Pros & Cons
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- Speedy event response
- Offers remote control of door locks, cameras, thermostats, and sensors
- Responsive touch screen
- Supports Alexa and Google voice commands
- No lengthy contract required
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- Requires a monthly subscription for remote access
- Some components can be pricey
Vivint HomeProtect Pro Specs
| Cellular Backup | |
| Environmental Sensors | |
| Monthly Fees | $44.99 |
| Power Outage Backup | |
| Professional Installation Required | |
| Upfront Costs | Start at $749.99 |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | Amazon Alexa |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | Google Assistant |
| Z-Wave/ZigBee |
Do-it-yourself smart home security systems are great for frugal homeowners who want to save money by monitoring their homes themselves, but these systems leave it up to you to take action when an alarm is triggered. They don't check in to see if everything is OK when your smoke alarm goes off or when your front door alarm is tripped, and they don't call the local authorities. For that kind of response, you need a subscription-based service like Vivint HomeProtect Pro.
With Vivint, you get around-the-clock home monitoring with an incredibly swift response when an alarm goes off, as well as a variety of optional home automation services, all of which can be controlled from your phone or a 7-inch touch-screen control panel. Vivint systems and components aren't cheap, but once you decide on a plan, you don't have to lift a finger; Vivint technicians come to your house, install everything, and give you a comprehensive tour of how it all works. There are several excellent alternatives if you want to save money with a DIY option, like SimpliSafe, but Vivint HomeProtect Pro earns our Editors' Choice award for professional-install home security systems.
Plans and Pricing: Equipment and Pro Install From $750
When you order a Vivint system, you purchase the hardware you need, including door/window sensors, motion sensors, cameras, and thermostats. The $749.99 HomeProtect Pro system comes with a Smart Hub with a touch screen, four door/window sensors, one motion sensor, a yard sign, and professional installation. If you purchase the system outright, you can choose a month-to-month monitoring plan, but if you finance it, you’ll have to commit to a three-year contract. Vivint also offers a basic HomeProtect system with fewer components than the Pro version, starting at $199.99 for equipment and professional installation.
(Credit: Vivint)The Vivint service plan is $44.99 per month and gives you 24/7 professional monitoring and full use of the mobile app, including alert notifications. It also lets you control smart home devices such as door locks, video doorbells, and thermostats, and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. Other benefits of the service plan include 30 days of recorded video storage for clips up to 90 seconds, 10 days of continuous storage with the purchase of a Vivint Playback DVR ($399), 24/7 online and telephone technical support, in-home technician services, and an expanded equipment warranty.
A Vivint service plan isn't mandatory, but without it, you’ll have to monitor the system yourself and forgo using the mobile app, remote access, and 24/7 tech support.
Components: Expand Your System as Needed
Additional component prices are significantly higher than what you get from the competition. Door/window sensors go for $50 each, while SimpliSafe charges $14.99 and FrontPoint charges $34.99. A Vivint glass-break detector will set you back $100, while Cove charges $35 and Brinks charges $79. Vivint’s Smart Thermostat costs $199.99, which is a bit more than you'd pay for a typical smart thermostat, such as the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential ($139.99).
The Vivint Indoor Camera Pro does not come cheap at $249.99, and it requires professional installation. This indoor security camera captures sharp video at 1080p, but it lacks color night vision, and its third-party integrations are limited.
The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3 ($399.99 plus installation) is a 1080p outdoor security cam that not only lets you see what's happening outside, but uses Vivint's Smart Deter technology to let intruders know that they are under surveillance. The camera also provides clean two-way audio and works well with other installed Vivint components.
One of our favorite video doorbells, the Vivint Doorbell Cam Pro Gen 2 ($249.99 plus installation), also uses Smart Deter technology to deter package thieves and offers stunning 4K HDR video quality with an ultra-wide viewing angle.
