Vivint vs ADT (2026): Which Home Security System Should You Get?

I've done full reviews on both the Vivint and ADT home security systems. Today I'm putting them side by side to help you figure out which one is the better fit.

Here's the short version: both are top-tier, professionally installed home security systems with 24/7 monitoring, cameras, and smart home automation. But they approach things differently. ADT partners with Google Nest for cameras and offers shorter contracts with more affordable equipment. Vivint makes its own proprietary equipment that's more advanced, particularly when it comes to cameras and automation, but you'll pay more for it.

After living with both systems, I think most people will be happier with ADT. It gives you great security and solid smart home features at a lower price point. But if you want the absolute best camera technology and the most refined smart home experience, Vivint is worth the extra cost.

Here's the full breakdown.

Vivint vs ADT At A Glance

Feature	ADT	Vivint
Monthly monitoring	$42.99 - $48.99/mo	$29.99 - $49.99/mo
Upfront equipment cost	$250 - $800	$199 - $1,000+
Installation	Professional	Professional
Contract length	12 months (upfront) / 36 months (financed)	Month-to-month (upfront) / up to 60 months (financed)
Cameras	Google Nest	Proprietary Vivint
Cameras work after canceling?	Yes (via Google Home app)	No (app access lost)
Smart home automation	Yes (Z-Wave)	Yes (Z-Wave)
Touchscreen panel	Yes (keypad-style hub)	Yes (7-inch tablet)
Monitoring centers	6 in the U.S.	2 in the U.S.
Cellular backup	Yes	Yes
Two-way voice on panel	Yes	Yes

What Both Home Security Systems Came With

My ADT system came with a touchscreen panel (the newer keypad-style hub), sensors for doors and windows, a motion sensor, a glass break sensor, a Google Nest doorbell camera, and a Nest outdoor camera. I also got a key fob remote so I can arm and disarm without pulling out my phone.

My Vivint system came with the 7-inch touchscreen panel, door and window sensors, a glass break sensor, a motion sensor, a doorbell camera, the outdoor camera with the floodlight attachment, an automatic door lock, and a Nest thermostat. I went all out with Vivint to really put it through its paces.

Both systems are professionally installed and monitored 24/7 for police, fire, and medical emergencies. Both use cellular connections, so even if your power or internet goes down, the system stays connected to the monitoring center. And both panels have two-way voice, meaning a monitoring agent can communicate directly through the keypad during an emergency. If there's a break-in and you can't reach your phone, someone at the monitoring center can still hear what's going on and dispatch help.

Both ADT and Vivint can also take over existing hardwired sensors from other security companies. If you moved into a house that already has wired sensors from a previous system, the installer can often integrate those. That can save you a real chunk of money on equipment since you're not buying every sensor from scratch.

ADT vs Vivint Security Equipment Comparison

On paper, the equipment lineups are similar. Both come with door/window sensors, motion sensors, glass break sensors, smart locks, indoor and outdoor cameras, and video doorbells. Both systems also support smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood sensors, and panic buttons as add-ons.

Here's what I noticed side by side:

Component	ADT	Vivint
Touchscreen panel	Yes (keypad built into hub)	Yes (7-inch tablet-style)
Door/window sensors	Yes	Yes
Motion sensor	Yes	Yes
Glass break sensor	Yes	Yes
Key fob remote	Yes	No
Smart lock	Yes	Yes
Indoor camera	Yes (Nest Cam)	Yes (Vivint Indoor)
Video doorbell	Yes (Nest Doorbell)	Yes (Vivint Doorbell)
Outdoor camera	Yes (Nest Cam Outdoor)	Yes (Vivint Outdoor Pro)
Smoke/CO monitor	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

The big difference is where the equipment comes from. ADT partners with Google, so all cameras are Nest cameras. Vivint designs and manufactures their own proprietary equipment. Both approaches have trade-offs that I'll get into below.

One thing I prefer about ADT's setup: you get a key fob remote. It sounds minor, but being able to arm and disarm the system with a button on your keychain is genuinely convenient. Vivint doesn't offer one, so you're either using the touchscreen panel or the app.

On the flip side, Vivint's touchscreen panel is more capable. It's a full 7-inch tablet that lets you view camera feeds, control smart home devices, and manage automations directly from the panel. ADT's newer hub has a built-in numeric keypad but no touchscreen display for viewing cameras. For camera feeds with ADT, you're using the ADT+ app on your phone.

ADT vs Vivint Camera Comparison

This is where the two systems start to feel really different. Both offer HD video, night vision, two-way talk, motion alerts, and clip-based recording out of the box. You can pull up live feeds from either app and get notifications when something triggers. But the similarities mostly stop there.

ADT Cameras (Google Nest)

ADT uses Google Nest cameras across the board. The Nest Doorbell, Nest Cam Indoor, and Nest Cam Outdoor are all solid cameras with clean video quality and reliable motion detection.

What I really like about the ADT cameras is that they're non-proprietary. Since they're Google Nest products, if you ever cancel ADT monitoring, you just download the Google Home app and keep using your cameras for free. You don't lose your investment. That's a big deal if you're not sure whether you'll stick with ADT long-term or if you think you might move and want to take your cameras with you without paying for monitoring.

The Nest cameras also run on battery in addition to being plugged in. If you have a shed out back or a spot without a nearby outlet, you can charge up the camera and mount it there without running wires. That flexibility is something Vivint's cameras don't offer since they need to be plugged in at all times.

If you want 24/7 continuous recording with ADT, that's an extra $10 per month through the Google Home subscription. Otherwise, the cameras record motion-triggered clips.

The one downside I noticed: ADT uses two separate apps. The ADT+ app handles system arming, disarming, and smart home controls. But if you want to download recorded video or access Nest-specific features, you need the Google Home app. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's a little annoying. I'd expect a company as large as ADT to have everything under one app.

Another limitation: if your Wi-Fi goes down, the Nest cameras will only record up to one hour before they stop. That's something to keep in mind if you live in an area with unreliable internet.

Vivint Cameras

Vivint's cameras are on another level when it comes to features. The video quality is noticeably sharper, and the cameras use AI to distinguish between people, animals, packages, and vehicles. That means fewer false alerts and more relevant notifications. When someone walks up to your front door, the camera tells you it's a person. When a neighborhood cat wanders through, it doesn't blow up your phone.

Vivint's cameras also support Power over Ethernet (PoE), which means you can plug them directly into your router for a more stable connection and better video quality. If you've dealt with wireless cameras that keep buffering or disconnecting, PoE eliminates that problem entirely.

And then there's deter mode, which is probably my favorite camera feature I've tested on any system. When motion is detected, the camera plays a loud whistling sound, the LED ring around the lens lights up, and if you have the floodlight attachment, it blasts on and illuminates your entire yard. It's designed to let the person know they're being recorded, and it works. Most cameras just watch and record. Vivint's cameras actually try to prevent things from happening. I haven't seen another company do this as well.

If your Wi-Fi goes down, Vivint's cameras keep recording and send the footage to your keypad. You won't have remote access through the app, but the cameras don't just stop working. That's a real advantage over the Nest cameras, which have that one-hour limitation without Wi-Fi.

Vivint offers 24/7 continuous recording as an add-on for $7 per month.

The major downside: Vivint's cameras are proprietary. If you cancel Vivint monitoring, you lose access to the Vivint app and can't view your cameras remotely anymore. You can still see feeds from the keypad in your house, but that's it. Your cameras are essentially decorative from that point on. With ADT, your Nest cameras keep working through Google Home. That's a significant difference if you value long-term flexibility.

Camera Verdict

If you want cameras that work independently of your security service and offer battery flexibility, ADT's Nest cameras are the smarter long-term investment. If you want the best video quality, AI detection, deter mode, and don't mind being locked into the Vivint ecosystem, Vivint's cameras are technically superior.

Vivint vs ADT Professional Installation

Both systems require professional installation, and both experiences were good. Costs typically start around $99 to $199, though both companies frequently waive the fee through promotions.

Installing ADT

ADT's installation was quick and efficient. I called to set up an appointment, the technician showed up on time, walked through my house room by room, and identified the best spots for each sensor and camera. They installed everything, ran the wiring for the outdoor cameras, tested the full system, and then walked me through the ADT+ app.

The whole process took about two hours. The technician was thorough and explained how to arm and disarm, set up automations, and access camera feeds. If you've never had a home security system before, having someone walk you through everything in person makes a real difference.

ADT's professional installation starts at $99, but they were running a free installation deal when I signed up. If you're interested, check ADT's current offers here.

Installing Vivint

Vivint's process was similar but took a bit longer since I had more equipment. The technician started with a threat assessment, walking through the house and identifying vulnerabilities. Then they installed the panel, mounted all the cameras, ran wiring, set up the smart lock and thermostat, and integrated everything into the Vivint app.

Some of Vivint's equipment needs to be connected to internal wiring, which means drilling through exterior walls for the cameras. That's another good reason to go with professional installation here. This isn't a weekend DIY project. The technician also showed me a quick walkthrough video, demonstrated the automation features, and gave me time to ask questions.

My installation took about three to four hours total. Like ADT, Vivint's standard installation starts at $199 but is often offered for free during promotional periods.

Installation Verdict

Both installations were professional and well-handled. I'm giving ADT a slight edge because of the cheaper standard installation fee and the option to go DIY through ADT Blu if you'd rather skip the appointment entirely.

