns out to be the make-or-break factor. We'll explain in a bit, but first let's take a look at each home security company, starting with the (relatively) new kid in town.
If you're looking for the biggest names and biggest brains in smart home automation, Vivint easily fits the bill. The question is, however, does the bill you'll end up getting from Vivint for all these cutting-edge technologies fit you and your budget?
Everything you can get with Vivint -- door and window sensors, a smart door lock, doorbell camera, smart thermostat, etc. -- you can buy a la carte from Amazon and other retailers. Some gadgets, like the Nest Learning Thermostat or the Kwikset Smart Lock, are the exact same ones available for sale elsewhere (usually for much cheaper, thanks to Vivint's steep markup). Others, like Vivint's smart display home hub, are easily replaceable with other, better mainstream alternatives (like the Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max) that are, again, often a lot less expensive when purchased elsewhere.
So, what do you get for all the extra money Vivint charges?
Simple answer -- convenience. You don't have to install any of it, you don't have to connect it all to each other, and if something goes haywire, there's a toll-free number you can call and Vivint will send someone out to diagnose and fix the problem. In other words, you never have to tinker.
If that sounds like something you're willing to pay for, you should be perfectly happy with Vivint's offerings. (If not, perhaps you should consider DIY home security alternatives.)
Vivint says the average installation package costs $2,400 for new customers -- back-of-the-napkin math says you could get a similar setup for about half that if you installed everything yourself. Vivint also offers a professional monitoring service for $30 per month, which is about par for the course for pro systems.
Vivint will let you spread out the cost of installation over payments, but -- and here's the real kicker -- Vivint doesn't require any kind of contract. If and when you're ready to terminate service, if you still have a remaining balance, just pay it off and voilà. You're done.
If only we could say the same about the other big name in home security…
Read our full review of Vivint Home Security.
See at VivintThe one area where you could think ADT might be slacking, it's very much not -- ADT's technology is as state-of-the-art as any on the market. Even though the company was founded in the 1800s, it's very much kept up with the times. Where once the ADT system monitored doors and windows with wired connections (run behind walls and under kickplates), these days everything is wireless.
You can get all the same (or similar) gadgets and gizmos with ADT as you can with Vivint or any other brand -- smart locks, doorbell cameras, security cams, a connected thermostat. And ADT will now integrate with the Google Nest line of smart speakers, smart displays and connected cameras.
ADT's pricing is on the high side of competitive with Vivint's -- most of its devices cost about the same or a little more than comparable devices from Vivint. A few cost a little less. Its monthly monitoring service is a bit overpriced -- $39 per month for basic service ($9 more than Vivint); $60 if you want to set up automations like turning the lights on when your deadbolt unlocks, for example. That's $15 more than Vivint charges for a comparable service.
But beyond the security equipment itself is where ADT's service starts to break down -- and fast.
First, there's the system for controlling all that gear. Vivint has a smart display that serves as a hub, as well as a mobile app and website -- but all three work in glorious harmony with one another, letting you control any part of the system from any one and all of them.
ADT's setup, however, is a bit more… disjointed. ADT also has a hub, an app and a website, but unlike with Vivint, you can't do everything on any one of them. For example, the control panel (aka hub) lets you arm and disarm the system and check security camera feeds and device settings. But if you want to set up a routine or access more specific device settings, you have to move over to the ADT Pulse app. To create more complex home automations, however, you have to move over to the web portal, which means you have to use a laptop or desktop computer (and not everyone has one of those handy all the time).
Not only is it frustrating and confusing to have to use different tools to accomplish different tasks, the user interface and experience is subpar on all of the above -- as you might expect from a company that cut its teeth during the early days of the automobile.
But where ADT really falls out of step with modernity is with its contract. You read that right: ADT still requires a contract for service. And the company includes positively punishing terms if ADT customers want to get out early. Even if you pay for all the hardware up front, the contract will still lock you in for 12 to 60 months (depending on the region), and cancellation can cost up to 75% of the remaining balance of the entire contract.
With few (if any) advantages over other professionally installed systems, the required contract is the last nail in the coffin, placing ADT at the bottom of our list of favorite home security companies.
Read our full review of ADT home security.
See at ADTThe winner this round is Vivint. It's less expensive for the same or similar equipment, offers a better user experience and requires no contracts. But there are a lot of conditions we want to point out before you call the number on your neighbor's bright orange yard sign to start service in your own home.
First, our favorite professionally installed security system is Xfinity, so you should look to see if that's available in your area (you can read our Xfinity versus Vivint article for even more insights).
But unless you're just so busy making money that you simply have no time whatsoever (even on the weekends) to install your own smart home devices, you should at least consider DIY options. For most products, the DIY installation process is simple enough that you don't need much know-how -- or for that matter, much time -- to do it yourself.
You can save yourself hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, DIYing it, and, once you've signed up for a professional monitoring service from Ring, which has a $30 per month service, or SimpliSafe, which charges $25 per month for its best service, your experience will be fairly similar to someone who paid much, much more for their home security system.
But if you have the money to spend on a professionally installed security system -- and fiddling with smart home security gadgets isn't your idea of a fun and interesting weekend -- and Xfinity doesn't service the area where you live, we think you'll be perfectly happy with home security service from Vivint.