Compare SimpliSafe vs. Vivint Home Security Systems

Tenants who live in a rental property also need to keep their homes safe from break-ins but signing a contract or wiring their rental could be out of the question. Luckily, several companies cater to this group. We compare two of them, SimpliSafe vs. Vivint.

We discuss what each company has to offer and what makes one the better choice. Both companies provide contract-free home monitoring, modern hardware, and competitive pricing. So, which is the right choice? Let’s see what happens when we compare SimpliSafe vs. Vivint.

Established in Boston, Mass., SimpliSafe is a home security provider founded by students from Harvard Business School. The group was looking for a way to bring home monitoring to renters who couldn’t get a regular monitoring contract.

SimpliSafe provides wireless systems, cameras, and monitoring services to residential and commercial properties in the United States. Customers can purchase the products online or at participating retailers.

SimpliSafe has an easy to navigate webpage through which customers can build or buy a security system and will get free shipping, a 60-day money back guarantee, and a three-year full product warranty.

Vivint is also a provider of home security systems. The company was established in 1999 and offers services to the U.S. and Canada. Vivint, headquartered in Provo, Utah, has over one million customers and was listed as one of the most innovative companies in 2017.

Vivint provides home security, energy management, home automation, local cloud storage, and high-speed internet. The company offers free professional installation, does not charge an activation fee, and offers a lifetime warranty.

Before choosing a home security provider, be sure to do your research and get quotes from all the companies on your list.

To help you decide which company is right for you, we compared equipment, the type of monitoring available from each provider, their reputation with customers and in the industry, the type of contract and price, and the technology integrated to the system.

To learn more about the top-rated home security providers, check out our reviews of the best companies.

SimpliSafe and Vivint are great companies. Comparatively, SimpliSafe is the most affordable, and Vivint is the most versatile.

Both Vivint and SimpliSafe offer wireless systems that promise to help keep your home safe using indoor and outdoor cameras, motion sensors, keypads, and state-of-the-art touchscreens.

Environmental sensors are also available to monitor and warn in the event there’s smoke, carbon monoxide, fire, or a flood. Both systems are easy to use and have Crash and Smash protection that will alert the authorities even if an intruder destroys the keypad.

SimpliSafe and Vivint’s systems are installed wirelessly and are connected to a cellular network. Both providers cover the basic motion detectors and sensors for windows and doors.

They both offer environmental protection and let customers access their systems remotely via mobile apps. Customers can also install indoor and outdoor cameras for video surveillance.

There is a 24/7 professional monitoring service available for both providers that will notify the proper authorities.

The systems have a few differences, too.

Vivint offers more devices than SimpliSafe, but the latter manufactures all its devices. Vivint requires professional installation, while SimpliSafe customers must install the equipment themselves.

Vivint is a bit more advanced. The company’s system has voice recognition, and instead of a basic keypad like the one form SimpliSafe, Vivint offers a 7″ touchscreen, and the system can integrate products by Nest Labs.

Vivint offers a lifetime warranty on its hardware, while SimpliSafe provides a three-year warranty.

When it comes to the equipment available, both companies offer easy to use devices, with Vivint offering a touchscreen panel that is a more high-end than SimpliSafe’s.

The hardware provided by this company is reportedly manufactured by Honeywell and GE, and it’s also available with no up-front costs if customers sign a service agreement and finance the equipment for up to 60 months (two years more than the industry average) with no down payment.

SimpliSafe’s equipment is available for purchase online with free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee. SimpliSafe manufactures its own devices. Customers can also acquire the equipment at select electronics stores.

Also, critical when purchasing equipment is checking the providers’ customer satisfaction and response times. Generally, monitoring companies start the clock when an alarm is triggered, and it stops once the authorities are contacted.

National response time averages are influenced by the quality of the security system, the efficiency of the monitoring center, and protocols established by the police.

The sensors and devices available from SimpliSafe and Vivint are designed to offer the same level of protection. Vivint’s equipment is installed by a company technician at no additional cost to the consumer, and SimpliSafe’s is installed by the consumer.

Available form SimpliSafe are door entry sensors, window entry sensors, glass break sensors, motion detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, water leak sensors, and water freeze sensors. The company also offers a pushbutton control panel, keychain remote control, and indoor video cameras.

Vivint’s available sensors include entry sensors, garage door sensors, glass break sensors, motion detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke and heat sensors, water leak/flood sensors, and freeze sensors.

Customers can control the sensors using a touchscreen control panel that “learns,” two-way voice for emergencies, a key fob with arm/disarm, panic and custom button, a panic button, and a panic pendant.

Also available are fixed indoor cameras, pan and tilt indoor and outdoor cameras, and doorbell cameras with voice and mobile access. Vivint goes a step further to offer home automation with keypad door locks, remote light control, and remote thermostat control.

Customers who require additional monitoring should choose Vivint, as the company offers outdoor surveillance cameras, something that SimpliSafe does not.

Both providers, however, have panic buttons available, but Vivint’s can be programmed to include extra functions. These life accessories are especially helpful to the elderly, disabled, or people with certain diseases or ailments.

Researching how security threats are handled is an essential element when choosing a home security monitoring provider.

A monitoring system works by alerting the user or monitoring center when a motion sensor is activated, a door or window sensor connection is interrupted, or an environmental sensor detects an irregularity.

Once the alarm is triggered the monitoring facility confirms the event and contacts the appropriate authorities.

