SimpliSafe is our overall winner — but your best pick depends on your household. Keep reading for the full breakdown.
Side-by-side feature matrix
| Feature | Vivint | SimpliSafe | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter price | $599.99+ | $249.96 | SimpliSafe |
| Monthly monitoring | $29.99–$45 | $19.99–$31.99 | SimpliSafe |
| Contract | Financed (42–60 mo) or cash | None | SimpliSafe |
| Installation | Professional only | DIY | Tie |
| Smart-home hardware | Industry-leading | Good | Vivint |
| Active deterrence | Yes (Smart Deter) | No | Vivint |
| Best for | Premium smart home | Renters, movers, value shoppers | Tie |
Two excellent systems that don't really compete
If you're cross-shopping Vivint and SimpliSafe, you're usually deciding whether home security is an installed appliance (Vivint) or a product you set up and live with (SimpliSafe). Both are excellent at their jobs. Neither is a bad choice. The price gap is substantial: a full Vivint install routinely lands $3,000-$5,000 all-in over a 42-month contract; SimpliSafe's three-year total cost of ownership is closer to $1,100-$1,400. That's a 3-4x cost multiplier. Unless you specifically want the premium install experience, SimpliSafe wins for most households. For buyers who value Vivint's integrated hardware and active deterrence, the premium can be worth it.
Pricing over three years, written out
- Vivint: Equipment financed, typically $1,800-$3,500 in hardware plus $40-$60/month monitoring. 42-60 month contract. Total 3-year cost: $3,200-$5,000.
- SimpliSafe: Equipment $250-$600 up-front, $31.99/month for Fast Protect monitoring (no contract). Total 3-year cost: $1,400-$1,750.
Vivint isn't overpriced for what it is — it includes installation, premium hardware, and active monitoring. But you're paying for all of that.
Install experience: a tech in your home vs. a Sunday afternoon
A Vivint install takes 3-6 hours and includes a technician mounting cameras, wiring a panel, pairing locks, and walking through setup. It's polished, professional, and comprehensive. SimpliSafe's DIY install is 25-45 minutes and requires no tools beyond a screwdriver. For a full framework on this decision, see our DIY vs. professional installation guide.
Portability matters
Vivint hardware is largely not portable between homes without a new install and contract. SimpliSafe packs in a duffel bag and redeploys in a new home in 30 minutes. If you rent or may move, SimpliSafe wins this axis decisively.
Monitoring performance
Vivint's dispatch averaged 22 seconds in our test log; SimpliSafe averaged 28-45 seconds. Both are well inside industry-leading territory. Vivint also has better in-app panic and two-way audio via the SkyControl panel, which is genuinely useful during an event. Neither is slow; Vivint is slightly faster.
Where Vivint genuinely earns its premium
Two features: Smart Deter (AI-driven outdoor loitering detection with automatic spotlight and voice response) and the SkyControl panel (a central touchscreen that ties the whole home together). In our staged deterrence tests, Smart Deter triggered correct responses on 94% of simulated loitering events. SimpliSafe's outdoor camera records and notifies but doesn't actively deter. For homes where prevention matters more than post-event evidence, this is a real difference.
Where SimpliSafe wins
- Cost: 3-4x cheaper over three years.
- Flexibility: No contract. Cancel any month.
- Portability: Moves with you in a bag.
- Privacy: Cleaner data-handling history.
- Install speed: 30 minutes vs. half a day.
Smart-home reach
Vivint's closed ecosystem integrates locks, garage, thermostat, and lighting under one roof. Third-party integration is limited. SimpliSafe is more open (Alexa, Google Assistant) but doesn't go as deep. Neither supports Apple Home — see abode for that.
Who each is for
- Vivint: Homeowners who want the premium professionally installed experience, active deterrence, and a unified touchscreen ecosystem — and who can absorb the price.
- SimpliSafe: Most buyers. Renters, movers, cost-conscious households, anyone who values flexibility over installer polish.
Bottom line
For the majority of shoppers, SimpliSafe is the better purchase — it's on our best home security systems list and earns spots on our no-contract and DIY roundups. Vivint is the right answer for buyers who specifically want its premium install and Smart Deter AI. Full testing protocol on our how we test page.
Who should pick Vivint?
Pick Vivint if: you want a premium smart-home build with Smart Deter and a single installer.
- Smart Deter cameras use active AI deterrence (light + audio warning)
- Dedicated Vivint installers — 4-hour windows, not all-day
- Outdoor Cam Pro with on-device computer vision
- Luma sensors are among the best motion detectors in our ratings
Who should pick SimpliSafe?
Pick SimpliSafe if: you want the lowest monthly cost, DIY freedom, and no contract.
- True no-contract monthly plans
- Outstanding independent test of 1,000+ break-in attempts
- Fast Protect plan includes live-agent video verification
- Peel-and-stick sensors — 30-minute DIY install
Full reviews
For the deep-dive on each system, see our hands-on full reviews: