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We spent more than eight months testing the best home security systems and then revisited how Vivint and Frontpoint compare on costs, contracts, installation, and smart‑home features. Today, Vivint is a professionally installed system with quote‑based monitoring; your commitment depends on how you buy hardware—monitoring is generally month‑to‑month if you purchase equipment upfront, or a long commitment if you finance equipment via Vivint Flex Pay (commonly up to 60 months at 0% APR per independent reviews). Frontpoint is DIY with one published price—$49.99/month Ultimate Monitoring—billed month‑to‑month with a 30‑day risk‑free period (U.S. News on Vivint; U.S. News on Frontpoint; CNET). Both brands advertise nationwide availability in the U.S. as reflected in recent editorial reviews (U.S. News; U.S. News). On automation, Vivint emphasizes an integrated, pro‑installed ecosystem with camera‑based proactive deterrence and first‑party smart lighting (Doorbell Camera Pro; Outdoor Camera Pro; Vivint Smart Lighting), while Frontpoint (powered by Alarm.com) offers robust DIY rules, Z‑Wave device support, and modern video analytics with deterrence (Alarm.com Video Analytics; Perimeter Guard; Scenes & Geo‑Services). Both work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant; Alarm.com also supports Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch. Native Matter/HomeKit support for full alarm panels is not a headline capability, and the Matter 1.4 spec still doesn’t define a security system device type (Alexa SecurityPanelController; Google Home Arm/Disarm; Matter 1.4 coverage).
Vivint vs. Frontpoint Overview
| Vivint | Frontpoint | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Availability | 50 states source | 50 states source |
| J.D. Power Provider Satisfaction Rating | No current J.D. Power ranking; see Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs for live customer ratings | No current J.D. Power ranking; see Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs for live customer ratings |
| Installation Type | Professional | DIY |
| Available home security plans | Quote‑based monitoring; smart‑home and video add‑ons; month‑to‑month if equipment is purchased upfront; 0% APR equipment financing via Flex Pay (often up to 60 months) | Ultimate Monitoring — $49.99/mo; month‑to‑month; 30‑day risk‑free period |
| Contract Length | Month‑to‑month if equipment purchased upfront; if financed via Flex Pay, commitment typically matches financing term (often up to 60 months) | Month‑to‑month (no long‑term contract); 30‑day risk‑free period |
| App Rating | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Home Automation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Warranty Available | ✔ | ✔ |
Contract length
Contract rules now hinge on how you pay for equipment. With Vivint, monitoring is generally month‑to‑month if you purchase hardware upfront; if you finance hardware through Flex Pay, your obligation typically mirrors the financing term (commonly up to 60 months), and early cancellation usually requires paying off the remaining equipment balance (U.S. News; CNET).
Frontpoint shifted to a simpler model: one plan at $49.99 per month, billed month‑to‑month with no long‑term contract and a 30‑day risk‑free period for new customers (U.S. News). Equipment can be purchased upfront or financed separately without changing your month‑to‑month monitoring status (Frontpoint).
Price
Monitoring: Frontpoint publishes one price—$49.99/month for Ultimate Monitoring—which includes professional monitoring, cellular backup, smart‑home control, and video support, all on a cancel‑anytime basis (U.S. News). Vivint’s rates are quoted per system and typically land in roughly the high‑$30s to $60+ per month depending on whether you add smart‑home controls and video storage, per recent independent reviews (U.S. News; CNET).
Equipment and fees: Vivint’s starter equipment commonly totals several hundred dollars (often around $600+, varying by devices and promotions) and can be financed at 0% APR via Flex Pay for a long term (often up to 60 months) (U.S. News). Professional installation is required; independent reviews frequently cite a standard install fee around $49, though promotions can waive or change fees (U.S. News; CNET). Frontpoint equipment is DIY and frequently discounted online; there’s no professional installation fee, and you can buy upfront or finance while keeping monitoring month‑to‑month (Frontpoint).
Professional installation
Frontpoint is self‑install. The company ships pre‑configured equipment and provides step‑by‑step guidance, which avoids installation fees and lets renters or frequent movers place and relocate gear easily (DIY installation; Frontpoint plans).
