Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
SimpliSafe Home Security vs Vivint
SimpliSafe Home Security vs Vivint: the differences
| Compare |  SimpliSafe Home Security |  Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 to 60 months |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 30 daysHigher | 10 days |
| Installation required | No | YesHas it |
| Price | Not confirmed | $199.99 |
| Monitoring per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99 |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Products (Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarm), Professional monitoring (Yes).
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Key differences
- SimpliSafe Home Security scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Recording retention is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 30 days vs 10 days.
- Installation required: only Vivint.
- Money-back period is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Pricing model: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Diy.
- Power source: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Battery, Solar.
- Power source: only Vivint offers Poe.
- Ecosystems: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Alexa.
Our verdict on each
SimpliSafe Home Security
SimpliSafe Home Security suits households wanting a self-installed alarm with optional professional monitoring and no minimum term, since contracts run 0 months. Cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock and smoke alarms share the system, and you get 60 days to send a kit back, though doorbell clips are not end to end encrypted.
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 | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherContract terms of 0 months mean hardware is bought at entry with no minimum term to serve. | 8.2Entry price of $199.99 ranks 65 of 70, while monitoring at $24.99 to $44.99 ranks higher. |
| Offer | 9.160 days to send a kit back, with alarm, camera and smart lock covered under a single account. | 9.2HigherA single system covers alarm, camera and smart lock, and the app adds energy reporting on top. |
| Trust | 9.7HigherA company founded in 2006 trading as SimpliSafe, Inc., with support on phone and help centre. | 9.1A monitored service with a 1 year warranty, 30 days money back and phone support. |
By the numbers
| Fact | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 to 60 months |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 30 days | 10 days |
If neither fits
AOSU has recording retention at 120 days, against 30 days for SimpliSafe Home Security and 10 days for Vivint.
AOSU reviewHow they place
| Ranking | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 11 of 83 | 19 of 83 |
| Video doorbells | 11 of 54 | 19 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 9 of 43 | 18 of 43 |
| Home alarm systems | 7 of 35 | 12 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy, MonitoredCovers more | Monitored |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar | Wired, Poe |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, GoogleCovers more | |
| Legal entity | SimpliSafe, Inc. | Vivint LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2006 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Not confirmed | Hub, Sensor, Thermostat, Lighting, Plug |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $199.99 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | Wi fi |
| Hub required | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Local control | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Energy reporting | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99 |
| Warranty | Not confirmed | 1 year |
| Markets | Not confirmed | US |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $199.99highest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99highest quarter | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 to 60 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 30 daysat the median | 10 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
SimpliSafe Home Security
Pros
- Nothing forces a minimum term: contract terms run 0 months, so hardware you have paid for is not tied to a renewal.
- You choose the commitment: diy and monitored covers self-installed kits and monitored systems, so the alarm can start on its own.
- Camera power runs to battery, wired and solar, so outdoor units can sit where a socket is awkward.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so live chat and email are not listed routes for setting up a system.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, so an older incident cannot be reviewed beyond that window.
- Camera resolution on the video doorbell stops at 2k, so fine detail at the doorstep is limited.
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
SimpliSafe Home Security
Who it suits
- Self-installers who want a single kit rather than separate apps, since diy and monitored covers self-installed kits and monitored systems.
- Households already running alexa and google for voice control and looking for alarm, cameras and doorbell in one system.
- Owners wary of long terms, since contract terms run 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households that want a personal alarm as well as home kit: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Buyers after a single camera or a video doorbell with no alarm in mind: Annke keeps to camera and video doorbell, which makes the shortlist shorter.
- Smart home buyers who want locks, smoke alarms and doorbells first: camera, smart lock and smoke alarm carries no alarm system, so the alarm has to come from elsewhere.
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.
Country by country
| Country | SimpliSafe Home Security | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
SimpliSafe Home Security
Does SimpliSafe Home Security lock you into a contract?+
Nothing forces a minimum term here: contract terms run 0 months. That is the difference that shows up at renewal, because a minimum agreement would keep billing after you stopped adding anything. The kit stays yours either way, and professional monitoring is a choice you can make later rather than a condition of the hardware.
What can I put in a SimpliSafe Home Security system?+
alarm, camera and smart lock covers the alarm kit, cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock and a smoke alarm, so a single account can hold the front door and the alarm panel together. The Home Security Superstore also sells an alarm, camera, video doorbell and smart lock range, so it is a fair comparison if the alarm is the starting point.
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.
Other options to compare
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