Is Vivint worth it or not? Want to see Vivint in action? Watch our full video review below. We ordered the Basic security system 1 from Vivint, which included a Sky Control Panel, security sensors, a Kwikset smart lock, a video doorbell, smoke and CO monitors plus an indoor camera.
Later, we added the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro to our system, which we also detail below. The Smart Hub touchscreen command center of our entire Vivint security system. Not only did we use it to control every connected device, but we could also watch live-streamed footage and speak through two-way audio right here, which is actually pretty rare from a security touchpad. On top of that, the Smart Hub is where we could arm and disarm our security system, press a panic button to connect with the monitoring teams, and even view cloud storage.
Although we mounted our control panel to the wall, it can also stand on its own, kind of like a digital picture frame. Video-wise, it impressed with a clear, p HD display and a wide, degree field of view. The infrared LED sensors allowed us to see clearly at night, plus, as we mentioned before, we were able to speak to our guests through two-way audio.
Unfortunately, the camera lacks local storage. This was a bit expensive, so we stuck to those clips. Another drawback of the Ping Indoor Camera is that it only detected motion, not people, so we received a lot of unnecessary notifications.
Yes, it has that clear, p HD display that we liked in the indoor camera, but on top of that, it also has 4K sensors, which means twice as many pixels as p HD. It also has HDR, which helped with light distortion outside. The night vision and two-way audio also impressed, and the outdoor camera has the same storage options as the indoor camera. But by far the best feature of the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro was the artificial intelligence. Unlike the indoor camera, the outdoor camera could differentiate between people and other moving objects, meaning we only got notified when it detected a person.
This seriously reduced the number of false alarms we got, which was good because we have things to do and places to go, too! Plus, if someone was on our lawn for too long, the camera actually lit up its red LED light ring and sounded warning tones, while sending us a thumbnail image of said loiterer. This was a bit much, especially when the postman delivered our mail, but it was definitely good for our outdoor security.
Keep in mind that the siren goes all the way up to 85 decibels, about as loud as a snowblower, so the whole neighborhood could get involved. In fact, some of our neighbors told us that they could hear it from inside their houses! However, the Vivint outdoor camera comes with person detection built-in, plus a smart feature that detects and deters loiterers.
Vivint stopped selling the Vivint Doorbell Camera and replaced it with the similarly priced Doorbell Camera Pro later on. On the bright side, it had person detection, which the cheaper Ring Video Doorbell 2 lacks. In our opinion, person detection is an essential doorbell camera feature, especially since our front door faces the street.
Instead, we only received alerts when there were actual people at our door. When we reviewed the Vivint Doorbell Camera , we went ahead and hardwired it to our existing doorbell setup. However, for those who want to go wireless, it can run on batteries, too, for three to five years.
As for the new doorbell camera from Vivint, the Doorbell Camera Pro, it fixed a lot of the issues that we had with the original. Vivint gave us a smart lock from Kwikset which we could either control remotely through the app or open via a numerical code, which was great the one time we left our keys at the office.
And even though a third party, Kwikset, manufactured the lock, we had fun connecting it to other home automation devices and creating automated actions.
And in general, Vivint has worked great. The experience is far more unified than you get with standalone devices and it's all made consummately accessible through both the Vivint app and the central console -- a touchscreen tablet affixed to your wall. But for all its glister and gleam -- or perhaps because of it -- Vivint costs some serious money. That can be paid up-front or with a monthly payment plan. Either way, the device-by-device approach to pricing as opposed to other brands' package pricing is a double-edged sword: You get devices personalized to your needs, but you don't really get the discount you'd expect when buying a package of equipment.
Given the high prices, Vivint seems aimed mostly at customers willing to spend significantly more for the added convenience -- and for many, that's a perfectly acceptable trade-off. Get smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and comparisons from CNET. Before breaking down the Vivint system device by device, I want to talk a little about one of Vivint's key strengths: its integration.
I've tested Wi-Fi-connected tech since before voice assistants invaded the home, and integration has always been both the greatest point of pain and the greatest point of satisfaction in that work. In short, when an integrated home works, it's awesome. When it doesn't, it's a massive pain in the ass. Two primary problems have plagued the integrated home for years : the problem of power Wi-Fi drains batteries quickly, but routers don't often communicate with low-energy radio protocols like Z-Wave or Zigbee , and the problem of continuity some brands work with Alexa and Google Assistant, but not Siri; others are Apple-exclusive, etc.