The time it takes to complete the process varies and is influenced by many variables, among which are the quality of the equipment, local protocols, and even the time of day. The national average is seven minutes.

SimpliSafe monitoring center was established in 1975 and has provided reliable alarm response to millions of customers since. Multiple centers provide 24/7 professional UL Certified alarm monitoring and operate via fiber optic data lines that provide redundancy and handle over 100,000 alarm signals a year.

Failsafes also include uninterruptible power supplies and backup gas generators, and remote backup sites. The process from the time the alarm is triggered to when the authorities are contacted takes SimpliSafe about 10 seconds. Currently, SimpliSafe is only available in the United States.

Vivint’s monitoring centers in Provo, Utah and Eagan, Minnesota provide 24-7 professional monitoring to more than 1.2 million customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Vivint offers services through a cloud-based platform that support both cell radio and landlines to send alerts.

Vivint’s state-of-the-art monitoring center received The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) Monitoring Center of the Year award for 2017. The company first earned the distinction in 2012. Vivint boast a response time of 15 seconds. The second fastest time in the industry.

Both Vivint and SimpliSafe offer contract free home security monitoring services and have great equipment that let renters protect their family and property.

With SimpliSafe, there is no installation or activation fee. Customers must install the ready to use system that is purchased online or at a participating retailer.

The company offers packages or customers can custom build their own system. SimpliSafe provides five packages. (1) The Foundation can be purchased for $229, and it includes the base station, one keypad, an entry sensor to cover the main door, and a motion sensor. This system is perfect for a small apartment. (2) The Essentials includes the base station and keypad plus three entry sensors and a motion sensor. It is available for $259. (3) The Hearth offers more protection for $375.

The system comes with its base and keypad plus a key fob, three entry sensors, a motion sensor, a 105dB siren, and a smoke detector. The next two systems are (4) the Knox for $449, and at top of the line, (5) the Haven for $489.

Each package has its base, keypad, smoke detector, and 105dB siren. The Knox has 6 entry sensors to the Haven’s 4. The Haven also includes a panic button, and sensors for water and freeze. Customer can also buy refurbished systems at a fraction of the cost or add sensors to any package.

SimpliSafe offers two monitoring plans, the Standard for $14.99 and the Interactive for $24.99 a month. Both feature 24/7 live monitoring and a cellular connection to emergency responders. The Interactive plan adds mobile alerts and the ability to arm and disarm the security system remotely.

Vivint offers two plans, the Smart Home for $39.99 and the Smart Home Video for $49.99.

If the system is financed, there will be an added fee to the monthly charge. The monthly fee will depend on the type of system selected. The minimum equipment purchase to qualify for financing is $549.99.

The company’s most popular equipment is priced as follows: Doorbell Camera ($199.99), Element Thermostat ($149.99), Ping Camera ($199.99), Outdoor Camera ($199.99), and Smart Drive ($249.99). Customers who want additional information, need to contact Vivint for a free quote.

With technology playing such a vital role in our day-to-day life, home security follows suit by integrating such advances into monitoring devices and monitoring centers. Nevertheless, not all home security monitoring companies offer smart home or automation technology, as is the case in this comparison.

Although both SimpliSafe and Vivint allow a type of event-triggered automation and require unique user codes, Vivint takes the lead with extras that SimpliSafe customers won’t have.

In addition to being compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and Z-Wave, Vivint’s home automation technology allows customers to control lighting, temperature, and appliances when they are away from home.

Clients can also lock and unlock doors remotely, arm and disarm their system and check their live surveillance feed. They also have access to a history log.

SimpliSafe falls behind in this category. Its system is compatible with Google Home and more recently with Amazon Alexa. While customers also have access to their live surveillance feed through SimpliSafe, there is no home automation apart from customers being able to control their home’s thermostat.

Both companies give users mobile access through an application available to both Android and iPhone users and send alerts by text or email when a sensor is triggered, or the alarm goes off.

Many of Vivint’s customer reviews are positive regarding the purchase experience and installation. Additionally, in October 2017, the company earned the highest rank in a home security customer satisfaction study conducted by a leading marketing information services company.

Vivint is accredited by Consumer Affairs and has earned a 4-star rating. However, the business holds a C+ rating with the BBB and has several Government Actions regarding alleged misrepresentations in door to door solicitations.

SimpliSafe’s reviews about the equipment and purchasing experience are overall good. Some customers have pointed out that at times, it is difficult to talk to customer service representatives.

This could be likely related to the company’s popularity and could be solved by adding more customer support agents. Moreover, SimpliSafe’s system has been recently redesigned and is drawing very positive reviews.

SimpliSafe is a Better Business Bureau accredited business and holds an A+ rating with the organization. Consumer Affairs rates the provider with 1.5 stars, based on 37 ratings that were submitted in 2017.

Remember to do your research and talk to your friends about which security system they use. Also, keep in mind that a negative review isn’t necessarily cause for concern.

It’s important to learn how to distinguish an honest review from a fake one. This great piece by The New York Times is a great tool for that.

SimpliSafe and Vivint are members of The Monitoring Association (TMA), formerly the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), an organization that represents monitoring companies before the federal and local government and other authorities that have jurisdiction over the industry.

Additionally, both provides hold Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certifications. This entity is charged with ensuring all devices are manufactured following strict safety measures. Also, Vivint is a member of the Electronic Security Association in charge of technical and management training, and government advocacy.