Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Vivint
Where Aqara and Vivint differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0Lower | $24.99 to $44.99 |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 to 60 months |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 10 daysHigher |
| Installation required | No | YesHas it |
| Price | Not confirmed | $199.99 |
| Cloud plan per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Monitoring per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $24.99 to $44.99.
- Products: only Vivint offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only Vivint.
- Recording retention is higher at Vivint: 10 days vs 7 days.
- Installation required: only Vivint.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only Vivint offers Phone.
- Pricing model: only Aqara offers Diy.
- Pricing model: only Vivint offers Monitored.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits households that want cameras, doorbells, locks and home sensors in the same system without a recurring bill. Monitoring costs $0, local storage keeps footage on your own hardware, and nothing is locked into a minimum term, which makes it a strong pick for self installers put off by subscriptions.
Vivint
Vivint suits households that want a monitored system sold, installed and maintained as a single package rather than a box of self installed cameras. It scores 8.8 overall, and the trade to weigh is a higher entry price and a contract term against professional monitoring on every device.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 8.2Entry price of $199.99 ranks 65 of 70, while monitoring at $24.99 to $44.99 ranks higher. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.2HigherA single system covers alarm, camera and smart lock, and the app adds energy reporting on top. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.1HigherA monitored service with a 1 year warranty, 30 days money back and phone support. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Aqara | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 12 of 83 | 19 of 83 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 11 of 53 | 15 of 53 |
| Video doorbells | 12 of 54 | 19 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 10 of 43 | 18 of 43 |
| Smart thermostats | 4 of 24 | 7 of 24 |
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Monitored |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, PoeCovers more | Wired, Poe |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Vivint LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Phone, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Hub, Sensor, Thermostat, Lighting, Plug |
| Price from | $17.99Lower | $199.99 |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fiCovers more | Wi fi |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | Yes | Yes |
| Local control | Yes | Yes |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription per month | $0Lower | $24.99 to $44.99 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Markets | AE, IL, TR, EU, GB, MY, LK, JP, IN, NP, ID, PH, SG, KH, BN, MV, MM, VN, US, CA, UY, AR, CL, BR, GT, DO, MX, CR, TTCovers more | US |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Vivint | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $199.99highest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $24.99 to $44.99highest quarter | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 to 60 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 10 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Nothing recurs: monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the kit costs what it costs on the shelf.
- Footage can stay at home, since local storage is supported, with the cloud holding event clips for 7 days as a backstop.
- The range spans camera, video doorbell and smart lock, which reaches further than Annke's camera and video doorbell for anyone building out a whole home.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts land on the household rather than a response desk.
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no staffed channel listed for a hub that will not pair.
- A hub is required, so the entry outlay is more than the sticker price of the cheapest device in the range.
Vivint
Pros
- Professional monitoring is included rather than sold as an add on, and the plan also supports local storage with video kept for 10 days.
- A single plan spans alarm, camera and smart lock, so cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock, an alarm and a smoke alarm run on the same account.
- The recurring fee of $24.99 to $44.99 places Vivint at 46 of 51 on monthly cost, which reads well for a monitored service.
Cons
- The entry figure of $199.99 ranks 65 of 70, far above the $19.99 Annke charges and the $13.95 The Home Security Superstore charges for a single device.
- Contract terms run 0 to 60 months, so the $24.99 to $44.99 monitoring fee keeps going well past the point where a cheaper kit would have paid for itself.
- The service sells in the US only, which closes it off for buyers in other countries.
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- Households covering cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms without a monthly monitoring fee, since monitoring is $0.
- Self installers, because installation is not required and the model is diy.
- Automation builders working across matter, thread and zigbee who want local control and a hub they own.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for shoppers who want an alarm panel or personal alarm in the same basket: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Not for buyers whose list is only cameras and doorbells, since Annke's camera and video doorbell is a shorter, more focused range to browse.
Vivint
Who it suits
- Households that want professional monitoring and installation handled rather than self installed.
- People fitting out a whole home at once, since one account covers alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Owners who already run Google in the home, as the range works with google.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers outside the US, where the service is not offered.
- Shoppers on a tight entry budget, since Annke at $19.99 and Aqara at £36.98 both start lower than $199.99.
- Renters who may move during the term, because contract terms run 0 to 60 months.
Questions about each
Aqara
How much does Aqara charge for monitoring each month?+
Nothing. Monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the only cost is the hardware itself. 7 days free cloud event clips are included at no charge, which is enough to check recent activity on a doorbell or camera. Renewal is not a concern either, because contracts run 0 months.
Is there a contract or minimum term to sign up for?+
No. Contracts run 0 months, so there is no minimum term and nothing that renews on its own. Aqara ranks 1 on contract length among 60 brands, which puts it at the front of the field for anyone who wants to walk away without notice.
Vivint
What does a Vivint system cost to begin with?+
The introductory figure for the Vivint security plan is $199.99. After that, the recurring monitoring charge is $24.99 to $44.99 a month, and installation is required, so the real outlay is the entry figure plus the monthly fee for as long as the system stays in the house. Contract terms run 0 to 60 months, which sets how long that addition continues.
Is there a contract, and how long does it run?+
Contract terms run 0 to 60 months, spanning a short arrangement at one end and a multi year tie in at the other. That length decides how much of the $24.99 to $44.99 monitoring fee you pay in total, so the term matters more than the entry figure of $199.99 for anyone planning to move within a few years.