Comparison by an independent Vivint Authorized Dealer
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Which Home Security System Is Better in 2026?
Vivint beats Frontpoint on monthly price, installation, and cameras, since Frontpoint's $44.99 to $49.99 monitoring is the highest among DIY brands, while Frontpoint beats Vivint on contract flexibility when equipment is paid upfront; Vivint fits buyers who want a professionally installed system, and Frontpoint fits DIY buyers who want Z-Wave automation. Frontpoint is a DIY home security system that ships pre-configured wireless kits and charges a premium monitoring rate for app control; Vivint is a professionally installed smart home security system sold through authorized dealers. This page compares the 2 on 8 shared attributes in a table, then on price, monitoring, installation, contract, and equipment, and ends with 3 cases for each.
Prices and terms verified October 7, 2026. Vivint sets all prices; dealer promotions are listed separately.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Shared Attributes Compared
Vivint and Frontpoint are compared below on the 8 attributes both share: monitoring price, equipment price, installation, contract, guarantee, cameras, smart home support, and alarm response.
| Attribute | Vivint | Frontpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $24.99 to $44.99 ($29.99 no contract) | $44.99 to $49.99: Interactive $44.99; Ultimate $49.99 (video); video-only $14.99 |
| Equipment | $199.99 to $749.99+; devices $50 to $399.99 | $400 to $900: typical kits $400 to $900; promotional packages from $69 |
| Installation | Professional by Vivint technicians, 2 to 4 hours, included with agreement ($199 no contract) | DIY |
| Contract | 36 months with financed equipment; month to month if paid upfront | Month to month after the first 30 days when equipment is paid upfront; online checkout defaults to a 3-year agreement |
| Guarantee | 3-day right of rescission | 30-day return |
| Cameras | Doorbell Camera Pro, Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3, Indoor Camera Pro; Smart Deter | Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras |
| Smart home | Google Home, Alexa, Z-Wave; Vivint hub, locks, thermostat, garage | Z-Wave locks, lights, thermostats; Alexa and Google |
| Alarm response | 33-second average (Security.org 2026) | Monitoring through Rapid Response centres; no published response-time test in the sources used |
Sources: security.org/home-security-systems/frontpoint/; safehome.org/security-systems/frontpoint/; Vivint figures from Security.org, SafeWise, and support.vivint.com.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Which Costs Less?
Vivint costs less than Frontpoint per month: Vivint HomeProtect is $24.99 and HomeProtect Pro $44.99, while Frontpoint charges $44.99 for Interactive and $49.99 for Ultimate monitoring; Frontpoint equipment ($400 to $900, promotions from $69) overlaps Vivint's $199.99 to $749.99+ but is self-installed.
Over 36 months the Frontpoint monthly premium adds roughly $720 against Vivint HomeProtect, which outweighs the installation Vivint includes.
Lowest 36-month totals at list prices: Vivint $1099.63 ($199.99 starter equipment plus 36 months at $24.99); Frontpoint $2019.64 ($400 equipment plus 36 months at $44.99). The Vivint pricing page shows larger configurations.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Monitoring
Vivint wins monitoring on price and video verification at a 33-second measured response; Frontpoint's monitoring through Rapid Response centres is UL-listed but priced at the top of the DIY market.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Installation
Frontpoint is DIY with pre-configured kits; Vivint is professionally installed by Vivint technicians in 2 to 4 hours, included with an agreement.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Contract and Guarantee
Frontpoint wins contract flexibility with month-to-month service after 30 days when equipment is paid upfront, although its online checkout defaults to a 3-year agreement; Vivint requires 36 months with financed equipment and offers 3-day rescission against Frontpoint's 30-day return.
Vivint vs Frontpoint: Cameras and Smart Home
Vivint wins cameras with Smart Deter and the Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3; Frontpoint matches Vivint on Z-Wave automation through Alarm.com, so smart home control is close while camera deterrence is Vivint's advantage.
Choose Vivint or Frontpoint: 3 Cases Each
Choose Vivint in the 3 cases listed first and Frontpoint in the 3 cases listed second.
Choose Vivint when:
- You want a lower monthly rate on a professionally installed system.
- You want cameras with on-device deterrence.
- You want installation and training included.
Choose Frontpoint when: 1) You want Z-Wave automation on a system you install yourself. 2) You will pay equipment upfront and want month-to-month service. 3) You want a 30-day return window instead of 3 days.
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