Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Vivint vs X-Sense
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Vivint | X-Sense ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $14.99Lower |
| Monitoring per month | $24.99 to $44.99 | $4.16Lower |
| Minimum contract | 0 to 60 months | 0 months |
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more | Alarm, Smoke alarm |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Free features | Not confirmed | App and email alerts on Free plan |
| Top resolution | 4k | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 10 days | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring countries | Not confirmed | United States |
Same on both: Professional monitoring (Yes), Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- X-Sense scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Price is lower at X-Sense: $14.99 vs $199.99.
- Monitoring per month is lower at X-Sense: $4.16 vs $24.99 to $44.99.
- Products: only Vivint offers Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell.
- Support channels: only X-Sense offers Email.
- Ecosystems: only Vivint offers Google.
- Ecosystems: only X-Sense offers Alexa.
Our verdict on each
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.
X-Sense
X-Sense suits US homeowners who want professional monitoring without a contract tying them to a single supplier. The monitored plan runs at $4.16 a month, hardware starts at $14.99, and the contract term is 0 months, so the recurring cost is low and leaving is simple.
Score breakdown
| Area | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Entry price of $199.99 ranks 65 of 70, while monitoring at $24.99 to $44.99 ranks higher. | 9.2HigherEntry price of $14.99 and monitoring of $4.16 a month, with position 5 of 70 brands compared on price. |
| Offer | 9.2A single system covers alarm, camera and smart lock, and the app adds energy reporting on top. | 9.3HigherFree plan app and email alerts, professional monitoring included, and a contract term of 0 months with no minimum to serve. |
| Trust | 9.1A monitored service with a 1 year warranty, 30 days money back and phone support. | 9.1Run by X-SENSE USA LLC from US, with support on email, phone and help centre and a money back window of 30 days. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Home alarm systems | 12 of 35 | 3 of 35 |
What each covers
| Products | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | No |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monitored | Monitored |
| Power source | Wired, Poe | Not confirmed |
| Ecosystems | Alexa | |
| Legal entity | Vivint LLC | X-SENSE USA LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Hub, Sensor, Thermostat, Lighting, Plug | Not confirmed |
| Price from | $199.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | $24.99 to $44.99 | Not confirmed |
| Warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| Markets | US | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Vivint | X-Sense | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99highest quarter | $14.99lowest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $24.99 to $44.99highest quarter | $4.16highest quarter | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 to 60 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 10 dayslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
X-Sense
Pros
- Professional monitoring is included, and the contract term is 0 months, so you can leave without a tie-in.
- The Free plan still sends app and email alerts, so alerts are not locked behind a paid subscription.
- Entry price of $14.99 sits at position 5 of 70 brands compared, toward the cheaper end.
Cons
- Monitoring is a single market: US.
- The range is narrower than SimpliSafe, comparing alarm and smoke alarm with alarm, camera and video doorbell.
- No term discount is on offer, because the contract term is 0 months.
Who each suits
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.
X-Sense
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want professional monitoring on a plan with no contract term, given 0 months.
- Households that want smoke alarm cover from the same supplier, since the range covers alarm and smoke alarm.
- Alexa households, since the listed ecosystem is alexa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want cameras or a video doorbell in the same range, where SimpliSafe covers more product types than alarm and smoke alarm.
- Shoppers outside the US, since monitoring runs in US only.
Current offers
X-Sense
Current offer
Discount code
10% off entire order with code WELCOME10: 10%
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Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Vivint | X-Sense |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
X-Sense
How much does X-Sense cost to run each month?+
The monitored plan adds $4.16 a month on top of the hardware you already own, and the contract term is 0 months, so nothing has to be paid to leave. On monitoring cost alone the brand sits at position 38 of 51 brands compared, a middle position rather than the lowest on the list.
Is there a contract to sign up to?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is no minimum commitment to serve and nothing to cancel at the end of a term. That places the brand at position 1 of 60 brands compared on contract length, at the short end of the table. The monthly monitoring fee is the only recurring cost listed.