Vivint's eye-catching security cameras, quality equipment, and entry-level monitoring pricing are among its best traits, especially considering that every system comes with professional installation.
Vivint's premium equipment and the excellent Vivint app keep it near the top of our security system rankings — as we noted in our Vivint review — but it also commands some of the highest prices you'll see among smart home security providers. While the brand's monitoring plans have reasonable starting costs, it quickly gets out of hand when adding multiple security cameras to your system.
If those criticisms make you second-guess getting a Vivint system, you're in the right place. Let's explore three worthwhile alternatives to Vivint — ADT, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint — to see if one fits your needs and budget better.
Like all Vivint equipment, the $400 Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro is pricey.
ADT: Best Vivint Alternative
After testing ADT first-hand, it is our pick for the best home security system, making it our first choice for the best Vivint alternative. While ADT's status as the largest and oldest security company is part of its appeal, the lower equipment prices, shorter contract terms, and unmatched Google Nest integration give it a definitive advantage over Vivint. Let's dig into a few reasons why you should choose ADT.
All ADT security systems use Google Nest security cameras.
Similarities Between Vivint and ADT
ADT is the only alternative on our list specializing in professional installation services like Vivint, which means setting aside time for a service appointment when buying your system. Still, having an experienced technician install your system is a nice perk compared to the DIY approach because they already know the setup process and have plenty of tools.
FYI: Whether you choose ADT or Vivint, it's worth noting that professional installation also means a mandatory contract. ADT's contract is 36 months, while Vivint's lasts up to 60 months. On the bright side, both made our list of the best professionally installed security systems.
You can expect an excellent home security mobile app experience from both brands. Testing both their apps, we found it easy to control smart devices, check camera feeds, and arm our system from our smartphones. We also found Vivint and ADT cameras more advanced than most other brands. They use smart detection to identify potential threats and various other measures to deter criminals. Plus, whether you're watching for a delivery or an unwelcome intruder, the security cameras have excellent image quality.
Vivint and ADT also have the same core equipment selection, so you won't miss out on building an effective whole-home security system. But, ADT shines when we look at how it differs from Vivint.
>> Compare: Vivint vs. ADT
Differences Between Vivint and ADT
ADT's most notable difference from Vivint is that professional installation is optional. The online shop defaults to DIY installation and a month-to-month contract when you select the option to customize your system. Vivint, on the other hand, required us to get our system installed by a Smart Home Pro, although it gave us the option to go with a month-to-month Vivint contract by paying for our equipment upfront.
There's also a great selection of ADT equipment packages costing as little as $199 upfront. Meanwhile, Vivint's base equipment package typically costs at least $600 and includes fewer sensors. The average cost of ADT equipment is roughly half as much as Vivint's.
Pro Tip: Double-check that your ADT equipment package doesn't require a contract as part of a sales promotion — ADT puts a disclaimer and terms link under its deals.
One of the best parts of an ADT security system is its native integration with Google Nest smart home devices like the Nest Thermostat and Google Nest Cam. In particular, the Google Nest security cameras give Vivint's pricey options a run for their money. While we'll still give Vivint's overall equipment quality the edge over ADT, there's only so much that basic security sensors can do, regardless of the cost.
>> Check Out: Our Hands-On Review of the Google Nest Cams
SimpliSafe: Best Budget Vivint Alternative
SimpliSafe doesn't have an army of professional installers like Vivint, and that's the point. By focusing on DIY installation, SimpliSafe can offer some of the lowest equipment and monitoring prices on the market. We found the installation process easy enough during our SimpliSafe testing, but it's still more work than relying on a Vivint technician. Regardless, SimpliSafe is an excellent budget alternative to Vivint. Let's see how they stack up.
>> More Budget Picks: The Best and Most Affordable Security Systems of 2025
SimpliSafe's wireless outdoor security camera is easy to install without running a power cable.
Similarities Between Vivint and SimpliSafe
As you might expect from most modern home security systems, SimpliSafe and Vivint offer a suite of sensors, security cameras, and app controls. Since fancy equipment isn't always enough to deter an intruder, they back up their offerings with 24/7 professional monitoring. Monitoring personnel can quickly summon emergency responders when your system triggers an alarm, especially when you can't.
Another big similarity we saw is how both systems use security cameras as active deterrents. SimpliSafe and Vivint security cameras don’t just sit in the corner recording every important event; they can also drive away intruders through chimes and lights (for Vivint cameras) or even real human intervention through two-way talk (for SimpliSafe cameras).
That's it for the similarities because everything else about SimpliSafe and Vivint is fundamentally different.
>> Compare: SimpliSafe vs. Vivint
Did You Know? SimpliSafe even offers an optional professional installation service starting at $124.99, if that's the only thing keeping your focus on Vivint.