ADT vs Vivint Monitoring And Safety

Both systems offer 24/7 professional monitoring that dispatches police, fire, and medical. Both use cellular connections with battery backup, so they stay connected even during power outages. Both panels have two-way voice so the monitoring center can communicate with you during emergencies.

But ADT has a meaningful advantage here. ADT operates six monitoring centers across the U.S., strategically spread out so if one center has an outage, another takes over seamlessly. Vivint has two monitoring centers. There haven't been reports of service interruptions from Vivint, but six centers provides more redundancy than two. That matters when you're relying on this system to call for help during a real emergency.

ADT also offers SMART monitoring, which sends you a text alert instantly when an alarm triggers. You can cancel a false alarm or confirm the emergency right from your phone. During my testing, I got text messages from both systems almost immediately after triggering an alarm. If I didn't respond, someone from the monitoring center called within about 30 seconds, which is on par with the industry average.

Both companies include cellular backup with every monitoring plan. Even in a power outage, your home stays connected to the monitoring center. That's table stakes for a modern home security system, but it's worth confirming since some budget systems charge extra for cellular.

Contracts

For professionally installed systems, ADT requires a minimum 12-month agreement if you purchase equipment upfront. If you finance the equipment, you're looking at a 36-month commitment (tied to your financing term). In California, contracts start at 24 months.

Vivint is month-to-month if you pay for everything upfront. No contract, cancel whenever you want. But if you finance the equipment at 0% APR (which most people do), you're committed for up to 60 months. If you want to cancel early, you pay off the remaining equipment balance and you're done. There's no separate cancellation fee.

Vivint's contracts are longer, but the flexibility to cancel by paying off equipment is nice. ADT's contracts are shorter, but you're locked in regardless of how you pay. Neither approach is perfect, but I'd say ADT is more reasonable for most people since you're not looking at a potential five-year obligation.

Moving With Your System

Because both systems are professionally installed, you can't just pull everything off the walls and reinstall it yourself at a new address. You'll need to coordinate with the company.

ADT's moving process felt more streamlined. They offer discounts if you purchase a new system for your new home, and they'll send a technician to get you set up. Vivint charges a $129 moving fee, and you still need professional installation at the new location.

If you think there's any chance you'll move within the next few years, keep that in mind. Neither ADT nor Vivint is ideal for people who move frequently. In that case, a DIY system like SimpliSafe or ADT Blu might be a better fit.

Monitoring Verdict

ADT takes this one. Six monitoring centers vs. two, shorter contract terms, and a smoother moving process. The actual monitoring performance was comparable during testing, but ADT's infrastructure gives me more confidence.

Vivint vs ADT Smart Home Automation

This is a close category. Both ADT and Vivint support Z-Wave smart home devices, which means door locks, thermostats, light switches, and garage door openers all integrate into a single app alongside your security system and cameras.

Both systems let you set up automations. For example: Monday through Friday at 9 PM, automatically arm the alarm, lock the front door, and turn off the lights. Or when the alarm is set to Away mode, lock all doors and lower the thermostat. Both ADT and Vivint can do this, and both work with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands.

Where Vivint pulls ahead is the depth and polish of the automation features. The Vivint app makes it easier to set up custom rules. There are more triggers and actions per device, and the whole flow of creating an automation feels more thought-out. If you want a truly smart home where devices react to each other in complex ways, Vivint gives you more to work with.

ADT's automations cover the basics well. You can create schedules, set up scenes, and control devices remotely. For most people, that's more than enough. But if you're someone who really wants to geek out on smart home automation and squeeze every drop of convenience out of your setup, Vivint is the better platform.

That said, if you're already in the Google ecosystem (Nest speakers, Google Home, Chromecast), ADT's integration with Google Nest cameras and devices might actually feel more natural. Everything flows through Google Home, which you might already be using.

Smart Home Verdict

Vivint has the edge for power users who want the most advanced automation. ADT is the better fit if you want solid smart home features without needing to fine-tune every detail, especially if you already use Google devices.

The ADT+ App vs The Vivint Smart Home App

Both apps let you arm and disarm your security system, control smart home devices, view live camera feeds, get push notifications, and manage your settings remotely. The basics are solid on both sides.

ADT's app (ADT+) has higher ratings across the board. It sits at 4.7 on Google Play and 4.8 in the Apple Store. The app is clean, reliable, and gets the job done. I used it to arm my system, check camera feeds, and get alerts without any issues.

Vivint's app (3.8 on Google Play, 4.6 on the Apple Store) has lower ratings, but in my experience, the app itself was actually really well-designed. You can tell the Vivint team put a lot of thought into how things are laid out and how you interact with the different features. The flow of setting up automations, in particular, felt more intuitive on Vivint than on ADT.

The downside I mentioned earlier applies here: with ADT, you sometimes need to bounce between the ADT+ app and the Google Home app for certain camera features (like downloading recorded video). Vivint keeps everything under one app, which is more convenient day to day.

