SimpliSafe vs. Vivint Security System Comparison

All home security systems have one goal: to keep you and your family safe in your home. After getting hands-on with dozens of security systems over the years, however, we’ve learned that they each approach the goal differently. SimpliSafe and Vivint are great examples – one is an affordable, DIY solution capable of advanced features, while the other is a premium, white-glove solution with high-tech functionalities. SimpliSafe or Vivint – which one is the better security system for you? Let’s find out.

SimpliSafe and Vivint both achieved a podium finish in the race for the best security systems of 2025. This should tell you that we, as home security experts who have tested both systems, are convinced that they are capable of protecting homes.

Like we always say, though, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in home security. Your choice of the best security system boils down to a number of key factors, from how you want your system installed and monitored to what kind of equipment you need to protect your home. Cost is another important consideration, and it is especially crucial if you’re considering SimpliSafe and Vivint. Their individual approaches to pricing are polar opposites.

So, SimpliSafe or Vivint? To help you make an informed choice, we retested both systems side-by-side. It was a neck-and-neck race, but, ultimately, SimpliSafe is the better choice for most people. But Vivint offers the most advanced features for homeowners who have a budget. Keep reading to learn more!

Our SimpliSafe (left) and Vivint (right) systems side-by-side.

SimpliSafe vs. Vivint: The Similarities

SimpliSafe and Vivint are both security systems that offer professional monitoring and high-quality equipment. It goes without saying that they have plenty of similarities. However, if we look for similarities that make both of these systems stand out, we can point to one key area: their security cameras.

Our SimpliSafe Wireless Indoor Camera looks simple, but it's SimpliSafe's most advanced piece of equipment.

Both security systems offer exceptional video security. The SimpliSafe security cameras we tested pair with advanced monitoring features – Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection – that enable the monitoring center to intervene during verified emergencies. The Vivint security cameras we reviewed, on the other hand, have a feature called Smart Deter that can drive away unwanted guests through lights and sounds. Their approach is slightly different, but they both use their security cameras well to proactively deter criminals.

Vivint Smart Home App

Another important similarity worth pointing out is how SimpliSafe and Vivint have two of the best home security apps out there. While it’s true that most systems these days have apps, SimpliSafe and Vivint’s apps are exceptional – once again for different reasons.

We found the SimpliSafe app more intuitive and easier to use. It’s less feature-rich than the Vivint app, but all the features are right where they should be. For example, when we got an alert for an unexpected front door entry, we opened our SimpliSafe app and it led us straight to the video feed of our Wireless Indoor Camera. That’s how we found out that a part of the entry sensor had fallen off from our door, triggering the alert.

As for the Vivint app, it’s easily one of the most customizable apps out there. It has an automation section where you can set up rules as to how you want your devices to react in certain situations. You can be really precise with your rules, too. For instance, it’s how we set our Outdoor Camera Pro to play a warning tone when a person steps into our front yard and lurks for more than three minutes. We want to scare off lurkers, not the person who delivers our Amazon orders.

Other Similarities of SimpliSafe and Vivint

Those were the main similarities we noticed, but here are a few other minor ones:

• Equipment: In our opinion, both systems offer all the necessary equipment to protect your home, from security sensors such as door and motion sensors to environmental sensors such as smoke alarms.
• Security Camera Options: SimpliSafe and Vivint also offer the same types of security cameras – indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, and doorbell cameras.
• Cellular Connectivity: They also both made our list of the best cellular security systems, because, on top of connecting to your home’s network, they can use cellular signals to communicate alerts when the internet is down.
• Contingencies: SimpliSafe and Vivint can both work during power outages thanks to the 24-hour battery backup they both have built in.
• All-Around Monitoring: You can also count on both systems to keep you safe from more than just burglaries and home invasions. They can also monitor fire, gas leaks, and other safety hazards, as well as send medical responders your way if needed.
• Scalable Packages: Whether you’re looking to protect an average-sized, three-bedroom home or a mansion, SimpliSafe and Vivint are scalable enough to meet your security needs. They can both accommodate dozens of sensors and components under one system.

>> Related Reading: The Best Home Security Systems of 2025 for Large Homes

SimpliSafe vs. Vivint: The Differences

There are also quite a few differences between SimpliSafe and Vivint, and these differences are what will most likely influence your final decision. The first one is the cost. SimpliSafe is simply more affordable across the board.