Differences Between Vivint and SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe's DIY installation sets it apart from Vivint by enabling lower overall equipment prices. For some perspective, SimpliSafe equipment costs less than half as much as similar options from Vivint. SimpliSafe currently offers seven ready-made equipment packages starting at $250 — $350, lower than Vivint's starter option.
SimpliSafe's professional monitoring is generally more affordable, starting at $21.99 monthly. In contrast, Vivint's base monitoring price is $29.99 a month. Adding security cameras to either system boosts the monthly fee by $10. However, SimpliSafe's Core plan includes Intruder Intervention. We tested SimpliSafe with this plan, and any time our sensors detected potential intruders, the privacy cover on our Wireless Indoor Camera snapped open for live video verification. The one time SimpliSafe agents caught us on cam and thought we were intruders, they used two-way talk to try to dissuade us. This is, in our opinion, more powerful than Vivint’s Smart Deter technology, which uses lights and chimes to deter criminals.
Unfortunately, SimpliSafe's most expensive monitoring plans — Pro ($49.99 per month) and Pro Plus ($79.99 per month) — are pricier than Vivint's. But, these plans have something better than Intruder Intervention: Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Instead of waiting for sensors to detect intruders, the Wireless Outdoor Camera uses AI to detect lurkers and trespassers before they even break in. Then, SimpliSafe agents can also use two-way audio to intervene.
FYI: SimpliSafe's Pro plan limits real-time video verification to the night (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.), while Pro Plus offers the service 24/7.
To save more money with SimpliSafe, you can self-monitor the system for free with the SimpliSafe mobile app, including viewing live feeds from your cameras. However, you can't record videos without the Self-Monitoring with Camera Recordings plan for $9.99 monthly. Self-monitoring means no professional assistance in emergencies, but it's a great way to save on monthly security costs.
>> Related: The Best Security Systems You Can Self-Monitor
Frontpoint: An Excellent Vivint Alternative
Frontpoint's advantages over Vivint are less pronounced than those of ADT and SimpliSafe. While it ranks among the best home security systems, Frontpoint's monthly monitoring costs more than Vivint's. When we tested and reviewed Frontpoint, its equipment didn't quite match Vivint's quality, and recent price increases make Frontpoint equipment less appealing unless you score a discount. Still, it's an excellent alternative to Vivint that's worth exploring.
You can get the Frontpoint Outdoor Camera for around $115 or lower with some of Frontpoint's promotional prices.
Similarities Between Vivint and Frontpoint
Unsurprisingly, the biggest similarities we found between Frontpoint and Vivint are monitoring and equipment selection. Aside from a different pricing structure, each provider's plan gives you 24/7 access to a monitoring station filled with trained professionals. They'll check on your home when an alarm goes off and trigger an emergency response if necessary. Both systems also gave us a fast emergency response during break-in simulations, especially with their text alerts (less than a 10-second response time).
While Frontpoint's equipment list is smaller than Vivint's, its smart security sensors are equally capable of tracking doors, windows, motion, glass breaking, smoke, and water leaks. You won't see as many smart home automation options with Frontpoint, but it offers excellent controls in the Frontpoint app.
Differences Between Vivint and Frontpoint
Frontpoint has a pair of notable differences compared to Vivint: pricing and installation. At $49.99 per month, Frontpoint's monitoring plan is roughly $20 more than Vivint's base plan. But, unlike Vivint, Frontpoint has only a single monitoring plan tier. You won't pay extra for security camera recordings or smart home integration.
Frontpoint's plan is a better option for security cameras because it doesn't charge a separate fee for each camera like Vivint does. For example, you'll pay roughly $50 monthly to use three security cameras with either system, but each extra Vivint camera tacks on another $5. With six cameras, Frontpoint is still $49.99 per month, while Vivint clocks in at $64.99 monthly.
FYI: Vivint and Frontpoint each require a contract, though Frontpoint's 36-month term is better than Vivint's 60-month plan. Unfortunately, Frontpoint doesn't offer a month-to-month contract option as Vivint does.
The second key difference is that Frontpoint systems are DIY, though you can opt for third-party professional installation via HelloTech starting at $99. Otherwise, you'll need time to read the instructions to get every sensor and camera where they belong. DIY might save money, but it's not for everyone, especially if you're too busy to set up a security system.
It's nice that Frontpoint's DIY install comes with lower equipment prices, though the company isn't as affordable as it used to be. We recommend looking for deals on the Frontpoint shop, which can put equipment packages as low as $69, which is very competitive against Vivint's minimum purchase of $600.
>> DIY Picks: The Best DIY Security Systems of 2025
Summary of Vivint Alternatives
ADT's excellent equipment and great prices make it an easy recommendation among Vivint security alternatives for anyone seeking similar quality and excellent professional installation. SimpliSafe is hard to beat if you want to save money without a contract. Plus, DIY installation means you'll set up the system on your schedule. Frontpoint falls roughly between our top two recommendations and Vivint, though its single-tier monitoring plan compares favorably against Vivint if you want a lot of security cameras.
