Quick answer: ADT vs Vivint comes down to flexibility versus integration. ADT offers more equipment and plan options, including some DIY-style setups and wide dealer coverage. Vivint sells a tightly integrated smart-home system with professional installation, usually paired with a longer contract or financing agreement. Prices and terms vary by home, location and promotion, so compare written quotes from both before you sign.
Key takeaways
- ADT tends to suit buyers who want choice: more equipment tiers, more installation paths and broad local availability.
- Vivint tends to suit buyers who want a polished, app-first smart home from a single provider.
- Both typically involve multi-year agreements or equipment financing, so read the cancellation and ownership terms before signing.
- Advertised prices are starting points. Your real cost depends on equipment count, plan tier and home size.
- Always get itemized written quotes from both companies and compare them line by line.
Choosing between these two big names is rarely about which is “better.” It is about how you want to pay, how much you want automated and how long you are willing to commit. This guide walks through the differences that matter most, so you can ask better questions and avoid surprises.
If you would rather see real numbers for your address, you can request free security system quotes using the form on this page.
ADT vs Vivint at a Glance
Both companies sell professionally monitored security with cameras, sensors, smart locks and app control. The differences show up in how they package and sell it.
- Equipment approach: ADT offers a broad range of panels, sensors and cameras across several setups. Vivint centers on its own smart hub, cameras and doorbell as one connected ecosystem.
- Installation: Both commonly use professional installers. ADT also offers options where some customers can self-install certain kits, depending on the plan and region.
- Contracts: Both have historically offered multi-year monitoring agreements, with terms that can change by promotion and state. Confirm the current length in writing.
- Smart-home depth: Vivint is generally positioned as the more automation-focused option. ADT integrates with popular smart-home platforms and has expanded its smart features.
For a broader look at how to size up any provider, see our guide to how to choose the right home security system.
Cost: Upfront Equipment, Installation and Monthly Fees
Neither company publishes one fixed price, because quotes depend on your home’s doors, windows, cameras and chosen plan. Treat the ranges below as rough estimates only; your actual quote may be lower or higher.
- Upfront equipment: Can range from a few hundred dollars for a basic package to well over a thousand for a camera-heavy smart setup, or be spread across monthly financing.
- Installation fees: Often discounted or bundled during promotions, but sometimes charged separately. Ask for the install fee as its own line item.
- Monthly monitoring: Commonly in the range of roughly $30 to $70 or more per month, depending on the plan, cameras and cloud video storage.
- Add-ons: Extra cameras, doorbell cameras, smoke or CO monitoring and video storage can raise the monthly total.
Our breakdown of home security system equipment, install and monthly costs shows where the money typically goes.
Pro tip: Ask each company for the total cost over the full contract term, not just the monthly price. A lower monthly fee with expensive financed equipment can cost more overall.
The monthly price is only half the story; equipment financing and contract length decide what you really pay.
Contracts, Equipment Ownership and Cancellation Terms
This is where buyers get caught off guard. The fine print matters more than the feature list.
Contract length
Both providers have commonly used multi-year monitoring terms, and some plans pair a contract with equipment financing. Terms vary by state, plan and promotion, so get the exact length stated on the agreement.
Who owns the equipment
Ownership can differ depending on whether you buy outright, finance or lease. Ask these questions:
- Do I own the panel, sensors and cameras once they are installed?
- If I cancel, do the devices keep working without monitoring?
- Can another provider take over the equipment, or is it locked to one service?
Cancellation and early termination
Canceling early can trigger fees, often tied to the remaining months on your agreement or the balance on financed equipment. Some states have rules about cancellation windows after you sign, so ask about any right-to-cancel period.
- Ask for the early termination formula in writing.
- Ask what happens if you move, and whether the service can transfer to a new address.
- Check for automatic renewal clauses at the end of the term.
If long commitments make you uneasy, you may want to explore home security options that skip the long-term contract before deciding.
Smart-Home Features and Equipment Compared
Both offer the features most homeowners want: door and window sensors, motion detection, indoor and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and mobile app control. The difference is in how deeply it all connects.
- Vivint strengths: A unified app and hub that can tie together cameras, locks, thermostat and lighting. Many buyers like the single-vendor experience.
- ADT strengths: More variety in equipment and plan levels, plus compatibility with common voice assistants and smart-home platforms.
- Trade-off: A tightly integrated system is convenient, but it can make it harder to mix in devices from other brands later.
Think about what you will actually use. If you only want door sensors and a siren, a simple plan may serve you fine. If you want video doorbell clips, smart lock automation and thermostat control in one app, an integrated system earns its price.
Buy the smart features you will use every week, not the ones that merely look impressive in a demo.
Which Fits Your Home and Situation?
Use these guideposts as a starting point, not a rule.
ADT may fit if you:
- Want more choice in equipment and plan levels.
- Prefer a long-established national dealer network with local service coverage.
- Need a straightforward setup for an apartment, condo or smaller home.
Vivint may fit if you:
- Want a modern, camera-forward smart home managed in one app.
- Value professional installation and a single support provider.
- Plan to automate locks, lights and climate along with security.
Consider both if you:
- Own a larger home with many entry points and want a custom design.
- Are comparing financing offers and need leverage to negotiate.
- Live somewhere with limited cellular or internet reliability and need to confirm connectivity options.
Also remember that security is one layer of home protection. Storm and power-outage readiness matter too, and our guide to home battery backup system options explains how to keep alarms, cameras and Wi-Fi running during an outage. Your insurer may also offer a discount for a monitored system, so it is worth checking what drives your homeowners insurance premium.
How to Compare Written Quotes
Verbal promises do not protect you. Collect a written, itemized quote from each company, then compare them side by side.
- List every device: panel, sensors, cameras, doorbell, locks and any extras.
- Separate the costs: equipment, installation, activation and monthly monitoring.
- Confirm the contract term and whether it auto-renews.
- Check equipment ownership and what works without a monitoring plan.
- Get cancellation terms and any moving or transfer policy in writing.
- Ask about promotions and when introductory pricing ends.
Take your time. Reputable providers will not pressure you to sign on the spot, and a written quote lets you compare calmly at home.
Ready to compare? You can request your free, no-obligation quotes using the form on this page and review them side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ADT or Vivint cheaper?
It depends on your equipment, plan and current promotions. Neither is consistently cheaper in every case, so compare total cost over the contract term, including equipment and installation, using written quotes.
Do ADT and Vivint require a contract?
Both have commonly offered multi-year agreements, sometimes paired with equipment financing. Terms vary by plan and state, so confirm the exact length and early termination fees before you sign.
Can I install the equipment myself?
Vivint is typically installed by professionals. ADT has offered some options that allow self-installation of certain kits, depending on the plan and region. Ask each company what is available for your address.
What happens to the equipment if I cancel?
It depends on whether you own, finance or lease it, and on how the system is tied to the provider’s service. Ask for the ownership and post-cancellation functionality in writing before you commit.
Get free home security system quotes to compare
A vetted security provider will contact you with a free, no-obligation written quote.