It’s not just that SimpliSafe’s pricing is lower than Vivint’s pricing; it also lets you decide which ones to pay for. When we signed up for Vivint, we had to pay the equipment cost, sign up for professional monitoring (and sign a contract with Vivint), and have an installer come to our house to set up the system. With SimpliSafe, we only had to pay the equipment cost. After that, we decided to install the SimpliSafe system ourselves. We could have self-monitored the system as well to skip the monthly fees, but we recommend professional monitoring.

Vivint sent out a Smart Home Pro (technician) to install all our Vivint equipment.

That said, just because SimpliSafe is more affordable doesn’t mean it’s better than Vivint. That’s like saying a Toyota is better than a Rolls-Royce. While Vivint is pricier, it offers luxuries that are nice to have if you can afford it. And, take note, Vivint is not over-the-top expensive. It costs more than most security systems, but we think the price is justified.

To give you one example, let’s look at Vivint’s professional installation. Installation services from SimpliSafe’s partner installation provider start at $125. Take note: It’s not an in-home service offered by SimpliSafe. Vivint’s installation costs about $200, and they send out trained Smart Home Pros to do the job. Don, our Vivint technician, even told us that Vivint once flew him to Utah for intensive training. Notice the difference between SimpliSafe and Vivint here?

Of course, it will all come down to your preference. If a more affordable and flexible system is what you’re after, then SimpliSafe is unquestionably the better choice. If you’re looking for something more premium, then Vivint is better.

Other Differences Between SimpliSafe and Vivint

We found cost to be the biggest differentiator between SimpliSafe and Vivint, but it’s not the only one to consider. Here are a few other differences to consider.

>> More Information: Things to Consider When Buying a Home Security System

Base Station vs. Smart Hub

While SimpliSafe and Vivint offer most of the same equipment, SimpliSafe’s central hub is the screenless, tower-like Base Station paired to a physical keypad. Vivint’s is the touch-screen, tablet-like Smart Hub.

We like the aesthetic of the Base Station, but the Smart Hub is more functional. For instance, you can speak with the monitoring center through the Smart Hub during emergencies. You can even pull up live camera footage. You can’t do either with the SimpliSafe Base Station.

Winner: Vivint

The Vivint Smart Hub includes functionalities such as streaming live feeds from security cameras.

Monitoring Contract

If you sign up for professional monitoring, SimpliSafe won’t ask you to sign a contract. You can opt in and out on a monthly basis. You can even upgrade or downgrade your monitoring plan. For example, when there was a string of break-ins in our neighborhood, we upgraded to the Pro plan to enjoy nighttime Active Guard Outdoor Protection. The thief was caught eventually. So, feeling safer, we went back to the cheaper Core plan.

With Vivint, you also have the option not to sign a contract, but it would require you to pay the equipment fee upfront, which can easily reach over $1,000. If you finance your equipment, though, you’ll have to sign a contract, which will require you to maintain a monitoring plan.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Home Automation

Our Vivint system integrated nicely with these smart locks.

Let’s cut to the chase: Vivint offers one of the best smart home security systems, while SimpliSafe lacks any real home automation capabilities. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant and can pair with August smart locks, but that’s about all you can expect from SimpliSafe. On the other hand, Vivint lets users create automation rules within the app. It also works with a wide range of smart equipment, from the Nest Thermostat to Z-Wave devices.

Winner: Vivint

SimpliSafe and Vivint’s Best Features

It’s probably clear to you now which between SimpliSafe and Vivint is a better fit for your home and security needs. But, just in case you haven’t made a pick yet, let’s talk about their strongest features. You might find that one is better than the other when it comes to meeting your security needs.

SimpliSafe Best Features

Most people probably don’t peg SimpliSafe as an advanced home security system, because, from buying to installation and monitoring, SimpliSafe shows that it favors a simpler approach. The truth is, some of the features we saw from SimpliSafe are pretty advanced.

