Comparison by an independent Vivint Authorized Dealer
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Which Home Security System Is Better in 2026?
SimpliSafe beats Vivint on upfront cost, contract freedom, and return window (60 days versus 3), while Vivint beats SimpliSafe on camera quality, professional installation, and smart home control; SimpliSafe fits DIY buyers on a budget, and Vivint fits buyers who want a technician-installed system that runs the whole house. SimpliSafe is a DIY home security system that sells wireless starter kits with no-contract monitoring and a 60-day return window; 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 SimpliSafe: Shared Attributes Compared
Vivint and SimpliSafe 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 | SimpliSafe |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $24.99 to $44.99 ($29.99 no contract) | $19.99 to $29.99: Standard $19.99; Pro (video and app control) $29.99; self-monitoring with recordings $9.99 |
| Equipment | $199.99 to $749.99+; devices $50 to $399.99 | $229 to $500: starter kits $229 to about $500 depending on sensors and cameras |
| Installation | Professional by Vivint technicians, 2 to 4 hours, included with agreement ($199 no contract) | DIY (professional installation available for a fee) |
| Contract | 36 months with financed equipment; month to month if paid upfront | None; month to month |
| Guarantee | 3-day right of rescission | 60-day money-back return |
| Cameras | Doorbell Camera Pro, Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3, Indoor Camera Pro; Smart Deter | Indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras, 1080p |
| Smart home | Google Home, Alexa, Z-Wave; Vivint hub, locks, thermostat, garage | Alexa and Google Assistant; limited third-party devices |
| Alarm response | 33-second average (Security.org 2026) | UL-listed monitoring; no published response-time test in the sources used |
Sources: security.org/home-security-systems/simplisafe/; safewise.com/home-security-systems/simplisafe-vs-vivint/; Vivint figures from Security.org, SafeWise, and support.vivint.com.
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Which Costs Less?
SimpliSafe costs less than Vivint at every level: starter kits from $229 against Vivint's $199.99 starter plus required professional installation, and monitoring at $19.99 to $29.99 against Vivint's $24.99 to $44.99, with no contract.
Over 36 months the gap narrows for camera systems because Vivint's $44.99 HomeProtect Pro plan includes video verification that SimpliSafe charges for in its $29.99 Pro plan, but SimpliSafe remains cheaper in total.
Lowest 36-month totals at list prices: Vivint $1099.63 ($199.99 starter equipment plus 36 months at $24.99); SimpliSafe $948.64 ($229 equipment plus 36 months at $19.99). The Vivint pricing page shows larger configurations.
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Monitoring
Vivint wins monitoring on features, with video verification and a 33-second measured response, while SimpliSafe wins on price and flexibility, with UL-listed monitoring from $19.99 that can be cancelled any month.
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Installation
SimpliSafe is DIY, with most kits installed in under an hour and professional installation available for a fee; Vivint is installed only by Vivint technicians in 2 to 4 hours, which costs nothing with an agreement and $199 without.
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Contract and Guarantee
SimpliSafe wins contract and guarantee: no contract at all and a 60-day return window, against Vivint's 36-month agreement with financed equipment and 3-day rescission.
Vivint vs SimpliSafe: Cameras and Smart Home
Vivint wins cameras and smart home: Security.org found Vivint camera clarity among the best tested, its Outdoor Camera Pro adds Smart Deter, and the Smart Hub runs Z-Wave locks and thermostat; SimpliSafe's 1080p cameras and Alexa and Google links cover basics without automation.
Choose Vivint or SimpliSafe: 3 Cases Each
Choose Vivint in the 3 cases listed first and SimpliSafe in the 3 cases listed second.
Choose Vivint when:
- You want professional installation and never want to mount a sensor.
- You want the best camera image quality and on-camera deterrence.
- You want locks, thermostat, and garage automated from the security app.
Choose SimpliSafe when: 1) You want the lowest 3-year total and no contract. 2) You rent and may move within a year. 3) You want a 60-day window to return the whole system.
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