Vivint is among the largest well-established home security service providers that operate within the United States of America. At the simplest level, Vivint has home security packages which are the basic home alarm systems, but they also have home automation systems, through which you can control aspects like lights, doors, and thermostats through your smartphone, or even voice commands. Still, the flexibility of all these aspects is a disadvantage when it comes to the pricing and tariff plans of Vivint. Let’s take a closer look at what Vivint costs per month on average. Let's break it down.

Upfront Costs

Even with the monthly fees excluded, it is important to note that generally, Vivint comes with large initial investments which are necessary for the purchase and installation of equipment. Be prepared to spend anywhere between $99 and $499 as a one-time fee for getting Vivint to install its devices in your home, depending on the equipment, the features included, and the package you choose. You also have to sign a long-term contract which is usually for a period not less than 36-60 months, when you initially purchase the Vivint systems. Some of the disadvantages that customers can face when using Vivint include, If a client wishes to cancel their contract with Vivint before the set period, they have to pay hefty amounts for early termination fees.

Monthly Fees

The equipment cost is paid upfront, while Vivint charges a monthly fee once the system has been installed in your home. This includes things like supervising your equipment, customer and technical support, software upgrades, cellular data services for communicating with sensors, and data storage of videos. However, the exact amount can vary from a few cents to quite a large sum.

Basic Packages

Vivint does not offer the cheapest basic home security monitoring packages, which are going for $29. 99 per month. Some of the features that are commonly installed are entry sensors, motion detectors, door/window sensors, smoke detectors, CO detectors, control panels, yard signs, and decals. Professional monitoring means that the system will be constantly monitored by professionals, and you will receive notifications on your phone whenever there is an unusual movement inside the building or its vicinity.

For a bit more, at $39. 99 per month, Vivint can include both indoor and outdoor cameras. This enables you to ensure that activity is being conducted as seen through clips recorded on the camera. Video can be recorded on-site with an optional DVD or can be recorded and backed up to the cloud through the Vivint Smart Drive storage.

Smart Home Automation

I found the following considerations: The costs will rise each month as you add smart home devices such as the door lock, garage door controller, lighting controls, and thermostats. Smart home automation is an add-on feature that begins at $49. 99 a month and comes with packages that have some level of automation. This is commonly referred to as Vivint SkyControl, and it is a feature that lets you control the system with an app on your smartphone, for instance, setting the system to armed, disarmed, or checking if the system is on. It can also encompass features such as voice-enabled apps including Amazon Alexa.

The above argument reveals that the premium packages for smart homes provide more enhanced home automation, more devices, more storage space for cloud video, and additional options. These packages may cost as low as $59. 99 monthly increasing to $79. 99 depending on the level of whole-home control and monitoring you require. Some add-ons include things like extra cameras, sensors as well as smart locks which cost an extra $5-10 per device per month.

Professional Monitoring Plus

Besides the basic programs, Vivint has a more advanced package known as the Professional Monitoring Plus at 49. 99 USD per month. This provides the same equipment and features as the base plan but enhances the monitoring service. Some of the features included under the Professional Monitoring Plus are priority alarm response, faster dispatch decision time, and having access to a professional security specialist in cases of an emergency. For those who desire the closest possible tethering to Vivint, this is an optional feature that comes with an added fee.

Service and Installation Costs

While the installation of the required equipment and the initial configuration of your system are usually free of charge, you should be aware that up-front equipment costs, monthly service charges, and early termination fees are designed to recover the cost of installation and service calls throughout your subscription. However, if you need advanced settings or post-warranty service or repairs, you may be charged hourly service fees. These currently stand in the bracket of $25-$125 per hour depending on the particular tasks involved.

Debate: Is It Necessary to Sign a 5-Year Contract?

In the past, Vivint offered lengthy terms to new customers with 5-year long contracts. However, some consumers complained that they were locked in a such long commitment. Vivint now has more choices in terms of months for the contracts rather than the contracts in many markets. That is, just remember that early termination fees are spread over to $600 if cancellation is made before the 3-5 years. Monthly prices are also considerably $5-10 higher if clients do not agree to commit to a long multiple-year contract.

Can the Prices of Products and Services Vary over Period?

Per their policies, your base monthly rate is likely to be raised by between 2% and 5% annually. Therefore, it is likely to observe a gradual increase in prices as the time frame of the contract is more than a year, in this case, inflation will affect the price. You are to be provided with written notice of at least thirty days before any increase is implemented. Vivint also retains discretion over pricing, packages, and policy reviews whereby it is allowed to alter prices, packages, or policies in their entirety and this may lead to increased monthly charges. I do not want to get into all that but just be aware that when you enter into a program today, you may have to pay two or three years later. While free-spirited, do not rush into signing long-term Vivint contracts without reading all the fine print.

Is Professional Installation Necessary?

In contrast to most other providers, Vivint prefers using its employees for installation but depending on the state and local laws, DIY may be possible. There are dangers associated with its self-installation such as equipment damage, no warranty coverage or even penalties due to false alarms. Fortunately, basic monthly monitoring for do-it-yourself systems can be as low as $24. 99 monthly. It is just important to note that all equipment must be bought by the owner at the retail price and not without financing such as what professional installation offers.

Is it Possible to Purchase Equipment for a One-Time Fee?

Other than paying monthly fees to lease Vivint gear or to relieve yourself of equipment costs, Vivint offers the option of purchasing all the equipment. Purchasing equipment outright costs anywhere from $749 for entry-level equipment up to $1,799 or more for high-quality equipment. However, you’ll need to spend an additional monthly monitoring fee for professional surveillance of the system if you desire. Choosing outright purchase of equipment reduces the chances of being charged interest and you may be able to terminate the contract at any one time because there are no termination fees. You should simply understand that as the owner you will have to be ready to pay for the repairs or replacements whenever they are needed since there will not be an all-encompassing warranty.

The Bottom Line

Vivint has created various price packages for home security to suit different customers and their requirements. The monthly subscription fees for the complete monitoring and smart home management service begin at USD 30 per month. However, it is possible to get the Vivint Smart Home package which comes with high-quality equipment as well as maximum device connectivity for $80 and above. To prevent shocks in the future, potential customers should be aware of the contract provisions, billing practices, equipment ownership, and any future likely rate increases. Think about monthly fees and costs that might be a one-time only, asking if Vivint fits your financial picture. Vivint has the perfect plan for that; you don’t have to overspend to monitor what matters most in your home.

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