Whole-home systems like Vivint solve both of these problems: the Vivint Smart Hub has a Z-Wave receiver built into it, so low-energy devices like flood sensors and motion detectors which you don't want to constantly be changing the batteries in work seamlessly with the larger system; and since all the devices are proprietary or curated by Vivint, everything communicates without issue.
In my few weeks testing Vivint, I didn't have to do any trouble-shooting. Part of this may be my familiarity with the types of devices, but mostly it has to do with the solidly designed system. I showed the devices to my parents, and they both despite being only somewhat tech-savvy picked up scheduling for the thermostat with ease. Not only is it easy to learn, but Vivint's tools are genuinely useful.
I closed the garage from the park after forgetting when I pulled out the kids' bikes. The car guard alerted me when my wife was on the way home from a midday grocery run, so I could get our lunch started. The day after we installed the Vivint home security system, my 3-year-old dropped a glass plate in the kitchen downstairs and my phone immediately pinged me that the glass break sensor had gone off -- which I wouldn't have known otherwise, as I was on the opposite side of the house.
In only a week or two of moderate use, I immediately saw the benefits of some of these devices -- and I can only imagine what it would've been like to have flood sensors where they are now when our HVAC spouted a leak last year.
Flood sensors can protect the easily forgotten nooks and crannies of your house safe from accidental water damage. I found the smart plugs to be a little less useful, but that's likely just due to my personal preferences and usage patterns: I'm more likely to flip switches than to give voice commands to Alexa or set schedules for my lights, in part because it still feels like less work in most cases. Finally, while Vivint works great as a smart home integration system, it's also first and foremost at least for most customers a security system.
If the person signs a new agreement, the transfer is free. The monitoring station will then contact you to verify the emergency and send help if needed. Your settings will automatically reboot and reconnect to your smart devices. Response times can vary widely. Yes, Vivint has a lot of advanced safety features, including two-way voice communication, tamper sensors, and a duress code that allows you to put in a different code to stop your alarm while letting Vivint know that you need help.
Vivint uses a wireless connection to communicate with its monitoring centers. The Vivint Smart Home app lets you control your home from anywhere and at any time. You can arm and disarm your home, receive alerts and notifications, and adjust temperature, locks, and lights right from your phone. The SkyControl panel will learn your habits over time and automatically adjust settings to suit your preference.
Vivint allows you to mix and match components, depending on the equipment you want to add and what company manufactures the devices. Yes, Vivint integrates with Nest and Amazon Echo. With Amazon Echo, you can use voice commands to lock your doors, turn off your lights, adjust the temperature, and arm your security system. According to Vivint, some cities charge a false alarm fee.
If you accidentally set off a false alarm, enter your code to turn it off. But you could log in to the internet using your TV to access your system.
And if you have a defective device, Vivint will replace it under the Premium Service Plan. Whether or not your children are able to use the alarm system will depend on their ages. Vivint provides a yard sign and window decals to customers.
The number of decals will vary depending on your house needs. Professional monitoring always calls you first to verify the emergency. Unlike some security companies that outsource monitoring centers, Vivint has its own proprietary monitoring centers.
Vivint will usually receive an alarm within seconds and contact you within about ten seconds after your alarm has gone off. Vivint offers both automatic payments and paperless billing. If you set up automatic payments, you can see the amount due and when the payment is being processed by logging in to your account. Vivint charges a monthly monitoring fee, service fee, and cancellation fee.
If you want to cancel your service, you can email, mail, or fax a written notice that includes the date, the service number, an explanation that you want to cancel, and your signature. However, Vivint does offer a special cancellation service that allows you to be released from your contract early for unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, such as a death in the family, filing bankruptcy, and more.
Vivint requires that you provide proof to qualify for this policy. The company also states that each cancellation is reviewed on an individual basis. However, if you sign a new agreement with the company when you move, the moving fee will be waived. Yes, most home insurance companies will offer a discount for having a security system. However, how much of a discount you receive will depend on the insurance company as well as your security features.
Vivint makes it easy to obtain a certificate that proves you have a home security system installed. Simply log in to your account, go to the resource page, and download your Insurance Certificate. The company also allows you to pay for your equipment up front if you want to avoid a long-term contract. Yes, Vivint offers a lifetime guarantee on its equipment.
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