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Our Current Picks for The Best Smart Home Security Systems for 2026
The Vivint Smart Lighting System ($299 plus installation) comes with a bridge, two switches, and eight bulbs. It allows you to create automated lighting schedules and interactions with other installed Vivint devices.
The Smart Hub is Vivint's nerve center. It has a 7-inch full-color touch screen that makes it easy to lock and unlock doors, view live and recorded video, adjust heating and cooling temperatures, and activate emergency services, including Panic and Burglary alarms that go straight to the local police department. The panel also lets you assign and edit user codes, adjust alarm volumes, tweak camera settings, arm or disarm the system, and run diagnostics. However, you can't change the sound of the alarms, which can be problematic (more on that later). The hub uses several types of wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, RF, and Z-Wave, to control cameras, sensors, door locks, and more.
App and Smart Features: Remotely Arm and Monitor Your System
You can control the Vivint system remotely using free Android and iOS apps. It also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and works with Nest smart thermostats and Philips Hue smart light bulbs. If you require wider platform compatibility, the Abode Iota works with even more third-party devices, has its own IFTTT channel, and supports Alexa, Google, and HomeKit.
In the mobile app, the My Home screen contains a panel that shows you how many doors and windows are currently open, which doors are unlocked, and whether the system is ready to be armed. To arm or disarm the system, tap the panel. This screen also has panels for each installed camera, each of which displays the last captured image and has a play arrow that opens a live stream. Below the cameras are panels for each installed door lock. Tap any panel to lock or unlock the door.
The taskbar at the bottom of the screen contains icons for My Home, Lights, Activity, Shop, and For You. The My Home icon takes you back to the home screen, and Lights takes you to a page where you can adjust any installed spotlights. Visit the Activity section to view system status information, such as any open windows or unlocked doors, and a running history of events, including door openings and closings, triggered sensors, and motion detection. Motion-triggered video clips can also be viewed in the Activity section. Tap the Shop icon to browse and purchase cameras, sensors, and other accessories, or tap For You to view billing, subscription, and other account information.
To access security settings, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the My Home screen. Here you can configure sensors, enable notifications, and create rules. For example, you can have lights turn on and off at specific times or when an event occurs, have your doors lock or unlock automatically at a certain time or in response to an event, and have the cameras record video when an alarm is triggered. You can use any of the numerous preset rules or create your own.
Performance: Reliable Automations and Speedy Emergency Response
The system performed admirably for home automation tasks. It never failed to manually lock or unlock doors, and the thermostat followed my weekday and weekend heating schedules without issue. I created custom rules to have the system lock all of my doors at 11:00 p.m. daily and turn off my living room lights at 11:30 p.m., and it followed those rules without fail.
Vivint's home security performance is equally impressive. The window and door sensors worked perfectly in testing, as did the motion detectors. The system followed my rules: lights turned on when a camera detected motion, and when a door was opened after a certain time of day, I received a notification. Live video from the doorbell camera is crisp, with rich colors and sharp black-and-white night vision out to around 15 feet. Recorded video quality is also top-notch. The interior and exterior cameras deliver excellent day and night video.
I unwittingly put Vivint's emergency response prowess to the test, which it passed with flying colors. While heating up a slice of pizza, a chunk of cheese landed on the heating element in my toaster oven, filling the kitchen with smoke and triggering the smoke alarm. I was out in the backyard and could hear what sounded like birds chirping; it was loud, but it took a minute or two to figure out it was the alarm (I had no idea what it was supposed to sound like). I ran inside, turned off the oven, and turned on the house fan. But before I could enter my code on the control panel, a Vivint representative called to inform me that the fire department had been notified because I failed to answer their first call and did not enter my code in time. Sure enough, a fire truck and the fire chief pulled up a few minutes later. The response time from the initial alarm to the fire department's arrival was less than 10 minutes.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: PCMag/Vivint)
Vivint HomeProtect Pro
The excellent Vivint HomeProtect Pro security system offers 24/7 professional monitoring and remote control of your cameras, door locks, heating, and more.