Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
SONOFF vs Vivint
SONOFF vs Vivint: the differences
| Compare |  SONOFF |  Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €6.16 | $199.99 |
| Warranty | 2 yearsHigher | 1 year |
| Markets | AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, GB, USCovers more | US |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99 |
Same on both: Hub required (Yes), Local control (Yes), Energy reporting (Yes).
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Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Warranty is higher at SONOFF: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only SONOFF offers Email.
- Support channels: only Vivint offers Phone.
- Device types: only SONOFF offers Trv, Blinds.
- Protocols: only SONOFF offers Matter, Thread, Zigbee.
- Ecosystems: only SONOFF offers Alexa, Homekit, Matter.
- Markets: only SONOFF offers AT, BE, BG.
Our verdict on each
SONOFF
SONOFF suits people building a wired or Zigbee home on a tight budget who want cameras and climate gear that keep working without a subscription. Entry costs start at €6.16, the range is Matter certified, and local storage holds recordings for 90 days. The catch is support, which runs on email and help centre only.
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 | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherEntry price runs €6.16 and a camera sits at €20.47, with monitoring and contracts at 0 months, well under the €61.38 typical band. | 8.2Entry price of $199.99 ranks 65 of 70, while monitoring at $24.99 to $44.99 ranks higher. |
| Offer | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. | 9.2HigherA single system covers alarm, camera and smart lock, and the app adds energy reporting on top. |
| Trust | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. | 9.1A monitored service with a 1 year warranty, 30 days money back and phone support. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 35 of 83 | 19 of 83 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 17 of 53 | 15 of 53 |
| Home alarm systems | 16 of 35 | 12 of 35 |
| Smart thermostats | 10 of 24 | 7 of 24 |
Licences and countries
| Country | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | United States |
A third option
SmartWings has warranty at 3 years, against 2 years for SONOFF and 1 year for Vivint.
SmartWings reviewWhat we checked
SONOFF
- sonoff.tech: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Vivint
- vivint.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Hub, Sensor, Thermostat, Lighting, Plug |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fiCovers more | Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | |
| Legal entity | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd | Vivint LLC |
| Headquarters | China | United States |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €20.47 | $199.99 |
| Monitoring per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99 |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 to 60 months |
| Products | Camera, Alarm | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Local storage | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Diy | Monitored |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free features | 1080P live view, free motion detection push alerts, local microSD (TF) recording up to 128GB, two-way audio, sleep mode, privacy zones and RTSP; CAM-C44HE adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee | Not confirmed |
| Top resolution | 4k | 4k |
| Power source | Wired | Wired, PoeCovers more |
| Recording retention | 90 daysHigher | 10 days |
| Installation required | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SONOFF | Vivint | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $24.99 to $44.99highest quarter | $0 |
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 1 yearlowest quarter | 2 years |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
SONOFF
Pros
- Matter certified gear across thermostat, trv and lighting, covering matter, thread and zigbee so it fits most existing setups
- Entry prices from €6.16 and cameras from €20.47
- Free features include local AI detection, security modes, privacy zones and RTSP with no monthly fee
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms stay self-served
- A hub is required for the Zigbee thermostat, adding cost to a heating setup
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or live chat line
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
SONOFF
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who already run a Matter or Zigbee home
- People who want camera recording on a card rather than a cloud subscription
- Builders covering lighting, plugs, sensors, blinds and climate from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional alarm monitoring, which Sonoff does not sell
- Households on Z-Wave, a protocol outside the matter, thread and zigbee list
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, since email and help centre is the limit
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.
Current offers
SONOFF
Current offer
Discount code
10% OFF your first order for newsletter subscribers: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup; valid for 30 days; one-time use per customer; cannot be combined with other offers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | SONOFF | Vivint |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Croatia | Yes | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | No |
| Czechia | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Estonia | Yes | No |
8 of 29 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
SONOFF
What does SONOFF hardware cost to get started?+
Entry prices run €6.16 across the range, and a security camera starts at €20.47. There is no separate hardware bundle to buy, so the outlay is the device itself plus a hub if the product needs one.
Is there a monthly subscription or contract?+
No. Contract length is 0 months, and local card recording, AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP are listed as free features. The dual-lens hub camera adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee attached.
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.