Vivint requires professional installation. Reviews current to 2025 commonly cite a standard installation fee around $49, though promotions may vary by market; a technician designs placement, mounts devices, and onboards your app (U.S. News; CNET). Broadly, whole‑home systems and integrated setups often favor pro installs, while modular smart‑home tech trends DIY—consistent with national home‑improvement research that shows professional projects account for the majority of spend (Harvard JCHS; Consumer Reports).
Home automation
Both providers now emphasize proactive security and tighter device coordination. Vivint’s Doorbell Camera Pro and Outdoor Camera Pro use on‑device analytics and Smart Deter (lights/sounds) to discourage lurkers and protect packages, and Vivint Smart Lighting extends scenes and schedules across switches, plugs, and bulbs in one app. Voice control works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, enabling arming with a PIN and scene control across the home.
Frontpoint (via Alarm.com) supports Z‑Wave lights/locks/thermostats and modern video capabilities. Alarm.com’s Video Analytics classifies people/vehicles/animals to cut false alerts, and Perimeter Guard provides deterrent tones and flashing LEDs on compatible cameras. You can orchestrate automations with Scenes & Geo‑Services (location‑based rules). Voice control works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and Alarm.com also offers Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch support. Note: as of the latest public materials, neither platform advertises native Apple Home or Matter support for the full alarm panel; integrations primarily rely on cloud connections to Alexa/Google, and Matter 1.4 does not include a security system device type (Google Home Arm/Disarm; Alexa SecurityPanelController; Matter 1.4).
So, which is right for me?
| If you… | Then you should go with: | Here’s why: |
|---|---|---|
| If you… | Then you should go with: | Here’s why: |
| Want the best home automation features available | Vivint | Pro‑installed, single‑vendor ecosystem with on‑device camera analytics and Smart Deter to warn lurkers, plus first‑party smart lighting for whole‑home scenes—ideal if you want a cohesive setup and concierge install (Doorbell Camera Pro; Outdoor Camera Pro; Smart Lighting). |
| Need a low cost, entry-level home security system | Frontpoint | DIY setup avoids install fees and uses one monitoring price ($49.99/mo) that already includes smart‑home and video support, month‑to‑month with a 30‑day risk‑free period—good for testing the waters without a long contract (U.S. News). |
| Need professional installation for added peace of mind | Vivint | Vivint requires professional installation and commonly charges an install fee around $49 (promos vary), with techs optimizing device placement and walking you through the system (U.S. News; CNET). |
| Don’t want a long contract | Frontpoint | Frontpoint monitoring is month‑to‑month with a 30‑day risk‑free period. Vivint can also be month‑to‑month if you buy equipment upfront; financing typically adds a long commitment via Flex Pay (Frontpoint; Vivint Flex Pay). |
How to Compare Home Security Systems
Decide on which advanced features you need
Modern systems go beyond basic motion alerts. Prioritize capabilities that reduce false alarms and actively deter threats. Examples include camera analytics that distinguish people/vehicles/animals and proactive deterrence (flashing LEDs or tones) such as Vivint’s Smart Deter and Alarm.com’s Perimeter Guard, plus presence‑aware rules via Scenes & Geo‑Services. If you prefer voice control, both ecosystems support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for arming (with PIN) and scenes. Note that native Matter/HomeKit support for full security panels is not broadly available; integrations rely on cloud APIs (Alexa; Google Home; Matter 1.4).
Research customer satisfaction
Check live, crowd‑sourced sentiment and editorial rundowns before you buy. See Trustpilot (Vivint), Trustpilot (Frontpoint), ConsumerAffairs (Vivint), and ConsumerAffairs (Frontpoint) for current star ratings and themes. For balanced pros/cons and contract summaries, compare U.S. News on Vivint and U.S. News on Frontpoint. Historical industry studies like J.D. Power’s 2018 home security study can offer context but aren’t current indicators of 2025 satisfaction. You can also review complaint patterns and grades on the Better Business Bureau—e.g., Frontpoint’s BBB profile.
Consider a no-contract option
No‑contract monitoring lets you cancel anytime and is now common among DIY systems. Frontpoint’s monitoring is month‑to‑month with a 30‑day risk‑free period. Vivint also offers month‑to‑month service when you buy equipment upfront; if you finance equipment, your commitment typically aligns with the financing term (Flex Pay). This flexibility is especially helpful for renters or anyone planning a move (DIY installation).
Vivint vs. Frontpoint FAQ
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