Both apps let you manage your system from anywhere with cell service. You don't need to be on your home Wi-Fi. Both support Alexa and Google voice commands.

App Verdict

ADT's app has better ratings and reliability. Vivint's app has better design and keeps everything in one place. Both are good. If I'm being honest, I found myself using the Vivint app more often because everything was centralized, but the ADT+ app never gave me problems either.

Vivint vs ADT Pricing And Costs

Upfront Equipment Costs

ADT is more affordable short-term when it comes to equipment. My ADT system cost me around $600 for everything, and you can get a basic setup for as low as $250. If you want the full package with multiple cameras, smart locks, and extra sensors, expect to spend somewhere around $800.

Vivint's packages start around $199, but if you want the full smart home setup with all the cameras and devices, you're looking at over $1,000. I spent a little over $1,000 because I wanted everything Vivint offers. Most people will probably land in the $400-$600 range depending on how many cameras and devices they add.

Both companies offer financing. ADT lets you roll the equipment cost into your monthly bill over 36 months. Vivint offers 0% APR financing for 42 or 60 months. With either company, financing means you're locked into keeping the monitoring service until the balance is paid off.

Monthly Monitoring Costs

Plan	ADT	Vivint
Core monitoring	$42.99/mo	$29.99/mo
Monitoring + smart home	$42.99/mo	$39/mo
Monitoring + cameras + smart home	$48.99/mo	$39/mo + $5/camera

ADT advertises three tiers starting at $49.99 per month on their website, but in practice, your plan is customized based on your equipment. I ended up paying around $48.99 per month, which included monitoring, smart home features, and camera access. If your system includes Nest Cams, ADT bundles in a Google Home Premium subscription with your monitoring plan, which covers cloud storage and camera features.

Vivint starts at $29.99 per month for core monitoring (police, fire, medical plus the app). Smart home features bump that to $39 per month, and cameras are $5 per month each on top. With two cameras and smart home monitoring, I was paying $49 per month.

Here's the thing: Vivint's base rate looks cheaper, but once you add cameras, the monthly cost climbs fast. If you plan on having five or six cameras, Vivint's per-camera pricing adds up. ADT charges a flat rate for camera monitoring regardless of how many cameras you have. So if you're someone who wants a lot of cameras, ADT is the more cost-effective option.

Pricing Verdict

ADT is more affordable on equipment and gives better value on monthly monitoring, especially if you have multiple cameras. Vivint's entry price is lower, but the total cost of ownership tends to be higher once you add devices. For most budgets, ADT is the better deal.

Which Home Security System Should You Get?

After testing both, here's where I land.

Pick ADT If You Want the Best Overall Value

ADT is the better choice for most people. The equipment costs less, the contracts are shorter, and you get six monitoring centers backing up your system. The Google Nest cameras are high quality, and the fact that they keep working even if you cancel ADT gives you long-term flexibility that Vivint can't match.

ADT's smart home features cover everything most homeowners need. You can automate your door locks, thermostat, lights, and garage door from the ADT+ app. The monitoring service is second to none. And if you ever want a lot of cameras around the property, ADT's flat-rate camera monitoring saves you money compared to Vivint's per-camera pricing.

If you're a renter, ADT also offers the Blu line for DIY installation with no long-term contract. That's a nice fallback if professional installation doesn't work for your situation.

Check ADT's current offers here.

Pick Vivint If You Want the Best Technology

Vivint is the right choice if you want the most advanced equipment available. The cameras are sharper, deter mode is genuinely useful, Power over Ethernet gives you a rock-solid connection, and the automation engine is more capable than what ADT offers.

If you already know you're staying put for the next several years and you want your home to feel like a properly integrated smart home, Vivint delivers on that. The touchscreen panel, the app design, and the depth of automation options are all best-in-class. You're paying more, but you're getting measurably more in return.

The trade-off is cost and commitment. Equipment runs higher, monthly monitoring climbs with each camera you add, and financing locks you in for up to five years. But if top-of-the-line security with the best smart home automation is what you're after, pick Vivint.

Check Vivint's current offers here.

The Bottom Line

For most people, ADT is the move. You get great security, solid smart home features, and more flexibility at a lower total cost. The Nest cameras keep working even if you leave, which means your investment isn't trapped inside one ecosystem.

For people who want the absolute best equipment and don't mind paying for it, Vivint is worth the premium. Deter mode, PoE cameras, and a more polished automation experience make it the best option for anyone who treats their home security as a smart home centerpiece.

Either way, both companies offer professional installation and 24/7 monitoring to police, fire, and medical. You're making a solid choice with either one. It really comes down to how much you want to spend, how long you're willing to commit, and whether you care more about value or having the latest technology.