Intruder Intervention topped our list. We unlocked this feature with the Wireless Indoor Camera and by getting a subscription to the Core plan. Essentially, the SimpliSafe base station controls the indoor camera’s privacy shutter. If any of our sensors trigger an alarm, the shutter snaps open and starts streaming to the monitoring center. When that happens, an agent will view our live stream to verify the alert, and, if they confirm there’s a real threat, they’ll use the two-way talk on the camera to dissuade the intruder. We tested how it works during our break-in simulations (see our SimpliSafe security system review), and we’re convinced it’s a good deterrent.

We paid close attention to how the Wireless Indoor Camera takes action to deliver Intruder Intervention during our tests.

Besides Intruder Intervention, we tested Active Guard when we upgraded to the Pro plan. The premise is similar: If there’s an intruder, SimpliSafe deters them by intervening via the two-way talk feature. But, instead of the indoor camera, it works on the Wireless Outdoor Camera and the Wired Video Doorbell Camera. Active Guard also didn’t wait for any sensors to be triggered, relying solely on the AI detection of the outdoor camera.

>> Related Reading: How to Burglar-Proof Your Home

Vivint Best Features

As for Vivint, home automation is its best feature, and what we like most about it is how Vivint uses home automation to improve security. That said, Vivint won’t spoon-feed you everything. Instead, you’ll need to create custom automation rules tailored to your home. If you’ve used IFTTT or similar platforms before, you’ll find Vivint’s automation engine quite similar. You also need to invest in smart home equipment that works with Vivint to make some automations possible.

>> Learn More: The Best Security Systems That Work With IFTTT

Vivint automation helps with everything from setting automatic device actions to fine-tuning notifications.

To give you one example, we have a smart lock and a few smart lights that work with Vivint. One of the automation rules we set is that if Vivint detects an intruder between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., it should make the smart lights flash to sort of disorient the intruder and then lock the door. Of course, during that time, Vivint will have already sent out an alert to the monitoring center, and, knowing how quickly Vivint responds, the police will probably be on the way.

Speaking of quick responses, that’s another area where Vivint excelled compared to SimpliSafe. Text alerts always came in within 10 seconds after a sensor was triggered, and they allowed us to confirm or waive off alerts right through text. Only if we didn’t respond would Vivint call us. Those calls came between 30 to 40 seconds after the text alert during our break-in simulations (see our Vivint review). Those numbers are on the faster side of the industry standards.

>> More Options: The Best Home Security Monitoring Response Times

Our SimpliSafe and Vivint Recommendations

If You Decide to Go With SimpliSafe…

SimpliSafe’s flexible approach lets you choose from the various levels of protection it offers. In terms of monitoring, here are your options:

We recommend at least the Core plan so you can enjoy Intruder Intervention plus have access to cloud video recording. Recordings could play a huge role during police investigations in case a break-in or home invasion occurs.

As for equipment, we suggest building a custom system or using any of the pre-customized packages as foundation. Take note that SimpliSafe offers deals pretty much all the time, so take advantage of those to save as much as possible.

And for installation, it comes down to your preference. We’ve always installed every SimpliSafe system we tested, so we know it’s easy to do. But, if you prefer professional installation, that’s possible too through SimpliSafe’s partner, OnTech, starting at $125.

Here we are installing our SimpliSafe sensors.

If You Decide to Go With Vivint…

Vivint’s approach is more rigid. It requires professional monitoring and installation, a contract, and a custom security system designed for your specific security needs. You also won’t see Vivint’s pricing posted on its website, so giving them a call or requesting a quote is pretty much your only option if you want a bespoke Vivint system.

That said, we recommend preparing a plan before making contact. Take a walk around your house and list the equipment you might need. That way, when you talk to a sales rep, you can hold your ground and sidestep any unnecessary offers. We know from previous interactions with them that they can be persuasive.

As for monitoring, here are the options from Vivint:

We recommend at least the Smart Home plan so you can take advantage of the automation features in the app and Vivint Smart Hub. Of course, if you have security cameras, you should go with Smart Control to take full advantage of all their features and functionalities.

Bottom Line: Is SimpliSafe or Vivint Better?

At the end of the day, we honestly believe both SimpliSafe and Vivint are great options for homeowners. There are pros and cons for each company, so it really comes down to your individual situation.

Our bottom line: If you want convenience and ultimate home protection – and don’t mind paying a premium for it – then Vivint is your best bet. If you want an affordable home security system that simply gets the job done but offers advanced video monitoring, then SimpliSafe is an outstanding option.

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